Sprague Branch
🏢 Salt Lake City Public Library · Sugar House, Salt Lake City, Utah
Sprague Branch
A Jacobethan Revival landmark declared 'Most Beautiful Branch Library in America' by the ALA in 1933, the Sprague Branch anchors Sugar House with a freshly renovated Creative Lab, a Business Incubator, and historic charm rebuilt after a 2017 flood — all named for Joanna Sprague, the woman who ran Salt Lake City's libraries for 40 years.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2131 South 1100 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Phone: (801) 594-8640
Website: about.slcpl.org
Plus Code: 85GCP4FR+R8 (Salt Lake City, UT)
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📖 About Sprague Branch
The Sprague Branch has served Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood since 1914, when it opened in rented quarters on 2100 South in honor of Joanna H. Sprague, the city's pioneering head librarian who grew the collection from under 100,000 to over 800,000 volumes during her 40-year tenure and co-founded the Utah Library Association in 1912. The current building — a 13,058-square-foot Jacobethan Revival landmark designed by Ashton & Evans architects and opened December 5, 1928 at a cost of $43,000 — was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 and declared the 'Most Beautiful Branch Library in America' by the American Library Association in 1933. A $4.5 million post-flood renovation completed May 3, 2021 (designed by Arch Nexus and Margaret Sullivan Studio, and built by Paulsen Construction — the same family firm that erected the original structure) restored the Tudor exterior while introducing a Creative Lab, a Business Incubator suite, dedicated Tween and Teen spaces, and sugar-beet-themed interior design honoring Sugar House's agricultural heritage.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Joanna H. Sprague, SLCPL head librarian 1900–1940, who expanded the collection from 99,428 to 807,693 volumes and co-founded the Utah Library Association in 1912
- Jacobethan Revival building (1928) by Ashton & Evans — brick, terra cotta, slate, and rock-faced ashlar sandstone — listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #03000637) since 2003
- Declared 'Most Beautiful Branch Library in America' by the American Library Association when they convened in Salt Lake City in 1933
- $4.5 million renovation (reopened May 3, 2021) by Arch Nexus + Margaret Sullivan Studio; rebuilt by Paulsen Construction, the same family firm that built the original 1928 structure
- Sugar-beet imagery woven throughout the 2021 interior — custom rugs, railings, and murals honoring Sugar House landmarks including Snelgrove Ice Cream and Monument Square
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Salt Lake City Public Library cardholders can stream, download, and research free through Utah's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Creative Lab: 3D printer, Cricut machine, heat press, sewing machine, podcasting and recording software, Adobe Creative Cloud, photography and video equipment
- Business Incubator: four private study rooms and a larger meeting room with retractable glass wall
- Tween Space with moss-wall feature area
- Teen Room with plant terrarium
- Children's Room with forward-facing book displays
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Free parking east and south of the building
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) via catalog.slcpl.org
🎸 Programs
- Creative Lab open hours and workshops (see rooms.slcpl.org for current schedule)
- Children's and family programming (see events.slcpl.org)
- Teen and tween events tied to the Sugar House community
- Community events on the outdoor concert platform with shade structures
📍 Other Salt Lake City Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Salt Lake City · Browse all Utah libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Joanna Sprague, and why is this library named after her?
Joanna H. Sprague served as Salt Lake City's head librarian from 1900 to 1940. She co-founded the Utah Library Association in 1912, served as president of the Pacific Northwest Library Association, and during her four-decade tenure grew the city's library collection from under 100,000 to over 800,000 volumes while establishing eight branches. The Sugar House branch was named in her honor at its founding in 1914; she lived to 98, passing away in January 1961.
Was the 1928 Sprague building ever flooded, and what happened to it?
Yes. On July 26, 2017, a severe storm overwhelmed Parley's Creek and sent more than five feet of water into the library's basement, destroying the entire nonfiction collection and the Sugar House historic archives stored there. The branch relocated to a temporary site while a $4.5 million restoration was completed. Designed by Arch Nexus and Margaret Sullivan Studio and built by Paulsen Construction — the same family firm that erected the original 1928 structure — the renovated library reopened on May 3, 2021.
What makes the Sprague Branch building architecturally significant?
Designed in 1928 by Salt Lake City architects Raymond J. Ashton and Raymond L. Evans in the Jacobethan Revival style, the building features brick, stone, terra cotta, cast concrete, and slate with ornate door and window surrounds. When the American Library Association held its national conference in Salt Lake City in 1933, delegates declared it the 'Most Beautiful Branch Library in America.' It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 (NRHP #03000637) as part of the Sugar House Business District Multiple Resource Area.
What is the Creative Lab at Sprague, and do I need an appointment?
The Creative Lab is a hands-on making space featuring a 3D printer, Cricut cutting machine, heat press for fabric printing, sewing machine, podcasting and recording software, Adobe Creative Cloud, and photo/video equipment. Open hours and scheduled workshops are posted at rooms.slcpl.org and events.slcpl.org; call the branch at (801) 594-8640 for current availability.
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