Library Closing

All Memphis Public Libraries will be closed Thursday November 28th and Friday the 29th for Thanksgiving.

Support the Library

4th Annual Whitehaven Library Boys Coat Drive

Whitehaven Library
Dec 6 3:30 PM
 Items will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. If you’d like to donate, we are accepting coat sizes medium, large, extra-large and 2x-large beginning November 01, 2024, through December 05, 2024.

Holiday Fun At the Library


Celebrate the Holidays with MPL! All of our branches have many activities and books for you to enjoy and learn more about the reason for the season!

Richard Wright Literary Awards

Nominations Open!
Memphis Public Libraries will hold the third Richard Wright Literary Awards during March 2025 celebrating and awarding local authors. If you would like to submit a nomination for your or someone else’s work in the various categories, please do so by the end of November.

Music Therapy with the Star Center

Hollywood Library
Multiple Dates 4:00 PM
The Star Center’s board-certified Music Therapists use these qualities of music to help people meet their individual goals. In addition, music therapy can be really fun!

Dummies and Dragons

Randolph Library
Nov 21 3:30 PM
Do you like Dungeons and Dragons but don’t know how to play? Great, neither do we! Come play a chaotic game where no one knows the rules but still have to win battles against unknown foes. 

Memphest!

Orange Mound Library
Nov 23 1:00 PM
Do you love Memphis? We do! Join us in celebrating our city!  Enjoy free food, live music from local bands, and story time and crafts. Learn about what your libraries and community organizations have to offer, and for inspiring entertainment, go on a Storywalk with your child at this FREE family-friendly event. See you there!

Embracing Autism

Raleigh Library
Nov 23 10:00 AM

Join us as we share information and resources about Autism Spectrum Disorder. Helping those with autism make friends and develop their social skills in a safe and fun environment. 

Youth Action Council

Multiple Libraries

Join the Youth Action Councils, a group of leaders creating spaces in neighborhood libraries for youth that are fun and welcoming. Impact your community differently by building creative activities and resources that help youth find and express their passions.  

Life After High School

Multiple Libraries & Dates

Are you a High School junior or senior? Want to know about more options after high school? Join us at the library to break down everything you need to know!

City Hackathon

Nov. 15-17
Want to make a difference in Memphis? Join us for the City Hackathon at the University of Memphis! Whether you’re a data expert, tech enthusiast, or designer, we need YOU to help us build creative solutions for our community. Get involved and register today.

Creative Aging Programs

Talented professional artists and musicians play, perform and teach at locations where seniors live and gather. Musical performances and hands-on arts workshops reach diverse audiences, improving participants’ cognitive vitality and emotional well-being, and making arts access a reality.

Memphis Public Libraries Newsletter

November
Check out our newsletter for what’s coming up this month!!

Email Sign-up

Do you receive our monthly newsletter in your inbox? Or do you receive our book recommendations? How about hold notices? Sign up your email today!

Upcoming Events

View our full calendar of events!

Power Hour
Levi Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 12:30 pm

Lego Club
Orange Mound Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 3:00 pm

Learn to Speak English
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

Pinecone Pals
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

Teen Day -Teen Innovation Center
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

Do you want to become a U. S. Citizen?
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 5:00 pm

The Writer's Block
Connect Crew
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:00 pm

Jookin' at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:30 pm

Aerobics Fitness Exercise at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:00 am

Preschool Story Time
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:30 am

Mystery Book Club
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:30 am

Storytime
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 11:00 am

Power Hour
Levi Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 12:30 pm

Intro to Cricut: Holiday Cards
Whitehaven Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 2:30 pm

Sit-N-Stitch Fiber Arts Club
East Shelby Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:00 pm

Chess!
South Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Dummies and Dragons
Randolph Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Harvest of Recipes: A Community Thanksgiving Cookbook
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 4:00 pm

English Coffee and Conversations-ESL
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 4:30 pm

Creating Captivating Curb Appeal
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 5:00 pm

Lego Club

Wed., Nov. 20, 3:00 pm

Pinecone Pals
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

Jookin' at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:30 pm

Preschool Story Time
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:30 am

Storytime
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 11:00 am

Chess!
South Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Dummies and Dragons
Randolph Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Harvest of Recipes: A Community Thanksgiving Cookbook
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 4:00 pm

Story Time
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 10:30 am

Sensory Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 11:00 am

Fun Film Fridays
Whitehaven Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 2:30 pm

Mr. Magic visits Whitehaven Library!
Whitehaven Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 3:30 pm

Turkey Trot Scavenger Hunt
Raleigh Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 4:00 pm

Embracing Autism Interactive Play
Raleigh Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 9:00 am

Embracing Autism
Raleigh Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 10:00 am

Family Fun – Blackbeard the Pirate Day
Cordova Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 11:00 am

Family Storytime – Giving Thanks
South Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 11:00 am

Memphest!!!

Sat., Nov. 23, 1:00 pm

Thankful Saturday!
Randolph Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 4:00 pm

Pre-School Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Mon., Nov. 25, 10:15 am

Lego Club

Wed., Nov. 20, 3:00 pm

Teen Day -Teen Innovation Center
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

The Writer's Block
Connect Crew
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:00 pm

Jookin' at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:30 pm

Intro to Cricut: Holiday Cards
Whitehaven Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 2:30 pm

Sit-N-Stitch Fiber Arts Club
East Shelby Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:00 pm

Chess!
South Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Dummies and Dragons
Randolph Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

Getting Started with Excel 365
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 10:30 am

Embracing Autism Interactive Play
Raleigh Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 9:00 am

Embracing Autism
Raleigh Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 10:00 am

Memphest!!!

Sat., Nov. 23, 1:00 pm

I Read That Movie @ the Library: NOMADLAND
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 2:00 pm

Electronics and Electricity Seminar
Whitehaven Library
Mon., Nov. 25, 10:00 am

Movie Mondays – Ferris Bueller's Day Off
CLOUD901
Mon., Nov. 25, 3:45 pm

Cordova Writing Club
Cordova Library
Mon., Nov. 25, 4:00 pm

Beginning Spanish
Whitehaven Library
Tue., Nov. 26, 10:00 am

Ramen and Reels : My Hero Academia

Tue., Nov. 26, 12:00 pm

Computer Club
South Library
Tue., Nov. 26, 3:30 pm

Power Hour
Levi Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 12:30 pm

Learn to Speak English
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 4:00 pm

Do you want to become a U. S. Citizen?
Cordova Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 5:00 pm

The Writer's Block
Connect Crew
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:00 pm

Jookin' at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Nov. 20, 6:30 pm

Aerobics Fitness Exercise at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:00 am

Mystery Book Club
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 10:30 am

Power Hour
Levi Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 12:30 pm

Intro to Cricut: Holiday Cards
Whitehaven Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 2:30 pm

Sit-N-Stitch Fiber Arts Club
East Shelby Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:00 pm

Dummies and Dragons
Randolph Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 3:30 pm

English Coffee and Conversations-ESL
Cordova Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 4:30 pm

Creating Captivating Curb Appeal
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 5:00 pm

How To Set Up A Non-Profit Organization
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 6:00 pm

Zumba Fitness at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Thu., Nov. 21, 6:30 pm

Everything but the Turkey: Thanksgiving Meal Kit Giveaway Drawing
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 10:00 am

Learning Calligraphy with Racheal
Cordova Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 10:30 am

Getting Started with Excel 365
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 10:30 am

Ladies & Gentlemen of Distinction Book Club @ Levi
Levi Library
Fri., Nov. 22, 3:00 pm

Embracing Autism Interactive Play
Raleigh Library
Sat., Nov. 23, 9:00 am

View our full calendar of events!

Library Videos & Posts

Learning does not have to be dull! At Memphis Public Libraries, Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning classes range from sign language to calligraphy to public speaking! Here's a sneak peek at what you can expect in a CELL class! πŸ‘©β€πŸŽ“πŸ§‘β€πŸŽ“ #CELL #Memphis #MemphisPublicLibraries #StartHere

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Spooky season is here and we're kicking off the fun at our East Shelby Branch! βœ‹ Join us for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat bash this Saturday!! πŸ‘» #TrunkOrTreat #Halloween #EastShelby #MemphisPublicLibraries #StartHere

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Monday, September 30, 2024
Why I Love the Library

A whole world is right at your fingertips at your local library branch! Come see us today and get your library card! πŸ“šβ€ Sign Up: https://www.memphislibrary.org/start-here/ #LibraryCardSignUpMonth #MemphisPublicLibraries #StartHere

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Wednesday, September 25, 2024
Overdue book? Don't worry! Just return it.

Did you forget to return your library book? It can happen. Our Urban Fellow Abby Utley made this short film for entertaining and explaining that MPL no longer charges fines for overdue books. Check it out!

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Thursday, August 24, 2023
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Popular Resources

Start your genealogical journey today!

ancestry logo

Have a question you need answered? Or a suggestion for the collection? Start Here!

Are you missing the ability to browse our shelves for books for your children? Use Book Bundles and we’ll pick out a bundle of books for your child!

Bookstock 2025 is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025 from 11am – 3pm at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library. Authors are invited to apply now!

Search the local newspaper all the way back to 1847.

Check out our online Digital Archives and explore Memphis history through photos and more!

Dig Memphis, the Memphis Public Libraries' Digital Archive

Check out E-books and E-AudioBooks through Libby by OverDrive! You can visit the new Libby site or visit the original OverDrive site.

Illustration of Libby the OverDrive mascot for their new look!

Memphis Public Libraries lends non-traditional items, too! You can try before you buy, discover a new hobby, or borrow a device you’ll only need to use once. Kits include Camping, Karaoke, Yard Games, Outdoor Movies, and Nature Exploration.

If you are looking for help, or want to provide someone with help, just dial 2-1-1 to reach the community information and referral resources of LINC, the Library Information Center at the Memphis Public Library.

Formerly known as Lynda.com. Tons of online training courses that are all available online right in your own home!

Linkedin Learning

Our magazine collection has moved to Libby! Check out our collection of current and popular magazines.

Streaming current local music for free. Local musicians: Submit a sample for inclusion.

The New York Times digital subscription is available at home!

The New York Times logo

We now offer access to Value Line, a single, cost-effective research package covering multiple asset classes that can transform an average investor into an extremely profitable one.

More About the Library

Connect Crew

Not everyone can get to the library, so we’ve decided to come to you!

Friends of the Library

Donations, Book Sales, Second Editions, Amazon Book Store, and more.

Memphis Library Foundation

Supporting the Library through private donations and more. See how you can help today!

MPL by the Numbers

Keep up with the Library with these bimonthly reports showcasing some of the events and services we provide daily.

MPL in the News

Don’t just hear it from us. See what every one else is saying about the programs and services of the Memphis Public Libraries!