About Oak Ridge Public Library

Oak Ridge Public Library was born from a remarkable act of community initiative in 1944, during World War II. As Oak Ridge was built in secrecy as part of the Manhattan Project, residents sought reading materials — and Boy Scouts began collecting and distributing magazines to dormitories and hospitals throughout the city. From those humble beginnings, a formal library took shape, with its original location on Kentucky and Tennessee Avenues housing approximately 1,700 books. In 1970, the library moved to its current location at 1401 Oak Ridge Turnpike, growing to serve the scientific and civic community of the "Secret City."

Today, the Oak Ridge Public Library maintains a collection of over 111,000 items — including books, movies, music CDs, audiobooks, eBooks, and downloadable content — and serves Anderson County with a patron-centered mission. The library's Oak Ridge Room (dedicated 1986) preserves the city's unique history as the birthplace of the nuclear age. Modern services include a Seed Library, BookMatch personalized reading recommendations, mobile printing, laptop availability, a Summer Reading Program, and Interlibrary Loan. The library's core values of kindness, quality service, and respect for patron privacy reflect the thoughtful community it serves.