Leighton Public Library
🏢 Colbert County · Leighton, Alabama
Leighton Public Library
Set on Main Street in a small Colbert County town that once stood at the crossroads of two stagecoach roads, the Leighton Public Library serves as the community's civic anchor — a quiet reading room and civic center in a town that also gave the world soul singer Percy Sledge and football Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8am–4pm |
| Tuesday | 8am–4pm |
| Wednesday | 8am–4pm |
| Thursday | 8am–4pm |
| Friday | 8am–4pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 8740 Main Street, LEIGHTON, AL 35646
Phone: (256) 446-5380
Website: facebook.com
Plus Code: 866JPF2C+89 (LEIGHTON, 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 Leighton Public Library
The Leighton Public Library and Civic Center sits at 8740 Main Street in Leighton, Alabama, a Colbert County community that began as "Crossroads" — named for the intersection of two early 19th-century stagecoach roads. The town was later renamed for its first postmaster, Reverend William Leigh, and incorporated in 1890 after the Tuscumbia, Courtland and Decatur Railroad made it a cotton shipping hub. Today the library serves the 665 residents of Leighton and surrounding rural Colbert County with print collections, public computers, and access to the Alabama Public Library Service's statewide digital network, including the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL). The combined library and civic center model puts community services under one roof in a town better known for its famous natives than its size.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Leighton was founded as 'Crossroads' in the early 1800s at the junction of two stagecoach roads
- Birthplace of Percy Sledge ("When a Man Loves a Woman"), Ozzie Newsome (NFL Hall of Fame), and Leon Douglas (NBA)
- Combined library & civic center model serves rural Colbert County residents
- Free Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) access for all cardholders — 24/7 databases & research tools
- Open weekdays 8am–4pm; convenient for before-work, lunch and after-school visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your Leighton library card opens Alabama's statewide digital resources at no charge:
📚 Services
- Public computers with internet access
- Free Wi-Fi
- Print and reference collections
- Civic center meeting space
- Interlibrary loan through Alabama Public Library Service
- Reader's advisory and reference assistance
🎸 Programs
- Children's and youth reading programs
- Summer Reading Program
- Community events and civic programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Colbert County & the Shoals
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Leighton really the birthplace of Percy Sledge and Ozzie Newsome?
Yes. Soul singer Percy Sledge, who recorded "When a Man Loves a Woman" in 1966, was born in Leighton. NFL Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome and NBA player Leon Douglas also hail from this small Colbert County town.
Why is the library also called a civic center?
The Leighton Public Library and Civic Center combines library services with community meeting and civic space under one roof — a practical model common in small Alabama towns where a single facility serves multiple community functions.
What are the library's open hours?
The library is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
What free digital resources can I use with a Leighton library card?
Your card provides free access to the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) for databases and research tools, Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, and Homework Alabama for live tutoring. These statewide resources are available 24/7.
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