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Open

February 3: All Memphis Public Libraries will close today at 3:00 PM due to inclement weather.

Closing Statement

Continuing Education & Lifelong Learning

4 intense weeks of study in various subject areas.

Pride Kickoff

The Pride Kickoff is a two part event that takes place on Friday, Sept. 2 from 6-8 and Saturday, Sept. 3 from 11-2.

Second Editions Bookstore

Second Editions Bookstore is the place to find gently-used books for sale at great bargain prices.

Libby

Download eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines

Support the Library

BUY BOOKS

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VOLUNTEER

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Vote Second Editions Best Bookstore of Memphis!

July 20 – August 17

Second Editions, the bookstore operated by the Friends of the Library, has been nominated as one of the best Bookstores in Memphis! Vote now in the Memphis Flyer’s annual Best of Memphis contest.

Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

September and October

Memphis Public Libraries is providing continuing education and lifelong learning classes designed to give people an opportunity to grow in their professional and personal lives by offering 4 intense weeks of study in various subject areas such as culinary arts, hairstyling, languages, printing, visual arts, and more.

Healthy Choices, Healthy Lifestyle: UT Cooking Class

Cordova Library or Poplar-White Station Library

Join University of Tennessee Extension Representative, Janice Dunlap, for a 6- week series of nutrition classes for adults 18 and up. Each week we will learn ways to grocery shop smarter, cook better, and eat healthier. Every week will be full of information and door prizes are awarded just for attending. Join us for series of classes you will actually learn from!

Google Suite How To

Bartlett Library – August 11 – 4:30 PM

Teens! Come to Bartlett’s Teen Innovation Center to learn how to use all of Google’s productivity tools to your advantage for schoolwork.

2nd Annual Back to School Extravaganza

Whitehaven Library – August 13 – 12:00 PM

Don’t miss out on the back to school fun. Giveaways, games, snacks, school information, a special treat and more!

Back to School Karaoke

South Library – August 13 – 3:00 PM

Come enjoy this whimsical spin on karaoke with the South Branch Crew! Students will pick from different school themed songs and sing along with our karaoke mix! The student who gives the best back to school performance will be the grand winner!

Free Saturday Legal Clinic

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – August 13 – 10:00 AM

This free legal clinic provides an opportunity for people with legal questions or problems to talk in person with an attorney for quick advice.

Let’s Rap About It!

North Library – August 17 – 4:00 PM

Teens are given an opportunity to discuss issues affecting them.

Vision Board Collage

Randolph Library – August 18 – 4:00 PM

Create your own vision board of what you want your next school year to be. We will be collaging images and text from magazines and using craft supplies to make the vision board. This will be a fun and relaxing space to create for teens!

Children’s MakerSpace Project – An Awesome Mobile

Frayser Library – August 20 – 2:00 PM

In this program, children ages 6-11 take on a project that explores balance and the center of gravity. They will use their creative side to make a simple, yet awesome mobile using straws, beads, and paper to see if they balance it!

Memphis Music Listening Party with Jim Spake

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – August 23 – 6:30 PM

Come join us as we revive the Memphis Music Listening Party with Robert Gordon! This month, we have the legendary saxophone player Jim Spake.

Pride Kickoff

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – September 2nd & 3rd

The Pride Kickoff is a two part event that takes place on Friday, Sept. 2 from 6-8 and Saturday, Sept. 3 from 11-2. Click here for more information on how to show your pride with us!

6th Annual Pirates Raid!

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – September 18 – 1:00 PM

The Pride Kickoff is a two part Celebrate International Talk Like A Pirate Day with this swashbuckling family event full of pirates, mermaids, treasures, and more.

Upcoming Events

Early Childhood Events

Children & Tweens Events

Teen Events

Adult Events

View our full calendar of events!

Library Videos & Posts

Robotics Camp is underway at the Benjamin L Hooks Central Library. These campers appear to be having a great time!
Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Ahoy Mateys! We've heard a rumor pirates are going to invade the Benjamin L Hooks Central Library September 18th. Mark your calendar and join us for the Pirates Raid!
Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Monday, August 8, 2022

Interested in learning about African- American Blacksmiths, including those from Memphis? MPL and the National Ornamental Metal Museum have partnered for a special program this weekend. The event is 8/6 at the Whitehaven Library. If you can't make it, there is an exhibit at the museum until September 11th.
Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Monday, August 1, 2022

Located in the Benjamin L Hooks Central Library, the Second Editions Bookstore is run by volunteers and proceeds to help fund library programs. The store has been nominated for "Best Bookstore" in the Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis contest. Please click on this link and vote if you know how great this store is! https://bom22.memphisflyer.com/goods/best-bookstore If you need more convincing on why it is the best bookstore, Bookstore Manager Antonio Quinn is here to explain!
Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Friday, July 29, 2022

more ongoing events and services

SECOND EDITIONS BOOKSTORE

Second Editions is the place to find gently used books for sale at great bargain prices. Second Editions is located adjacent to the main lobby of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Avenue.

Dig Memphis archive photo of street with streetlights.

DIG MEMPHIS MYSTERIES

We need your help! Explore images from our digital archive that are missing important details.

See if you can help us fill in some of the gaps.

write in club

Virtual Program – Thursdays – 6:00 PM

Do you love to write? Do you have a novel or similar work gathering dust that needs finishing? Most importantly –do you need the motivation and community of having other writers beside you writing without the distraction of noise and chatter?

A person writing with a mechanical pencil on paper.

Carnegie Writers’ Group

Virtual – APR 27, MAY 25, JUN 22, JUL 27, AUG 24, SEP 28, OCT 26, DEC 7 – 6:00 PM

The Carnegie Writers’ Group (CWG) is a community-based writing group for diverse individuals and genres. The meetings include power writing, writers’ corner, writers’ workshop, guest speaker presentations, and professional reading events. Register now to join us.

happy hour storytime

Virtual – Thursday nights – 7:00 PM

Join Juana and her trained therapy dog, Lovie, for a relaxing, fun evening story time for the whole family. We play games, sing songs, and learn about the world through award-winning children’s books from our Overdrive Kids collection.

Color pencils and shavings on a drawing desk.

Teen Art Squad Online

Join us virtually Wednesdays from 4:30PM to 5:30PM.

Do you like drawing and are looking to brush up on your skills? Or, maybe, you’re new and wish to start learning? Please, join us virtually for our Teen Arts Squad art classes. Learn to draw in structured but fun lessons that aim to improve your understanding of anatomy, perspective, and even character design! No experience needed. Just bring some paper and a pencil!

memphis reads: staff reviews

MEMPHIS READS: MAID by STEPHANIE LAND (8/5/2022) - Andrea reviews MAID: HARD WORK, LOW PAY, AND A MOTHER'S WILL TO SURVIVE by Stephanie Land, Hachette Books, 2019, 978-0-316-50511-6, 270… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: BIRD BOX by JOSH MALERMAN (7/22/2022) - Nathan reviews Bird Box by Josh Malerman, HarperCollins, 2014, 262 pages Have you ever read a book you just had… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: FUZZ: WHEN NATURE BREAKS THE LAW by MARY ROACH (6/24/2022) - Nathan reviews Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach, W.W. Norton & Company, 2021, 308 pages Legumes and… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: BAR FLOWER by LEA JACOBSON (6/22/2022) - Andrea reviews BAR FLOWER by Lea Jacobson., St. Martin’s Press, 2008, 978-0-312-36897-5, 340 pages I am going to be honest… ...Read More

Learn with the Library

COMMUNITY INFORMATION & REFERRAL LINC/2-1-1

Connect with LINC/2-1-1 or search the Tennessee 2-1-1 Database directly.

JOB & CAREER SERVICES

Search for jobs, improve your skills, prepare for interviews. Video tutorials, practice tests, and more.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Find eBooks, eMagazines, online reference and databases, and the home of our Virtual Health Information Center.

HISTORY & GENEALOGY

Check out our local history, genealogy, U.S. / World History and Social Sciences.

We have an extensive digital archive called Dig Memphis. You can also check out our Memphis/Shelby County Room and Old Maps Collection.

seniors

A collection of library services that our seniors love, including links to Libby, Book Clubs, Local History, LINC/2-1-1, and Volunteering.

STUDENT RESOURCES

Resources for Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, and High School students. Several of our resources are available online!

Browse our Collection

START HERE LIBRARY CARD

BOOKS & MORE

Catalog Tips and Tricks, Reading Suggestions, Author Interviews, Book Clubs, and more!

E-COLLECTION

Download Books, Audiobooks, and Magazines! View instructions on using our resources and request support.

DATABASES A TO Z

Alphabetical list of all online research databases.

About The Library

LIBRARY LOCATIONS, PHONE, HOURS

Branch details, contact information, Facebook links, and more.

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY

Join our Friends of the Library! Information on Book 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!