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

BookStock 2022

May 7 - Memphis Area Authors’ Festival - Free and open to the public.

We have virtual events and in-person events. Events for early childhood and events for adults. Book clubs, writing clubs, movie discussions, and more. See upcoming highlights below or browse our calendar for details.

Libby

Download eBooks, eAudio, eMagazines

Memphis Sound Connection

Stream local music. Support local musicians.

Explore Memphis 2022

June 1 – July 31

Join us for Explore Memphis 2022 where an Ocean of Possibilities await. We have a Reading Challenge where you can log your minutes and become eligible for prize drawings. We have events for all ages, as well as Summer Camps.

library summer camps

Summer 2022

Interested in robotics, sewing, filmmaking, music production, or skateboard design? Check out our week-long summer camps and apply today!

books and beyond with saundra henderson windom

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – May 17 – 10:15 AM

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Saundra Henderson Windom, author of Orchestration, a powerful memoir of strength, grace, resilience, courage, and kindness that follows her journeys as an orphan following the Korean War and subsequent adoption by an African American family.

Pizza Garden

Randolph Library – May 21 – 1:00 PM

Come plant ingredients for pizza and take two home with you! This is a great way for people of all ages to grow what you can eat and cook from your own garden! Supplies and care instructions will be provided.

Pop-White’s Garden Fest and Ribbon Cutting

Poplar-White Station Library – May 27 – 2:00 PM

You’re invited to help plant our new community garden! Put on some gloves, pick up a shovel, and adopt a plant! Kids can enjoy a fun craft with the Dixon Gallery. More activities and goodies from Memphis City Beautiful

contemporary art of ghana

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library – Goodwyn Gallery – May

See paintings from the Artists Alliance Gallery from Accra, Ghana, headed by Professor Ablade Glover. This Memphis in May Exhibit is available during the month of May in the Goodwyn Gallery of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library.

Everybody Has Rhythm

North Library – June 6 – 11:00 AM

If you shake your head, stomp, or pat your feet, clap your hands, or move your body in some fashion to a beat in a favorite song, you have rhythm and this program is for you. Whether you play drums or not, you will learn how to tap into your natural rhythm by learning simple fundamental drum rudiments and rhythms.

Headshot Photography and Photo Editing

CLOUD901 – June 8 – 4:00 PM

Teens are invited to learn basic and advanced skills around photography with CLOUD901 in their Video Production Lab.

Children’s MakerSpace Project – Discover Treasure

Frayser Library – June 9 – 2:00 PM

In this summer MakerSpace program, children ages 6-11 take on a project that explores either science, technology, engineering, art, or math through our Explore Memphis Oceans of Possibilities theme.

Pioneer Games in the Park with Davies Manor

Bartlett Library – June 15 – 2:00 PM

Ever wonder what kids did for fun in the 1800s? Join the Bartlett Library and Davies Manor at Freeman Park to find out! We’ll get outside and play all sorts of old-fashioned games, some that are familiar, and some that are totally new!

Upcoming Events

Early Childhood Events

Children & Tweens Events

Teen Events

Adult Events

View our full calendar of events!

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.

tax assistance information

Visit LINC/2-1-1’s Tax Information page for the latest information on free tax assistance throughout the community.

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?

Everyone-on

Need assistance with finding low-cost internet offers? JobLINC is partnering with the Public Library Association and Microsoft Corporation to identify existing and new tools to help job seekers gain skills for the jobs of the future, including the EveryoneOn project.

cordova writing club

Cordova Library – Mondays – 3:00 PM

Meet other writers; share your work and get feedback if you want it. Meetings will be every Monday! Join any time. FREE SNACKS to keep you awake and focused!

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: RISING TIDE by JOHN BARRY (5/3/2022) - Marilyn reviews RISING TIDE by John Barry, Simon & Schuster, 1997, 525 pages. This was an excellent read… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: HOW TO BE A WOMAN by Caitlin Moran (4/13/2022) - Nathan reviews HOW TO BE A WOMAN by Caitlin Moran, Harper Perennial, 2011, 305 pages I will admit, I received puzzled… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by QIAN JULIE WANG (3/29/2022) - Andrea reviews BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY by Qian Julie Wang, Doubleday Books, 978-0-385-54721-5, 305 pages. This particular title was recommended by one of… ...Read More

MEMPHIS READS: A DIRTY JOB by CHRISTOPHER MOORE (3/4/2022) - Nathan reviews A DIRTY JOB by Christopher Moore, William Morrow, 2009, 363 pages (ebook) From the very beginning we see… ...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!

more ongoing events and services

memphis reads: staff reviews

Learn with the Library

Browse our Collection

About The Library

POPULAR RESOURCES