Jamaica Public Library

Jamaica Public Library Library in Iowa
24-7 Wi-Fi
Coffee
Color Copies/Printing/Scans
Guest PC
Friends of Library
Community Fridge/Cupboard
Guthrie Co. walker

Genealogy
All Ages Events
Meeting Rm
Loans: Movies, Books, Puzzles, Projector, BT Speaker, Tables, wheelchair, adj. In 1948 The Jamaica Woman's Club determined to create a community library, and their theme for 1948-1949 was "The Clubwoman Reads and Forms a Library", which sounds like a cozy mystery, doesn't it? A committee formed from representatives from the American Legion Auxiliary, Farm Bure

au, Woman's Club, Jamaica Union Church, and St. Joseph's Catholic Church to support the library -- the first informal trustees of the library. They made arrangements with the town council to use space for the library in half of the council chambers rent free, electricity paid, and heat from an old oil burner. The Jamaica Woman's Club Library's industry kept it going with donations, rental fees, and library cards. Dana Lowry was hired as the first Jamaica librarian in 1952 for .50/hour. In 1954 The town council approved tax support of the library under Ordinance #34 and the first Jamaica Library Board of Trustees were appointed by the Jamaica City Council: Helen Crabb, John Crabb, Clairene Fox, Betty Kelly, and Ed McDermott. The legacy of donations and volunteer labor the community has devoted to its library has found its way through the generations to what it is today, touching each local person along the way. Today, the library operates on funds from Jamaica and Yale as well as local option sales tax from Guthrie County, and strives to serve its surrounding communities in many ways:

24-7 Free Internet
Community Refrigerator/Cupboard
Free Coffee and Snacks
Copies/Printing
Guest Computer
Guthrie County Genealogical Society (research assistance)
Children's Programs
Reserve a Meeting Room
Community Coffee Chats
Newspapers/Magazines
Loans: Books, DVDs, Games, Tables, Projectors, Free Digital Membership for Audio Books, Tablet with Bluetooth Speaker, and more!

09/01/2026
Zaven Boswell dropped off his book today for our September 24th Author Open House! Thank you, Zaven!
08/29/2026

Zaven Boswell dropped off his book today for our September 24th Author Open House! Thank you, Zaven!

Mind blowing quotes! Thank you, Mary Tighe!
08/28/2026

Mind blowing quotes! Thank you, Mary Tighe!

What's the next step in your career journey to get where you want to be? It might be something as simple as memorizing t...
08/28/2026

What's the next step in your career journey to get where you want to be? It might be something as simple as memorizing the rules of the road. We can help you get started!

Were you or a family member a veteran of the Korean War? Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal applications available at the...
08/28/2026

Were you or a family member a veteran of the Korean War? Korean Ambassador for Peace Medal applications available at the Library by September 30th!

08/26/2026

Closed today Wednesday 8-26-26 for construction

We have green peppers!
08/21/2026

We have green peppers!

08/20/2026

Thank you, Beth Watson, for visiting with our veterans today. Beth is the Guthrie County Veteran Service Administrator and General Relief Director. If you are a veteran or someone in need in Guthrie County and you missed her visit today, please give her a call at 641-747-2546.

Congratulations to Vicki Demijian, our assistant librarian, for earning her notary public certification! If you need Vi...
08/20/2026

Congratulations to Vicki Demijian, our assistant librarian, for earning her notary public certification! If you need Vicki's assistance notarizing a document, Vicki generally work 3-5:30 Monday, Tuesday, Friday and 11-1:00 on Saturday. Notary Public is paid for by the Friends of the Jamaica Library as a service to our community. Thank you Friends!

Address

Jamaica, IA

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 12pm
2pm - 5pm
Tuesday 2pm - 5pm
Wednesday 2pm - 5pm
Thursday 1:30pm - 7pm
Friday 10am - 12pm
Saturday 10am - 12pm

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