C. E. Weldon Public Library
🏢 City of Martin · Martin, Tennessee
C. E. Weldon Public Library
Opened in August 2021 in a $14-million, 35,000-square-foot landmark at the corner of University and Lindell streets, Martin's C. E. Weldon Public Library hosts everything from a professional audio/video recording studio — used by reggae star Shaggy in 2024 — to a demonstration kitchen, a Library of Things, and a genealogy archive of Weakley County history.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–12:30pm |
| Saturday | 9am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 410 South Lindell Street, Martin, TN 38237
Phone: (731) 587-3148
Website: martinpubliclibrary.org
Plus Code: 868H84RX+XX (Martin, TN)
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📖 About C. E. Weldon Public Library
The C. E. Weldon Public Library — known publicly as Martin Public Library — traces its roots to a Woman's Club reading room founded in 1925 at Martin Elementary School. Officially renamed on March 12, 1984 to honor longtime mayor C. E. "Cliff" Weldon, the library moved into a landmark $14-million, 35,000-square-foot two-story facility in August 2021, replacing the original 1968 post office building across the street. Funded by a USDA-Rural Development loan, a $400,000 state library grant, and $1.5 million raised by a UT Martin alumni-led foundation, the new building transformed the library from a traditional lending institution into a full community hub. The second-floor Tennessee History Room serves as a repository for rare local-history materials, Weakley County author collections, and a historic bookcase that once belonged to George Martin, son of the city's founder. The library is fine-free and operates an extensive Library of Things that includes instruments, podcasting gear, sewing machines, and more.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1925 as the Woman's Club Library; officially renamed C. E. Weldon Public Library on March 12, 1984, honoring former mayor Cliff Weldon
- New $14-million, 35,000-sq-ft building opened August 2021, funded by USDA-Rural Development loan and UT Martin alumni foundation
- Professional sound-and-video recording studio free for any cardholder — used by international reggae artist Shaggy during a September 2024 visit to Martin
- Tennessee History Room on the second floor holds rare local books, Weakley County author papers, and a historic bookcase from George Martin, son of the city's founder
- Fine-free library with a Library of Things: borrow guitars, banjo, sewing machines, podcasting equipment, snow machine, balloon inflator, and more
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Martin cardholders stream, download, and learn free through Tennessee's statewide portal and the library's own collections:
📚 Services
- 38,000-item circulating collection: 20,000+ fiction, 15,500 non-fiction, 1,000 large-print, 300 Spanish-language titles
- 16 public internet computers plus 6 in the Children's Library and 2 in the Genealogy Room
- Sound and Video Recording Studio with audio/video equipment for podcasting, webcasting, and music recording (free with card, brief orientation required)
- Media Editing Room for video and audio post-production
- Demonstration Kitchen / Makerspace for cooking classes and creative workshops
- Library of Things: guitars, banjo, podcasting equipment, sewing machines, shop vac, snow machine, balloon inflator, and more
- Genealogy Room: 1,000+ genealogical resources, obituary binders, and newspaper microfilm with viewer/scanner
- Tennessee History Room: rare books, local-history papers, Weakley County author collections, rotating exhibits, fireplace reading area
- Children's Library: 14,000+ books, 3 Early Literacy Stations, story-hour room, iPad stations
- Teen Zone with gaming, socializing, and study space
- 300-seat Martin Event Center available for public rental
- 3,500-sq-ft outdoor stage for community performances
- Interlibrary loan, notary services, fax, copy, print, and scan
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building; fine-free policy
🎸 Programs
- 1000 Books Before Kindergarten challenge for early readers
- Story hours in the dedicated story-hour room
- Cooking and culinary classes in the Demonstration Kitchen
- Recording and media workshops using the professional studio
- Weakley County Historical and Genealogical Society (WCHGS) programs hosted on-site
- Summer Reading Program (themed annually for all ages)
- Community events and performances on the outdoor stage
📍 Nearby Libraries in West Tennessee
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called the C. E. Weldon Public Library when the signs say Martin Public Library?
Both names are correct. The library was officially renamed the C. E. Weldon Public Library on March 12, 1984, in memory of C. E. "Cliff" Weldon, a beloved former mayor of Martin. The library continues to use "Martin Public Library" as its everyday brand and website address, while the legal name honors Weldon's decades of civic service to the community.
Can I really use the recording studio, and how did Shaggy end up recording there?
Yes — the professional sound-and-video recording studio on the second floor is free for any valid library cardholder. You need a brief orientation tour and to sign the studio policy. In September 2024, reggae artist Shaggy was performing at a local event in Martin and used the library's studio while in town — highlighting that the equipment meets professional standards for recording, podcasting, and video production.
What local history materials can I find in the Tennessee History Room, and is there genealogy help?
The Tennessee History Room on the second floor holds rare books, papers, and works by Tennessee and Weakley County authors, along with a historic bookcase owned by George Martin, son of the city's founder. For genealogy, a dedicated Genealogy Room provides 1,000+ resources, newspaper microfilm (with a viewer/scanner), and obituary binders. The library also hosts the Weakley County Historical and Genealogical Society (WCHGS), which offers research assistance and published local history books.
How is the C. E. Weldon Public Library different from the Ned R. McWherter Weakley County Library in Dresden?
They are two separate, independently operated institutions. The C. E. Weldon / Martin Public Library is funded and run by the City of Martin. The Ned R. McWherter Weakley County Library and Museum (341 Linden St., Dresden, 731-364-2678) is operated by Weakley County government and serves as the county-level system. Both are open to residents and complement each other; you may use both.
📋 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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