Kent County Public Library
Dover's county branch runs a weekly Preschool Story Time and sends a mobile library out to rec centers, schools and country stores around Kent County.
497 S Red Haven Ln, Dover, DE 19901
Hours
1 PM – 5 PM
Show the week Hide the week
| Sat | 1 PM – 5 PM |
|---|---|
| Sun | 1 PM – 5 PM |
| Mon | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Tue | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Wed | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Thu | 9 AM – 8 PM |
| Fri | 9 AM – 8 PM |
Last checked 2026-08-24
- Cost
- Free
- Best for
- All ages
- Indoor / outdoor
- Indoor
- Typical visit
- 45 minutes to an hour and a half
Open every day of the week, and it runs roughly 300 free programs a year; Delaware library cards are free to residents.
The Quick Version
- • Preschool Story Time runs most weeks, plus PAWS for Reading sessions with therapy dogs.
- • The branch also runs a mobile library that stops at spots around Kent County — the rec center, Holy Cross High School, Byler's Country Store, DAFB playground and several neighborhoods.
- • Free, like all Delaware public libraries; the branch is located in Longacre Village Shopping Center.
Best Ages
All ages
Plan For
45 minutes to an hour and a half
Admission
Free
What to Expect
The kids' draw here is the recurring program list. Preschool Story Time runs most weeks, and PAWS for Reading brings in therapy dogs for kids to read aloud to — low-pressure practice for a new reader. A Summer Drama Workshop with First State Improv has also been on the calendar.
The branch runs something most libraries don't: a mobile library that parks at spots around Kent County, including the rec center, Holy Cross High School, both Byler's Country Stores and the DAFB playground. If Dover is a drive, a stop may come closer to you.
The library sits in Longacre Village Shopping Center off S Red Haven Lane, so parking is shopping-center parking. It's open seven days, but Saturday and Sunday are short — 1pm to 5pm only.
Who It's Best For
Preschool Story Time is aimed at the under-5 crowd. Early readers do well with PAWS for Reading, where kids read aloud to a dog. Everything else is a standard county branch — borrow, browse, sit and read.
Highlights
Preschool Story Time
Under 5The regular weekly story time, and the main reason to put this branch on a preschooler's rotation.
PAWS for Reading
Early readersKids read aloud to a therapy dog — easier on a nervous reader than reading to an adult.
The mobile library
All agesStops at rec centers, schools, stores and neighborhoods across Kent County, so the library comes to you.
Logistics
Admission
Free admission
Free, like all Delaware public libraries. Some programs need sign-up.
Membership tip: A free Delaware library card also lets you reserve free passes to Delaware State Parks and the Brandywine Zoo through the libraries' Museum Pass program (one pass per card at a time).
Getting There
Parking
Located in Longacre Village Shopping Center.
The branch sits in a shopping center; specific lot details aren't confirmed in our notes.
Entrance
497 S Red Haven Ln, Dover.
Parent Logistics
Not confirmed in our notes — call ahead if you need step-free access.
Public restrooms in the library.
Not confirmed — ask at the desk.
Indoors.
Food & Snacks
No food on-site. No food service — it's a library.
Snack strategy: Eat before or after; plenty of options along the Dover corridor.
Pro Tips
- ✓ Weekends are short: 1pm to 5pm both Saturday and Sunday. Weekdays run 9am to 8pm.
- ✓ Check the calendar before you drive over — some programs need sign-up, and the mobile-library stops run on their own schedule.
- ✓ Get the free library card while you're there; it opens up the statewide museum-and-park passes.
When to Go
Best Time to Visit
Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 1pm-5pm and Sun 1pm-5pm. Check the calendar for story time and program times, since some programs need sign-up.
Seasonal Notes
Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat 1pm-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm. Program schedules shift between summer and the school year — check the library's page before you go.
Rainy Day?
A free indoor hour in Dover, best timed to story time or a PAWS session.
Upcoming Events
Know when something good is on near Kent County Public Library
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