Jennie Stephens Smith Library
🏢 Union County Library System · New Albany, Mississippi
Jennie Stephens Smith Library
Named for Jennie Stephens Smith, a respected local historian and longtime librarian, the Jennie Stephens Smith Library has served as the heart of Union County reading life since 1934. Located on King Street in downtown New Albany — steps from the Tanglefoot Trail — it was the first library in Mississippi to offer free bicycle loans, linking literary life to the great outdoors.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 219 King Street, New Albany, MS 38652
Phone: (662) 534-1991
Website: unioncountylibrary.com
Plus Code: 866GFXVR+37 (New Albany, MS)
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📖 About Jennie Stephens Smith Library
The Jennie Stephens Smith Library is the headquarters of the Union County Library System, serving New Albany and Union County, Mississippi from its home at 219 King Street in downtown New Albany. Founded in 1934, the library honors Jennie Stephens Smith, a celebrated local historian, genealogist, and librarian who devoted her life to preserving the region's heritage. The library reflects that legacy in its Mississippi Room — a dedicated space celebrating the state's literary tradition and writers such as William Faulkner and Eudora Welty — and in its genealogy and local history collections. The King Street location sits at the trailhead of the Tanglefoot Trail, and the library made history as the first in Mississippi to offer free bicycle checkout for patrons, connecting readers to the trail and to downtown New Albany's shops and restaurants. A second branch, the Nance McNeely Memorial Library, serves the community of Myrtle. Together they form a tight county-wide network backed by the statewide MAGNOLIA research databases and Libby digital borrowing.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1934, named for Jennie Stephens Smith — a respected local historian, genealogist, and librarian who preserved Union County heritage
- The first library in Mississippi to offer free bicycle checkout to patrons, with access to the Tanglefoot Trail from King Street
- Mississippi Room dedicated to the state's literary heritage and authors including Faulkner and Welty
- Genealogy and local history collection reflecting the namesake's scholarly legacy
- Dog-friendly library with water and treats, plus curbside service for patrons unable to visit in person
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Union County Library cardholders can borrow and research online free with these statewide digital resources:
📚 Services
- Free bicycle checkout for Tanglefoot Trail access (the first such program in Mississippi)
- Genealogy and local history collection
- Mississippi Room celebrating state literary heritage
- Curbside service for patrons unable to visit in person
- Meeting room reservations for community groups
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Dog-friendly facility with water and snacks available
- Interlibrary loan and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program
- Author events and community programming
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Educational workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries in North Mississippi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in New Albany · Browse all Mississippi libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Jennie Stephens Smith, and why is the library named for her?
Jennie Stephens Smith was a respected Union County historian, genealogist, and librarian who dedicated her career to documenting and preserving the region's heritage. When the library was established in 1934, it was named in her honor to recognize her scholarly contributions to the community. Her legacy lives on in the library's genealogy collection and local history resources.
Can I really borrow a bicycle from the library?
Yes. The Jennie Stephens Smith Library was the first library in Mississippi to offer a bicycle checkout program. Patrons with a valid library card can borrow a bike to ride the Tanglefoot Trail, which runs directly past the King Street building and connects to downtown New Albany's shops and restaurants.
What is the Mississippi Room at the library?
The Mississippi Room is a dedicated space celebrating the state's rich literary heritage, with materials related to notable Mississippi writers including William Faulkner and Eudora Welty. It complements the library's broader genealogy and local history collections rooted in the mission of namesake Jennie Stephens Smith.
Does the Union County Library offer digital borrowing?
Yes. Library cardholders have free access to Libby / OverDrive for eBooks and audiobooks, the statewide MAGNOLIA research databases, and HeritageQuest Online for genealogy. Visit unioncountylibrary.com or ask staff at the King Street desk for login details.
📜 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.