Morton-James Public Library
🏢 Southeast Library System · Nebraska City, Nebraska
Morton-James Public Library
The Morton-James Public Library anchors Nebraska City's historic downtown at 923 1st Corso in a striking 1897 Richardsonian Romanesque building — all rock-faced brick and red-brown sandstone trim — listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. Joy Morton, son of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton, donated the original building to the city, and the library has served Otoe County readers continuously for well over a century.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 923 1st Corso, Nebraska City, NE 68410
Phone: (402) 873-5609
Website: mjpl.org
Plus Code: 86G6M4GV+42 (Nebraska City, NE)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Morton-James Public Library
The Morton-James Public Library in Nebraska City is one of Nebraska's most historically significant public library buildings. In 1882, several literary associations consolidated into the Ladies Library Association and began raising money for a permanent library. Nebraska City resident J.W. Steinhart persuaded Joy Morton — son of J. Sterling Morton, Nebraska's Arbor Day founder and former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture — to finance construction on the condition the city provide land and fixtures. Citizens raised $2,950 for land and equipment, and Omaha architect George L. Fisher designed the building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It was dedicated in 1897. Joy Morton donated a three-story stack room addition in 1932. In 1970 the library was renamed the Morton-James Public Library to honor both Joy Morton and Vantine James, a library board member for 38 years. The children's "Strawberry Patch" department was added in 1975, and a $1.59 million east-and-south expansion nearly doubled the building's space in 2002. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since May 28, 1976, the building has been called "probably the finest" structure designed by the Fisher & Lawrie architectural firm. Today the library offers a full-service Technology Center, Libby e-books, Creativebug, Kanopy, and free NebraskAccess databases, along with a digital Otoe County newspaper archive.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since May 28, 1976 — described as "a modest, yet fine example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style in Nebraska"
- Built in 1897 with a gift from Joy Morton (son of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton) following a fund-raising campaign by the Ladies Library Association
- Rock-faced brick and red-brown sandstone construction by Omaha architect George L. Fisher, with a three-story stack room added by Joy Morton in 1932
- Renamed Morton-James in 1970 to honor both the donor family and Vantine James, a 38-year library board member
- Digital Otoe County Newspaper Archive available online — a unique local history resource
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Morton-James cardholders have free access to a rich suite of digital resources:
📚 Services
- Technology Center with computers and wireless printing (Black & White and Color)
- Genealogy section and vertical files
- Interlibrary loan (OCLC)
- Homebound delivery for patrons unable to visit
- Meeting room available for community use
- Wireless internet and public computer access
- Libby, Kanopy, Creativebug, NoveList Plus, and Mango Languages
- Digital Otoe County Newspaper Archive
🎸 Programs
- Weekly story time (Tuesdays at 10 AM)
- Craft & Chat Wednesdays (10 AM)
- Book Club — third Thursday of the month
- Summer Reading Program with weekly events
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for young children
- Youth events and activities
📍 Nearby Libraries in Eastern Nebraska
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Nebraska City · Browse all Nebraska libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Morton-James Public Library on the National Register of Historic Places?
The library's 1897 building was listed on May 28, 1976, because of its architectural significance, time period of construction, and educational mission. The National Register nomination form called it "probably the finest known structure" designed by the Fisher & Lawrie firm, with the exception of the Old University Library in Lincoln. Its rock-faced brick and sandstone Richardsonian Romanesque design is one of the best examples of that style in Nebraska.
Who were Morton and James, and why are they in the library's name?
The library was renamed Morton-James in 1970. "Morton" honors Joy Morton, son of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling Morton, who paid for the original 1897 building and donated a stack room in 1932. "James" honors Vantine James, who served on the library's board of directors for 38 years — a remarkable term of community dedication that the board chose to recognize permanently.
What are the library's hours and is the Technology Center always open?
The library is open Monday through Thursday 9 AM–6 PM, Friday 9 AM–5 PM, and Saturday 9 AM–1 PM. The Technology Center closes 30 minutes earlier: at 5:30 PM Mon–Thu, 4:30 PM on Friday, and 12:30 PM on Saturday. The library is closed on Sunday.
How can I access the Otoe County Newspaper Archive?
The digital Otoe County Newspaper Archive is available online at otoecountyne.historyarchives.online and is linked from the Morton-James library website. It provides digitized historical newspapers for Otoe County research, supplementing the library's genealogy section and vertical files.
📜 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.