Clinton Public Library
🏢 RiverShare Libraries · Clinton, Iowa
Clinton Public Library
Clinton's public library is a 1904 Andrew Carnegie building — a Beaux-Arts limestone landmark on the National Register of Historic Places — serving the Mississippi River city from 306 8th Avenue South, with a second location, the Lyons Branch, on the city's north side.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 306 8th Avenue South, Clinton, IA 52732
Phone: (563) 242-8441
Website: clintonpubliclibrary.us
Plus Code: 86HFRRQ5+7H (Clinton, IA)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📍 Plan your visit
🚉 Getting there
306 8th Ave S, Clinton, IA 52732. Get transit & driving directions → (live subway, bus & car routes).
🚘 Parking
Free parking lot, free street parking nearby.
♿ Accessibility
Includes wheelchair-accessible entrance, accessible parking, accessible restroom, accessible seating.
🛀 Amenities
Public restroom, baby changing table.
⭐ Visitor rating
4.5 / 5 from 68 Google reviews.
🕑 Best time to go
Usually calmest soon after opening; busiest around 3 pm.
Visit details from the library’s Google Business Profile, verified October 2026 — confirm on official page before a special-date trip.
📖 About Clinton Public Library
The Clinton Public Library is the free public library of Clinton, Iowa, the Clinton County seat on the Mississippi River. Its main building was constructed in 1903–1904 with a grant from steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, designed in the Beaux-Arts style by the Chicago firm Patton & Miller and built by Daniel Haring of cut and dressed limestone. The two-story structure sits atop a raised basement, with a rear addition housing the main two-level stack area; it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 1983. Beyond the downtown Carnegie building, the library operates the Lyons Branch on the north side of the city in the historic Lyons district. Clinton Public Library is a member of RiverShare, a consortium of public libraries in eastern Iowa and western Illinois that share a single catalog, so a Clinton card reaches materials across the whole RiverShare network as well as Iowa's statewide resource-sharing services.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1904 Andrew Carnegie library — a Beaux-Arts limestone building designed by Chicago's Patton & Miller and built by Daniel Haring
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 1983
- Two locations: the downtown Carnegie main library at 306 8th Avenue South plus the Lyons Branch on the city's north side
- Member of RiverShare, a shared-catalog consortium of eastern-Iowa & western-Illinois public libraries
- Connected to Iowa's statewide services — Bridges eLibrary (Libby) and SILO interlibrary loan
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Clinton cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through RiverShare and Iowa's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Two locations: downtown Carnegie main library & the Lyons Branch
- RiverShare shared catalog holds & interlibrary loan
- Public computers, printing & free Wi-Fi
- Local history & genealogy resources for Clinton and the Lyons district
- Meeting and study spaces
- Online learning and research databases
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes
- Summer reading program
- Family and all-ages programming
- Adult and community events
- Local history and genealogy assistance
📍 Nearby Libraries in Eastern Iowa
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Clinton Public Library's historic building?
The main library is a 1903–1904 Beaux-Arts limestone building designed by the Chicago architectural firm Patton & Miller and funded by Andrew Carnegie. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 1983, making it one of Clinton's recognized architectural landmarks.
Is the Lyons Branch still a lending library?
Not in its former role. In December 2023 the Lyons Branch on the city's north side was repurposed, with its collections consolidated into the main downtown Carnegie library; the Lyons building now serves as a Friends of the Library used bookstore and meeting space rather than a circulating branch. Most borrowing, programs and services are centered at the main library at 306 8th Avenue South.
Is the Clinton Public Library a Carnegie library?
Yes. The main library at 306 8th Avenue South was built in 1903–1904 with a grant from Andrew Carnegie. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by the Chicago firm Patton & Miller, built of cut and dressed limestone by Daniel Haring, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 23, 1983.
Does Clinton Public Library have more than one location?
Yes. In addition to the downtown Carnegie main library at 306 8th Avenue South, the library operates the Lyons Branch on the north side of Clinton in the historic Lyons district. Check the library's website for current Lyons Branch hours before visiting.
What are the Clinton Public Library's hours?
The main library is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Sunday. Hours can change for holidays, staff in-service days and maintenance, so check the library's website or call before a special trip.
What is RiverShare and how does it help Clinton borrowers?
Clinton Public Library belongs to RiverShare, a consortium of public libraries across eastern Iowa and western Illinois that share one catalog and one library card. That means a Clinton cardholder can search and request materials from any RiverShare member library and pick them up in Clinton.
📜 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.
🖨 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.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
