Arcanum Public Library
🏢 Darke County · Arcanum, Ohio
Arcanum Public Library
Arcanum Public Library has anchored the cultural life of this Darke County village since the late 19th century — a community-focused library in a town laid out in 1849 and named for the Latin word meaning "hidden secret."
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 101 NORTH ST., ARCANUM, OH 45304
Phone: +1937-692-8484
Website: arcanumpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 86FQXCRW+R6 (ARCANUM, OH)
📱 Scan for directions
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Arcanum Public Library
Arcanum Public Library serves the village of Arcanum and the surrounding rural communities of Darke County, Ohio. The library provides one of the longest weekday windows in the region — open until 8pm Monday through Thursday — so students, working families, and farmers can access resources at times that fit their schedules. Arcanum was founded in 1849 when the Greenville and Miami railroad arrived to connect the settlement to Dayton, and the library has grown alongside the community ever since. The collection spans popular fiction, local history, children's materials, and a full suite of digital resources through the statewide Ohio Web Library and the CLEVNET / SearchOhio consortia. The library maintains a welcoming, small-town atmosphere while offering a robust digital catalog and interlibrary loan access to millions of items statewide.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Extended evening hours Monday through Thursday until 8pm — among the longest evening access in rural Darke County
- Full interlibrary loan (ILL) access to the SearchOhio statewide consortium and beyond
- Ohio Web Library: free statewide databases covering academic journals, genealogy, auto repair, and more for all Ohio residents
- Children's and young-adult collections supporting local school curricula and summer reading
- Rated 4.8 stars on Google Reviews — consistently praised for helpful, knowledgeable staff
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Arcanum library card opens statewide digital resources available to every Ohio resident:
📚 Services
- Circulating books, DVDs, and audiobooks
- Children's and young-adult collections
- Public access computers and free Wi-Fi
- Interlibrary loan (ILL) via SearchOhio
- Notary public services (call ahead to confirm availability)
- Printing, copying, and scanning
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program for children and teens
- Storytime for toddlers and preschoolers
- Adult book clubs and community programs
- School homework help resources
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Ohio
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are Arcanum Public Library's evening hours?
The library is open Monday through Thursday from 9am to 8pm, giving students and working residents nearly 11 hours of access on weekdays. Friday hours are 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm. The library is closed on Sundays.
How do I get a free library card in Arcanum?
Any resident of Darke County or the surrounding service area can obtain a free library card by visiting the library with a valid photo ID and proof of address. Your card gives you access to physical materials, digital resources through Ohio Web Library, and the full SearchOhio interlibrary loan network.
Does Arcanum Public Library offer ebooks and digital audiobooks?
Yes. Cardholders can borrow ebooks and audiobooks through OverDrive/Libby using any smartphone, tablet, or computer — available 24/7 at no cost. Ohio Web Library also provides free access to magazines, academic databases, and genealogy resources for all Ohio residents.
What is the history behind Arcanum's name?
Arcanum was laid out in 1849. Two engineers surveying the route of the Greenville and Miami railroad chose the name in November 1848 — "arcanum" is the Latin word for "secret" or "hidden," selected because of the dark, foggy weather during their visit. The library has served this uniquely named village ever since.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in October 2026.
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