The Chattanooga Public Library began in 1887 as a small reading room with 4,200 books and expanded with support from Andrew Carnegie, opening its first public library in 1905. It grew alongside the community, becoming one of the first libraries in the Southeast to desegregate in 1949 and expanding into a larger central library system by the 1970s.
In recent years, the library has modernized its services with innovative spaces and programs while continuing to serve as a hub for education and community engagement, now offering thousands of programs and resources to residents each year.
The Chattanooga Public Library checks out over 1 million items and offers over 2,000 educational programs a year to all age ranges. For College Hill Court residents, the library offers a pop-up library every 4th Thursday each month between 2:00 – 5:00 pm, where residents can sign up for a library card, check out books, participate in activities, and children ages 0-18 from 3pm-5pm can enjoy a meal provided by the YMCA
