Eldon Public Library
🏢 Wapello County · ELDON, Iowa
Eldon Public Library
The Eldon Public Library occupies a storied Carnegie building on West Elm Street — just a short walk from the American Gothic House that put this small Iowa town on the national map. It's the community's hub for reading, learning, and connecting in Wapello County.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 2:30pm–6:30pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–6:30pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–6:30pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–6:30pm |
| Friday | 2:30pm–6:30pm |
| Saturday | 10am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 608 W ELM, ELDON, IA 52554
Phone: +1641-652-7517
Website: eldon.lib.ia.us
Plus Code: 86G9WQ9F+VW (ELDON, IA)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Eldon Public Library
Eldon's library traces its roots to a Carnegie grant, and the building it calls home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places — a fitting anchor for a town of roughly 800 that punches well above its weight culturally. The library serves Wapello County residents with a free borrower's card and offers public computers, free Wi-Fi, and a welcoming collection of books, DVDs, and digital titles. Eldon itself is best known as the location of the small Carpenter Gothic cottage that Grant Wood immortalized in his 1930 painting American Gothic, and the library sits in the same walkable downtown core as the American Gothic House Center. Whether you're a local picking up a hold or a visitor exploring the area, the Eldon Public Library is a quiet, friendly stop in the heart of southern Iowa.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Historic Carnegie building on the National Register of Historic Places
- Walking distance from the American Gothic House Center
- Free borrower's card for Wapello County residents
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi available
- Part of the BRIDGES Iowa digital library network for eBooks and audiobooks
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Eldon cardholders get free access to BRIDGES — Iowa's statewide digital lending network.
📚 Services
- Free public computers
- Free Wi-Fi
- Book borrowing and holds
- DVD / audiobook checkout
- Interlibrary loan
- Photocopying
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program
- Children's story time
- Community reading events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Wapello County & Southeast Iowa
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Eldon Public Library building historically significant?
Yes. The Eldon Carnegie Library building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was constructed with a Carnegie grant in the early twentieth century and remains one of the best-preserved examples of the Carnegie library program in southern Iowa.
Can I visit the American Gothic House and the library on the same trip?
Absolutely. The American Gothic House Center — which tells the story of Grant Wood's 1930 painting and the Carpenter Gothic cottage that inspired it — is located in the same compact downtown area as the library, making both an easy combination on a single visit to Eldon.
Who qualifies for a free library card?
Residents of Wapello County receive a free borrower's card. Cardholders from other Iowa counties may also be eligible through Iowa reciprocal borrowing agreements; ask staff for details.
Does the library offer digital borrowing?
Yes. Eldon cardholders can borrow eBooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines through the BRIDGES statewide Overdrive network at bridges.overdrive.com — available anytime from any device.
🖨 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.