Nashville Public Library History

Nashville's library history can be traced back to 1813, but it was the late 1800s before Nashville had a public library. In 1897, the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Library Law, which authorized cities of 20,000 or more to establish and maintain free public libraries and reading rooms. Before that time, city governments had no authority to use tax money to support libraries. Nashville's first public library was the Howard Library, established in 1898. The City of Nashville, acting under the provisions of the Library Law, appropriated $2,500 for the Howard Library.

By 1899, the Howard Library was circulating books, but borrowing was not free, like it is today. Patrons of the library had to purchase a "reader's card" for $2. In 1901, the city increased the appropriation for the Howard Library to $5,000. The reader's card fee was abolished, making Howard Library the first free circulating library in Nashville.

The Nashville Public Library grew out of this history. In 1901, Andrew Carnegie offered to donate $100,000 to Nashville for a new library building if the city would appropriate $10,000 a year for its maintenance. Nashville accepted the terms of Carnegie's donation and the charter for Carnegie Library of Nashville was granted. On April 27, 1903, the cornerstone laid for Carnegie building.

On Sept. 19, 1904, the Carnegie Library building opened to the public at 225 Polk Ave. The library has grown and changed a lot since that time. Some of the highlights of our history follow.

1905 - Children's Story Hour instituted by library.

1912 - Mr. Carnegie donated $50,000 for two new branch library buildings.

1914 - The South Branch Library was opened in the old Montgomery Bell Academy Building at South Park.

1915 - North Branch Library opened at the southwest corner of Monroe Street and 10th Avenue.

1916 - Negro Branch Library opened at 12th and Hines Avenue. Read more about the Negro Branch Library

1919 - East Nashville Branch at the junction of Main and 11th Streets was opened. Mr. Carnegie donated $25,000. Nashville agreed to appropriate $2,500 for maintenance.

1927 - Carnegie Library of Nashville secured the services of its first librarian with formal training, Mary H. Johnson.

1931 - Business Branch of library established in old Chamber of Commerce Building.

1933 - Library budget cut from $55,000 to $45,000 during depression.

1934 - Library budget cut from $45,000 to $35,000 because of depression. Only $200 spent for new books. Name changed from the Carnegie Library of Nashville to Nashville Public Library. Library privileges extended to county patrons for a $2 fee.

1934 - Library name changed from Carnegie to Nashville Public Library.

Nov. 19, 1938 - Tom Tichenors first marionette show Puss in Boots. Tichenor retired with 50 years of service in January 1988. Read more about the Library's marionette show tradition.

1941 - State Library Project furnished a bookmobile which made weekly demonstration rounds through Davidson county.

1942 - South Branch Library burned, destroying 6,000 books.

1947 - Bookmobile service initiated and Young Moderns Department for teen-agers established.

1948 - Music Department established. The 12th and Hines Branch, no longer conveniently located for its patrons, was sold. Service, however, was continued at 409 Gay Street.

1949 - Bookmobile service extended to all the city population, and sound films added to the library collection.

July 23, 1949 - Library begins lending 16mm films.

1950 - Nashville Public Library began free service to county patrons, who had previously paid $2 for a book card.

1951 - Library began lending fine art prints.

1952 - A new branch building was constructed at the entrance of Hadley Park and was named the Hadley Park branch.

1953 - Business Information Service created and several small self-service collections, called Booketerias, were set up in supermarkets.

1956 - Bookmobile service extended to county patrons.

Dec. 6, 1957 - Friends of the Nashville Public Library organized.

1958 - Business Branch established in the new Chamber of Commerce Building.

1959 - Nashville Public Library formally turned over to the city.

1961 - Richland Park Branch on Charlotte Avenue opened.

Sept. 16, 1961 - City Council approves building of new Main library and five new branches. Cost 2.5 million.

1962 - Nashville Public Library opened the first branch library reading room ever to be established in a Municipal Airport. WPLN (FM), the broadcasting service of the Nashville Public Library, went on the air. Dec. 16, 1962 WPLNs first broadcast. WPLN became independent of library in 1996.

1963 - Nashville Public Library made a part of the General Service Area under new Metropolitan Government. Central Library moved to temporary quarters at 161 8th Avenue North. New Main Library building started. New Bookmobile unit placed in operation from Hadley Park Branch.

1964 - Two lots purchased for the construction of two additional branch buildings; one on Lebanon Road in Donelson and one at 12th Avenue South and Horton Street. Nashville Library System took over the operation of the Old Hickory and Goodlettsville Community Libraries as branches.

1965 - Thompson Lane Branch opened, bringing the number of branch libraries to seven.

Jan. 16, 1966 - New New Main Public Library, designated the Public Library of Nashville and Davidson County, opens. New Library cost $1.9 million.

1966 - Donelson Branch opens.

1968 - Edgehill Branch opens.

1969 - Green Hills and Inglewood Branches open.

Oct. 21, 1970 - Library Board approves wearing of pant suits by women staff with stipulations.

1976 - Looby and Bordeaux Branches open.

1977 - Madison Branch opens.

June 5, 1977 - Main Library named for Ben West.

1984 - Bellevue Branch opens.

1986 - Metro Archives opens.

1992 - Southeast Branch opens.

1993 - Pruitt Branch opens.

June 24, 1997 - Metro Council approves building of new Main Library and five new branches. Cost 98 million.

1998 - Addition to Pruitt Branch opens.

April 30, 2000 - East Branch reopens after complete restoration of historic Carnegie building.

May 13, 2000 - New Bordeaux Branch opens.

August 5, 2000 - New Madison Branch opens.

October 28, 2000 - New Green Hills Branch opens.

December 20, 2000 - Edmondson Pike Branch opens.

March 10, 2001 - Renovated Edgehill Branch reopens.

March 15, 2001 - Renovated Thompson Lane Branch reopens.

June 9, 2001 - New Nashville Public Library opens.

Read about the Art & Architecture at the Main Library.

Read about Nashville's early library history.