Sitka Public Library
🏢 City of Sitka · Sitka, Alaska
Sitka Public Library
Sitka Public Library has served this island community since March 20, 1923, and now occupies a beautifully expanded harbor-view building that grew 60 percent in size when it reopened in February 2016 after major renovation.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| 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: 320 HARBOR DRIVE, SITKA, AK 99835
Phone: (907) 747-4020
Website: cityofsitka.com
Plus Code: 94962MX8+WC (SITKA, AK)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Sitka Public Library
Sitka Public Library is the public library of Sitka, Alaska — geographically the largest city by total area in the United States, accessible only by boat or floatplane. The library opened on March 20, 1923, supported by volunteers from the Sitka Library Association before becoming fully tax-supported. The original 1967 building — made possible by a gift from longtime resident Theodore Kettleson — was more than doubled by a 1983 addition, then expanded again in a major 2014–2016 renovation that increased square footage by 60 percent. During construction the library temporarily relocated to the former Sheldon Jackson College campus; it reopened at 320 Harbor Drive on February 4, 2016. Along the way it survived two fires and moved ten times before settling permanently at its harbor-front location. The library holds roughly 75,000 items and records approximately 100,000 visitors and 133,000 circulations per year — the largest per-capita circulation in the state among towns with populations over 2,500.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded March 20, 1923 — over a century of continuous service to Sitka's island community
- Major 2016 renovation added 60 percent more space, with scenic views across Eastern Channel toward the Pyramids
- C.L. Andrews Collection: ~1,900 catalogued volumes on Alaska history from early exploration through the late 1900s
- Largest per-capita circulation in Alaska among towns with populations above 2,500
- COVID-19 Oral History Project preserves recorded testimonies of Sitkans for the library's permanent collection
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Sitka cardholders access digital news, language learning, and statewide Alaska databases free of charge:
📚 Services
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Meeting rooms and multipurpose room available for reservation
- C.L. Andrews Collection for Alaska history and genealogy research
- Oral History Project audio archive (community testimonies)
- Interlibrary loan through the Alaska Library Catalog consortium
- Children's and teen services programs
- Materials request service for collection suggestions
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen services and activities
- Summer reading program
- Community events and author programs
- COVID-19 Oral History Project recordings
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Alaska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Sitka Public Library and what is the story behind the building?
The library has served Sitka since March 20, 1923, surviving two fires and ten moves before settling at 320 Harbor Drive. The current building opened in 1967, funded in part by a gift from resident Theodore Kettleson, and was dramatically expanded in a 2014–2016 renovation that added 60 percent more space. The library temporarily relocated to the old Sheldon Jackson College campus during construction and reopened at its harbor-front home on February 4, 2016.
What is the C.L. Andrews Collection at Sitka Public Library?
The C.L. Andrews Collection is the library's Alaska history research collection, containing approximately 1,900 catalogued volumes, maps, and newspapers documenting Alaska from the early days of exploration and the fur trade through the late 1900s. It is available for in-library research.
Why did the library's name change and what is it called today?
The library was originally established as Sitka Public Library in 1923. It was later renamed Kettleson Memorial Library to honor Theodore Kettleson's contribution to the 1967 building. In 2015, during the renovation project, the library commission voted to restore the original name — Sitka Public Library — and that is its official name today.
Is the Sitka Public Library open on weekends and what are the evening hours?
The library is open Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays. Evening hours extend to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday, making those the best days for after-work or after-school visits. Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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