We’re Here (Longer) for You: Kansas City Public Library Expands Hours
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Our doorway to knowledge has swung open a bit wider.
As of September 6, 2019, the Kansas City Public Library is expanding operating hours nearly across its system, offering greater access to vital materials, services, and resources. Nine of the Library's 10 locations will be open longer on weekends, and select sites will remain open later on Friday nights.
All told, it provides an additional 28 hours of Library access a week.
“For years, we have had people waiting at our doors to get in on Saturdays and Sundays and disappointed patrons at closing time,” says Joel Jones, the Library’s deputy director for library services. “With this expansion, we can build on the successful Friday night hours now in effect at the Plaza Branch and provide increased weekend access at locations throughout the system.
“Increasing access to Library facilities for everyone, especially teens and seniors, has been a goal for us for years.”
The expanded Library operating hours were made possible by Library District voters’ overwhelming approval of the Library Question in November 2018. It increased the property tax-based operating levy by 8 cents – the first adjustment of the rate in 22 years – enabling the Library to maintain and modernize facilities and sustain and enhance essential services.
The new hours begin the Library’s Next Chapter, in which projects tied to additional levy funds begin taking shape.
Below is the updated schedule of Information for all 10 Library locations. New hours are marked in red, with notes on the changes. For more information, go to kclibrary.org/locations.
816.701.3400
MON – WED 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
THU – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 1 – 5 p.m.
Missouri Valley Room
MON – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN CLOSED
Central Audio/Visual Desk
MON – WED 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
THU – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 1 – 5 p.m.
816.701.3482
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (adds 2 evening hours)
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
816.701.3485
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
816.701.3481
MON – FRI 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier, closes 3 hours later)
816.701.3487
MON – THU 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
FRI 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN CLOSED
816.701.3484
MON – FRI 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (2 Friday evening hours added)
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
816.701.3489
(No change in hours)
MON – THU Noon – 7 p.m.
FRI – SAT 1 – 5 p.m.
SUN CLOSED
816.701.3483
MON – THU 9 a.m – 8 p.m.
FRI – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
816.701.3486
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
816.701.3488
MON – TUE 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
WED – THU 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN CLOSED
Extended Library hours and increased access to materials, services, and resources made possible by voters saying YES to the LIBRARY QUESTION in November 2018.
As of September 6, 2019, the Kansas City Public Library is expanding operating hours nearly across its system, offering greater access to vital materials, services, and resources. Nine of the Library's 10 locations will be open longer on weekends, and select sites will remain open later on Friday nights.
All told, it provides an additional 28 hours of Library access a week.
Among the changes:
• Nearly every location opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays instead of 10.
• Many sites open at 11 a.m. on Sundays instead of 1 p.m.
• The L.H. Bluford and Southeast branches add two hours on Friday evenings, closing at 7 p.m. instead of 5.
• The Plaza Branch adds six hours on weekends. On Saturdays, it opens at 9 a.m. (instead of 10). And on Sundays, it opens at 11 a.m. (instead of 1 p.m.) and closes at 9 p.m. (instead of 6).
Hours at the Sugar Creek Branch remain the same.• Nearly every location opens at 9 a.m. on Saturdays instead of 10.
• Many sites open at 11 a.m. on Sundays instead of 1 p.m.
• The L.H. Bluford and Southeast branches add two hours on Friday evenings, closing at 7 p.m. instead of 5.
• The Plaza Branch adds six hours on weekends. On Saturdays, it opens at 9 a.m. (instead of 10). And on Sundays, it opens at 11 a.m. (instead of 1 p.m.) and closes at 9 p.m. (instead of 6).
“For years, we have had people waiting at our doors to get in on Saturdays and Sundays and disappointed patrons at closing time,” says Joel Jones, the Library’s deputy director for library services. “With this expansion, we can build on the successful Friday night hours now in effect at the Plaza Branch and provide increased weekend access at locations throughout the system.
“Increasing access to Library facilities for everyone, especially teens and seniors, has been a goal for us for years.”
The expanded Library operating hours were made possible by Library District voters’ overwhelming approval of the Library Question in November 2018. It increased the property tax-based operating levy by 8 cents – the first adjustment of the rate in 22 years – enabling the Library to maintain and modernize facilities and sustain and enhance essential services.
The new hours begin the Library’s Next Chapter, in which projects tied to additional levy funds begin taking shape.
Below is the updated schedule of Information for all 10 Library locations. New hours are marked in red, with notes on the changes. For more information, go to kclibrary.org/locations.
Central Library
14 W. 10th St. • Kansas City, MO 64105816.701.3400
MON – WED 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
THU – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 1 – 5 p.m.
Missouri Valley Room
MON – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN CLOSED
Central Audio/Visual Desk
MON – WED 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
THU – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 1 – 5 p.m.
Lucile H. Bluford Branch
3050 Prospect Ave. • Kansas City, MO 64128816.701.3482
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. (adds 2 evening hours)
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
North-East Branch
6000 Wilson Rd. • Kansas City, MO 64123816.701.3485
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
Plaza Branch
4801 Main St. • Kansas City, MO 64112816.701.3481
MON – FRI 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier, closes 3 hours later)
I. H. Ruiz Branch
2017 W. Pennway St. • Kansas City, MO 64108816.701.3487
MON – THU 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
FRI 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN CLOSED
Southeast Branch
6242 Swope Pkwy. • Kansas City, MO 64130816.701.3484
MON – FRI 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. (2 Friday evening hours added)
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
Sugar Creek Branch
102 S. Sterling Ave. • Sugar Creek, MO 64054816.701.3489
(No change in hours)
MON – THU Noon – 7 p.m.
FRI – SAT 1 – 5 p.m.
SUN CLOSED
Trails West Branch
11401 E. 23rd St. • Independence, MO 64052816.701.3483
MON – THU 9 a.m – 8 p.m.
FRI – SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier Saturday)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
Waldo Branch
201 E. 75th St. • Kansas City, MO 64114816.701.3486
MON – THU 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 2 hours earlier)
Westport Branch
118 Westport Rd. • Kansas City, MO 64111816.701.3488
MON – TUE 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
WED – THU 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
FRI 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
SAT 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (opens 1 hour earlier)
SUN CLOSED
Extended Library hours and increased access to materials, services, and resources made possible by voters saying YES to the LIBRARY QUESTION in November 2018.