Phenix City-Russell County Library
🏢 Phenix City-Russell County Library · Phenix City, Alabama
Phenix City-Russell County Library
Established on March 26, 1957, the Phenix City-Russell County Library was born when citizens mobilized after learning theirs was the only Alabama city with more than 25,000 residents that had no public library. Now located in the Central Annex Building on 17th Avenue, it serves the county seat of Russell County on the Chattahoochee River — directly across from Columbus, Georgia.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–7pm |
| Thursday | 9:30am–7pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1501 17th Avenue, PHENIX CITY, AL 36867
Phone: (334) 297-1139
Website: phenixcitylibrary.com
Plus Code: 864PFXGM+7F (PHENIX CITY, AL)
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Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Phenix City-Russell County Library
The Phenix City-Russell County Library opened its doors on March 26, 1957, following a community-wide campaign prompted by the startling fact that Phenix City was then Alabama's only town with a population exceeding 25,000 that lacked a public library. The original branch operated in a small house on Thirteenth Street before moving in 1964 to the historic Post Office building on Fourteenth Street. In 1998 the library relocated to its current home in the Central Annex Building at 1501 17th Avenue. Director Tammy T. Henry leads a staff dedicated to lifelong learning and community access. The library offers eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive/Libby, a mobile catalog app (Librista), digital reading rooms for kids and teens, and hands-on programs including Wiggles & Wonder for young children, Homeschool Hangout, Computer Basics classes, and the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative. Printing, fax, laminating and photocopying round out the practical services. Phenix City sits on the east bank of the Chattahoochee River as the county seat of Russell County, and its library has been a cornerstone of civic life for nearly seven decades.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded March 26, 1957 — citizens rallied after learning Phenix City was Alabama's only 25,000+ city with no public library
- Three historic homes: Thirteenth Street (1957), historic Post Office on Fourteenth Street (1964), and current Central Annex on 17th Avenue (1998)
- Evening hours until 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and open Saturdays for working families
- Kids' eReading Room and Teens' eReading Room plus 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten initiative
- Printing ($0.20/sheet B&W), fax ($1.00 first page), laminating and photocopying on site
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Phenix City-Russell County cardholders access digital collections free:
📚 Services
- eBooks and audiobooks via OverDrive/Libby
- Kids' eReading Room and Teens' eReading Room
- Public computers ($1.00 guest pass) and free Wi-Fi
- Printing: $0.20/sheet black & white (standard, legal and 11×17 sizes)
- Fax: $1.00 first page, $0.50 each additional page
- Laminating ($0.50–$2.00 per sheet) and photocopying
- Curbside pickup (Tue–Thu 9:30am–7pm; Fri–Sat 9:30am–6pm)
- Interlibrary loan
🎸 Programs
- Wiggles & Wonder — early literacy program for young children
- Stay & Play Saturdays — drop-in play and learning for families
- 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten — reading milestone tracker for babies and toddlers
- Homeschool Hangout — activities and resources for homeschool families
- Computer Basics classes for adults
- Book club and craft activities (Book Bedazzling, DIY projects)
- Summer reading program
📍 Nearby Libraries in East Alabama
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in PHENIX CITY · Browse all Alabama libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Phenix City-Russell County Library founded in 1957?
Citizens organized a library campaign after learning that Phenix City was the only city in Alabama with more than 25,000 residents that had no public library. The response was swift — the library opened on March 26, 1957, initially in a small house on Thirteenth Street.
What are the library's hours and is it open on Mondays?
The library is closed on Monday and Sunday. It is open Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Curbside pickup is available during the same hours.
Does the Phenix City library offer printing and fax services?
Yes. Black-and-white printing costs $0.20 per sheet for standard, legal and 11x17 sizes. Fax service is $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page. Color copying and laminating are also available.
What is the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program?
It is a library initiative that encourages parents and caregivers to read 1,000 books with their child before kindergarten — roughly one book a day from birth to age five. The library provides a reading log and celebrates milestones, helping build early literacy habits from the very start.
🖨 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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