Library Closing

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library is closed and will re-open Monday July 29th.

Support the Library

Senior Health Fair

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
July 19 11:00 AM
This event is aimed at informing, educating, and providing health care screenings, resources, and health information to seniors.  It is FREE to vendors and participating seniors.  

Explore Memphis
Read, Attend, Explore

June 1 – July 31
Join our summer reading program and earn prizes – all ages! Attend some of our many programs including summer camps, Explore Memphest, and an adventurous Web Series.

Value Line Investment Research

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.

Meet the Candidates

There’s an election coming up! Do you know who is running? Don’t go to the polls unprepared. Visit this page to find links to official web pages and Facebook pages for candidates in the upcoming August 1 election.

Pride Fest Arts Submissions

AN OPEN CALL TO ARTISTS! If you have any artworks that fit the theme of LGBTQIA+ Pride, we invite you to submit them for a chance to be part of our Pride Fest Art Display! If selected, your art will be shown for the month of September on the walls of the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library’s Goodwyn Gallery.

Library of Things

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. 

Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

Multiple Libraries & Times
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.

Explore Memphis Web Series: The Adventurer


Join us on the journey to find the treasure of Memphis Public Libraries. This comical, light-hearted exploration is fun for the whole family to enjoy.

Back to School Programs


See what programs and giveaways we have for students!

Glow in the Dark Adventuremobile!

Randolph Library
July 24 1:00 PM
Kids: Join us at Your Randolph Branch to design your own adventuremobile using recycled materials and glow in the dark tape!

Harmony and Hues

Cossitt Library
July 24 6:00 PM
This is a four week painting series that focuses on the relationship of visual representation to aural stimulation. ART meets MUSIC in this guided painting series with Stacey Saed.

Orange Mound Olympic Games

Orange Mound Library
July 25 3:00 PM
Join us for our very own 2024 Olympic Games (Nintendo Sports).  We will play friendly competitive games  such as soccer, golf, volleyball, tennis, and fencing- all of which are being played at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. 

Fairy Escape Room

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
July 26 Time Slots
You have stumbled into fairyland and been captured by a group of fairies! Now you need to find away to escape or else you’ll be trapped here forever!

Pet Portrait Art Show

Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
August 2 6:00 PM
Join us August 2nd from 6-8pm at the Benjamin L. Hooks’ Goodwyn Gallery for a celebration of arts and animals! The Pet Portrait Art Show will feature art from the Memphis community that is inspired by our mutual love of pets.

Memphis Sound Connection

Discover Memphis Sound Connection: free platform showcasing local music. Join now and explore the city’s musical diversity!

Memphis Public Libraries Newsletter

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

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.

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!

Raleigh Chicks Backpack Giveaway
Raleigh Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:00 am

Family Fun – Explore Memphis finale
Cordova Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 11:00 am

Reading Wizard
Randolph Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 11:00 am

Back-to-School Block Party
South Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 11:00 am

LEGO CLUB
East Shelby Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 12:00 pm

Crafternoons at Cossitt
Cossitt Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 12:00 pm

Movie Days at East Shelby Library
East Shelby Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 3:00 pm

Take-and-Make Craft
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 12:00 am

Pre-School Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 10:15 am

Toddler Storytime
Randolph Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 10:30 am

Family Storytime
East Shelby Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 11:00 am

Summer Lunch Programming
Parkway Village Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 12:00 pm

Towel Ping-Pong @ Levi
Levi Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 1:00 pm

Bestie Bracelet Making

Mon., Jul. 29, 4:00 pm

Babies & Books
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 10:15 am

Read, Create, Move: Storytime at North!
North Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 11:00 am

Baby Storytime
Cordova Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 11:00 am

Lego Club
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 11:00 am

Walk a Mile and Get a Free Book!
Cordova Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:15 am

Back-to-School Block Party
South Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 11:00 am

Eat Smart @ Home
Frayser Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 12:00 pm

Cherokee Sewing Club
Cherokee Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 1:30 pm

Sacred Embodiment Dance Class
Raleigh Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

I Read That Movie @ the Library: DUNE (PART 2) (rescheduled for August 10)
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

Movie Days at East Shelby Library
East Shelby Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 3:00 pm

Electronics and Electricity Seminar
Whitehaven Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 10:00 am

Summer Lunch Programming
Parkway Village Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 12:00 pm

Towel Ping-Pong @ Levi
Levi Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 1:00 pm

Cordova Writing Club
Cordova Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 3:00 pm

Beginning Spanish
Whitehaven Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 10:00 am

Summer Lunch Programming
Parkway Village Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 12:00 pm

Art to Grow with the Dixon Gallery

Tue., Jul. 30, 1:00 pm

Ghibli Movie Screening: Howl's Moving Castle
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 2:00 pm

Back in Time: Escape HLWD Spin Street
Hollywood Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 2:00 pm

Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 6:00 pm

Pickleball 101
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Jul. 30, 6:00 pm

Summer Lunch Programming
Parkway Village Library
Wed., Jul. 31, 12:00 pm

Raleigh Chicks Backpack Giveaway
Raleigh Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:00 am

Walk a Mile and Get a Free Book!
Cordova Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:15 am

Moving & Grooving: Line Dancing at Frayser Library
Frayser Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:30 am

Cherokee Sewing Club
Cherokee Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:30 am

North Women's Book Club
North Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 10:30 am

Back-to-School Block Party
South Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 11:00 am

Eat Smart @ Home
Frayser Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 12:00 pm

Arts and Crafts @ Levi
Levi Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 1:00 pm

Cherokee Sewing Club
Cherokee Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 1:30 pm

Free Tech Support at the Library
Cordova Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

Advanced ESL Reading and Discussion Group
Cordova Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

Sacred Embodiment Dance Class
Raleigh Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

I Read That Movie @ the Library: DUNE (PART 2) (rescheduled for August 10)
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 2:00 pm

Movie Days at East Shelby Library
East Shelby Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 3:00 pm

Intro to Crochet: Reading Patterns & Single Crochet
Randolph Library
Sat., Jul. 27, 3:30 pm

Electronics and Electricity Seminar
Whitehaven Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 10:00 am

Tri State Community Health Center Health Screening
Cordova Library
Mon., Jul. 29, 10:30 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! 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓 #CELL #Memphis #MemphisPublicLibraries #StartHere

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

We are just one month away from BOOKSTOCK 2024! The Memphis Area Authors' Festival is on April 6 at the Benjamin L Hooks Central Library. Check out this video and learn more about this year's featured authors and what is planned for this fantastic event that supports local writers. We are counting down the days until this event! #Bookstock #MPL

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Are you ready to Explore Memphis? The adventure begins at Memphis Public Libraries on June 1. So grab a map from your local branch 🗺️ Check out some books 📚 Get ready to have fun ✅ Hopefully, win prizes 🏆

Posted by Memphis Public Libraries on Thursday, May 2, 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!

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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!

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!

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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!