Altenburg Branch — Riverside Regional Library
🏢 Riverside Regional Library · Altenburg, Missouri
Altenburg Branch — Riverside Regional Library
The Altenburg Branch sits in the heart of one of America's most distinctive German-Lutheran settlements — a village whose Saxon immigrant founders in 1839 would go on to establish the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Serving Perry County residents at 66 Poplar Street, this Riverside Regional Library branch opens Tuesday through Thursday afternoons and Saturday mornings.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 1pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–6pm |
| Thursday | 1pm–6pm |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | 8am–12pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 66 Poplar St, Altenburg, MO 63732
Phone: (573) 824-5267
Website: riversideregionallibrary.org
Plus Code: 869GJCH6+PC (Altenburg, MO)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Altenburg Branch — Riverside Regional Library
Altenburg, Missouri was founded in 1839 when some 700 Saxon Lutherans sailed from Bremen to Perry County in search of religious freedom, naming their new settlement after a town in their homeland of Saxony. Those colonists built a log-cabin college that introduced co-education to the region, established Trinity Lutheran Church, and formed the nucleus of what became the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod — one of the largest Lutheran bodies in the United States. Today the Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg preserves that immigration story. The Altenburg Branch of Riverside Regional Library brings modern library services to this historic community, offering books, free public computers and Wi-Fi, and access to the full Missouri Evergreen shared catalog — letting cardholders borrow from hundreds of Missouri libraries through Libby and hoopla.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Located in Altenburg, founded 1839 by Saxon Lutheran immigrants who established the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
- Branch of Riverside Regional Library, serving Cape Girardeau, Perry, and Scott Counties
- Access to the Missouri Evergreen shared catalog — borrow from hundreds of Missouri public libraries
- Free eBooks and audiobooks with Libby, plus instant borrows via hoopla with no waitlists
- Free public computers, Wi-Fi, and genealogy resources — ideal for researching Perry County's German-Lutheran roots
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Altenburg Branch cardholders get free digital access through Missouri Evergreen and MOREnet statewide programs:
📚 Services
- Book lending and interlibrary loan through Missouri Evergreen (hundreds of member libraries)
- Free public computers and Wi-Fi
- Genealogy and local-history research resources, including HeritageQuest
- Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks via Libby and hoopla
- Reference assistance and reader's advisory
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading program for children and teens
- Story time and youth programming
- Community events and displays
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southeast Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Altenburg · Browse all Missouri libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the connection between Altenburg and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod?
Altenburg was one of seven Perry County colonies founded in 1839 by about 700 Saxon Lutherans who emigrated from Germany to escape state-church control. Those settlers — led by clergy including C.F.W. Walther — established Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg and eventually organized the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in 1847. The Lutheran Heritage Center and Museum in Altenburg preserves that story today.
Which days is the Altenburg Branch open, and do I need a Perry County address to get a card?
The branch is open Tuesday 1–6 pm, Wednesday 12–6 pm, Thursday 1–6 pm, and Saturday 8 am–12 pm; it is closed Monday, Friday, and Sunday. A Riverside Regional Library card is free to any Missouri resident — no Perry County address required. The card also unlocks the statewide Missouri Evergreen shared catalog and digital resources.
Can I borrow items from other Missouri libraries using my Altenburg Branch card?
Yes. Riverside Regional Library participates in Missouri Evergreen, a statewide shared catalog linking hundreds of public libraries across Missouri. With your Altenburg Branch card you can request items from any member library for pickup at the branch, and you can borrow digital titles through Libby and hoopla at any hour.
What genealogy resources are available at the Altenburg Branch?
Through MOREnet's statewide program, cardholders have free online access to HeritageQuest, a genealogy database with census records, family histories, and local archives. The Missouri Digital Heritage database — also via MOREnet — covers local community history that is especially useful for researching Perry County's German-Lutheran settlement and family lines.
📜 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.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.