Bayou La Batre Public Library
🏢 City of Bayou La Batre · Irvington, Alabama
Bayou La Batre Public Library
Bayou La Batre Public Library serves the shrimping villages and coastal communities of southern Mobile County from its Padgett Switch Road location, opening early to fit the region's fishing-schedule workforce.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 7 AM – 6 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM – 6 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM – 6 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM – 6 PM |
| Friday | Closed |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 12747 PADGETT SWITCH ROAD, IRVINGTON, AL 36544
Phone: +1 251-824-4213
Website: cityofbayoulabatre.com
Plus Code: 862HCQG5+8J (IRVINGTON, AL)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Bayou La Batre Public Library
Operated by the City of Bayou La Batre, this library has long anchored a working waterfront community made famous by the Gulf seafood industry — the same town immortalized in the film Forrest Gump as Bubba's shrimping home. The library's unusual 7 AM opening reflects the early-rising schedules of fishers and seafood processors who need public services before a typical workday begins. Free computer access, filtered Wi-Fi, copying, and faxing give residents an essential digital hub in an area with limited broadband options. Children's reading challenges, book giveaways, and seasonal programs keep young readers engaged throughout the year. The collection of over 31,000 volumes circulates more than 32,000 items annually — an exceptional per-capita rate for a community of roughly 2,500 people.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Early 7 AM opening designed around the coastal fishing community's schedule
- Free computer access and filtered Wi-Fi for all patrons
- Copying (25¢/page B&W) and faxing services ($3 first page, $1 each additional)
- Year-round children's programming, reading challenges, and book giveaways
- Serves the Gulf seafood town made famous in Forrest Gump — over 32,000 items circulated annually
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) gives every Alabama resident free 24/7 access to databases, eBooks, and research tools with a valid library card.
📚 Services
- Free public computers
- Wi-Fi (content-filtered)
- Photocopying (B&W, 25¢/page)
- Fax service ($3 first page, $1 each additional)
- Children's programs and reading challenges
- Free library card for Alabama residents
🎸 Programs
- Children's reading challenges and book giveaways
- Seasonal youth programming
- Community event announcements via Facebook
📍 Nearby Libraries in Mobile & Baldwin Counties
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Bayou La Batre Public Library open at 7 AM instead of the usual 9 AM?
The early opening reflects the rhythms of the local fishing and seafood-processing industry, where many residents start their workday before dawn and finish mid-afternoon, making standard library hours inaccessible.
Can I fax documents at the Bayou La Batre Public Library?
Yes. Faxing is available for $3 for the first page and $1 per additional page — a practical service for residents who need to send legal, medical, or employment paperwork without traveling to an office supply store.
What digital resources come with a Bayou La Batre library card?
With a free library card, you gain access to the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) at avl.lib.al.us, which provides 24/7 free access to eBooks, audiobooks, academic databases, and research tools funded by Alabama's Education Trust Fund.
Is the Bayou La Batre Public Library connected to the famous Forrest Gump shrimping town?
Yes. Bayou La Batre is the Gulf of Mexico seafood community depicted as Bubba Blue's hometown in Forrest Gump, and the real town remains one of Alabama's most productive commercial fishing ports today.
🖨 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.
✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
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