The Oldham County Public Library has been serving Oldham County and beyond since the 1960s! The Library is committed to providing a welcoming place for all, where individuals and groups can work, play, and celebrate everything that makes our community great.
THE OLDHAM COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY came into existence in 1968 sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives. Before becoming a county library system, it had been a city library known as the Duerson Memorial Library of LaGrange. In 1944, Mary F. Duerson donated her house and property for a public library in memory of her daughter, Nora. Nora Duerson had been a teacher in the Oldham County School system until her death in 1917 at age 43. The first library directors were W.W. Head, R.C. Jones and D.E. Wooldridge. In 1969 the library petitioned the county for the establishment of a library tax and in 1974 a new library in LaGrange was constructed. Following a time of unprecedented growth in Oldham County, a second branch, the South Oldham Library was constructed in Crestwood and opened in 1981. In 1983 the Mahan branch was opened in the Goshen area on Highway 42 and 1793 on property formerly owned by Howard and Virginia Mahan. In 2009 the new Main Library was opened in LaGrange, the first green (environmentally responsible) library in Kentucky. The Oldham County Public Library system is funded by property taxes.
The Oldham County Public Library is a fully automated system providing for the informational, educational and entertainment needs of Oldham Countians. Besides fiction titles for juveniles and adults the library system has an extensive non-fiction collection, newspapers, magazines, videos, audiobooks, video games, and more. Special collections include: Genealogy, Kentucky, Large Print, Young Adult, Book Club Bundles, Video Game Consoles, Take Home Technology, MAKER Kits, and Book Club Bundles. Services and programs are provided at various branches. There is a Pre-School story hour at all branches as well as a summer reading program and summer activity program. Adult programs of interest to the community are held throughout the year. A-V equipment is available for lending. A coin-op photocopier and fax capabilities are provided for a fee. There are public computers with full internet access available for the public also providing programs for word processing and document delivery. Most services and items are provided to Oldham County patrons free of charge. Adults need an ID card to get a library card and anyone under the age of 18 needs a parent’s signature to get a library card. Library cards may be used at any Oldham County Public Library location.
Oldham County residents, people who work in Oldham County, and residents of counties with reciprocal lending agreements (Henry, Shelby, Trimble, Carroll) can apply for a free OCPL library card with full privileges. Children of the above may get a card with the signature of a legal guardian.
Residents of Jefferson County may apply for an OCPL Library Card with a $24 yearly fee. The fee covers an entire household.
Special lending privileges are available to certain groups. Teachers of any Oldham County School can apply for a classroom card. Teens may apply for a special Super Teen Card with extended lending privileges with the signature of a legal guardian.