Clark County Public Library
🏢 Clark County Public Library District · Winchester, Kentucky
Clark County Public Library
From a donated railroad car in 1953 to a 27,200-square-foot community hub on the former Belmont Junior High School site, Clark County Public Library has grown with Winchester — offering genealogy archives reaching back to 1793, a brand-new 2026 bookmobile, a Library of Things, and digital streaming through Hoopla, Libby, and Kanopy.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 370 South Burns Avenue, Winchester, KY 40391
Phone: (859) 744-5661
Website: clarkbooks.org
Plus Code: 869QXRQ6+CM (Winchester, KY)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Clark County Public Library
Clark County Public Library traces its origins to April 30, 1953, when Winchester residents opened the 'Boxcar Library' — a donated railroad car at 23 South Maple Street — after Kentucky Wesleyan College relocated to Owensboro in 1950 and took its Carnegie-funded library building with it. The effort was led by Fine Arts Club member Evelyn Strode, and the library quickly outgrew its railcar home, moving to a converted church in 1958. The current building at 370 South Burns Avenue — on the site of the former Belmont Junior High School — opened December 8, 1998, at 18,200 square feet; a 9,000-square-foot children's wing named the Lynne A. Boxley Library for Young People was added on December 8, 2008, bringing the total to 27,200 square feet. Named for Director Lynn A. Boxley, who led the library from 1959 to 1973 through two relocations, the children's wing now houses story times, programming, and Artful Reading Kits. In May 2026 the library unveiled a new bookmobile — its first in roughly 15 years — to serve rural Clark County residents without transportation to the main branch.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded as the 'Boxcar Library' on April 30, 1953 — a donated railroad car at 23 South Maple Street, organized by Fine Arts Club member Evelyn Strode after Kentucky Wesleyan College took Winchester's Carnegie library when it relocated to Owensboro
- Local History & Genealogy Room holds ~4,000 volumes plus microfilmed Clark County court, marriage, and will records from 1793, Kentucky death certificates 1911–1964, and Winchester Sun archives from the 1860s
- Library of Things includes Wi-Fi hotspots, bakeware, fishing poles, bird-watching kits, a karaoke machine, a record player, a graphing calculator, outdoor games, and 21 Artful Reading Kits for Pre-K through 8th grade
- New bookmobile unveiled May 3, 2026 — first in ~15 years — bringing story times and books to rural Clark County residents unable to reach 370 South Burns Avenue
- Participates in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library of Kentucky, mailing free age-appropriate books monthly to Clark County children from birth through age five
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Winchester cardholders can stream, download, and research free with Clark County's full digital suite:
📚 Services
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Free notary services (advance notice recommended; call 859-744-5661)
- Meeting room rentals for community groups
- Library of Things (bakeware, tools, games, Wi-Fi hotspots, projectors, fishing poles, and more)
- 21 Artful Reading Kits (Pre-K through 8th grade, 28-day checkout)
- Bookmobile and outreach for rural and homebound Clark County residents
- Kentucky Talking Book Library (KTBL) referrals for patrons with print disabilities
- Job assistance and career resources through LearningExpress
- Experience passes (e.g., Lexington Children's Museum admission)
- Test preparation and exam proctoring resources
- Interlibrary loan and WorldCat access
🎸 Programs
- Children's story times (in-branch and via bookmobile)
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (free monthly books for ages 0–5)
- Monthly adult writing group (third Thursday of each month)
- Spice Club (monthly sample packets and recipes for adults)
- Teen programming, YA collections, and mental health resources
- School visits and classroom Book Bin deliveries (biweekly or monthly)
- Community outreach events and bookmobile stops county-wide
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Bluegrass Region
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Winchester · Browse all Kentucky libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What genealogy records can I access at Clark County Public Library for researching local families?
The Local History & Genealogy Room holds approximately 4,000 volumes of family histories, church records, and Kentucky references, plus microfilm of Clark County marriage bonds, court order books, and wills from 1793–1850, civil and criminal court records through the 1970s, Kentucky death certificates (1911–1964), and Winchester Sun archives from the 1860s. Digital genealogy databases include Fold3 (military records), HeritageHub by Newsbank (U.S. obituaries from 1704), and the Draper Manuscript Collection papers related to Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark, and Simon Kenton.
When did Clark County get its first public library, and what was the 'Boxcar Library'?
Clark County's first public library for all ages opened April 30, 1953 — literally in a donated railroad car parked at 23 South Maple Street, which is why locals called it the 'Boxcar Library.' The effort was organized by Fine Arts Club member Evelyn Strode after Kentucky Wesleyan College moved to Owensboro in 1950 and took its Carnegie-funded library with it. The library outgrew the boxcar, moved to a converted church in 1958, and relocated to its current 27,200-square-foot facility on December 8, 1998.
Does the library have a bookmobile, and where does it go?
Yes — the library relaunched its bookmobile in May 2026 after a gap of roughly 15 years. The bookmobile serves rural Clark County residents who have difficulty reaching 370 South Burns Avenue, offering books, audiobooks, and story times at stops across the county. Current stop locations and schedules are posted on the library's social media; you can also call (859) 744-5661 ext. 110 or email outreach@clarkbooks.org.
Who was Lynne Boxley, and what is the children's wing named for her?
The children's wing is the Lynne A. Boxley Library for Young People, named for the library's director from 1959 to 1973, who oversaw two building relocations during her 14-year tenure. Added on December 8, 2008, the 9,000-square-foot wing houses children's collections, programming space for story times and youth events, and 21 Artful Reading Kits for Pre-K through 8th grade (available for 28-day checkout).
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