Common Tasks
Support the Library
Teen Arts Fest
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sept. 20, 11 AM
Painters, sculptors, designers, photographers, and more! On Saturday, September 20 from 11 am – 1 pm at Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, teen artists will showcase and sell their artwork! Memphis Public Libraries’ Teen Arts Fest is a celebration with youth arts organizations, music, and more!
The Heart of 901
Are you a creative between the ages of 13 and 18 with a passion for your city? Do you want to share your unique perspective and show everyone what’s great about Memphis? We’ve got the perfect project for you!
The Memphis Public Library is launching Heart of 901, a new media project designed to give you a platform to highlight the best of our city.
Sounds from the Stacks: Becky D
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sept. 17, 4 PM – 5 PM
Join us at the Central Library as we launch our 2025–2026 concert series, Sounds from the Stacks, with a musical performance by local folk artist Becky D! Known for her captivating rhythms and heartfelt lyrics, Becky’s music carries listeners on a journey of reflection, emotion, and joy. Her songs offer a message of hope, and she uses her voice and platform to uplift and inspire. This event is free and open to all ages!
Intergalactic Eleganza Art Show
Submissions Open Until Sept. 26
AN OPEN CALL TO ARTISTS! In conjunction with the Intergalactic Eleganza, we will be accepting any space-themed art! Category: Constellations! So buckle up, space cowboy, and bring your cosmic creations and out-of-this-world art! If selected, your art will be shown at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library from September 26th until October 10th. During our Intergalactic Eleganza Event on Friday, September 26th, from 6-8 pm, we will have your works on display and for sale! Additionally, your works will be on display for our Vincent Astor Celebration happening on Saturday, September 27th, from 11 am – 2 pm. We ask that 10 percent of profits go to the Memphis Library Foundation to help us fund more programs like this.
Career Readiness Workshop
North Library
Sep. 19. 11:30 AM – 2 PM
Memphis Urban League (MUL) will be offering career readiness workshops at the North Branch Library. These sessions focus on essential topics, such as resume building, interview skills, and financial literacy, tailored to help attendees achieve their career goals.
Like Really Creative Inspiration Salon: A Geneaology of Community
Orange Mound
Sep. 20, 2:30 PM – 5 PM
Discover your roots while immersing yourself in creativity at the Like Really Creative Inspiration Salon: A Genealogy of Community, where you can trace your family history, record your cultural heritage story, flip through tons of art books, and vibe to a live DJ all under one roof. Wander between fashion runway shows on screen, experimental films, and an artist Q&A table where curious minds can engage directly with creators bringing their visions to life. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind cultural celebration at the Orange Mound Library and Genealogy Center, where art, music, fashion, and family history merge to create an unforgettable community experience.
Cordova Writing Club
Cordova Library
Every Monday 4 PM – 5:30 PM
The only objective is to put words on paper! Think of this as a NaNoWriMo “write-in,” but for those of us who need longer than a year to write a book! Bring a writing project to work on, or start something new. All skill levels welcome. Bring your own laptop, or borrow one of ours, or write on notebook paper. We’ll be meeting in the large meeting room, and there will be FREE SNACKS to keep you awake and focused. Meet other writers; share your work and get feedback if you want it. Meetings will be every Monday! Join any time.
I Read That Movie @ The Library: Out of Sight
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sep. 27, 2 PM – 5 PM
For September, our “page-to-screen” book club, I Read That Movie @ the Library, is reading the 1996 crime fiction novel Out of Sight, written by Elmore Leonard, many of whose popular novels and stories have been adapted for film and television. As this story begins, “gentleman thief” Jack Foley is busting out of a Florida prison, only to have his scheme nearly thwarted by shotgun-toting federal agent Karen Sisco. After the two hit it off while unexpectedly sharing a cramped car trunk, Foley sets his sights on a major heist in Detroit, but Sisco has other plans for their next encounter.
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
October 23 – 26
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, and more at great prices! Come out to the annual Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale! Click to see the flyer for dates and times.
MPL Unbound
A Publication of the Memphis Library Foundation
The second issue of MPL UNBOUND is out now! In this issue, we explore the unexpected ways the Memphis Library Foundation supports the library’s mission, how libraries serve democracy, and pay tribute to Orange Mound and its first library branch. Free print copies are available at any branch or digitally right here!
Library of Things
Brand new THINGS have been added to the catalog! Check them out today!
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.
Activate Your 901 Pass as a Library Card
Do you have a 901 Pass card and would like to use it to access the Memphis Public Libraries? Check here on how we can activate that for you!
MPL Repair Cafe
We are excited to announce that Memphis Public Library will be hosting regular Repair Days in 2025 in partnership with the international Repair Café organization! If you have special skills and would like to volunteer for this effort, let us know here!
Seed Library and Colorcopia
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
3rd Tuesdays, 1-2 PM
Join The Dixon Garden and Gallery’s Shawna White for a monthly arts class inspired by the ever changing seasons. In these nature themed arts classes, all you need to bring is your creativity for a great time while having great conversation. All supplies provided; all skill levels welcome!
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.
Notary Services
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Wednesdays in August
Memphis Public Libraries provides free notary services to the public during drop-in hours on Wednesdays from noon to 2 pm at the Central Library, located in the Business & Sciences Department on the 3rd floor.
Gadget Lab
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Second and Fourth Monday, 10 AM – 12 PM
Bring your tablet, laptop, or smart device and receive one-on-one technical assistance in accessing the Library’s digital services. This is not a formal class, and customers receive assistance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Japanese Culture Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Second Saturday of the Month
10:30 AM – 12 PM
Join us for MPL’s Japanese Culture Club! This monthly meeting will be dedicated to the appreciation of Japanese culture. The club will focus on immersing attendees in Japanese customs and traditions as well as popular culture in a fun and engaging environment.
Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tuesdays 6 PM – 7:30 PM
Free chess tutorials for all ages. Beginners are invited to learn to play, and veterans are welcome to challenge each other to a friendly match of strategy and tactics. For this event we will meet in our main lobby behind the escalators. Long Live the King!
Funeral Programs Collection
Dig Memphis – New Collection!
Funeral programs are invaluable historical documents that offer rich insights into our ancestors’ lives. They often include biographical information, family connections, dates, and locations, and serve as a unique record of an individual’s life. The programs contained in the Funeral Programs Collection, typically created at the time of death, preserve crucial data cherished by genealogists and family researchers, enhancing their understanding of personal histories.
Keep up with Memphis Public Libraries!
September
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Library Updates
On-Going @ Orange Mound: Newborn Jazz and Arts Heritage Festival
The Newborn Jazz and Arts Heritage Festival was held at Orange Mound on May 31! Special guests attending were Memphis…
Whitehaven News: Discover Read Grand Reopening!
The Grand reopening of the Whitehaven Library’s Discover Read area was a great success! First-grade students of Robert R Church…
DIG Memphis News: Clayborn Temple Fire
From Wayne Dowdy, Manager of the Library’s History Department: “Clayborn Temple is one of the most significant sites in the…
In the News: “Memphis woman marched with MLK—now her story to be spotlighted at Bookstock”
News Channel 3 – Live at 9 – April 7, 2025 – Wang-Ying Glasgow from Memphis Public Libraries and participating…
Virtual Library
Browse all of our Virtual Library offerings here, or access some of our more popular resources.
Start your genealogical journey today!
Have a question you need answered? Or a suggestion for the collection? Start Here!
Search the local newspaper all the way back to 1847.
Check out our online Digital Archives and explore Memphis history through photos and more!
Check out E-books and E-AudioBooks through Libby by OverDrive! You can visit the new Libby site or visit the original OverDrive site.
Our magazine collection has moved to Libby! Check out our collection of current and popular magazines.
The New York Times digital subscription is available at home!
Provides the tools you need to achieve educational, professional, and personal success. Prepare for testing as well as career materials, including career advice and resume building.
Gale Presents: Udemy is an online learning platform for adults who want to improve work-related skills or further develop a personal interest.
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.
Visit the Library
Browse all of our locations and special services.
Don’t have a Library Card yet? Start Here and register online.
Need to know how to log into your account or place a hold?
Use Book Bundles and we’ll pick out a bundle of books for your child!
CLOUD901 is a free creative space for Memphis teens (13–18) to explore tech, design, and media with expert help and top gear.
Not everyone can get to the library when it is open or access library resources digitally. Find out more about our Outreach services, such as Connect Crew, our special programming team.
Memphis Public Libraries also lends fun kits—like Camping, Karaoke, and Yard Games—to explore hobbies or try gear before you buy.
Need help or want to help? Call 2-1-1 to reach LINC at Memphis Public Library for community resources.
Find out how to reserve meeting room space at our libraries.
Second Editions Bookstore is the place to find gently-used books for sale at great bargain prices.
More About the Library
Donations, Book Sales, Second Editions, Amazon Book Store, and more.
Supporting the Library through private donations and more. See how you can help today!
We offer various volunteer opportunities that align with your skills and interests.
Keep up with the Library with these bimonthly reports showcasing some of the events and services we provide daily.
Don’t just hear it from us. See what everyone else is saying about the programs and services of the Memphis Public Libraries!