The oldest and one of the most history-steeped branches in the Kansas City Public Library system celebrated its 125th year as an anchor of the Westport community in February 2023. Originally opened in 1898 as the Allen Library, it joined KCPL when Westport was annexed into Kansas City late the following year. It was the system’s first expansion beyond downtown and the Main Library.

Today, the branch serves an area stretching well beyond its immediate neighborhood, with demand high among seniors and others needing access to computers and the internet, groups looking for public meeting space, and those in need of passport processing and connections to vital social services.