Hightower Memorial Library
🏢 Alabama Public Library Service · York, Alabama
Hightower Memorial Library
Named in honor of a local benefactor, Hightower Memorial Library has served as York's public reading room and community anchor in the heart of Sumter County since its establishment, providing free books, genealogical records, and digital resources to residents of Alabama's rural Black Belt.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Thursday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Friday | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 630 AVENUE A, YORK, AL 36925
Phone: +1 205-392-2004
Website: apls.state.al.us
Plus Code: 864HFPM4+W8 (YORK, AL)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Hightower Memorial Library
Hightower Memorial Library is located at 630 Avenue A in York, Alabama — Sumter County's second-largest city. It serves a community deeply rooted in Alabama's Black Belt, a region named for its dark, fertile soil and shaped by agricultural history and the enduring contributions of its residents. The library is part of the Alabama Public Library Service statewide network, giving every cardholder access to the Alabama Virtual Library's research databases, downloadable eBooks, and Homework Alabama tutoring. The adjacent county seat of Livingston — home to the University of West Alabama — houses the Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library, named for the renowned local folklorist whose WPA-era recordings of over 800 songs and stories from Sumter County are now preserved at UWA. Together these two Sumter County libraries anchor learning across a region where public access to information is especially vital.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Serves York and Sumter County residents with free library cards and borrowing privileges
- Part of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) statewide network
- Access to Alabama Virtual Library databases and Homework Alabama for all cardholders
- Genealogy resources for researching Sumter County and Black Belt family history
- Neighbors the University of West Alabama in Livingston, which holds 5,000+ Ruby Pickens Tartt folklore manuscripts
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Your free library card opens a statewide digital collection:
📚 Services
- Free library cards for Sumter County residents
- Print book and media lending
- Genealogy and local history reference
- Public computer access
- Interlibrary loan through APLS network
🎸 Programs
- Children's reading programs
- Community events and special programming
📍 Nearby Libraries in Sumter County & the Black Belt
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Hightower Memorial Library located in York?
The library is located at 630 Avenue A, York, AL 36925. You can reach them by phone at (205) 392-2004.
What digital resources are available to Hightower Memorial Library cardholders?
All cardholders get free access to the Alabama Virtual Library (AVL), which includes EBSCO research databases, academic journals, and reference tools. The APLS network also provides Homework Alabama for K–12 tutoring and access to downloadable materials through the statewide catalog.
Is there another public library nearby in Sumter County?
Yes — the Ruby Pickens Tartt Public Library is located just 13 miles east in Livingston, the Sumter County seat. It serves the same county population and honors local folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt (1880–1974), whose WPA-era collection of 800+ songs and stories from Sumter County is preserved at the University of West Alabama.
Can I research local Black Belt history and genealogy at this library?
Yes. The library maintains genealogical resources and can assist with Sumter County family history research. For deeper archival materials, the Julia Tutwiler Library at the University of West Alabama in Livingston holds the Ruby Pickens Tartt manuscripts, a major primary source collection for Black Belt history and culture.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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