Spotlight on The Civil Rights Room’s Resources
Spotlight on The Civil Rights Room Resources The Civil Rights Room at Nashville Public Library is a space dedicated to honoring the city’s role in the Civil Rights Movement, showcasing a collection of resources that tell the story of local activism in the fight against segregation and the struggle for equality during the 1950s and […]
Spotlight On Digital Inclusion: Harold McGee’s Story
Harold McGee’s Journey to Digital Empowerment with Cyber Seniors At 30, Harold McGee’s life changed dramatically after a brain aneurysm and stroke left him paralyzed and blind. “I had to learn how to live all over again—how to walk, talk, eat,” Harold recalls. Despite the slow process, he was determined to reclaim his independence. After […]
Meet the Friends of Madison Branch Library
The Friends group of the Madison branch has grown to nearly 40 members strong. Most members show their support by donations supplies for Madison’s programs. Friends have supplied our winning prizes for our annual Two-Sentence Horror Story contest, our Bingo Nights, and they keep the library’s treasure box full of trinkets and toys for Madison’s […]
Friends Groups are Making a Difference at NPL Branches
Nashville’s Friends of the Library groups play a pivotal role in bringing Nashville Public Library’s mission to life. Our dedicated Friends work closely with their local branch staff helping to coordinate efforts, fundraise, and more to help the branch make a direct positive impact on the community. Each branch Friends of the Library group is […]
Support Local Art at the Madison Library
By Lisa Bubert A beautiful, new mural will be coming to the Madison Library children’s area next year! We are raising funds now to bring this piece of artwork by local muralist, Kim Radford, to fruition. The children’s area at Madison is a welcoming, inclusive place for families to play and relax and is well-known […]
Advocacy Wins in Fiscal Year 2024
We are celebrating the end of a remarkable fiscal year for public funding for Nashville Public Library! This year has also been exceptional for our advocacy efforts. We now have 181 NPL Ambassadors, and our passion for NPL is clearly visible to Metro Council. Our relationships have strengthened, interactions have increased, and the budget funding […]
The Nashville Enslaved and Free People of Color Database
By NPLF In 1995, Ken Fieth, Archivist for the Metropolitan Government Archives of Nashville-Davidson County, set out on a mission to preserve the names and histories of enslaved individuals found in Chancery Court records. At the time, legal constraints prevented the publication of such a list, but Fieth remained committed to collecting these valuable stories. […]
Preserving History: Fletch Coke’s Legacy
In 1993, Fletch Coke approached the Metro Archives with a significant idea: creating a database of all cemeteries and graveyards in Davidson County. This project aimed to protect these sacred spaces from vandalism and destruction by developers, which was becoming prevalent as the county announced major expansion plans. Despite the scale of the undertaking, Metro […]
Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Seniors Through Digital Inclusion
By NPLF In an increasingly digital world, access to technology and the internet is not merely a convenience but a necessity. Yet, for many seniors, navigating this digital landscape can be daunting. Nashville Public Library (NPL), through its Digital Inclusion program, is making significant strides to ensure that seniors are not left behind and are […]
Coming To a Branch Near You- Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away
By NPLF For the month of February, NPL’s iconic puppet troupe, Wishing Chair Productions, will hit the road to begin touring Lorraine: The Girl Who Sang the Storm Away. Set in the Tennessee hills, Lorraine and her Pawpaw use music to cope with life’s challenges. When a storm rolls in and their instruments are nowhere […]
Library Advocates Help Secure $1.96M Increase in FY24 NPL Operating Budget
It is with excitement and gratitude that we announce Metro Council’s approval to allocate an additional $1.96M to Nashville Public Library’s FY24 Operating Budget. Mayor Cooper put forth to Metro Council an NPL budget increase of $1,323,300. Council voted to allocate funds for all items in the mayor’s budget proposal, plus an additional $633,000, to […]
Honoring Judy Turner on the 10th Anniversary of String City: Nashville’s Tradition of Music and Puppetry
On June 8, Nashville Public Library and Foundation lost one of our most beloved and ardent supporters, Mrs. Judy Turner. Judy’s legacy at NPL is immeasurable, and this month marks a major milestone for one of the special treasures she and her husband Steve made possible. Steve and Judy Turner were the visionaries behind one […]