Lake Blackshear Regional Library
🏢 Lake Blackshear Regional Library System · Americus, Georgia
Lake Blackshear Regional Library
The Lake Blackshear Regional Library is the flagship branch of a six-library system rooted in Sumter County, headquartered at 307 East Lamar Street in historic downtown Americus — and it holds a rare piece of local lore: a restored antique Americus Trolley is on permanent display inside the building. Evening hours on Tuesday and Thursday (until 8 p.m.) make it one of the few Georgia regional libraries open late twice a week.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–4pm |
| Saturday | 10am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 307 East Lamar Street, Americus, GA 31709
Phone: (229) 924-8091
Website: lbrls.org
Plus Code: 864Q3QCF+M2 (Americus, GA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Lake Blackshear Regional Library
The Lake Blackshear Regional Library serves as the headquarters branch of the Lake Blackshear Regional Library System, a six-library network covering Sumter, Crisp, Dooly, and Schley Counties in southwest Georgia. Americus, seat of Sumter County and once home to the Rylander Theatre and President Jimmy Carter's childhood region, anchors a rural swath of the state where the library is often the community's primary research, technology, and reading hub. The system is a member of Georgia's statewide PINES (Public Information Network for Electronic Services) consortium, meaning a single library card unlocks holdings at hundreds of libraries across Georgia. The Americus branch maintains a Special Collections section devoted to Sumter County local history and genealogy — including access to the Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive with digitized copies of the Americus Times-Recorder back to 1881 — and is also the proud custodian of a fully restored historic Americus Trolley displayed in the building. Staff offer proctoring for online exams, chromebook and mobile hotspot lending, and wireless/remote printing for patrons on the go.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Headquarters of the six-library Lake Blackshear Regional Library System spanning Sumter, Crisp, Dooly and Schley Counties
- Member of Georgia PINES — one card works at hundreds of libraries statewide; materials returnable at any PINES branch
- Special Collections section with Sumter County local history, genealogy resources, and access to the Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive (Americus Times-Recorder back to 1881)
- Rare in-library exhibit: a fully restored historic Americus Trolley on permanent display at 307 East Lamar Street
- Extended evening hours Tuesday & Thursday until 8 p.m. — plus Chromebook and mobile hotspot lending for patrons on the go
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Lake Blackshear library card unlocks Georgia's full statewide digital library and a rich suite of on-demand resources:
📚 Services
- PINES library card — valid at all Georgia PINES libraries statewide
- Special Collections for Sumter County local history and genealogy research
- Public computers with internet access and word-processing computers (no card required for non-internet use)
- Chromebook and mobile hotspot lending for patrons on the go
- Wireless and remote printing
- Proctoring for online and written exams (policy available at circulation desk)
- Fax service (outgoing, $2 first page, $1 each additional)
- Interlibrary loan through PINES and statewide ILL
- Voter registration services (mandated state library site)
- Multipurpose room available for community use
🎸 Programs
- Tuesday morning Story Time at 10:30 a.m. for children during the school year
- Summer Reading Club in June and July featuring professional storytellers
- Dungeons & Dragons program for teens and adults
- Lake Blackshear Book Club
- Click-A-Story weekly downloadable story for young listeners
- Accelerated Reading (AR) book reservations for school-age students
- Outreach services to the broader Sumter County community
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Georgia
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PINES library card and why does it matter in Americus?
PINES stands for Public Information Network for Electronic Services, Georgia's statewide library consortium. A card issued at the Lake Blackshear Regional Library works at any of the hundreds of PINES libraries across Georgia, and items checked out at one branch can be returned at any other PINES location. It also unlocks the full GALILEO statewide digital library from home.
What is the historic Americus Trolley doing inside the library?
The library is the permanent custodian of a restored antique Americus Trolley — a piece of local transportation history that is on display inside the 307 East Lamar Street building. Visitors can read about its history via the library's website or ask staff for details when visiting.
Does the Lake Blackshear Regional Library offer genealogy help for Sumter County research?
Yes. The Americus branch maintains a Special Collections section focused on Sumter County and southwest Georgia local history and genealogy, including access to the Georgia Historic Newspapers Archive with digitized issues of the Americus Times-Recorder (1881–1921) and the Sumter Republican (1870–1885). Staff can also assist with formal research requests for a $10 fee covering up to five copies.
Can I borrow a Chromebook or mobile hotspot from the library?
Yes. The Lake Blackshear Regional Library System lends Chromebooks and mobile internet hotspots so patrons can keep working, reading, and learning away from the building. Stop by any branch in the system to check one out today.
📜 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.
🖨 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.
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