Harney County Library
🏢 Libraries of Eastern Oregon · Burns, Oregon
Harney County Library
Founded in 1903 by the Ladies Afternoon Club with a dozen donated books, Harney County Library has grown into Eastern Oregon's community hub at 80 West D Street in Burns — the seat of the largest county in the contiguous United States. The current building opened in 1966 and today holds more than 30,000 items, a Makerspace lab funded by a 2025 LSTA grant, a Seed Library, and the Claire McGill Luce Western History Room.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 12pm–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 80 West D Street, Burns, OR 97720
Phone: (541) 573-6670
Website: harneycountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 85M2HWVV+2W (Burns, OR)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Harney County Library
Harney County Library serves Burns and the surrounding high-desert ranching communities of Harney County — at over 10,000 square miles, the largest county in the contiguous U.S. by area. The library was organized in 1903 by the Ladies Afternoon Club, which started a collection of twelve books; it has since grown to more than 30,000 items. The current facility opened in 1966. A landmark bequest from philanthropist Claire McGill Luce — who donated $2 million in Time Publishing stock before her death in 1971 — endowed the Claire McGill Luce Western History Room, added to the building in 2006. The room preserves hundreds of oral histories, photographs, microfilm newspapers, and special collections documenting pioneer life, ranch culture, Indigenous heritage, military history, and natural resources of Harney Basin. The library is a member of the Libraries of Eastern Oregon consortium and offers Library2Go (OverDrive/Libby), hoopla, a Makerspace lab with 3D-printing capability, a Seed Library, and the Discover & Go cultural-pass program.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1903 by the Ladies Afternoon Club — grew from 12 donated books to over 30,000 items by 2013
- Claire McGill Luce Western History Room (added 2006): oral histories, photographs, microfilm and special collections on Harney County's pioneer, ranching and Indigenous heritage
- Makerspace Lab launched 2025 with an LSTA grant: 3D printing, hands-on STEAM programming for all ages in rural Eastern Oregon
- Seed Library offering free vegetable and flower seed packets to patrons and non-patrons alike
- Discover & Go cultural-pass program: free admission to arts, history and recreation venues through the Libraries of Eastern Oregon partnership
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Harney County cardholders can borrow, stream and research free through the Libraries of Eastern Oregon consortium:
📚 Services
- Claire McGill Luce Western History Room: oral histories, photographs, microfilm and research services
- Makerspace Lab with 3D printing (LSTA-funded, 2025)
- Seed Library: free vegetable & flower seed packets (open to all, no card required)
- Discover & Go museum and cultural passes
- Public computers, free Wi-Fi inside and 24/7 in parking lot, Wi-Fi hotspot checkout (18+)
- Soundproofed Oral History Recording Room for podcasts, meetings and telehealth (2-hour limit)
- Printing, scanning, photocopying and faxing
- Disc cleaning, one-on-one computer help and Zoom assistance
🎸 Programs
- Story Time (Wednesdays 10:30–11:00 AM) — stories and art project for children of all ages
- Lego My Library Club for youth
- Adults 3D Pen Lab sessions
- Teen programming
- Field trips and school group visits
- Community programs and author events
📍 Nearby Libraries in Eastern Oregon
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was Harney County Library founded and how did it start?
The library was founded in 1903 by the Ladies Afternoon Club, which started the collection with just twelve donated books. With town support it grew steadily; the current building at 80 West D Street opened in 1966. By 2013 the collection had grown to more than 30,000 items.
What is the Claire McGill Luce Western History Room?
The Western History Room was added to the library in 2006, funded by a $2 million bequest from Claire McGill Luce, a Harney County native and Time Publishing philanthropist who died in 1971. It holds hundreds of local oral histories, photographs, microfilm newspapers and special collections on pioneer life, ranching, Indigenous culture, military history and the natural resources of the Harney Basin.
What is the Makerspace Lab at Harney County Library?
The Makerspace Lab was launched in 2025 with an LSTA grant from the State Library of Oregon. It is designed to bridge opportunity gaps in rural Eastern Oregon through hands-on STEAM learning, currently featuring 3D printing and adult 3D Pen Lab sessions. Contact the library for the current schedule.
Does Harney County Library offer free museum passes?
Yes — the library participates in Discover & Go, a program run by the Libraries of Eastern Oregon partnership that offers free passes to arts, culture, history and recreation venues across the region. Check the Discover & Go portal on the library's website to see current availability.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes 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 has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces 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.