Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library
🏢 City of Soldotna · Soldotna, Alaska
Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library
Named for the volunteer who made it possible, the Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library is the Kenai Peninsula's community hub — 21,000 square feet of books, programs, and free Wi-Fi where everyone is welcome and overdue fines are a thing of the past.
🕑 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: 235 N. Binkley Street, Soldotna, AK 99669
Phone: (907) 262-4227
Website: soldotna.org
Plus Code: 93GCFWRG+WM (Soldotna, AK)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library
The Joyce K. Carver Memorial Soldotna Public Library has anchored community life on the central Kenai Peninsula since 1962, when volunteers ran it from a single room in an old clinic building. The library is named for Joyce K. Carver, its first board president, whose death in 1966 inspired a memorial fund and a land donation from local physicians that made a permanent building possible; the library formally dedicated in 1972. A major 2013 expansion — with a grand opening on January 18, 2014 — more than doubled the facility to 21,000 square feet, adding a welcoming fireplace lounge, dedicated teen and children's spaces, community and conference rooms, and a basement bookstore run by the nonprofit Soldotna Library Friends. Fine-free since 2020, the library logged 75,401 in-person visitors and 113,543 physical checkouts in its most recent full year. Cardholders also gain access to over three million titles through the statewide Alaska Library Catalog, shared with libraries across the state.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named in honor of Joyce K. Carver, the library's founding board president, whose 1966 memorial fund and land donation made the permanent building possible
- Expanded in 2013 to 21,000 sq ft with a grand opening January 18, 2014 — adding a fireplace lounge, teen basement lounge, children's program room, and community conference rooms
- Fine-free since 2020: no overdue charges ever, with 113,543 physical checkouts and 35,441 digital checkouts recorded in the library's most recent full year
- Access to over three million titles through the Alaska Library Catalog (SirsiDynix), shared with libraries across the state; reciprocal borrowing with nearby Kenai Community Library
- Six-month visitor cards ($25, up to 5 items) let travelers borrow books, DVDs, and access digital resources — and paperbacks can be borrowed on an honor system with no card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Soldotna cardholders can stream, download, and research free through Alaska's shared collections:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Soldotna and Kenai Peninsula residents
- Six-month visitor cards ($25) for non-residents — full digital access included
- Fine-free circulation: books check out 21 days, renewable up to 5 times
- Interlibrary loan via the Alaska Library Catalog (3M+ titles statewide)
- Free Wi-Fi and free public computers with printing
- Free faxing for up to 5 pages
- Scanning services
- Patron purchase suggestions
- Community rooms and conference rooms for reservation
- Basement bookstore (Soldotna Library Friends — monthly sales)
- StoryWalk maintained by Soldotna Library Friends
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program
- Teacher resource support
🎸 Programs
- Bouncing Babies Lapsit & Stay and Play (Wednesdays 10:30–11:30 AM) — Mother Goose on the Loose for birth to 18 months
- Toddler Story Time (Wednesdays 10:30–11:00 AM) — stories, songs, and language-skill activities
- Preschool Story Time (Thursdays 10:30–11:00 AM)
- Lego Club (Tuesdays 4–5 PM, Community Room) — school-age; registration required, 15 seats
- Teen Lounge (Wednesdays 3:30–5 PM, Basement) — video games, board games, crafts, study sessions; ages 13–18
- Summer Reading Program (funded by Soldotna Library Friends)
- Creative Aging Program and Sew Fun at the Library (Friends-funded)
- Movie screenings with complimentary popcorn
- Monthly used book, art, and bake sale — Basement Bookstore (fourth Thursday)
📍 Nearby Libraries on the Kenai Peninsula
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Soldotna Public Library charge overdue fines?
No. The library went fine-free in 2020. There are no overdue charges for late materials. If an item is more than 30 days overdue, a $10 processing fee plus replacement cost applies, but there are no daily fines ever.
Can visitors or non-residents get a library card?
Yes. Travelers can borrow paperback books on an honor system with no card. For full borrowing privileges, a six-month visitor card costs $25 and lets you check out up to 5 items from Soldotna or nearby Kenai libraries, plus access all digital resources including the Alaska Digital Library (Libby), hoopla, and SLED databases.
What is SLED and how do Soldotna patrons access it?
SLED (Statewide Library Electronic Doorway) is Alaska's free digital research portal offering live homework help, NoveList, Oxford Reference, Consumer Health Complete, TumbleBooks, and Alaska's Digital Archives — available to any Alaska resident at lam.alaska.gov/sled. Your Soldotna library card grants access, or Alaska residents can call 1-800-440-2919 for a password.
Does the library have community meeting space?
Yes. The 2014 expansion added community rooms and conference rooms available for public reservation. Room bookings can be made through the library's online calendar at soldotna.libcal.com. The library also hosts a monthly used book and bake sale in the basement bookstore run by Soldotna Library Friends.
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