Auld Public Library
🏢 Western Library System · Red Cloud, Nebraska
Auld Public Library
Red Cloud, Nebraska is the hometown of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather, and the Auld Public Library has been the community's literary cornerstone since 1917. Its stately Neo-Classical brick building at 537 North Webster Street — erected through the generosity of William T. Auld — holds over 10,000 volumes just blocks from the Willa Cather childhood home and the National Willa Cather Center.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 1:00pm–6:00pm |
| Tuesday | 10:00am–6:00pm |
| Wednesday | 10:00am–6:00pm |
| Thursday | 1:00pm–7:00pm |
| Friday | 1:00pm–6:00pm |
| Saturday | 9:00am–12:00pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 537 North Webster Street, Red Cloud, NE 68970
Phone: (402) 746-3352
Website: libraries.ne.gov
Plus Code: 86G33FRJ+74 (Red Cloud, NE)
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📖 About Auld Public Library
The Auld Public Library serves Red Cloud, the county seat of Webster County in south-central Nebraska and the place Willa Cather called home from age nine. Constructed in 1917–18 with funds donated by local benefactor William T. Auld, the building is a fine example of Neo-Classical architecture and stands as a testament to one man's gift to his community. The library holds over 10,000 volumes of books along with DVDs, audiobooks, and digital resources, and provides free wireless internet access to all patrons. It belongs to the Nebraska Library Commission's Western Library System, connecting cardholders to interlibrary loan and statewide digital resources through NebraskAccess. Red Cloud itself draws literary travelers from around the world who come to walk the landscapes that shaped Cather's novels — O Pioneers!, My Antonia, and The Song of the Lark among them — and the library sits a short stroll from the National Willa Cather Center on Webster Street.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Constructed in 1917–18 through the philanthropy of William T. Auld — an enduring Neo-Classical landmark in Red Cloud
- Located in the hometown of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa Cather, blocks from her childhood home and the National Willa Cather Center
- Collection of over 10,000 books plus DVDs, audiobooks, and free wireless internet
- Evening hours on Thursdays until 7:00 pm and Saturday morning access 9 am–noon
- Part of the Nebraska Library Commission's Western Library System with statewide digital access via NebraskAccess
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Auld Library cardholders access Nebraska's statewide digital resources at no cost:
📚 Services
- Collection of over 10,000 books, DVDs, and audiobooks for checkout
- Free wireless internet access
- Interlibrary loan through the Western Library System
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Public computing resources
🎸 Programs
- Summer reading programs for youth
- Community programs and events
- Reader's advisory for Willa Cather-related titles and Nebraska literature
📍 Nearby Libraries in South-Central Nebraska & North-Central Kansas
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Red Cloud · Browse all Nebraska libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Auld Public Library's hours?
The library is open Monday 1–6 pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 10 am–6 pm, Thursday 1–7 pm, Friday 1–6 pm, and Saturday 9 am–noon. It is closed on Sundays. Thursday evenings until 7 pm are the latest hours in the week.
Who was William T. Auld, and how is he connected to the library?
William T. Auld was a local Red Cloud benefactor who donated the funds to erect the library building in 1917–18. His gift gave the community its first permanent library facility, a Neo-Classical brick structure at 537 North Webster Street that still stands and serves readers today — over a century later.
Is Red Cloud really Willa Cather's hometown, and how is the library connected to her legacy?
Yes. Willa Cather (1873–1947), the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of O Pioneers!, My Antonia, and The Song of the Lark, lived in Red Cloud from age nine and drew extensively on Webster County's landscapes and people in her fiction. The Auld Public Library sits a short walk from the Willa Cather childhood home and the National Willa Cather Center, making it a natural first stop for literary visitors exploring Cather country.
Does a Auld Library card give access to digital resources?
Yes. Nebraska library cards unlock NebraskAccess — a statewide portal of databases, e-books, newspapers, genealogy tools, and more — at no cost. E-books and audiobooks are also available for download through the Nebraska Library Commission's Libby/OverDrive platform.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.