Homewood Public Library
🏢 Jefferson County Library Cooperative · Homewood, Alabama
Homewood Public Library
Founded in 1941 and consistently ranked among Alabama's best, Homewood Public Library brings the state's only NASA lunar lending program, a circulating telescope collection, and world-class programming to the heart of Jefferson County.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–9pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–9pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | 2pm–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1721 Oxmoor Road, Homewood, AL 35209
Phone: (205) 332-6600
Website: homewoodpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 865MF6G3+2R (Homewood, AL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Homewood Public Library
Founded on March 24, 1941, in a single 30×18-foot room on the second floor of Homewood City Hall, the Homewood Public Library has grown into one of Alabama's busiest and most decorated public libraries, consistently ranking in the top 5% of libraries statewide for its population class. The current building at 1721 Oxmoor Road opened March 1, 1987, in a repurposed Homewood Church of Christ building purchased by the city in 1982 and remodeled by architects Paul and Walter Anderton. A $3-million renovation followed in 1996–1998, and a 3,000-square-foot expansion completed in 2020 added a computer lab and four study rooms to the Adult Department. The library hosts more than 36,000 patron visits per month, circulates over 800,000 items annually, and is a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC) — whose single county-wide card gives cardholders access to all member libraries and a shared catalog of nearly two million titles.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Only public library in Alabama certified to borrow NASA lunar and meteorite samples — part of the NASA Lunar and Meteorite Lending Program (one of ~75 libraries nationwide), earned through a 2017 NASA@My Library Grant
- First library in Alabama to circulate telescopes — nine telescopes available for one-week checkout to any JCLC cardholder age 18+
- Library Journal national recognition four times: Five-Star (2010) and Four-Star (2009, 2015, 2020); Alabama Library Association Gold Level Standard Award (2014)
- Ranked #1 in Alabama for its population class (20,000–49,000) in the 2018 and 2019 state statistical reports across circulation, visits, and program attendance
- Library of Things lending collection: instruments (ukuleles), STEM kits, telescopes, iPads, metal detectors, game-night kits, outdoor items, health and wellness items, tools, and more
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Homewood JCLC cardholders access eBooks, newspapers, and research databases free through Alabama's statewide and cooperative digital services:
📚 Services
- Computer lab with public internet terminals and digital-literacy instruction
- Wireless printing (mobile print), color printing (25¢/page), black-and-white printing, and scanning
- Notary services
- Test proctoring
- Six conference rooms, two auditoriums, a boardroom, and study rooms for public booking
- Ellenburg Art Gallery — rotating local and regional art exhibitions
- Library of Things: instruments, STEM kits, telescopes, iPads, Rokus, metal detectors, record player kits, tools, and more
- West Homewood Book Drop at 816 Oak Grove Road
- HPL Mobile App for account management and catalog access
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes, reading programs, and Kindergarten Readiness series
- Teen advisory board and standardized-test/college-prep workshops
- Adult book clubs and author events
- STEM and NASA/space-science programming (library is the state's only NASA lunar lending site)
- Art workshops and Ellenburg Art Gallery receptions
- Cultural and international events in partnership with community groups
- Summer reading programs for all ages
- Outreach programs to schools and daycares
📍 Nearby Libraries in Jefferson & Shelby Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Homewood Public Library part of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative, and can I use my card at other county libraries?
Yes. Homewood Public Library is a member of the Jefferson County Library Cooperative (JCLC), a consortium of public library systems across Jefferson County. One JCLC card gives you borrowing privileges at every member library, access to the shared online catalog of nearly two million titles, and all JCLC digital resources including Libby, hoopla, and Kanopy.
What makes Homewood's science programming unique in Alabama?
Homewood Public Library is the only public library in Alabama participating in NASA's Lunar and Meteorite Lending Program — a certified staff member can borrow actual lunar samples for patron programming. This distinction came through a 2017 NASA@My Library Grant, one of only 75 awarded nationally. The library is also the first in Alabama to circulate telescopes: nine are available for one-week checkout to any JCLC cardholder age 18 and older.
When did Homewood Public Library move to its current building on Oxmoor Road?
The library began in 1941 in a single room at Homewood City Hall, then moved to a Roxbury Road location before settling at its current address. The city purchased the former Homewood Church of Christ building near Central Avenue in 1982 and opened the library there on March 1, 1987. A $3-million renovation (Davis Architects / M. J. Harris, Inc.) produced a grand reopening on April 16, 1998, and a 3,000-square-foot expansion completed in 2020 added a dedicated computer lab and study rooms.
What are the library's hours, and are there extended evening hours?
The library is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9am to 9pm (extended evening hours), Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 9am to 6pm, and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm. The front doors lock 15 minutes before closing. A book drop is available at 816 Oak Grove Road in West Homewood for after-hours returns.
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