Hoesch Memorial Public Library
🏢 Harlan County · Alma, Nebraska
Hoesch Memorial Public Library
Built by a family's gift to honor two of their own, Hoesch Memorial Public Library has been Alma's community anchor since 1978 — a quiet place to study, discover, and connect in the heart of Harlan County.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1119 SECOND STREET, ALMA, NE 68920
Phone: (308) 928-2600
Website: hoeschmemoriallibrary.my.canva.site
Plus Code: 86G23JXJ+Q6 (ALMA, NE)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Hoesch Memorial Public Library
Hoesch Memorial Public Library was built and dedicated in 1978 as a memorial to Mr. and Mrs. Karl Hoesch by their son, Mr. Albert Hoesch, replacing the town's earlier Carnegie Library. The building stands in Alma's City Park at 1119 Second Street, serving the agricultural community at the center of Harlan County in south-central Nebraska. The library's collection spans more than 18,600 adult, young adult, and children's books, DVDs, audiobooks, and periodicals. Cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Nebraska Library Commission's NebraskAccess portal and Libby by OverDrive, and the library provides five public computers with broadband internet, a photocopier, and a meeting room for community gatherings. Thursday evening hours until 8:00 PM offer a convenient window for working residents to visit after hours.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Built 1978 by the Hoesch family as a lasting community memorial in Alma's City Park
- Collection of 18,600+ books, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines
- Thursday evening hours until 8:00 PM for after-work visits
- Five public computers with broadband internet access
- Koha catalog at alma.pioneer.kohalibrary.com — search the collection online
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Hoesch Memorial library card unlocks these free digital resources:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Harlan County residents
- Five public computers with broadband internet
- Free Wi-Fi
- Photocopier and fax service
- Interlibrary loan through Pioneer Library System
- eBooks and audiobooks via Libby and NebraskAccess
- Community meeting room
- Polaroid cameras and cake pans available for borrowing (Library of Things)
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading program for children and teens
- STEM activities and hands-on learning events
- Book discussion groups for adults
- Author visits and special community programs
- Story time for young children
📍 Nearby Libraries in South-Central Nebraska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the Hoesches and why is the library named after them?
The library was built in 1978 by Albert Hoesch as a memorial to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Karl Hoesch, who were longtime members of the Alma community. Their family's gift replaced the town's original Carnegie Library and gave Alma a dedicated modern library building that has served residents ever since.
Does the library have evening hours?
Yes — Thursdays the library is open from 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM, making it the best day for working residents or students with daytime commitments to visit. All other open days (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday) run 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with Saturday mornings from 9:00 AM to noon.
Can I search the library catalog online before visiting?
Yes — the library uses the Koha system, and you can search the collection at alma.pioneer.kohalibrary.com. If an item you need isn't available locally, staff can request it from partner libraries through the Pioneer Library System interlibrary loan network.
Does Hoesch Memorial Library have anything unusual to borrow besides books?
Yes — in addition to the standard collection, the library offers Polaroid cameras and cake pans as part of its Library of Things, letting community members borrow items they might only need occasionally without having to buy them.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things 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.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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