Contact Information
300 Park Avenue
Oklahoma City, OK
73102
Phone: (405) 231-8650
About Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library
The four-story Ronald J. Norick (RJN) Downtown Library is located in the Arts District of downtown Oklahoma City. Library service in downtown OKC began in 1901 when the Carnegie Library opened at NW 3rd and Robinson Ave. In 1954, the new Main Library was dedicated at Dean A. McGee Ave and Robinson Ave.
On December 14, 1993, Oklahoma City voters approved a five-year, one-cent increase in the city's sales tax to fund nine building projects for the downtown area (called MAPS) which including a technologically adaptable Downtown Library/Learning Center. The RJN Downtown Library opened to the public on August 17, 2004.
The Downtown Library is 114,130 square feet and includes classrooms, study rooms, conference rooms, a children’s program room, the Route 66 Computer Lab, 46th Star Auditorium, and Friends Event Room. The building has two floors of collections and services, one floor of meeting rooms open to the public, and one floor that houses administrative offices. The Downtown Library also uniquely serves as the library of record for the John Rex Charter school students from pre-K to 4th grade. This state-of-the-art library is a great place for Oklahoma County families.
Book drop locations: Walk-up returns on the west and north sides of the building.
Parking: Parking is available on the street and in nearby public parking garages and lots.
- Street parking is metered.
- Meters are in effect and enforced Monday - Friday from 8am - 6pm, with the exception of major holidays.
- Street parking is free after 6pm Monday-Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday.
- The nearest public garage to the library is the Arts Garage at 431 W Main St. (currently unavailable on Friday evenings and weekends)
- Guests who check out materials can receive a 1-hour Arts Garage parking voucher at the main circulation desk. Vouchers are also distributed during library-created events to attending guests.
Public transit:
- EMBARK bus routes 009, 012, 016, 040, 13N, RAPID (click here for system map)
- Closest bus stop: N Hudson Ave @ Park Ave (1-minute walk to library from stop)
- NOTE: Nearly all Oklahoma City EMBARK routes stop at the EMBARK Transit Center, which is a 7-minute walk (0.3 miles) from the Downtown Library.
- OKC Streetcar Downtown Loop (click here for route map)
- Closest streetcar stop: N Hudson Ave @ Park Ave (1-minute walk to library from stop)
- MOE/City Care OKC: Route 1 stops at the Downtown Library, Monday-Friday (click here for route map)
- MOE is a free shuttle service that connects its riders with many shelters and essential service agencies.
Services
- Public use computers with 60-minute internet access and printing capabilities
- An express computer with 15-minute internet access and printing capabilities
- Mobile and offsite printing
- Free Wi-Fi
- Express Wi-Fi Hotspots (7-day checkout period), first-come first-served
- Reservable Wi-Fi Hotspots (4-week checkout period)
- Color copy machine with free outbound faxing (to U.S. numbers only) and scanning capability
- Self-serve holds shelf and self-check machines
- Catalog computers dedicated to searching the library's collection
- Library staff who can provide assistance locating information, using print and electronic sources, and provide readers' advisory
- Place and pick up interlibrary loan requests
- Tours and instruction in the use of library resources (by appointment)
- Experience Passes - Free admission to local museums. For more information, click here
Technology
Collection
- Study rooms - Free (reservations required)
- Meeting rooms - Rented for a cost (reservations required)
- Adult changing station available. Please ask staff.
Spaces
- Genealogy Collection
- Holocaust Collection
- Oklahoma Collection
- Topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey
- Vertical file, a collection 90 years in the making. Contents include newspaper clippings, meeting and/or annual reports of committees and agencies, flyers and programs, and maps
- Microform collections of newspapers, magazines, and limited numbers of Federal and Oklahoma government publications
Special Collections
Hours of Operation
Please check the top of this page for notices impacting our hours of operation or services offered.
Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 1pm - 6pm
Curbside Hours
Mon-Friday: 9am - 6pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: 1pm - 6pm
Upcoming Events
Paranormal Fest Waning Moon: Creative Mending Takehome Kit
This kit will teach you how to embroider your own jean patch for mending or accessorizing so you can have a fun and thrifty Halloween!
Disclaimer(s)
The library is not liable for injuries to people, damage to their property or loss of property belonging to individuals or groups, using the meeting rooms.
It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Kit.
Join members of the Native Oklahoma Bigfoot Research Organization (NOBRO) to learn about their search for Bigfoot in Oklahoma and beyond. Guests will have the opportunity to share their stories and maybe even meet Bigfoot in person!
Disclaimer(s)
Be Advised: This program may be photographed and/or videotaped for publicity purposes.
By Attending, you consent: To the use of your voice and likeness in future publicity uses that contain content from this event. If you do not wish to be on camera, please let us know.
For more information visit our Photography & Video Disclaimer
Join us for a special escape room experience at this year's Paranormal Fest. Escape room sessions will take place at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:00pm. Space is limited, and entry into each session is first-come, first-served.
Feeling crafty? Join us for some "paranormal activities." Stop by our come-and-go craft stations to complete one or more spooky crafts in celebration of Paranormal Fest. There will be crafts available for all ages.
Interested in browsing some oddities or stocking up on your witchcraft supplies? Perhaps learn more from your local ghost hunter or tarot reader? You've come to the right place!
Join us at the Downtown Library for our eighth annual Paranormal Fest, featuring guest experts, vendor booths, children's programming, and a movie marathon!
Disclaimer(s)
The Arts Parking Garage located at Main Street and Colcord Drive will be undergoing maintenance and closed on the weekends from September 26 through November 10.
The garage will close on Friday evenings at 6 p.m. and reopen on Monday mornings at 6 a.m. The weekend closures include:
- Friday, September 26 - Monday, September 29
- Friday, October 3 - Monday, October 6
- Friday, October 10 - Monday, October 13
- Friday, October 17 - Monday, October 20
- Friday, October 24 - Monday, October 27
- Friday, October 31 - Monday, November 3
- Friday, November 7 - Monday, November 10
We apologize for the inconvenience, but street parking is free on the weekends and there are other parking garages nearby. For more information about parking downtown, please click here.