Lowell Public Library
🏢 Evergreen Indiana · Lowell, Indiana
Lowell Public Library
The Lowell Public Library has grown from a 500-book subscription collection in 1904 to a three-location system anchoring northwest Indiana's Lake County — its current 1505 E. Commercial Avenue home, opened in 1993, serves the towns of Lowell, Schneider and Shelby with extended weeknight hours and a full digital catalog through Evergreen Indiana.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1505 E. Commercial Avenue, Lowell, IN 46356
Phone: (219) 696-7704
Website: lowellpl.lib.in.us
Plus Code: 86HJ7HRV+CR (Lowell, IN)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lowell Public Library
The Lowell Public Library serves Lowell and surrounding communities in Lake County, Indiana, near the Illinois border in the Chicago metropolitan area. The library's history stretches back to 1904, when it began as a small subscription library of 500 books. By 1917 it had organized into a formal institution, though housed modestly on the second floor of a hat shop in Lowell. The landmark step came in 1920 when the town established a true public library and erected a Carnegie library building on the town square. The collection outgrew that building, leading to a new facility in 1969 and the move to the current address at 1505 E. Commercial Avenue on November 8, 1993. Today the system operates three locations — the main branch in Lowell, the Schneider Branch (24002 Parrish Ave., Schneider) and the Shelby Branch (23323 Shelby Rd., Shelby) — and belongs to Evergreen Indiana, connecting cardholders to millions of items across more than 130 statewide member libraries. Digital resources include Libby, hoopla, Kanopy and INSPIRE.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Carnegie roots: a Carnegie library building was erected on the town square in 1920, transitioning Lowell from a subscription library (1904) to a true public institution
- Three-location system serving Lowell, Schneider and Shelby in Lake County
- Current building opened November 8, 1993 at 1505 E. Commercial Avenue after two prior relocations
- Self-serve pick-up lockers and proctoring services available at the main branch
- Evergreen Indiana member: one card unlocks items from 130+ Indiana libraries
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lowell cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through the library's digital collections and Indiana's statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Three branches: Lowell Main, Schneider Branch & Shelby Branch
- Self-serve pick-up lockers at the main branch
- Study rooms and meeting spaces for reservation
- Public computers, Wi-Fi and wireless printing
- Copying, scanning, faxing & proctoring services
- Historical research resources: yearbooks, obituaries & local archives
- Interlibrary loan through Evergreen Indiana
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth activities
- Coffee & Conversation adult gatherings
- Reptile Show and educational presentations
- Adult coloring sessions
- Teen activities and programming
- Summer reading challenge
📍 Nearby Libraries in Lake & LaPorte Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Lowell Public Library go from a hat shop to a Carnegie building?
The library began in 1904 as a small subscription collection of 500 books. By 1917 it had organized as a formal institution, albeit housed on the second floor of Lizzie Davis' hat shop in Lowell. The pivotal change came in 1920 when the town established a true public library and erected a Carnegie library building on the town square — funded by Carnegie philanthropy, as were hundreds of Indiana libraries at that time. The library later moved to a new building in 1969 and to its current location at 1505 E. Commercial Avenue in 1993.
Does Lowell Public Library have branches in nearby towns?
Yes. The system operates three locations: the Main Branch at 1505 E. Commercial Ave in Lowell; the Schneider Branch at 24002 Parrish Ave in Schneider (phone 219-552-1000); and the Shelby Branch at 23323 Shelby Rd in Shelby (phone 219-552-0809). Branch hours are shorter than the main location; contact each branch for current schedules.
Can I pick up holds without coming inside the library?
Yes. The Lowell main branch offers self-serve pick-up lockers, allowing cardholders to retrieve requested items without staff assistance — a convenient option for patrons with limited time.
What is INSPIRE and how do Lowell cardholders access it?
INSPIRE is Indiana's Virtual Library, a suite of research databases funded by the Indiana General Assembly and provided free to all Indiana residents. Resources include Academic Search Complete, Consumer Reports, genealogy databases and more. Lowell cardholders can access INSPIRE remotely with their library card number; Indiana residents without a card can also access select INSPIRE resources directly at inspire.in.gov.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
🖨 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 has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.