Grace Balloch Memorial Library
🏢 Black Hills Library Consortium · Spearfish, South Dakota
Grace Balloch Memorial Library
Named for a Pennsylvania-born educator who donated her entire personal library to the city of Spearfish before her death in 1944, the Grace Balloch Memorial Library now anchors the Municipal Services Building at 625 North Fifth Street — serving the northern Black Hills with 60,000 volumes, a makerspace and seven-day hours.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9am–7pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 625 North Fifth Street, Spearfish, SD 57783
Phone: (605) 642-1330
Website: spearfish.gov
Plus Code: 85PRF4QQ+RR (Spearfish, SD)
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📖 About Grace Balloch Memorial Library
The Grace Balloch Memorial Library carries the name of Grace Frantz Balloch, a Pennsylvania-born educator who taught English at Spearfish Normal School in the 1920s and witnessed the devastating 1925 fire that destroyed the school's library. As she faced terminal illness in the early 1940s, Grace bequeathed her entire personal collection — more than 1,500 volumes — to the City of Spearfish. She died in 1944. The following year Spearfish citizens voted 240-94 to establish a public library, and Grace's homesite (donated by her sister Anna) became the original location. The Grace Balloch Memorial Library was officially dedicated on June 27, 1971, in a building that now houses the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1995 the library relocated to its current home in the Municipal Services Building at 625 North Fifth Street, where it serves roughly 24,400 residents with a collection of nearly 60,000 volumes and more than 125,000 items circulated annually. The library is a member of the Black Hills Library Consortium.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Grace Frantz Balloch — educator who donated 1,500 personal books to Spearfish in her 1944 will
- Officially dedicated June 27, 1971; relocated to Municipal Services Building in 1995
- Nearly 60,000 volumes and 125,000+ annual circulations serving the northern Black Hills
- Makerspace with 3D printers, recording equipment and crafting supplies
- Open 7 days a week including Sunday afternoons
- Black Hills Library Consortium member: shared catalog with regional South Dakota libraries
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Spearfish cardholders access digital resources through the South Dakota State Library and the Black Hills Consortium:
📚 Services
- Free public library cards — Black Hills Library Consortium shared borrowing
- Makerspace with 3D printers, recording equipment and crafting supplies
- Public computers (10 internet-access computers), free Wi-Fi and printing
- Free exam proctoring (by appointment)
- Homebound patron delivery program
- Youth, teen and adult programming spaces
- Digital literacy support and computer classes
🎸 Programs
- Preschool and children's programming
- Teen creative workshops and college-prep programs
- Adult programs: book clubs, digital literacy, English language learning, cultural events
- Job skills training workshops
- Summer reading program
- Community events with the Friends of Grace Balloch Memorial Library
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Black Hills Region
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Spearfish · Browse all South Dakota libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Grace Balloch, and why is the library named after her?
Grace Frantz Balloch was a Pennsylvania-born educator who taught English at Spearfish Normal School during the 1920s. Facing terminal illness in the early 1940s, she donated her entire personal library — more than 1,500 books — to the City of Spearfish through her will. She died in 1944. The following year citizens voted to establish a public library, and Grace's homesite (donated by her sister Anna) became its first location. The library dedicated in 1971 was named in her memory.
When did the Grace Balloch Memorial Library move to its current building?
The library was originally dedicated on June 27, 1971 in a building on its homesite — that building now houses the Spearfish Area Chamber of Commerce. In 1995 the library relocated to its current location in the Spearfish Municipal Services Building at 625 North Fifth Street.
Does the library have a makerspace?
Yes — the library has a makerspace with 3D printers, recording equipment and crafting supplies available for community use. It's designed to support creative exploration, skill-building and hands-on learning for all ages.
Is the library open on Sundays and evenings?
Yes — the library is open every day of the week. Monday through Thursday hours are 9am–7pm, Friday and Saturday are 9am–5pm, and Sunday hours are 1pm–5pm, making it accessible for working families and students throughout the week.
🔨 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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