Centennial Library
🏢 Metlakatla Indian Community Library · Metlakatla, Alaska
Centennial Library
The Centennial Library serves Metlakatla, the Tsimshian community on Annette Island that is Alaska's only federally recognized Indian reservation — a town founded in 1887 when William Duncan led nearly 1,000 Tsimshian people from British Columbia to build a new home on the southernmost tip of the Alexander Archipelago.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Call for current hours |
| Tuesday | Call for current hours |
| Wednesday | Call for current hours |
| Thursday | Call for current hours |
| Friday | Call for current hours |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 4th & Milton Street, METLAKATLA, AK 99926
Phone: +1-907-886-6015
Website: metlakatla.com
Plus Code: 947C4CHF+9W (METLAKATLA, AK)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Centennial Library
The Centennial Library is the public library of Metlakatla, a community of approximately 1,450 residents on Annette Island in far Southeast Alaska, about 15 miles south of Ketchikan. Metlakatla occupies a unique place in Alaska: as the Annette Island Reserve, it is the only federally recognized Indian reservation in the state — the Metlakatla Indian Community voted to opt out of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and retain sovereign rights to its lands and waters. The town was founded in 1887 when Anglican missionary William Duncan led nearly 1,000 Tsimshian people south from Old Metlakatla in British Columbia to establish New Metlakatla, laying out a European-style grid with a church, school, cannery and sawmill on Annette Island. The Centennial Library, located at 4th and Milton Streets, serves this tight-knit community of primarily Tsimshian descendants and is accessible via the Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Ketchikan. For current hours, contact the Metlakatla Indian Community offices directly.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Serves Metlakatla on the Annette Island Reserve — Alaska's only federally recognized Indian reservation
- Community founded 1887 by William Duncan with Tsimshian people from British Columbia — a unique cultural heritage in Southeast Alaska
- Located at 4th & Milton Streets on Annette Island, accessible by Alaska Marine Highway ferry from Ketchikan (15 miles north)
- Serves a predominantly Tsimshian community of roughly 1,450 residents — one of the smallest and most distinctive communities in the state
- Gateway to SLED statewide digital library and Alaska Digital Library for remote island residents
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Metlakatla library cardholders can access Alaska's statewide digital library free of charge:
📚 Services
- Public library services for Metlakatla Indian Community residents
- Circulation of books, periodicals and audiovisual materials
- Access to SLED statewide research databases and digital collections
- Interlibrary loan for materials not held locally
- Reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's and youth reading programs
- Community literacy programming for Annette Island residents
- Cultural programming reflecting Tsimshian heritage
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Alaska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Metlakatla's library called the "Centennial Library"?
The Centennial Library's name commemorates a significant centennial milestone in the community's history. Metlakatla was founded in 1887 by the Tsimshian people led by William Duncan, and the library reflects the community's long tradition of education and self-governance on Annette Island.
How do I get to Metlakatla from Ketchikan?
Metlakatla is located on Annette Island about 15 miles south of Ketchikan. The Alaska Marine Highway ferry provides service between the two communities. There is no road connection between Annette Island and the rest of Alaska.
What makes Metlakatla unique in Alaska?
Metlakatla is home to the Annette Island Reserve, the only federally recognized Indian reservation in Alaska. The Metlakatla Indian Community voted to opt out of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, retaining sovereign rights to its lands and waters — a distinction held by no other Alaska Native community.
What digital resources can I access with a Metlakatla library card?
Cardholders can use SLED (Alaska's Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) for free research databases, live tutoring and genealogy archives, and the Alaska Digital Library (Libby/OverDrive) for ebooks, audiobooks and digital magazines — available to all Alaska residents.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.