Lawrence Public Library
🏢 Northeast Kansas Library System · Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library anchors Vermont Street in the heart of downtown Lawrence, serving the University of Kansas community and beyond with a collection, maker tools, and local-history archives that reflect the city's abolitionist roots.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
| Sunday | 10 AM – 6 PM |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 707 VERMONT STREET, LAWRENCE, KS 66044
Phone: +1-785-843-3833
Website: lawrencefreelibrary.org
Plus Code: 86C6XQC7+83 (LAWRENCE, KS)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lawrence Public Library
Lawrence Public Library has served Douglas County readers since the late 19th century, evolving from a small reading room into a landmark community hub at 707 Vermont Street. The building sits one block from Massachusetts Street, Lawrence's storied main corridor, and draws students, families, and researchers alike. It is a member of the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS), giving cardholders reciprocal borrowing across dozens of regional branches. The library offers extended evening hours four days a week — unusual for a mid-sized Kansas city — and keeps its doors open every day of the week year-round. A strong local-history collection documents Lawrence's founding as a Free-State settlement in 1854 and its role in Bleeding Kansas.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open 7 days a week including evenings Monday through Thursday until 8 PM
- Member of NEKLS — borrow from libraries across northeast Kansas on one card
- Local history collection covering Lawrence's Free-State and Civil War era origins
- Meeting rooms and study spaces available for community use
- Statewide Sunflower eLibrary access — free eBooks and digital magazines for Kansas cardholders
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Lawrence library card unlocks free digital reading and research tools for every Kansas resident:
📚 Services
- Computer & internet access (free)
- Printing, copying & scanning
- Meeting rooms (community booking)
- Local history & genealogy research collection
- Free Wi-Fi in the building
- Homebound delivery service
- Seed library
🎸 Programs
- Story time for toddlers and pre-K children (weekly)
- Summer Reading Program (all ages)
- Book discussion groups for adults
- Teen maker & STEAM programs
- English language learning resources
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Kansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Lawrence Public Library offer a Kansas resident card if I live outside the city?
Yes. Any Kansas resident can obtain a free library card at Lawrence Public Library, and membership in the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) means your card works at participating libraries across the region as well.
Is there parking near the library on Vermont Street?
Street parking is available on Vermont Street and surrounding blocks. The Lawrence Parking Garage on 7th Street is a short walk away and offers hourly and daily rates.
What makes the Lawrence Public Library local-history collection special?
The collection documents Lawrence from its founding in 1854 as a Free-State town through the Quantrill's Raid of 1863, the Civil War era, and into the 20th century — making it a key resource for researchers of Kansas and regional history.
Can I access the library's eBooks without visiting in person?
Yes. With your Lawrence Public Library card you can borrow digital titles through the Sunflower eLibrary (Kansas State Library) and through the NEKLS shared catalog from any internet connection, 24 hours a day.
📜 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.
📅 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.
🌱 This library has a seed library. See how library seed libraries work — borrow free seeds, grow them, and save some to return — and find other libraries with a seed library seed libraries by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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