Support the Library

Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale

Oct 24-27
Thousands of books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and more at great prices! More details here.

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.

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!

Meet the Candidates

Online Resource
Prepare for the November 5th election. The objective of this Meet the Candidates page is to provide links to official campaign websites and Facebook pages so that voters can begin to research their options.

Halloween Events

Throughout October
We have trunk-or-treat, haunted houses, movies, books lists and more. Check out all the special spooky events this season!  

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

October
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
Tue., Oct. 15, 12:30 pm

EN EL CINE: ENCANTO
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:00 pm

Memphis Fair Housing Center: Free Legal Advice Clinic
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:00 pm

Board Game Club
South Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:30 pm

Jack-o'-lantern Paper Crafting!
Orange Mound Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Learning Crochet with Grace
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Music Therapy with the Star Center
Hollywood Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Coding Club Python Seminar
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:00 pm

Let's Get Moving featuring Yoga
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:30 pm

Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 6:00 pm

LENA Start Parenting Class
Orange Mound Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:00 am

Toddler Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:15 am

Line Dancing at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

Watercolor – Level II
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

VA HCHV and LINC/211 Outreach for Homeless Veterans
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

Storytime
Cordova Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 11:00 am

Easy Step by Step Computer Class for Adults
Hollywood Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 11:00 am

Power Hour
Levi Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 12:30 pm

Chair Yoga
South Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 1:00 pm

Eating Smart with UTEXTENSION
North Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 1:00 pm

EN EL CINE: ENCANTO
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:00 pm

Jack-o'-lantern Paper Crafting!

Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Music Therapy with the Star Center
Hollywood Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Coding Club Python Seminar
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:00 pm

Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 6:00 pm

Toddler Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:15 am

Storytime
Cordova Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 11:00 am

Lego Club

Wed., Oct. 16, 3:00 pm

Lego Club
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 3:30 pm

Read to the Dog
Raleigh Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 3:30 pm

W.H.A.M (Whitehaven Anime and Manga)
Whitehaven Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 3:30 pm

Preschool Story Time
Raleigh Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 10:30 am

Storytime
Cordova Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 11:00 am

Whitehaven Booked Club
Whitehaven Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 3:00 pm

Spooktacular Screenings
Raleigh Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 4:00 pm

Afterschool Chill Club

Thu., Oct. 17, 4:30 pm

Story Time
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Fri., Oct. 18, 10:30 am

Sensory Storytime
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Oct. 18, 11:00 am

LENA Class
Raleigh Library
Fri., Oct. 18, 11:30 am

EN EL CINE: ENCANTO
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:00 pm

Board Game Club
South Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:30 pm

Music Therapy with the Star Center
Hollywood Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Coding Club Python Seminar
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:00 pm

Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 6:00 pm

LENA Start Parenting Class

Wed., Oct. 16, 10:00 am

Lego Club

Wed., Oct. 16, 3:00 pm

W.H.A.M (Whitehaven Anime and Manga)
Whitehaven Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 3:30 pm

CLOUD Talk – Teen Podcast Workshop
CLOUD901
Wed., Oct. 16, 4:00 pm

The Writer's Block
Connect Crew
Wed., Oct. 16, 6:00 pm

Whitehaven Booked Club
Whitehaven Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 3:00 pm

Sit-N-Stitch Fiber Arts Club
East Shelby Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 3:00 pm

Spooktacular Screenings
Raleigh Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 4:00 pm

Afterschool Chill Club

Thu., Oct. 17, 4:30 pm

Lit at the Library – Literature: Then & Now
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 6:00 pm

Techy Seniors – Smart Phone Basics
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Fri., Oct. 18, 10:30 am

The Plot Twist-Southwest Twins Outreach
Levi Library
Sat., Oct. 19, 9:00 am

Walk a Mile and Get a Free Book!
Cordova Library
Sat., Oct. 19, 10:15 am

Power Hour
Levi Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 12:30 pm

Memphis Fair Housing Center: Free Legal Advice Clinic
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 3:00 pm

Learning Crochet with Grace
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 4:00 pm

Coding Club Python Seminar
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:00 pm

Let's Get Moving featuring Yoga
Cordova Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 5:30 pm

Long Live the King!-Chess Club
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Tue., Oct. 15, 6:00 pm

LENA Start Parenting Class

Wed., Oct. 16, 10:00 am

Line Dancing at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

Watercolor – Level II
Officer Geoffrey Redd Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

VA HCHV and LINC/211 Outreach for Homeless Veterans
Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 10:30 am

Easy Step by Step Computer Class for Adults
Hollywood Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 11:00 am

Power Hour
Levi Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 12:30 pm

Chair Yoga
South Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 1:00 pm

Eating Smart with UTEXTENSION
North Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 1:00 pm

Breast Cancer Awareness
Gaston Park Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 1:00 pm

Learn to Speak English
Cordova Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 4:00 pm

Do you want to become a U. S. Citizen?
Cordova Library
Wed., Oct. 16, 5:00 pm

The Writer's Block
Connect Crew
Wed., Oct. 16, 6:00 pm

Aerobics Fitness Exercise at Raleigh
Raleigh Library
Thu., Oct. 17, 10:00 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! 👩‍🎓🧑‍🎓 #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! âś‹ Join us for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat bash this Saturday!! đź‘» #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! 📚❤ 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

Cherokee Sewing Classes

Cherokee had another couple of successful sewing classes Saturday! We learned to sew on zippers and made a small zippered,…

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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!