Lincoln County Library System
🏢 Lincoln County Library System · Kemmerer, Wyoming
Lincoln County Library System
The Lincoln County Library System headquarters in Kemmerer anchors a six-branch network stretching across southwest Wyoming's high-desert coalfields and valley ranches. Open until 8 p.m. three nights a week, the Emerald Street building delivers books, digital databases, and meeting space to the community J.C. Penney built his retail empire from in 1902.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 519 Emerald Street, Kemmerer, WY 83101
Phone: (307) 877-6961
Website: linclib.org
Plus Code: 85HFQFV5+V9 (Kemmerer, WY)
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📖 About Lincoln County Library System
The Lincoln County Library System serves one of Wyoming's most geographically spread counties from its main branch at 519 Emerald Street in Kemmerer. Kemmerer is famous as the birthplace of the J.C. Penney retail chain — James Cash Penney opened his first Golden Rule Store here in 1902 — and the library has long been a civic anchor in this high-desert town on the Green River plateau. The system operates five additional branches in Alpine, Cokeville, La Barge, Star Valley Ranch (Thayne area), and Thayne, making it one of the most geographically broad library systems in Wyoming. The Kemmerer main branch holds a robust print and media collection, provides public computers with printing, and offers access to Wyoming's GoWYLD statewide database portal as well as Libby and Hoopla for digital borrowing. Meeting rooms are available for community use, and the catalog is shared system-wide through the WyldCat consortium.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday — among the latest evening hours of any library in southwest Wyoming
- Headquarters of a six-branch system covering Alpine, Cokeville, La Barge, Star Valley Ranch, and Thayne
- Located in Kemmerer, Wyoming — birthplace of the J.C. Penney Company, founded as the Golden Rule Store in 1902
- Full GoWYLD statewide digital portal access including LinkedIn Learning, Mometrix test prep, and genealogy databases
- Meeting rooms available for community gatherings and events
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lincoln County cardholders can access Wyoming's statewide digital library and popular lending apps at no charge:
📚 Services
- Public computers with printing, copying & scanning
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Interlibrary loan through the WyldCat Wyoming consortium
- Meeting rooms for community events
- Library card issuance for Lincoln County residents and Wyoming visitors
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytime and youth programming
- Summer reading challenge for all ages
- Teen programming and events
- Adult programs and community events
- System-wide author and speaker events across six branches
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Wyoming
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What are the evening hours at Lincoln County Library in Kemmerer?
The Kemmerer main branch stays open until 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Thursday and Friday hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the library is closed on Sunday.
Does Lincoln County Library have other branch locations besides Kemmerer?
Yes — the Lincoln County Library System operates five additional branches: Alpine, Cokeville, La Barge, Star Valley Ranch (near Afton/Thayne), and Thayne. All branches share the same WyldCat catalog, so items can be requested and transferred between locations.
What is the connection between Kemmerer and J.C. Penney?
Kemmerer is the birthplace of the J.C. Penney retail chain. James Cash Penney opened his first Golden Rule Store here in 1902, which eventually became the nationwide J.C. Penney Company. The original store on Pine Avenue is now a National Historic Landmark that visitors can tour.
Can I access digital resources like Libby or Hoopla with a Lincoln County library card?
Yes. Lincoln County cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Libby/OverDrive and stream movies, music, comics, and audiobooks through Hoopla with no waitlists. The GoWYLD statewide portal also unlocks LinkedIn Learning, test-prep databases, genealogy resources, and more.
📜 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.
📅 This library has meeting & community rooms. See how library meeting rooms work — booking, policies and fees — and find other libraries with meeting or community rooms meeting rooms by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.