St. Martinville Branch Library
🏢 St. Martin Parish Library · St. Martinville, Louisiana
St. Martinville Branch Library
St. Martinville Branch Library — the headquarters of the St. Martin Parish Library system — stands steps from Bayou Teche in the Acadian heartland, offering extended evening hours, local-history and genealogy resources, and free cloudLibrary digital access to all parish residents.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM – 12 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 201 PORTER STREET, ST. MARTINVILLE, LA 70582
Phone: +1-337-394-2207
Website: stmartinparishlibrary.org
Plus Code: 862C45HC+QJ (ST. MARTINVILLE, LA)
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📖 About St. Martinville Branch Library
St. Martin Parish Library traces its roots to a citizen-led petition drive launched by Edith Steckler in 1949; the first branch opened January 9, 1955, in a former commercial building on South Main Street, with Paul Angelle Jr. cutting the ribbon and the state library providing an initial collection of 8,800 books. The modern system's headquarters moved in April 1994 to its current 14,246-square-foot facility on Porter Street, overlooking Bayou Teche in the heart of St. Martinville — a town founded in 1765 and long celebrated as the setting of Longfellow's poem Evangeline. The parish library system serves all of St. Martin Parish's 55,000-plus residents from this flagship location and satellite branches. The building provides weeknight hours until 8 PM Monday through Thursday, rare for a rural south Louisiana parish, and Saturday morning hours for weekend families.
⭐ What makes this library special
- System headquarters for St. Martin Parish Library — open 8 AM, earlier than most Louisiana branches
- Extended weeknight hours Mon–Thu until 8 PM for after-work and student visits
- Local history & genealogy collection covering Acadian and St. Martin Parish records
- cloudLibrary eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines free with every library card
- Homework Louisiana — free statewide tutoring service for K–12 and college students
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your St. Martin Parish library card opens free digital resources for every age:
📚 Services
- Computer & internet access (free)
- Free public Wi-Fi
- Printing and copying
- Local history & genealogy research collection
- Wi-Fi hotspot lending
- Ask a Librarian / Book a Librarian personal research help
- Talking Books & Braille Library (state program for patrons with visual impairments)
- Virtual library tour available online
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program (all ages)
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library (early literacy for young children)
- Story time for young children
- Seasonal community programs and events
📍 Nearby Libraries in South-Central Louisiana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in ST. MARTINVILLE · Browse all Louisiana libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the St. Martinville Branch Library located?
The branch is at 201 Porter Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582 — beside Bayou Teche, a short walk from the historic Evangeline Oak. You can reach the library at (337) 394-2207 ext. 223.
Does the St. Martin Parish Library have genealogy resources for Acadian and Creole family research?
Yes. The St. Martinville Branch holds a local history and genealogy collection focused on St. Martin Parish, with materials relevant to Acadian, Creole, and other Louisiana lineages. Staff can assist with in-person research requests through the Ask a Librarian service.
How do I get a cloudLibrary card to borrow digital books?
Any St. Martin Parish resident can register for a free library card in person at 201 Porter Street. Once registered, download the free cloudLibrary app and log in with your library card number to start borrowing eBooks and audiobooks immediately.
When did St. Martin Parish Library first open?
The first branch opened on January 9, 1955, in St. Martinville — the result of a community petition campaign begun in 1949 by local civic leader Edith Steckler and the Business and Professional Woman's Club of St. Martinville.
📜 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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