Jamaica Public Library

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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 Bureau, 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!

Mischief managed! 😁
10/23/2026

Mischief managed! 😁

Thursday we have free pumpkins to decorate at 4:30. Thanks to HyVee in Perry and anonymous donor!
10/23/2026

Thursday we have free pumpkins to decorate at 4:30. Thanks to HyVee in Perry and anonymous donor!

10/20/2026
We have a ton of dry root aloe staters! Come get them!
10/19/2026

We have a ton of dry root aloe staters! Come get them!

10/19/2026

Closing today (Monday 10-19-26)at 5

We got some random donations so come and get it --- we close at 5:30 today but open again tomorrow 11-1
10/16/2026

We got some random donations so come and get it --- we close at 5:30 today but open again tomorrow 11-1

10/16/2026
In memory of Janet Correy and Marilyn Burns ❤️ the Friends of the JPL present Birding Bags! 🐦You can check them out at t...
10/15/2026

In memory of Janet Correy and Marilyn Burns ❤️ the Friends of the JPL present Birding Bags! 🐦You can check them out at the library: they contain a birding book and binoculars. One bag is geared more for kids. 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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