Charles W. Gibson Public Library
🏢 Charles W. Gibson Public Library · Buckhannon, West Virginia
Charles W. Gibson Public Library
Buckhannon's downtown library since 1942, the Charles W. Gibson Public Library serves nearly 6,000 Upshur County residents from 105 E. Main Street — pairing a browsable collection reorganized for kids, teens and adults with free eBooks through West Virginia's statewide WVDELI service.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 11am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 11am–6pm |
| Friday | 11am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 105 E. Main Street, Buckhannon, WV 26201
Phone: (304) 472-2339
Website: charlesgibson.wvlibrary.info
Plus Code: 86CXXQVG+7F (Buckhannon, WV)
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📖 About Charles W. Gibson Public Library
The Charles W. Gibson Public Library is the City of Buckhannon's public library, in the heart of Upshur County, West Virginia. Buckhannon's library began in 1925 as a project of the local Lions Club; in 1940 the family of Charles W. Gibson donated funds for a permanent building on Main Street, and the current two-story library opened in 1942. Today it holds roughly 39,000 volumes and belongs to the West Virginia Library Network, sharing the statewide Sierra catalog so patrons can request materials from libraries across the state through interlibrary loan. Under director Catherine Norko the library recently reorganized its shelves — relocating large-print and fiction sections and splitting the old combined juvenile/young-adult collection into distinct children's, intermediate and teen areas so younger readers can find age-appropriate books more easily. It is funded in part by a municipal levy last renewed by Buckhannon voters in June 2020.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Buckhannon's own downtown library since 1942, built with funds donated by the family of Charles W. Gibson after the Lions Club started the collection in 1925
- Collection reorganized into clear children's, intermediate and young-adult tiers so kids can browse age-appropriate books — children's downstairs, teen materials upstairs
- Member of the West Virginia Library Network on the shared statewide Sierra catalog, with interlibrary loan across West Virginia libraries
- Free statewide digital collection through WVDELI (Libby) — eBooks, audiobooks and magazines with a Gibson library card
- Growing children's programming, including a summer reading program, built to reconnect young families with their neighborhood library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Buckhannon cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through West Virginia's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, large-print and DVD lending
- Interlibrary loan across the West Virginia Library Network
- Public computers and free in-library Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- Reorganized children's, intermediate and young-adult collections
- Reference and reader's-advisory help
- Meeting and study space in the downtown building
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading program for children (recent themes include 'Tails and Tales')
- Take-home craft and activity kits for kids (e.g., finger-puppet and pet-rock activities)
- Children's reading challenges and prizes
- Family and youth events publicized through the library's Facebook page
- Community programming for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in Upshur & Adjacent WV Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Buckhannon · Browse all West Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the library named for Charles W. Gibson?
Buckhannon's public library started in 1925 as a project of the local Lions Club. In 1940 the family of Charles W. Gibson donated the money to build a permanent home for it on Main Street, and the current library building opened in 1942 — so the library carries the Gibson name in recognition of that gift.
How are the children's and teen books arranged at the Gibson Library?
The library recently split its old combined juvenile/young-adult collection into three tiers so kids can find the right books more easily: younger children's books are shelved downstairs, an intermediate section serves older children, and young-adult titles are upstairs. Large-print and fiction sections were also relocated during the same reorganization.
Can I borrow eBooks and audiobooks with a Gibson library card?
Yes. With your Charles W. Gibson library card you can use WVDELI (the West Virginia Downloadable Entertainment Library Initiative) through the free Libby app to borrow eBooks, audiobooks and digital magazines statewide. The library is part of the West Virginia Library Network, so you can also request physical items from other WV libraries through interlibrary loan.
Is this the same as the Upshur County library?
The Charles W. Gibson Public Library is the City of Buckhannon's own downtown library at 105 E. Main Street, serving Buckhannon and the surrounding Upshur County community. It is the local library residents can walk to in town rather than travel out of the city, and it belongs to the statewide West Virginia Library Network.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.