Nashville Public Library — Main Library
🏢 Nashville Public Library · Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville Public Library — Main Library
Nashville Public Library's 300,000-square-foot Main Library, designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and opened June 9, 2001, anchors Church Street in downtown Nashville. It houses the nationally recognized Civil Rights Room, Studio NPL creative maker spaces, 3D printing, notary services, and a puppet theater — and connects Tennesseans to the statewide Tennessee Electronic Library.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | 2pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 615 Church Street, Nashville, TN 37219
Phone: (615) 862-5800
Website: library.nashville.gov
Plus Code: 868M5669+Q5 (Nashville, TN)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Nashville Public Library — Main Library
Nashville's public library history stretches back to 1898, when the Howard Library opened as the city's first public lending institution. A Carnegie building at 225 Polk Avenue followed in 1904, and the current Main Library — a landmark 300,000-square-foot building designed by celebrated architect Robert A.M. Stern — opened at 615 Church Street on June 9, 2001. The Nashville Public Library system earned the National Medal for Museum and Library Services in 2010 and was named Library of the Year by Library Journal and Gale in 2017. The Main Library's signature feature is the Civil Rights Room on the second floor, documenting Nashville's pivotal role in the 1950s–60s movement: it chronicles the 1957 school desegregation, the February 1960 student sit-ins at segregated lunch counters, and the nonviolent campaigns that made Nashville a model for the national movement. The room includes a symbolic lunch counter, photographs, the Ten Rules of Conduct carried by protesters, and a video theater. Beyond history, the Main Library offers Studio NPL creative spaces, 3D printing, a puppet theater, art gallery exhibitions, seed exchange, board game checkout, notary service, tech help, and a drive-thru book return. The Nashville Room archives local history, genealogy, and historical newspapers. Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL) databases and R.E.A.D.S. digital borrowing extend the collection statewide.
⭐ What makes this library special
- 300,000 sq ft flagship building designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, opened June 9, 2001
- Civil Rights Room on the 2nd floor — one of the nation's most significant public library civil rights collections
- National Medal for Museum and Library Services (2010) and Library of the Year (Library Journal & Gale, 2017)
- Studio NPL creative spaces with 3D printing, tech help, and a dedicated puppet theater
- Notary service available on-site during library hours
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Nashville cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through these digital collections:
📚 Services
- Civil Rights Room — free access to Nashville's civil rights history archives
- Notary service (free, during library hours)
- Studio NPL — 3D printing, tech help, and creative maker spaces
- Puppet theater (Wishing Chair Productions performances)
- Art gallery exhibitions
- Seed exchange program
- Board game collection checkout
- Nashville Room — local history, genealogy & historical newspapers
- Nashville Talking Library — audio service for vision-impaired patrons
- NPL Means Business — business and entrepreneurship research resources
- Drive-thru book return
- Meeting rooms and group study spaces
- Proctoring services
- Laptop vending machine
- Free Wi-Fi and public computers
🎸 Programs
- Silent Book Club Nashville
- Children's world language storytimes
- Author events and adult programming
- Civil Rights Room educational programs and classroom sessions
- Art gallery exhibitions and community events
- Puppet theater performances by Wishing Chair Productions
- Summer Reading Program
📍 More Nashville Public Library Locations
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Nashville · Browse all Tennessee libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library, and where is it located?
The Civil Rights Room is a free, permanent exhibit on the second floor of the Main Library, within the Nashville Room at the building's north end. It documents Nashville's central role in the Civil Rights Movement, including the 1957 school desegregation and the 1960 student sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. The room features a symbolic lunch counter, photographs, the Ten Rules of Conduct used by protesters, and a video theater. It is open during all regular Main Library hours.
Who designed the Nashville Public Library Main Library building, and when did it open?
The 300,000-square-foot Main Library was designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects and opened to the public on June 9, 2001, at 615 Church Street in downtown Nashville.
Does the Main Library offer notary services, and are they free?
Yes. Notary service is available at the Main Library during regular hours at no charge. Call (615) 862-5800 to confirm availability on the day of your visit, as a notary must be present.
What is Studio NPL, and is it open to the public?
Studio NPL is the Main Library's creative maker space, offering 3D printing, tech help, and other hands-on tools. It is open to all library cardholders during regular Main Library hours. Check the library's website or call ahead for current equipment availability and any required reservations.
🎨 This library lends museum passes. See how library museum passes work and find other libraries that lend passes museum passes by state.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
🔨 This library has a makerspace / 3D printing. See how library makerspaces and 3D printing work and find other libraries with a makerspace makerspaces by state.
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