Most public libraries are closed on Presidents Day, but it’s not universal, and hours can vary by system and branch.

Quick Scoop: Are libraries open on Presidents Day?

For many U.S. communities, Presidents Day is treated as a full holiday for public libraries, similar to New Year’s Day or Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

That means:

  • A lot of city and county library systems list Presidents Day as a closure on their official holiday schedules (all locations closed).
  • Some smaller or independent libraries also close, even if they keep normal hours on other minor holidays.
  • Digital services (ebooks, audiobooks, streaming) almost always remain available 24/7, even when physical buildings are closed.

A typical example: big-city systems like San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, and many county libraries explicitly list “Presidents Day – all locations closed” on their official closure calendars for 2026.

What you should do today

Because it varies by system, you shouldn’t assume “all closed” or “all open” where you live.

  1. Check your library’s website
    • Look for a “Hours & Holidays,” “Closures,” or “Plan Your Visit” page. Many have a table listing “Presidents Day – Closed.”
  1. Confirm on Google Maps or similar
    • Search your local branch and check the “Hours” for the specific date. Many listings mark the day as “Closed” on holiday Mondays.
  2. Call the front desk
    • If the website is unclear, a quick call will give you the exact answer for your branch.

Mini forum‑style take

“I showed up on Presidents Day and the doors were locked. Now I always check the ‘holiday hours’ page first.”

Different people report different experiences in forum discussions: some say their small-town library is open with reduced hours, while others say every branch in their metro area is completely closed and only the book drop is available. These stories all line up with what official holiday calendars show: there’s no single national rule, but “closed for Presidents Day” is very common.

TL;DR: In many places, libraries are closed on Presidents Day, but you need to confirm with your specific library’s holiday schedule online or by phone to be sure.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.