Hattiesburg Library

The Library began serving community's reading needs in 1916 with a circulating collection of books at the Firm Lumber Company. Later that year the library was relocated to the lounge on the first floor of the Forrest County Courthouse. During World War I, the American Library Association established 12 branch libraries in Hattiesburg to serve soldiers at Camp Shelby and local citizens.

Old Library

Then in May of 1930, the first public library building was dedicated on Main Street.

The library's collection has grown from an opening day collection of 4,500 volumes in 1930 to 100,000 volumes. The library responds to the publics requests for service by circulating over a quarter of a million items a year.

The Library's collection includes books, serials, large print, books on tape and video cassettes numbering some 90,000 volumes. Special collections including Mississippi and Genealogy, providing information on Mississippi and local history; Parenting, providing resources for new parents; and Literacy providing materials for adult new readers. Registered borrowers may request items.

[from http://www.hpfc.lib.ms.us/Introduc.html]