Dillon Public Library
🏢 Dillon Public Library · Dillon, Montana
Dillon Public Library
Dillon Public Library occupies one of Montana's most characterful Carnegie buildings — a stone-clad 1901 structure at 121 South Idaho Street featuring a turret funded personally by founding librarian Mary Hooker and four gargoyles, two of them named: 'Afternoon Happy' at the front south corner and 'Grumpy Morning' at the front east corner. Open Tuesday evenings until 9 p.m., the library serves southwest Montana's Beaverhead County with a seed library, makerspace kits, Montana Library2Go, and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for young readers.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 11am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 121 South Idaho Street, Dillon, MT 59725
Phone: (406) 683-4544
Website: dillonpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 85Q96986+FW (Dillon, MT)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Dillon Public Library
Dillon Public Library traces its roots to the 1880s, when Mary Hooker established Dillon's first library from her personal book collection, connecting the town's earliest readers through the Shakespeare Club — the second-oldest continuing book club in Montana. When Andrew Carnegie granted $7,100 for a permanent building in 1901, it was completed at a final cost of $8,600. The stone was quarried northwest of Dillon by Katie Fitzsimmons, a woman miner. Hooker personally paid for the distinctive turret room that Carnegie initially refused to fund, ensuring the building would have its signature silhouette. The four gargoyles — 'Afternoon Happy' (front south), 'Grumpy Morning' (front east) and two unnamed rear figures — have watched over 121 South Idaho Street for more than 120 years. Today the library serves Beaverhead County residents with a circulating seed library, makerspace kits for checkout, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library for young children, student proctoring services, and Montana's statewide digital platforms including Library2Go and the Montana Memory Project.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1901 Carnegie building funded with a $7,100 grant — stone quarried northwest of Dillon by woman miner Katie Fitzsimmons and completed for $8,600
- Distinctive turret funded personally by founding librarian Mary Hooker after Carnegie refused — gives the building its signature silhouette
- Four gargoyles guard the corners: 'Afternoon Happy' (front south) and 'Grumpy Morning' (front east) are named; two rear gargoyles remain unnamed
- Seed Library circulating collection and makerspace kits for checkout — practical resources for gardeners and makers in Beaverhead County
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library sends free books to enrolled young children; Tuesday evenings open until 9 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Dillon cardholders can borrow digitally, study online, and explore Montana's history free through statewide resources:
📚 Services
- Seed Library — circulating seed collection for Beaverhead County gardeners
- Makerspace kits for checkout (creative and STEM tools to use at home)
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library — free books mailed to enrolled young children
- Student proctoring services ($5/hour) for remote exams
- Six public computers and free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Wi-Fi hotspot checkout for 7-day home lending
- MontanaLibrary2Go digital lending (eBooks, audiobooks via Libby/OverDrive)
- Montana Natural Heritage Program and newspaper archives access
🎸 Programs
- Dolly Parton Imagination Library — free book enrollment for young children
- Summer reading program for children and families
- Community events and author programming
- Adult learning and resume-building resources
- Seed Library programming for community gardeners
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Montana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story behind the turret and gargoyles on Dillon Public Library?
The library's 1901 Carnegie building is one of Montana's most distinctive: Andrew Carnegie approved a $7,100 grant for a plain building, but founding librarian Mary Hooker personally paid to add the turret he initially refused to fund. The four gargoyles around the building have acquired names — 'Afternoon Happy' at the front south corner and 'Grumpy Morning' at the front east corner; the two rear gargoyles remain unnamed, as there was no budget to commission names for them.
Does Dillon Public Library have a seed library?
Yes — the library circulates a seed collection allowing Beaverhead County gardeners to check out seeds at no charge. The library also offers makerspace kits for checkout, putting creative and STEM tools into the hands of makers of all ages.
What are Dillon Public Library's hours, and is it open late any evenings?
The library is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Friday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Tuesday is the late night — the library stays open until 9 p.m. It is closed on Sunday.
Is there a program for young children at Dillon Public Library?
Yes — the library participates in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which mails a free, age-appropriate book each month to enrolled children from birth to age five in Beaverhead County. The library also runs a summer reading program and community events for families.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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