Kingsport Public Library and Archives
🏢 Kingsport Public Library & Archives · Kingsport, Tennessee
Kingsport Public Library and Archives
The Kingsport Public Library and Archives was born in 1921 when five women from the Kingsport Book Club opened a lending room in the YMCA basement with 400 donated books. A century later it operates from Fort Henry Mall with an Archives at 415 Broad Street — now providing Tennessee Electronic Library databases, OverDrive, hoopla, genealogy collections, and the Books to Your Door homebound program.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Tuesday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Wednesday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Friday | 8:30am–6pm |
| Saturday | 8:30am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2101 Fort Henry Drive, Kingsport, TN 37664
Phone: (423) 229-9489
Website: kingsportlibrary.org
Plus Code: 868VGCXR+C5 (Kingsport, TN)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Kingsport Public Library and Archives
The Kingsport Public Library and Archives traces its roots to August 1, 1921, when Mrs. H.J. Shivell, Mrs. S.P. Platt, Mrs. George MacNaughton, Mrs. L.A. DaShiell, and Mrs. Karl Koeniger opened a lending library in the basement of the Community YMCA with just 400 books. The library changed hands and addresses several times before passing to municipal ownership on March 15, 1929. By 1928, holdings had grown to 6,000 volumes, and a move to a renovated former post office followed in 1961. Children's spaces were expanded in 1986, and an auditorium with stack space was added in 1993. Today the main library occupies space in Fort Henry Mall at 2101 Fort Henry Drive, while the Archives — open by appointment — operates at 415 Broad Street for genealogy and local-history research. Sullivan County and the Tri-Cities region have long recognized the library as a key community anchor, offering free homebound delivery, a robust digital collection, and programs from summer reading to after-hours book clubs.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded August 1, 1921 by five women of the Kingsport Book Club — one of the oldest public libraries in the Tri-Cities region
- Became a municipally owned institution on March 15, 1929, cementing long-term public funding
- Separate Archives at 415 Broad Street (by appointment) for genealogy and local-history research
- Books to Your Door homebound delivery program serves patrons who cannot visit in person
- Extended weekday hours until 7 p.m. Monday–Thursday, open Saturday until 6 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Kingsport cardholders can read, stream, and research free through the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Free Wi-Fi and wireless printing (black & white and color)
- Public computers and internet access
- Interlibrary loan
- Books to Your Door homebound delivery
- Genealogy and local-history research (main library & Archives at 415 Broad St by appointment)
- Job resources and resume assistance
- Reluctant Reader's Advisory for struggling readers
- Storywalks installed in local parks
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program for children and teens
- Reel Talk — monthly film-based book discussion (2nd Tuesday, 6 pm)
- After Hours Book Club — monthly evening gatherings at rotating venues
- Chapter by Chapter — book club for college students
- Children's and teen events and activities throughout the year
📍 Nearby Libraries in Northeast Tennessee
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Kingsport · Browse all Tennessee libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How did the Kingsport Public Library get started, and when did it become a city library?
The library was founded on August 1, 1921 by five women from the Kingsport Book Club who opened a lending room in the YMCA basement with 400 donated books. The city accepted the founders' proposal on March 15, 1929, converting it to a municipally owned public library.
What is the Kingsport Public Library Archives, and how is it different from the main library?
The Archives is a separate research facility located at 415 Broad Street, Suite 525, Kingsport, TN 37660, open by appointment only (call (423) 224-2559). It focuses on genealogy and local history, with access to Ancestry.com, fold3, Heritage Quest, and newspaper archives. The main library at 2101 Fort Henry Drive handles general borrowing and community programs.
Does the library offer homebound delivery for patrons who can't visit in person?
Yes. The Books to Your Door program delivers library materials to homebound patrons in the Kingsport area through a volunteer network. Contact the library at (423) 229-9489 to arrange delivery.
Are evenings and Saturdays available at the Kingsport Public Library?
Yes. The main library is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
📜 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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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.