Z.J. Loussac Public Library
🏢 Anchorage Public Library · Anchorage, Alaska
Z.J. Loussac Public Library
Named for the Russian immigrant pharmacist and mayor whose 1946 foundation built Anchorage's first dedicated library, the Loussac is Alaska's largest public library — housing the state's most comprehensive public Alaskana collection and Sydney Laurence watercolors in a landmark four-level midtown building.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 3600 Denali Street, Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 343-2975
Website: anchoragelibrary.org
Plus Code: 93HG54PC+VC (Anchorage, AK)
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📖 About Z.J. Loussac Public Library
Z.J. Loussac Public Library is the main branch of the Anchorage Public Library, a department of the Municipality of Anchorage, and the largest public library in Alaska. Opened in 1986 as part of the city's Project 80s capital improvement program, the four-level 140,000-square-foot building was designed by Environmental Concern, Inc. (ECI) of Spokane and is defined by three linked cylinders and a glass-roofed atrium. The library is named for Zachariah Joshua Loussac (1882–1965), a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrived in Alaska in 1907, opened a pharmacy on Fourth Avenue in 1916, served as Anchorage's mayor from 1948 to 1951, and co-founded the Loussac Foundation in 1946 to support the city's cultural and educational life. His philanthropy funded the original 1955 Loussac Library; the current building replaced it after the 1955 structure was demolished. Today the building also houses the Anchorage Assembly Chambers, the 232-seat Wilda Marston Theatre, and a café, and shares its campus with Cuddy Family Park.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Alaska Collection on the 3rd floor: the state's most comprehensive public Alaskana collection — history, Indigenous cultures, genealogy, and Alaska's Digital Archives
- Loussac Art Collection: Sydney Laurence watercolors ('Cape St. Elias', 'Mount McKinley') and Eustace P. Ziegler Native portraits in the Anne Stevens Room — bequeathed by namesake Zachariah Loussac
- 232-seat Wilda Marston Theatre — venue for year-round lectures, concerts, and community performances
- Genealogy resources: Ancestry Library Edition (in-library), Alaska Polar & Periodical Index, Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, and Anchorage High School yearbooks (1917–1978)
- Opened 1986 as an Anchorage Project 80s landmark — 4-story light-brown brick building with three linked cylinders; Alaska's largest public library at 140,000 sq ft
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Anchorage cardholders and all Alaska residents can access rich digital collections for free:
📚 Services
- Alaska Collection (3rd floor) — Alaskana, genealogy, maps, historical newspapers
- Ancestry Library Edition — in-library genealogy database access at no cost
- Genealogy assistance — Anchorage Genealogical Society volunteers, Wednesdays 11 a.m.–2 p.m. and 2nd & 4th Wednesdays 7–9 p.m.
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi, and laptop lending
- Printing, copying, and scanning
- Meeting rooms in multiple sizes
- 232-seat Wilda Marston Theatre (reservable for community events)
- First-floor café (Mon–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun 1–5 p.m.)
- Curbside pickup
- Interlibrary loan
- People Mover Bus access (Routes 25 and 85)
🎸 Programs
- Storytimes for babies, toddlers, and children
- STEM workshops and science activities for kids
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult classes and computer workshops
- Summer Thursday Lunch Concerts (June–early August)
- Author lectures and discussion series
- Genealogy help sessions with Anchorage Genealogical Society volunteers
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southcentral Alaska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Z.J. Loussac, and why is the library named after him?
Zachariah Joshua Loussac (1882–1965) was a Russian Jewish immigrant who arrived in Alaska in 1907 and settled in Anchorage in 1916, where he ran a Fourth Avenue pharmacy for decades. He served as Anchorage's 19th mayor (1948–1951) and in 1946 co-founded the Loussac Foundation with banker Elmer Rasmuson to support the city's cultural and educational life. The Foundation funded Anchorage's first purpose-built library in 1955; when that building was demolished in 1981, the current 1986 library kept the Loussac name in his honor.
What is the Alaska Collection, and where is it in the building?
The Alaska Collection is the most comprehensive public Alaskana collection in the state, housed on the 3rd floor. It includes books, periodicals, maps, historical newspapers, genealogical materials — Anchorage High School yearbooks (1917–1978), an obituary index (1981–2001), and Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps — plus the Loussac Art Collection of Sydney Laurence watercolors and Eustace P. Ziegler Native portraits displayed in the Anne Stevens Room.
Can I research my family history at Loussac, and is help available?
Yes. The Alaska Collection has extensive genealogy holdings, and Ancestry Library Edition is available free on in-library computers. Volunteers from the Anchorage Genealogical Society provide in-person assistance every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on the second and fourth Wednesdays each month from 7 to 9 p.m.
What is SLED, and do I need a library card to use it?
SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) is Alaska's free digital library portal, available to all Alaska residents at no cost — no Anchorage library card required. It connects you to databases, tutoring, language-learning tools, health resources, and Alaska's Digital Archives. Most SLED resources are accessible from home; some require a free SLED password obtainable by calling 1-800-440-2919 or completing an online form.
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