Hamilton Public Library
🏢 Hamilton Public Library · Hamilton, Missouri
Hamilton Public Library
The Hamilton Public Library shares its home at 312 N Davis Street with the J.C. Penney Museum — a fitting partnership in the Caldwell County town where retail pioneer James Cash Penney was born in 1875 and later donated funds to build the library in his parents' memory.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 312 N Davis Street, HAMILTON, MO 64644
Phone: (816) 583-4832
Website: hamiltonpubliclibrary.com
Plus Code: 86F8P2V2+PQ (HAMILTON, MO)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Hamilton Public Library
James Cash Penney was born near Hamilton, Missouri on September 16, 1875, and his family moved into town when he was three. In 1920 Penney donated $10,000 toward a library building as a memorial to his parents, on condition that Hamilton residents match it with $5,000; the building opened on February 12, 1921. In 1976 the library relocated to its current address at 312 N Davis Street, where it shares space with the J.C. Penney Museum, which houses memorabilia from Penney's early years in Hamilton through his death in 1971. Penney also opened his landmark 500th department store in his hometown. Today the Hamilton Public Library continues to serve Caldwell County residents with books, computers, DVDs, Dungeons and Dragons nights, storytime, and digital access through Libby and cloudLibrary — with extended Thursday hours until 7 p.m. for evening visits.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Home of the J.C. Penney Museum — retail pioneer James Cash Penney was born near Hamilton in 1875 and donated $10,000 to build the original library in 1920
- Penney opened his landmark 500th J.C. Penney department store in his hometown of Hamilton
- Extended Thursday hours until 7 p.m. for after-work visits
- Free fishing poles with tackle boxes available for checkout — a unique community lending item
- Dungeons & Dragons game nights and storytime programs for all ages
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Hamilton cardholders can read, listen, and learn digitally at no charge:
📚 Services
- Book, audiobook, DVD, and magazine lending
- Public computers, printing, and free Wi-Fi
- Free fishing poles with tackle boxes for community checkout
- Library card issuance for Caldwell County and Hamilton area residents
- Interlibrary loan
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Storytime sessions for children
- Dungeons and Dragons game nights
- Summer reading program
- Community board meetings and local events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northwest Missouri
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the J.C. Penney Museum, and why is it in a library?
James Cash Penney was born near Hamilton in 1875 and grew up in town, later becoming the founder of the J.C. Penney retail chain. In 1920 he donated $10,000 to build Hamilton's library as a memorial to his parents, and the library opened in 1921. When the library moved to 312 N Davis Street in 1976, it joined the J.C. Penney Museum, which houses memorabilia from Penney's life in Hamilton through his death in 1971. Visiting the library means stepping into living local history.
Which evening is the library open late?
The library stays open until 7 p.m. on Thursday. Monday through Wednesday and Friday run 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Saturday is 9 a.m.–2 p.m., and the library is closed Sunday.
Does Hamilton Public Library lend anything unusual?
Yes — the library offers free fishing poles with tackle boxes for community checkout, making it a great resource for families exploring the lakes and rivers of Caldwell County. Standard lending includes books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines.
Can I access eBooks with a Hamilton Public Library card?
Yes. The library provides access to both Libby (OverDrive) and cloudLibrary for downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, available free with your library card from the app stores on any device.
🖨 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 runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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