The Central Library hours are normally:

Monday - Thrusday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday - Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Sunday 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Please check the Wichita Public Library Web Site for Holiday closings and library catalog.

Click Central Library Map for location.

The Genealogy Department of the Wichita Public Library (WPL) is the largest in the State of Kansas and ranks among the top 20 in the nation for public libraries. The Wichita Genealogical Society (WGS) takes pride in supporting the Genealogy Department and has over the years contributed books, microfilm, and indexes. In addition, WGS supplies volunteers not only to help the library staff, but to help patrons in their genealogical research.

As you enter the Genealogy area there are library guides available to help you to become familiar with the holdings and where things are. The first set of books on your right are those devoted to "how-to", general indexes, and census indexes. This is a good place to start or to come back to for searching the indexes.

In the main area you will find two wings filled with bookshelves of genealogy and local history books. These holdings comprise most of the collection, however there are many more in the "back room" which are kept there because of their condition. All of these books are listed in the catalog.

WPL has an extensive mircofilm collection. It consists of the U. S. census records, Indian census records, Dawes Rolls, newspapers, and many other records. For more information about the microfilm collections click here.