Lakeland Public Library
🏢 Polk County Library Cooperative · Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland Public Library
Overlooking Lake Morton in downtown Lakeland, the Lakeland Public Library is the city's public library and part of the Polk County Library Cooperative — open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with Sunday afternoon hours, plus two branches across town.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1:30pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 100 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801
Phone: (863) 834-4280
Website: lakelandgov.net
Plus Code: 76WW23P2+X5 (Lakeland, FL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lakeland Public Library
The Lakeland Public Library is the public library of Lakeland, Florida, in Polk County. Its roots go back to 1912, when the Women's Club of Lakeland organized and ran the community's first library; in 1923 the club lobbied the city to buy lakefront land on Lake Morton, and a Mediterranean Revival building designed by architect Franklin Adams Jr. opened January 6, 1927 (now the Park Trammell Building). The main library moved to its current site at 100 Lake Morton Drive on April 20, 1966, expanded in the 1980s, and completed a renovation in January 2025 that added a multi-use room called The Commons. Operated by the City of Lakeland and a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative since 1996, the library shares a countywide catalog, so one card borrows across Polk County. The system also runs two branches: the Larry R. Jackson Branch on North Florida Avenue and the Kelly Branch inside the Kelly Recreation Complex.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Historic Lake Morton main library, renovated in January 2025 with a new multi-use room called The Commons
- Part of the Polk County Library Cooperative — one card borrows from libraries across Polk County
- Larry R. Jackson Branch (1700 N. Florida Ave) named for the Black attorney and NAACP leader who championed library access in North Lakeland
- Kelly Branch, opened September 2023 inside the Kelly Recreation Complex, with Chromebooks and materials for adults and children
- Open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, plus Sunday afternoons from 1:30 to 5 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lakeland cardholders can stream, download and research free with their PCLC card:
📚 Services
- Countywide borrowing through the Polk County Library Cooperative shared catalog
- Two branch locations (Larry R. Jackson Branch and Kelly Branch)
- Public computers, Chromebooks, printing & free Wi-Fi
- eBooks, audiobooks, magazines & streaming media (Libby, hoopla, Freegal)
- The Commons multi-use meeting and program room at the main library
- Children's and youth collections and study space overlooking Lake Morton
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes
- Summer reading program
- Youth and family events at the Larry R. Jackson Branch
- Adult and community programs in The Commons
- Year-round programming for all ages
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Lakeland Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the main Lakeland Public Library, and what are its hours?
The main library sits at 100 Lake Morton Drive in downtown Lakeland, right on Lake Morton. It's open 9 a.m.–7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1:30 p.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday. You can reach it at (863) 834-4280.
What other Lakeland Public Library locations are there besides the main branch?
The system runs two branches. The Larry R. Jackson Branch at 1700 N. Florida Avenue opened in 1995 and was renamed in 1998 for the attorney and NAACP leader who fought for a library in North Lakeland. The Kelly Branch opened in September 2023 inside the Kelly Recreation Complex and offers Chromebooks plus collections for adults and children.
Does a Lakeland library card work at other Polk County libraries?
Yes. Lakeland Public Library has been a member of the Polk County Library Cooperative since 1996, so a single card lets you borrow, place holds and return materials at cooperative libraries across Polk County, and access the shared digital collection on Libby, hoopla and Freegal.
How old is the Lakeland Public Library building on Lake Morton?
The library's origins date to 1912 with the Women's Club of Lakeland, and its first purpose-built home — a Mediterranean Revival building by architect Franklin Adams Jr. — opened in 1927 as the Park Trammell Building. The library moved to its current Lake Morton Drive location in 1966, expanded in the 1980s, and completed a renovation in January 2025 that added The Commons multi-use room.
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