Rae Hobson Memorial Library
🏢 Central Kansas Library System · Republic, Kansas
Rae Hobson Memorial Library
A World War I memorial that became a reading room: the Rae Hobson Memorial Library at 401 Pawnee Ave has served the small north-central Kansas community of Republic since the early twentieth century, honoring a local soldier lost in 1918 while connecting neighbors to books and statewide digital resources.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 1pm–6pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 401 Pawnee Ave, Republic, KS 66964
Phone: (785) 361-2481
Website: raehobson.mykansaslibrary.org
Plus Code: 86F4W5FH+G7 (Republic, KS)
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📖 About Rae Hobson Memorial Library
The Rae Hobson Memorial Library serves Republic, Kansas — a community of about 82 residents (2020 census) in Republic County, situated near the nationally significant Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site. The library is named in memory of Itho Rae Hobson, a young man from Republic City who died on November 6, 1918, while serving in the Students' Army Training Corps during World War I — a death recorded in the Kansas Historical Society's Kansas Soldiers of the Great War database. The naming of a public library in memory of a local WWI casualty was a common way for Kansas communities to honor their fallen neighbors after the Armistice, and the Rae Hobson Memorial Library continues that tradition of civic memory. A member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), the library gives Republic residents access to a shared catalog of more than 300,000 items across 50+ CKLS member libraries in 17 Kansas counties, and is staffed by Librarian Elizabeth Ginther on its two open days each week.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named in memory of Itho Rae Hobson of Republic City, Republic County, who died November 6, 1918 while serving in the Students' Army Training Corps — confirmed in the Kansas Historical Society's Kansas Soldiers of the Great War database
- Member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), serving 17 Kansas counties; patrons can borrow from a shared catalog of more than 300,000 items across 50+ CKLS libraries
- Located in Republic, a community of ~82 people near the Pawnee Indian Museum State Historic Site — one of the most significant pre-contact archaeological sites on the Central Plains
- Kansas Library eCard unlocks free statewide digital resources: cloudLibrary eBooks & audiobooks (250,000+ titles), comics, genealogy databases, and language learning
- Wheelchair-accessible facility at 401 Pawnee Ave, staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays by Librarian Elizabeth Ginther
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Republic cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through Kansas's shared statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Physical book and media lending
- Interlibrary loan through CKLS network
- Kansas Library eCard issuance for statewide digital access
- Access to CKLS Pathfinder shared catalog (300,000+ items, 50+ libraries, 17 counties)
- Wheelchair-accessible facility at 401 Pawnee Ave
- Public library access for northern Republic County residents
🎸 Programs
- Community reading and borrowing programs (contact library for current schedule)
- Interlibrary loan and holds pickup from CKLS member libraries
- Kansas Library eCard enrollment for cloudLibrary and statewide databases
📍 Nearby Libraries in North-Central Kansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Rae Hobson, and why is the library named after him?
The library memorializes Itho Rae Hobson, a young man from Republic City, Republic County, who died on November 6, 1918 — just five days before the Armistice — while serving in the Students' Army Training Corps during World War I. His death is recorded in the Kansas Historical Society's Kansas Soldiers of the Great War database. The library was established as a memorial to him in the community he called home, following a tradition common across Kansas of honoring local WWI casualties with civic institutions.
What days and hours is the Rae Hobson Memorial Library open?
The library is open Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. It is closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Hours are verified via the Central Kansas Library System public library directory (updated May 2026). Call (785) 361-2481 before visiting to confirm current hours or any holiday closures.
Can I borrow books from other Kansas libraries through the Rae Hobson Memorial Library?
Yes. As a member of the Central Kansas Library System (CKLS), the library participates in a shared catalog of more than 300,000 items across 50+ member libraries in 17 Kansas counties. Patrons can request interlibrary loans and pick up holds at the Republic location on Tuesday or Thursday.
What free digital resources can I access with a library card from this library?
Cardholders are eligible for the Kansas Library eCard, which unlocks the State Library of Kansas digital collection — more than 250,000 eBooks and audiobooks through cloudLibrary, Comics Plus for comics and graphic novels, and Kansas Talking Books for patrons with print disabilities. Ask Librarian Elizabeth Ginther to set up your eCard during your next visit.
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