Bell County Public Libraries — Middlesboro Branch
🏢 Bell County Public Library District · Middlesboro, Kentucky
Bell County Public Libraries — Middlesboro Branch
The Middlesboro Branch of Bell County Public Libraries anchors the heart of a historic coal-country city tucked inside a rare meteor-impact crater, offering evening hours five days a week and one of eastern Kentucky's richest genealogy and local-history collections.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–7pm |
| Thursday | 10am–7pm |
| Friday | 10am–7pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 126 SOUTH 20TH STREET, MIDDLESBORO, KY 40965
Phone: +1606-248-4812
Website: bellcpl.org
Plus Code: 868RJ72P+MH (MIDDLESBORO, KY)
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📖 About Bell County Public Libraries — Middlesboro Branch
Bell County Public Libraries serves Bell County and the Tri-State region from two branches — Middlesboro and Pineville — plus a Bookmobile that reaches the county's most rural hollows. The Middlesboro Branch at 126 S. 20th Street is the district headquarters, housing a deep genealogy collection painstakingly built over more than five decades, including Ancestry Library access, Heritage Quest, Kentucky Vital Records, oral histories from Bell County residents, and the landmark two-volume Fuson's History of Bell County. Middlesboro itself sits inside the Middlesboro Basin, one of the few cities in the world built entirely within a confirmed meteorite impact crater — a point of local pride the staff will happily discuss. The district has run more than 500 community programs annually, including storytimes, STEM workshops, chair yoga and digital-literacy classes, and the library stays open until 7 p.m. Monday through Friday so working families can visit after school and work.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Genealogy powerhouse — Ancestry Library, Heritage Quest, Kentucky Vital Records Index, oral histories and the two-volume Fuson's History of Bell County, all in one place
- Middlesboro sits inside a confirmed meteorite impact crater — one of the few cities in the world built entirely within a meteor basin
- 51-year legacy of local-history preservation, with records documenting Bell County's churches, funeral homes, newspapers and families
- Bookmobile & outreach service extends library access throughout rural Bell County hollows
- Evening hours Mon–Fri until 7 pm, making it one of the most accessible libraries in southeastern Kentucky
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Bell County cardholders get free 24/7 access to Kentucky's statewide digital collections:
📚 Services
- Genealogy research collection — Ancestry Library, Heritage Quest, census data, cemetery records
- Local history archives with oral histories, yearbooks, newspaper files and Bell County Historical Society materials
- Community room available for meetings and events
- Interlibrary loan (ILL) through Kentucky's statewide network
- Public computers, printing and free Wi-Fi
- Bookmobile service throughout rural Bell County
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Storytime for toddlers, preschoolers and home-schooled children
- Chair yoga classes for adults
- STEM workshops and digital-literacy programs
- Job-skills and career-resource programs
- Book clubs and cultural events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeastern Kentucky
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in MIDDLESBORO · Browse all Kentucky libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What genealogy resources are available at the Middlesboro Branch?
The library offers in-branch access to Ancestry Library Edition, Heritage Quest, the Kentucky Vital Records Index, Bell County cemetery records, oral-history recordings with longtime residents, copies of the two-volume Fuson's History of Bell County, and high-school yearbook archives. Staff can assist with research during any open hour.
Is it true Middlesboro is built inside a meteor crater?
Yes — Middlesboro sits within the Middlesboro Basin, a confirmed meteorite impact crater roughly 5 miles across formed hundreds of millions of years ago. The city is one of only a handful in the world built entirely inside such a feature, and the library staff can point you toward local geological and historical materials on the topic.
Does Bell County Public Library offer a Bookmobile for rural areas?
Yes. The district operates a Bookmobile that circulates throughout rural Bell County, bringing books, digital-resource sign-up help and outreach programming to communities that are farther from either the Middlesboro or Pineville branches.
Can I get a free library card if I live outside Bell County?
Bell County Public Libraries issues free cards to all Bell County residents. Non-residents and those in the broader Tri-State region (southeastern Kentucky, southwestern Virginia, northeastern Tennessee) should ask staff about reciprocal-borrowing options at the circulation desk or by calling (606) 248-4812.
📜 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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