Earle A. Rainwater Memorial Library
🏢 Cheaha Regional Library · Childersburg, Alabama
Earle A. Rainwater Memorial Library
Named for Mayor Earle A. Rainwater and tracing its roots to an 1906 ladies' literary circle, Childersburg's hometown library serves Talladega County readers with 57,000+ volumes, 17 free public computers, and free access to Camellia Net eBooks and Alabama Virtual Library databases — all part of the five-county Cheaha Regional Library system.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–5pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–5pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–5pm |
| Thursday | 8am–5pm |
| Friday | 8am–5pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 124 9th Avenue SW, Childersburg, AL 35044
Phone: (256) 378-7239
Website: childersburg.org
Plus Code: 865M7JHV+3R (Childersburg, AL)
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📖 About Earle A. Rainwater Memorial Library
The Earle A. Rainwater Memorial Library traces its origins to 1906, when Mollie Oden invited 20 of her friends in Childersburg for cake, tea, and a discussion of literature — founding a Ladies Book Club whose donated volumes became the town's first lending collection. The library was later named in honor of Earle A. Rainwater (November 26, 1900 – August 12, 1965), a prominent civic leader who served as mayor of Childersburg beginning in 1948 and whose legacy also lives on in the Butler-Harris Rainwater Museum nearby. Today the library operates as a branch of the Cheaha Regional Library system, a five-county consortium founded May 1, 1976, covering Talladega, Cleburne, Cherokee, Clay, and Randolph counties. With a collection of more than 57,000 items and 17 public internet computers, the library provides books, digital resources, children's programming, and community space to Childersburg's roughly 5,175 residents.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1906 by Mollie Oden's Ladies Book Club — one of Childersburg's oldest civic institutions, now more than 120 years old
- Named for Mayor Earle A. Rainwater (1900–1965), a pillar of Childersburg's mid-20th-century civic life
- Part of the Cheaha Regional Library system (founded 1976), serving Talladega, Cleburne, Cherokee, Clay, and Randolph counties
- Collection of 57,000+ volumes; 17 public internet computers with free access
- Camellia Net / Libby access: borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, and streaming video free with your library card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Childersburg library cardholders can read, stream, and research free through Alabama's shared digital collections:
📚 Services
- Circulation of 57,000+ volumes including books, large print, and audiovisual materials
- 17 public internet computers with free access; free Wi-Fi
- eBook and audiobook borrowing via Camellia Net / Libby (OverDrive)
- Printing, copying, and fax services (fax: 256-378-7287)
- Interlibrary loan through the Cheaha Regional Library system
- Public library cards (valid ID required; parent signature for children under 16)
- Reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Annual Summer Reading Program (book-sale fundraising supports youth events)
- Community reading and literacy programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Talladega & Shelby Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Childersburg · Browse all Alabama libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Earle A. Rainwater, and why is the library named after him?
Earle A. Rainwater (November 26, 1900 – August 12, 1965) was a prominent civic leader in Childersburg who served as the city's mayor beginning in 1948. The library was named in his memory to honor his contributions to the community. His legacy continues in another local landmark — the Butler-Harris Rainwater Museum, a restored 1894 Victorian home in Childersburg.
How did the library get started, and how old is it?
The library traces its origins to 1906, when Mollie Oden invited 20 friends in Childersburg for cake, tea, and a discussion of literature. The resulting Ladies Book Club levied book-donations as fines and elected a member as librarian to lend the growing collection — making the Rainwater Library one of Childersburg's oldest civic institutions, now over 120 years old.
Is the Rainwater Library a standalone library or part of a larger system?
It is a member branch of the Cheaha Regional Library system, a consortium headquartered in Heflin, AL (935 Coleman Street) that has served Talladega, Cleburne, Cherokee, Clay, and Randolph counties since its founding on May 1, 1976. Cheaha operates seven small-town branch libraries and bookmobile services across all five counties.
Can I borrow eBooks and digital materials from the Rainwater Library?
Yes. With a library card you can access Camellia Net (the OverDrive/Libby platform shared by Alabama public libraries) to borrow eBooks, eAudiobooks, and streaming videos free at camellia.overdrive.com. All Alabama residents also have free 24/7 access to the Alabama Virtual Library (avl.lib.al.us) for databases, magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias — no library card required, just an Alabama address.
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