Crawford Public Library
🏢 City of Crawford · Crawford, Nebraska
Crawford Public Library
Nestled in Dawes County just a few miles from Fort Robinson State Park, the Crawford Public Library at 601 Second Street is a Nebraska Bronze Accredited community library serving Crawford and the surrounding ranching and tourist corridor. Open Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m., it provides books, DVDs, Libby eBooks, Kanopy streaming, NebraskAccess databases, and even temporary tourist library cards — a welcoming stop for visitors exploring Northwest Nebraska.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 12pm–6pm |
| Tuesday | 12pm–6pm |
| Wednesday | 12pm–6pm |
| Thursday | 12pm–6pm |
| Friday | 12pm–6pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 601 Second Street, Crawford, NE 69339
Phone: (308) 665-1780
Website: crawfordnebraska.net
Plus Code: 85JRMHMP+9H (Crawford, 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 Crawford Public Library
The Crawford Public Library is the public library of Crawford, Nebraska, a Dawes County town of about 900 people situated near the White River and Fort Robinson State Park in the Nebraska Panhandle. Located at 601 Second Street, the library holds Nebraska Library Commission Bronze Accreditation and developed its current Community Needs Response Plan (2024) based on a patron survey, addressing goals of centralizing community information, supporting local commerce and employment, and connecting the community with local leadership. The collection of over 10,000 titles spans books and DVDs accessible via the Atriuum catalog at crawfordplne.booksys.net. Digital offerings include Libby (70,000+ eBooks, audiobooks and e-magazines via Nebraska OverDrive), Kanopy (streaming films, series and documentaries), and NebraskAccess (statewide academic, genealogical and reference databases). Temporary library cards are available for visiting tourists at a $20 cash deposit — a practical amenity for the Fort Robinson and Pine Ridge recreation corridor. The library actively connects with the city through monthly department head reports presented to the City Council.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Nebraska Library Commission Bronze Accreditation — standards met for collections, services and governance
- Tourist temporary library cards available for a $20 deposit — welcoming visitors to the Fort Robinson area
- Kanopy streaming — free access to films, documentary series and children's programs
- Libby app access to 70,000+ Nebraska OverDrive eBooks, audiobooks and e-magazines
- Community Needs Response Plan (2024) developed directly from patron survey feedback — a rare transparency commitment for a small library
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Crawford cardholders access streaming, eBooks and statewide research databases free of charge:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection of 10,000+ books and DVDs, searchable at crawfordplne.booksys.net
- Libby/Nebraska OverDrive: 70,000+ eBooks, audiobooks & e-magazines
- Kanopy streaming: films, series, documentaries & children's programs
- NebraskAccess statewide databases: academic, genealogical and reference
- Tourist temporary library cards ($20 cash deposit) for visitors to the area
- Online library card applications accepted
- Reader's advisory and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Seasonal and community events (posted on Facebook and YouTube)
- Monthly Library Department Head Report to City Council (public transparency)
- Library Board of Trustees public reviews of Community Needs Response Plan
📍 Nearby Libraries in Dawes County & the Pine Ridge
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Crawford Public Library's hours?
The library is open Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Can tourists or visitors get a library card at the Crawford Public Library?
Yes. Temporary library cards are available to tourists and visitors for a $20 cash deposit. This gives access to the physical collection and many digital resources. Permanent free cards are available to Crawford and surrounding community residents.
What streaming service does the Crawford Public Library offer?
Crawford Public Library cardholders have free access to Kanopy, a streaming platform with films, documentary series, children's programs and cinematic classics, available at crawfordpl.kanopy.com — no waitlists, no fees.
What is the Crawford Public Library's Community Needs Response Plan?
In 2024, as part of its Nebraska Library Commission accreditation process, the library surveyed the community and developed a five-year Community Needs Response Plan. The plan addresses three community-identified priorities: centralizing local information and events, supporting local commerce and employment, and connecting community members with local leadership. Progress is reviewed annually by the Library Board of Trustees in a public meeting.
📜 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.
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