Lawson McGhee Library
🏢 Knox County Public Library · Knoxville, Tennessee
Lawson McGhee Library
Lawson McGhee Library is the flagship branch of Knox County Public Library — the oldest continuously operating public library in Tennessee, founded in 1886. Anchored in downtown Knoxville at 500 W. Church Avenue, it is home to the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, the Knox County Archives, and the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound, making it one of the Southeast's premier public research destinations.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 500 W. Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902
Phone: (865) 215-8750
Website: knoxcountylibrary.org
Plus Code: 867RX36J+W6 (Knoxville, TN)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lawson McGhee Library
Lawson McGhee Library has served Knoxville and Knox County since 1886, making it the oldest continuously operating public library in Tennessee. The library is named in honor of Calvin Morgan McGhee, whose family, along with early civic patron John Lawson, contributed to its founding legacy. Today it is the 19-branch system's central location and is classified as a Federal Depository Library, receiving U.S. Government documents that are freely available to the public. The building at 500 W. Church Avenue — easily reached by nine KAT bus routes and with validated parking nearby — houses a collection of more than one million items across print, media, and digital formats. Its signature special collections include the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection (one of the Southeast's most significant repositories for Tennessee and Appalachian history and genealogy), the Knox County Archives, the East Tennessee History Center, and the Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS). The Memory Lab allows community members to digitize cherished family photographs, films, and audio recordings. Knox County cardholders also benefit from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a statewide early-literacy program, and the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL), which delivers academic and general-reference databases to every resident at no charge.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Oldest continuously operating public library in Tennessee — founded 1886
- Federal Depository Library holding U.S. Government documents open to the public
- Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection — one of the Southeast's premier repositories for Tennessee and Appalachian genealogy and history
- Memory Lab for digitizing family photographs, home movies, and audio recordings
- East Tennessee History Center and Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS) on-site
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Knox County cardholders can borrow, stream, and research free through these digital collections:
📚 Services
- Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection — genealogy & Tennessee history research
- Knox County Archives and East Tennessee History Center
- Tennessee Archive of Moving Image and Sound (TAMIS)
- Memory Lab — digitize family photos, films & audio
- Federal Depository Library — free access to U.S. Government documents
- Public computers, wireless printing & free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room (capacity 69) with AV equipment
- Interlibrary loan
- Homebound and disability services
- Validated parking (one hour free at nearby garages)
🎸 Programs
- Toddler Storytime (Wednesdays 10:00–10:30 am)
- Preschool Storytime (Wednesdays 11:00–11:30 am)
- Baby Bookworms (Thursdays 10:30–11:00 am)
- All Over the Page adult book discussion series
- History and genealogy workshops through the East Tennessee History Center
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library — early literacy for Knox County children
- Author events and community lectures
📍 Nearby Libraries in East Tennessee
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Knoxville · Browse all Tennessee libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is the Knox County Public Library, and what makes it historically significant?
Knox County Public Library was founded in 1886, making it the oldest continuously operating public library in Tennessee. It is also designated as a Federal Depository Library, which means it receives U.S. Government documents and makes them freely available to the public at the Lawson McGhee main branch.
What is the Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection, and is it open to the public?
The Calvin M. McClung Historical Collection is one of the Southeast's most significant repositories for Tennessee and Appalachian history, genealogy, and local records. It is housed at Lawson McGhee Library and open to the public during regular library hours. A digitized portion of the collection is available online at cmdc.knoxlib.org.
Does Lawson McGhee Library have a Memory Lab for digitizing family materials?
Yes. The Memory Lab at Lawson McGhee allows community members to digitize their own family photographs, home movies, and audio recordings using library equipment. Staff are available to assist. Check the library's events calendar for scheduled drop-in sessions.
Is the library open on Sundays, and how do I get there without a car?
Yes, Lawson McGhee Library is open Sunday 1–5 p.m. Nine Knoxville Area Transit (KAT) bus routes serve the downtown location at 500 W. Church Avenue. Drivers can validate one hour of free parking at nearby garages through the library.
📜 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 offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.