Lillie Russell Memorial Library
🏢 City of Lindale · Smith County, Texas
Lillie Russell Memorial Library
Born from a grassroots community dream in 1992, the Lillie Russell Memorial Library opened its doors in December 1993 and grew into a thriving 10,000-square-foot hub for Lindale and Smith County — debt-free, community-funded, and named for a pioneering East Texas educator.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–4pm |
| Saturday | 10am–2pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 200 East Hubbard Street, Lindale, TX 75771
Phone: (903) 882-1900
Website: lillierusselllibrary.org
Plus Code: 8646GH8R+CR (Lindale, TX)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lillie Russell Memorial Library
The Lillie Russell Memorial Library traces its roots to 1992, when a small group of Lindale residents formed the Friends of the Lindale Library and began raising funds for a library their town had never had. Their first location, a modest 2,000-square-foot downtown storefront, opened in December 1993 with only a children's section and 20 hours of service a week — and quickly outgrew its walls as neighbors flocked in. In 2002, after joining the North East Texas Library System and securing a mix of grants and community donations, the library moved into its current 10,000-square-foot building, completing the transition entirely debt-free. A financial crisis in 2014 brought the library close to closure until local benefactors Rusty and Teresa Braziel stepped in; in gratitude, the library was renamed in honor of Mr. Braziel's grandmother, Lillie Mae Russell — born December 18, 1883, in Lindale itself — a teacher, school-board trustee, and the first woman to serve on the Lindale Public Schools board. Today the library holds more than 52,000 volumes, circulates over 131,000 items a year, and serves as one of Lindale's most beloved gathering places.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Community-founded and debt-free: opened December 1993 as a grassroots library and moved into its 10,000-square-foot permanent building in 2002 without carrying a dollar of debt
- Named for Lillie Mae Russell (born December 18, 1883, Lindale), educator and the first woman elected to the Lindale Public Schools board of trustees — known affectionately across East Texas as 'Ms. Lillie'
- 52,150-volume collection circulating more than 131,000 items per year, serving a community of nearly 5,000 residents in Smith County
- Library of Things lending collection: T-Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots, board games, Sprouts Early Learning Backpacks, and a Seed Library — all borrowable with a library card
- Hands Community Room available for library programs and public rental, supporting everything from Caregivers Support Group meetings to line dancing and a live Pickin' acoustic music series on Friday evenings
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Lindale cardholders can borrow eBooks, audiobooks, and access research databases anytime — free with a library card:
📚 Services
- Free library card for Lindale and Smith County area residents
- Public internet computers and free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Hands Community Room available for library programs and public/non-profit rental
- Library of Things: T-Mobile hotspots, board games, Sprouts Early Learning Backpacks, Seed Library
- Interlibrary loan through the North East Texas Library System (NETLS)
- Online catalog and account management via Atriuum (Booksys)
- Libby / OverDrive eBook and audiobook borrowing
🎸 Programs
- ASL Storytime — Fridays at 9:00 am & 10:30 am (preschool, bilingual American Sign Language storytime)
- Therapet — Saturdays at 10:30 am (children read aloud to therapy animals)
- Yarn Club — Thursdays at 4:00 pm (knitting & crocheting, all ages and skill levels)
- Adult Game Day — Tuesdays at 10:00 am
- Homeschool Game Day — Wednesdays at 2:00 pm
- Homeschool Spanish Class — Fridays at 3:00 pm (teens)
- Ladies Line Dancing — Thursdays (Intro 10:10 am, Improver 11:10 am)
- Open Sew Class — Wednesdays at 4:00 pm (teens & adults)
- Pickin' at the Lillie — Fridays at 6:00 pm (live acoustic music in the library)
- Caregivers Support Group — select Wednesdays at 6:00 pm
- Summer Reading Program — annual, all ages
📍 More Texas Public Libraries
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Lillie Russell, and why is the library named after her?
Lillie Mae Russell was born on December 18, 1883, right here in Lindale, Texas. She became an educator, a community leader, and the first woman ever elected as a trustee of the Lindale Public Schools — a milestone in East Texas public education. Her grandson's benefactors, Rusty and Teresa Braziel, saved the library from closure in 2014 with crucial financial support, and the library was renamed in Lillie Mae Russell's honor to recognize a lifetime of dedication to learning and community that she had instilled in her family and neighbors. She was known affectionately throughout Lindale as 'Ms. Lillie.'
How did the Lillie Russell Memorial Library come to exist in Lindale?
The library exists entirely because of community determination. In 1992, a small group of residents formed the Friends of the Lindale Library and began fundraising for a library their city didn't yet have. They opened a children's-only storefront location in December 1993 and spent the next decade growing the collection and services. After joining the North East Texas Library System and winning grants, the library moved into its current 10,000-square-foot building in 2002 — completely debt-free. It receives only about 20% of its budget from the City of Lindale; the rest comes from donations, grants, and community events.
What is the Library of Things, and what can I borrow?
The Library of Things is a collection of higher-value items you can check out with a regular library card, just like a book. At the Lillie Russell Memorial Library, that currently includes T-Mobile Wi-Fi hotspots (great for households without home internet), board games, Sprouts Early Learning Backpacks for young children, and a Seed Library with free seeds for gardening. Borrowers must review the library's Higher Value Policy before checking out these items — ask at the front desk or search the online catalog at lillierusselllibrary.booksys.net.
Does the library offer programs for homeschooling families?
Yes — the Lillie Russell Memorial Library has become a popular resource for the Lindale-area homeschool community. Regular offerings include Homeschool Game Day on Wednesdays at 2:00 pm (all ages) and a Homeschool Spanish Class on Fridays at 3:00 pm for teens. Families can also take advantage of ASL Storytime on Fridays (preschool, 9:00 am and 10:30 am), Seasonal Lego Day events for ages 4–18, and the annual Summer Reading Program. Check the library's website or call (903) 882-1900 for the current schedule.
🧰 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.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.