The Knoxville Public Library opened in 1912. Like many public libraries, the first Knoxville Public Library facility was a Carnegie building, made possible through a generous donation by Andrew Carnegie. The library doubled in size in 1990.
In 2012, the library celebrated its 100th anniversary and began work on a renovation and addition project to the existing building.
This project was completed in 2019, bringing the library to about 18,000 square feet in size. During this process, library services continued, with the library relocating to a vacant former elementary school for 16 months until the project was complete. The Knoxville Public Library now has two stories and a one-level addition, with amenities like:
- dynamic shelving with wheels for easy reconfiguration
- low shelves for easier patron access and improved librarian sightlines
- a donor wall honoring community partners that contributed to the library renovation
- a centralized circulation desk
- a self-checkout service counter
- large, clear signage directing patrons to sections
- two large meeting rooms with nearly 40-people capacities with an adjoining kitchenette with microwave, sink, and refrigerator use as well as a media projector
- a rotating local artist display and spotlight
- a year-round Friends of the Library Book sale
- a patron reading and social areas
- a community computer area with enhanced privacy
- interactive endcaps promoting library services, displaying new items, and providing card catalog research
- a designated and visible Teen Space with activities, seating, charging stations, and an AfterMouse Interactive PlayTouch table set-up
- a children's department on the second floor with stair and elevator access
- a designated storytime room
- a designated craft room
- height-appropriate seating and tables for juveniles
- three private study rooms
- two private conference rooms
- height-appropriate shelves for juveniles and increased patron visibility
- a Youth Services Librarian office that provides a clear patron sightline and is directly behind the circulation desk
- a designated genealogy and local history room in the Carnegie building basement
- a designated librarian breakroom
- a family restroom with a changing station and a private nursing station
- book club sets of popular and classic titles
- a director's office located in the center of the building, with privacy for administrative access and two-door access for patrons and librarians
- an outdoor reading garden
Why They Expanded & Fun Facts
The Knoxville Public Library expanded to meet growing community needs as well as add to their collection and become ADA compliant. This library receives a large amount of assistance from its Friends group. The group holds three book sales a year to raise funds for the library, pays for library programming, assists staff with library movie nights and other programs, and washes puppets for the Children's Department. The library also has a reading garden for outdoor storytimes and other events, as well as recreational patron usage.