New Castle Public Library
🏢 New Castle County Library System · New Castle, Delaware
New Castle Public Library
Rooted in a subscription library organized in 1811, the New Castle Public Library is one of Delaware's oldest, serving the historic riverfront town from 424 Delaware Street and staying open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 2pm–9pm |
| Thursday | 2pm–9pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 424 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720
Phone: (302) 328-1995
Website: newcastlelibrary.lib.de.us
Plus Code: 87F6MC6M+9M (New Castle, DE)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About New Castle Public Library
The New Castle Public Library is a contract library of the New Castle County Library System serving the historic town of New Castle, Delaware. Its roots reach back to the New Castle Library Company, organized in 1811 and incorporated in 1812 — one of the earliest libraries in the state — which operated as a private subscription library before transitioning to public status in 1942 with state aid. In 1955 the Trustees of the New Castle Common took over operation to secure a public library, and a mid-century building opened at Fifth and Delaware Streets. Following the State's Master Plan for Libraries, the renovated and expanded building reopened in March 2010, marking 200 years since the library's founding. Today it lends across all ages, keeps a specialized New Castle history collection, and connects patrons to the shared statewide Delaware Library Catalog.
⭐ What makes this library special
- One of Delaware's oldest libraries, tracing to the New Castle Library Company organized in 1811 and incorporated in 1812
- Renovated and expanded building reopened in March 2010 — the library's bicentennial year
- Specialized local-history collection documenting the historic town of New Castle
- Museum passes, meeting-room space, wireless printing and public computers
- Part of the shared Delaware Library Catalog — one card borrows from every Delaware public library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
New Castle cardholders can stream, research and download free through Delaware's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Specialized New Castle local-history collection
- Museum passes for cardholders
- Meeting-room space for community groups
- Wireless printing and public computers
- Free Wi-Fi on site
- Interlibrary loan across the Delaware Library Catalog
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen programs and activities
- Adult programs and workshops
- Community events on the library calendar
- New Castle Library Friends book sales and fundraisers
📍 Nearby Libraries in New Castle County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in New Castle · Browse all Delaware libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the New Castle Public Library?
It is one of the oldest libraries in Delaware. The New Castle Library Company was organized in 1811 and incorporated in 1812, operating for over a century as a private subscription library before it became a public library in 1942. The current renovated and expanded building reopened in March 2010 — exactly 200 years after the library's founding.
Which nights is the library open late?
The library stays open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Monday and Tuesday run from 10 a.m., while Wednesday and Thursday open at 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday are 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and the library is closed on Sunday.
Does the New Castle Public Library have local-history resources?
Yes. Given the town's colonial roots, the library maintains a specialized collection on New Castle history, and cardholders can also use Ancestry Library Edition in the building for genealogy research.
Can my New Castle card borrow from other Delaware libraries?
Yes. New Castle Public Library is part of the shared Delaware Library Catalog, so one Delaware library card lets you search, request and borrow items from every public library in the state and pick them up at New Castle.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📜 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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