Colton Public Library
🏢 City of Colton · Colton, California
Colton Public Library
Colton Public Library serves the Inland Empire's original 'Hub City' at 656 N. 9th Street, staying open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday for commuters and students who need after-work access. The city's first library opened in an 1908 Carnegie building — now the Colton Area Museum — and the current modern branch has been the community anchor since 1982.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 656 N. 9TH ST., COLTON, CA 92324
Phone: +1909-370-5083
Website: ci.colton.ca.us
Plus Code: 85643MCH+M8 (COLTON, CA)
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📖 About Colton Public Library
Colton Public Library is the municipal library of Colton, California, a city of about 54,000 in San Bernardino County that earned the nickname 'Hub City' for its historic role as one of Southern California's busiest railroad junctions. The city was named for David Douty Colton, vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and incorporated in 1887 after the railway arrived in 1875. The library traces its roots to an 1908 Carnegie building at 380 N. La Cadena Drive — an Ionic-columned Neoclassical structure listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, now home to the Colton Area Museum. When the collection outgrew that landmark, the library relocated to its current 656 N. 9th Street facility in 1982. Today the library provides public computers, free Wi-Fi, children's and teen programming, and access to the Southern California Digital Library's eBook and audiobook collection through the Libby app.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open until 8 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday — convenient after-work and after-school hours in the Inland Empire
- City library since 1887 incorporation; original 1908 Carnegie building (now Colton Area Museum) is on the National Register of Historic Places
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Children's and teen programs including storytimes, summer reading and homework help
- Free eBooks and audiobooks via the Southern California Digital Library (Libby app) with a Colton card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Colton cardholders access digital content free through the Southern California Digital Library and statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access and free Wi-Fi
- Print, copy and fax services
- Free library card for Colton residents and San Bernardino County cardholders
- Interlibrary loan
- Reference and reader's advisory
- Meeting and program space
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and early-literacy programs
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Teen events and homework help
- Adult literacy and ESL resources
- Community events and author programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in San Bernardino County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Colton's original Carnegie library building?
The 1908 Carnegie library at 380 N. La Cadena Drive — a Neoclassical building with Ionic columns funded by a $10,000 Carnegie grant — was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. When the collection outgrew it, the library moved to its current 656 N. 9th Street location in 1982, and the historic Carnegie building became the Colton Area Museum.
What are the latest evening hours at Colton Public Library?
The library stays open until 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday, Thursday and Friday run 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday is 10 a.m.–2 p.m., and the library is closed on Sunday.
Can I borrow eBooks with a Colton library card?
Yes. Colton cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks free through the Southern California Digital Library using the Libby app on any smartphone, tablet or computer. hoopla Digital is also available for instant, no-waitlist borrowing of movies, music and more.
Why is Colton called the 'Hub City'?
Colton earned the 'Hub City' nickname because of its historic role as a major Southern California railroad junction. The famous Colton Crossing was one of the busiest at-grade rail crossings in the United States until an elevated flyover replaced it in 2013.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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