McComb Public Library
🏢 Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System · McComb, Mississippi
McComb Public Library
The flagship branch of the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System (PAWLS), the McComb Public Library serves a city whose railroad roots, civil-rights courage, and small-city resilience run deep. In 1961 McComb became the site of SNCC's first Mississippi voter-registration project; today the library's genealogy room, reservable meeting space, eBook collection and nine-branch network continue that tradition of connecting residents to information and community.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–1pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 1022 Virginia Avenue, Mccomb, MS 39648
Phone: (601) 684-2661
Website: pawls.org
Plus Code: 863F6GVM+R7 (Mccomb, MS)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About McComb Public Library
The McComb Public Library is the headquarters branch of the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System (PAWLS), a nine-branch public library network serving three counties in southwest Mississippi: Pike, Amite, and Walthall. McComb itself was founded in 1872 when railroad entrepreneur Henry Simpson McComb relocated Illinois Central maintenance shops to Pike County, drawing three existing communities together. The city sits about 80 miles south of Jackson at an elevation of 423 feet in the longleaf pine hills, and holds deep civil-rights significance: in 1961 the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) launched its first Mississippi voter-registration project here, and that same year Brenda Travis led one of the state's earliest student sit-ins at the Greyhound station. The library at 1022 Virginia Avenue carries that community-centered legacy forward with a dedicated genealogy room, reservable meeting room, study spaces, public computers and eBook access through its online catalog at pawls.biblionix.com. A photo is required on all library card accounts for checkout. The system's eight additional branches — spanning McComb's Alpha Center, Crosby, Gloster, Liberty, Magnolia, Osyka, Progress, and the Walthall County Library in Tylertown — extend library service to every corner of the tri-county area.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Headquarters of the nine-branch Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System (PAWLS) spanning Pike, Amite & Walthall counties
- McComb was the site of SNCC's first Mississippi voter-registration drive in 1961 — the city's civil-rights history is among the most significant in the state
- Dedicated genealogy room (computers and study rooms close 15 min. early daily for cleaning)
- Reservable meeting room available for community events and group gatherings
- Founded in a city built by the railroad in 1872; connected to all nine PAWLS branches through a shared online catalog
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
McComb Public Library cardholders can read and research digitally through PAWLS resources and Mississippi's statewide network:
📚 Services
- Dedicated genealogy room with research resources (closes 15 min. early daily)
- Reservable meeting room (reserve online via Google Form)
- Study rooms available for patrons (close 15 min. early daily for cleaning)
- Public internet computers & free Wi-Fi
- Library card for tri-county residents (photo required on account for checkout)
- Interlibrary loan across nine PAWLS branches
🎸 Programs
- Story Time for children
- Summer reading program for all ages
- Exhibit programming and community events
- Resume-building resources and career support
- YouTube channel (PAWLS365) with library programming content
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Mississippi
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Mccomb · Browse all Mississippi libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What counties does the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System serve and how many branches does it have?
PAWLS serves three counties — Pike, Amite, and Walthall — through nine branches. In Pike County alone there are eight library locations: McComb, Alpha Center, Crosby, Gloster, Liberty, Magnolia, Osyka, and Progress. The Walthall County Library in Tylertown rounds out the system.
Why is McComb significant in civil rights history?
In 1961, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) launched its first Mississippi voter-registration project in McComb. That same year, students at Burglund High School staged a walk-out to protest the expulsion of sit-in participant Brenda Travis. McComb endured eleven bombings targeting African Americans during the summer of 1964, making it one of the most intensely contested civil-rights battlegrounds in the state.
What are the genealogy room hours at McComb Public Library?
The genealogy room is available during regular library hours — Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Wednesday and Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. Note that the genealogy room closes 15 minutes before the library's closing time each day for cleaning.
Do I need a photo on my library card to check out books?
Yes — the Pike-Amite-Walthall Library System requires a photo on your library card account in order to check out materials. You can apply for a library card online or at any PAWLS branch location.
📜 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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