Looby Branch Library
🏢 Nashville Public Library · Nashville, Tennessee
Looby Branch Library
Dedicated on December 8, 1976, the Looby Branch Library honors Z. Alexander Looby — the Antiguan-born attorney who defended Nashville's civil rights sit-in students in 1960 and served on Metro Council for two decades. Located at 2301 Rosa L Parks Blvd, it combines a public library, community center and theater under one roof.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 2301 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, TN 37228
Phone: (615) 862-5867
Website: library.nashville.gov
Plus Code: 868M55VR+3Q (Nashville, TN)
📱 Scan for directions
Point your phone camera at the code to open turn-by-turn directions in Google Maps.
👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Looby Branch Library
The Looby Branch Library was dedicated on December 8, 1976, when Metro Nashville officials and friends gathered to name the new facility after the late Dr. Z. Alexander Looby (1899–1972). Born in Antigua, Looby earned law degrees from Howard University and Columbia before settling in Nashville in 1928. He co-founded Kent College of Law, defended 25 Black men in the 1946 Columbia race riot alongside Thurgood Marshall, and in 1951 became one of the first African Americans elected to Nashville City Council since 1911. During the 1960 lunch-counter sit-ins he defended arrested student protesters; in retaliation, segregationists bombed his home on April 19, 1960. The library on Rosa L Parks Boulevard — named alongside the adjacent community center and theater — permanently ties his civil rights legacy to North Nashville. Today the branch offers notary services, the Jobs Lab, board games, a seed exchange and public art, serving the neighborhoods he championed.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Named for Z. Alexander Looby, the Antiguan-born civil rights attorney and Metro Councilman who helped lead Nashville's 1960 sit-in defense
- Dedicated December 8, 1976, as a library, community center and theater complex honoring Looby's legacy
- Notary service and fax machine available — rare among NPL branches
- NPL Means Business research resources and Jobs Lab for career and small-business needs
- Public art installation and board game collection on-site
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Looby Branch cardholders access Tennessee's statewide and NPL digital collections free of charge:
📚 Services
- Notary service (verified)
- Jobs Lab career resources & NPL Means Business research
- Board game collection
- Children's World Language Collection
- Seed exchange program
- Test proctoring
- Tech help & public computers
- Mobile printing & photocopiers (B&W and color)
- Fax machine
- Meeting rooms & free parking
- Outdoor book return
🎸 Programs
- Gentle yoga
- Food preservation workshops
- Library play dates
- Adventure Club (youth)
- Family story time
📍 Nearby Nashville Public Library Branches
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Nashville · Browse all Tennessee libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Z. Alexander Looby and why is this library named after him?
Zephaniah Alexander Looby (1899–1972) was a Nashville attorney born in Antigua who co-founded Kent College of Law, defended civil rights protesters during the 1960 lunch-counter sit-ins, and served on Metro Council from 1951 to 1971 — one of the first Black councilmembers since 1911. Segregationists bombed his home in 1960. Nashville dedicated this library, community center and theater to his memory on December 8, 1976.
Does Looby Branch offer notary services?
Yes. Looby Branch Library provides notary service, which is not available at every NPL location. A fax machine is also on-site. Call (615) 862-5867 to confirm availability before visiting.
What is NPL Means Business, and is it available at Looby?
NPL Means Business is Nashville Public Library's small-business and entrepreneur resource program, offering database access, research guides and referrals to help start or grow a business. Looby Branch is one of the locations where this service is available.
What are the branch's hours, and is it open on weekends?
Looby Branch is open Monday through Friday 10 am–6 pm and Saturday 10 am–5 pm. The branch is closed on Sundays.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
✎ Notice something out of date? Suggest a correction and we’ll verify and update it.