Appleton City Public Library — Appleton City, Missouri
🏢 Appleton City Public Library · Appleton City, Missouri
Appleton City Public Library
Established in 1871 as a condition of renaming the town for its benefactor, the Appleton City Public Library is one of Missouri's oldest continuously operating libraries — now housed in the Charles Dingus Memorial Building donated in the library's honor in 1967.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | Closed |
| Thursday | 10:30 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 105 W FOURTH ST, APPLETON CITY, MO 64724
Phone: +1 660-476-5513
Website: acmopl.lib.mo.us
Plus Code: 86C75XRC+6M (APPLETON CITY, MO)
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📖 About Appleton City Public Library
The Appleton City Public Library has a founding story unlike almost any other in Missouri. When W.H. Appleton arrived in what was then Arlington, Missouri, he struck an unusual deal with the community: rename the town after him, and he would donate a library worth $1,000. The town accepted. In 1871 — making it the third-oldest operating library in Missouri — the library opened with roughly 500 books and $300 toward a small white-pine building on the city park's western edge. Without paid staff, a city clerk opened it on Saturday afternoons. The collection languished until the Appleton City Library Association revived operations in the 1920s. Tax support began in 1965, and in 1967 Phillip Dingus donated the building at 105 West Fourth Street — renamed the Charles Dingus Memorial Building — where the library has operated ever since. Today, under Director Heather Setzer (appointed 2024), the library offers computers, Wi-Fi, DVD lending, scanning, and digital resources for St. Clair County patrons.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1871 — the third-oldest operating public library in the state of Missouri
- Unique origin story: the entire town was renamed 'Appleton City' in exchange for a library donation
- Housed in the Charles Dingus Memorial Building, donated in 1967 — a library that has outlasted multiple buildings
- Children's Story Hour every Monday at 11:00 AM for ages 5 and under
- Wolfner Library access — free audiobooks and Braille materials for patrons with visual or physical disabilities
- Thursday evening hours (until 7 PM) accommodate working patrons
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free Appleton City library card connects you to Missouri statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Free library card for Appleton City residents ($8/year for non-residents)
- Public computers with internet access and Wi-Fi
- Printing, scanning, copying, and fax services
- DVD lending collection
- Community room reservation for local groups
- Wolfner Library access for patrons with disabilities
- Book renewals and holds by phone or online
🎸 Programs
- Story Hour — Mondays at 11:00 AM for children ages 5 and under
- Summer Reading Program (seasonal)
- Community room events and local gatherings
📍 Nearby Libraries in Western Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in APPLETON CITY · Browse all Missouri libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Appleton City, Missouri named after a library donor?
In the early 1870s, W.H. Appleton offered to donate a library valued at $1,000 to the community then known as Arlington — on the condition that the town rename itself in his honor. The residents agreed, and the name 'Appleton City' was formalized. The library Appleton funded, opened in 1871, is now the third-oldest continuously operating public library in Missouri.
Does Appleton City Public Library have evening hours for working residents?
Yes. The library stays open until 7:00 PM on Thursdays (10:30 AM–7:00 PM), making it accessible for patrons who work during standard daytime hours. Monday and Tuesday hours are 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. The library is closed Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Is the library accessible for patrons with visual or physical disabilities?
Yes. Appleton City Public Library provides access to Missouri's Wolfner Talking Book & Braille Library, which sends free audiobooks, Braille materials, and compatible playback devices by mail to qualifying Missouri residents. Ask library staff to help with enrollment.
Can non-Appleton City residents get a library card?
Yes. Non-residents of Appleton City can obtain a library card for $8 per year. Residents of Appleton City receive free library cards. Cards are issued in person on your first visit to the library at 105 W. Fourth Street.
🖨 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.
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