Nashville Public Library Edgehill Branch

Before 1897, Nashville had no public libraries. It wasn’t until the Tennessee General Assembly passed the Library Law that allowed municipalities to use tax money to establish public libraries. Two years and 2,500 dollars later, the Howard Library opened downtown in 1899. Anyone could go to the library, but to check out a book patrons were required to purchase a $2.00 “reader’s card.”

That’s where the industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie stepped in. He had made millions as the CEO of U.S. Steel. And though conditions in his factories were notoriously bad, Carnegie did many good things when it came to building libraries throughout the nation. In 1901, Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate $100,000 to build a new library in Nashville. His gift came with a caveat—the city was required to allocate $10,000 a year for maintenance. This was the start of a meaningful relationship between the people of Nashville and the city’s public libraries. 

Nashville’s main public library has always been downtown, but there are now more than twenty libraries in the Nashville Public Library System. Many of them are neighborhood branches, like the Edgehill Branch Library, which opened in 1967. The idea behind this specific location was to foster a community-based feel and to provide more convenient locations for children and adults to read, check out books, and participate in library programming such as “story time” and“community celebrations.”

The Edgehill Library is an intimate setting and features a mid-century architecture style. The library is dedicated to Councilman Mansfield Douglas III, who served the Edgehill community for 36 years. In 2001, the branch was renovated to upgrade technology and build upon the original concept of a community-focused location. Here in Edgehill, this library is not only a place that fosters learning, it is a cornerstone of the community. 

Fun fact: In 2022, the Nashville Public Library released a “Dolly Parton Imagination Library Special Edition Library Card.”

Cross to the other side Twelfth Avenue South and turn RIGHT. Walk one block to Summit Ave. and turn LEFT. Continue straight for three blocks until you reach Hillside Ave. The Eighth Avenue Reservoir is directly across the street.