Lewistown Public Library
🏢 Montana Shared Catalog · Lewistown, Montana
Lewistown Public Library
Built in 1905 with a $10,000 Andrew Carnegie grant and clad in native local sandstone, the Lewistown Public Library anchors 701 West Main Street in the geographic heart of Montana — a century-old Carnegie landmark housing the Central Montana Archives and a full slate of modern digital resources.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 701 West Main Street, Lewistown, MT 59457
Phone: (406) 538-5212
Website: lewistownlibrary.org
Plus Code: 85VG3H69+WV (Lewistown, MT)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lewistown Public Library
The Lewistown Public Library traces its roots to 1897, when the community established its first lending library with just 269 books in a corner of a millinery shop on Main Street. Eight years later, a $10,000 Carnegie grant made a permanent home possible: the 1905 building at 701 West Main Street, constructed from the warm native sandstone quarried in the surrounding Judith Basin — the same stone used for many of Lewistown's historic downtown structures. A lower-level addition completed in 1990 expanded the building without disturbing the original Carnegie facade. The library sits directly across from the Fergus County Courthouse and serves Lewistown — the county seat — and the broader Judith Basin region. Among its distinctive holdings is the Central Montana Archives, a collection of historical photographs, maps, newspaper microfilm and family history materials accessible through the Montana History Portal and through on-site research with librarian supervision. Patrons with a library card can also tap HeritageQuest for genealogy research, and the modern digital shelf includes Libby for eBooks and hoopla for always-available audiobooks, movies and comics. Meeting room, public computers, laptops, mobile hot spots, projectors and printing round out a full-service county library.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 1905 Carnegie library built with a $10,000 grant — constructed from native Judith Basin sandstone, one of Montana's finest small-town Carnegie buildings
- Library founded in 1897 with 269 books in a millinery shop — now in its permanent Carnegie home across from the Fergus County Courthouse
- Central Montana Archives: historical photos, maps, microfilm newspapers and family history materials, searchable through the Montana History Portal
- Circulating equipment loans — laptops, mobile hot spots, projectors and a projector screen available to cardholders 18+
- Free public meeting room for up to 30 people, available to community groups by 48-hour advance reservation
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lewistown cardholders can borrow and stream free through the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Central Montana Archives — historical photos, maps, newspaper microfilm and family history (supervised on-site access)
- Public computers (3 adult, 2 youth) with internet access
- Free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and scanning (via Princh remote-print technology)
- Circulating equipment: laptops, mobile hot spots, projectors and screen (cardholders 18+)
- Free public meeting room (up to 30 people, 48-hour advance reservation required)
- Interlibrary loan through the Montana Shared Catalog network
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for children ages 0–5
🎸 Programs
- Books & Babies storytime program
- Summer Reading Program and reading challenges
- Book club and adult programming
- "In the Stacks" library podcast
- Youth programs including storytimes and reading events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Central Montana
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Lewistown Public Library a Carnegie library?
Yes. In 1905, industrialist Andrew Carnegie provided a $10,000 grant to construct a permanent library building at 701 West Main Street. The structure was built from native sandstone quarried near Lewistown, giving it a distinctive warm-stone appearance unique among Montana's Carnegie libraries. A lower-level addition was completed in 1990 to expand the space while preserving the original facade.
What is the Central Montana Archives, and how can I access it?
The Central Montana Archives is the library's local-history and genealogy collection, holding historical photographs, maps, newspaper microfilm and family history documents from the Judith Basin region. Many materials are digitized and searchable through the Montana History Portal online. On-site access to archival materials requires librarian supervision; contact the library at (406) 538-5212 to plan a research visit.
What are the library's hours and why is it closed on Monday?
The library is open Tuesday through Friday 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday. This schedule is common among smaller Montana public libraries that concentrate service hours across five days for maximum staffing coverage.
Can I borrow a laptop or mobile hot spot from the library?
Yes. The Lewistown Public Library offers circulating loans of laptops (2 available), mobile hot spots (5 available), projectors (2) and a projector screen to cardholders who are 18 or older, have had their card for at least 60 days, and have no outstanding fines. Ask staff for availability and loan terms.
📜 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.