Hyder Public Library
🏢 Hyder Community Association · Hyder, Alaska
Hyder Public Library
The Hyder Public Library at 50 Main Street serves Alaska's easternmost community — a 48-resident mining-era town on the edge of Misty Fjords National Monument, two miles from Stewart, British Columbia, and accessible from the rest of Alaska only by floatplane. Operating with volunteer support out of the Hyder Community Association, it holds over 8,000 volumes and gives this border community free access to Alaska's statewide digital collection.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Please call ahead |
| Tuesday | Please call ahead |
| Wednesday | Please call ahead |
| Thursday | Please call ahead |
| Friday | Please call ahead |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 50 Main Street, HYDER, AK 99923
Phone: +1 907-636-2637
Website: lam.alaska.gov
Plus Code: 947FWX8F+HP (HYDER, AK)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Hyder Public Library
Hyder was founded in 1907 as Portland City, renamed in 1914, and grew as a gold and silver mining supply hub before the last big mine closed in 1956. Today the town of roughly 48 year-round residents — sometimes called 'the Friendliest Ghost Town in Alaska' — sits at the head of the Portland Canal fjord, sharing a postal zone and many daily services with Stewart, BC. The Hyder Public Library on Main Street is a small community library with a collection of more than 8,000 volumes and 400 videos, run with minimal paid staff and volunteer support through the Hyder Community Association. Hyder is the only U.S. community on the Canadian border that travelers can enter without going through U.S. Customs, and it draws over 100,000 tourists annually — including motorcyclists for the annual Hyder Seek rally — to see the bears at Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site and the spectacular Salmon Glacier.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Alaska's easternmost community library, serving ~48 residents in one of the state's most remote road-accessible towns
- Collection of over 8,000 volumes, 400 videos, and 32 audio items with 2 public internet terminals
- Operated through the Hyder Community Association on Main Street
- Hyder is adjacent to Misty Fjords National Monument and home to Salmon Glacier — the world's largest glacier accessible by road
- Access to Alaska SLED statewide databases and the Alaska Digital Library for all Alaskans
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
All Alaskans can access statewide digital resources through the Alaska State Library:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection of over 8,000 print volumes, 400 videos, and audio materials
- 2 public internet terminals
- Print subscriptions to 40 periodicals
- Access to Alaska SLED statewide databases
- Community gathering and reading space
🎸 Programs
- Community reading and informal library programs
- Summer reading access for visiting families and tourists
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Alaska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Hyder, Alaska, and is the library near the Canadian border?
Hyder is accessible by a single road from Stewart, British Columbia — it is the only U.S. community on the Canadian border where travelers can legally enter the United States without going through U.S. Customs. There is no direct road to any other Alaskan community; the nearest air link is a floatplane service. The library is on Main Street, about 50 Main Street, in the heart of the small townsite.
What are the library's hours, and is it staffed?
The Hyder Public Library operates with volunteer and minimal paid staff. Hours are not published online and may vary seasonally, especially as the town hosts over 100,000 tourists in summer. Call ahead at 907-636-2637 to confirm the library is open before visiting.
Can I visit the Salmon Glacier near Hyder and then stop at the library?
Yes — the Salmon Glacier, often called the world's largest glacier accessible by road, is reached by a gravel road from Stewart, BC, and is one of the region's top attractions. The library on Main Street is a good stop before or after outdoor adventures, with books, videos, and internet terminals available.
Does the Hyder library have digital resources even without its own website?
Yes. All Alaskans have free access to the Alaska SLED statewide portal (lam.alaska.gov/sled) for reference databases and encyclopedias, and to the Alaska Digital Library (adl.overdrive.com) for eBooks and audiobooks via the Libby app — both accessible with any Alaska library card or via open state access.
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