Murfreesboro FAQ: How to check out the Rutherford County Library System

Feb 13, 2020 at 12:00 pm by Michelle Willard

Rutherford County Library System's Technological Engagement Center

Rutherford County Library System is comprised of five branches – downtown Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Eagleville, Technological Engagement Center and Myrtle Lord Glanton Library – and a Bookmobile that serves all of Rutherford County except La Vergne, which has its own library.

The library collection began in the 1940a with about 6,000 books with some donated from Rutherford County schools, some bought, others on loan from the regional library and a $50 per month budget for books.

It moved to the old Elk's Club building on Spring Street, opening at this new location on September 9, 1953. In 1961, it relocated again to the old post office building on College Street (currently the Center for the Arts) where it stayed until the main branch was opened in 1992.

Rutherford County Library System Branches

Linebaugh Library, The Main Branch

The new location of Linebaugh Library at 105 West Vine Street in the Civic Plaza, a 34,000 sq. Ft. facility, was opened on June 15, 1992.

View events at the main branch here.

If your interested in history, Linebaugh has extensive genealogy and historical collections to aid in research.

The Historical Research Room, located on the second floor of Linebaugh Public Library, features local, state and national historic materials and genealogical resources, including more than 10,000 books and more than 5,000 rolls of microfilm.

Types of material include census records, passenger lists, military rosters, court records, tax lists, marriage records and cemetery records.

Smyrna Public Library

The Smyrna Public Library is located at 400 Enon Springs Road West in Smyrna. Events can be found here.

The Smyrna branch first opened in the early 1960s in two rooms of a local residence with Jimmie Webster as the first librarian. A new building was erected for Smyrna on Walnut Street adjacent to the local primary and middle schools opening on April 19, 1970.

The historical collection at the Smyrna branch library includes materials from Sewart Air Force Base, a collection of printed material on Rutherford County, copies of books and magazine publications by local authors, and a collection of photographs and materials from Smyrna's Old Rock School.

Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library

In 2006, the operation of the Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library was assumed by RCLS. The Eagleville Bicentennial Public Library 317 Old Highway 99 in Eagleville.

The events calendar is here.

Myrtle Lord Glanton Memorial Library

The Myrtle Lord Glanton Memorial Library is located in the Patterson Park Community Center, 521 Mercury Blvd. in Murfreesboro. Events can be found here.

The Myrtle Glanton Lord Library was named for the longtime educator. It opened on Dec. 1, 2004 in the community center at Patterson Park

Technological Engagement Center

The Technology Engagement Center is located at 306 Minerva Drive and is the first shelfless library in the state of Tennessee, and one of the few in the nation. The current services available will be the Computer Lab and Meeting Rooms. Reservations can be made online at rclstn.org. Events can be found here.

The Bookmobile

Rutherford County Library System's Bookmobile provides access to more than 3,000 books to patrons throughout the county.

Visitors to the "library on wheels" can sign up for a library card, check out books, request items and then pick them up.

How do I check out materials?

First you need to register for a free library card. RCLS's policies can be found here.

Then you can browse the shelves or request books through the library's website and, when reserved items are available for pick up, the library sends out email notifications. They also remind you when items are overdue. RCLS also makes DVDs, CDs, and audiobooks available to patrons. 

But if you just can't wait for the latest bestseller, you might get lucky. New releases are called Lucky 7s, and they're free, if you catch them on the shelves.

For more information about the Rutherford County Library System try these email addresses:

Linebaugh General Information Questions: linref@rclstn.org

Genealogy/Historical Research: linref@rclstn.org

For questions about your account (fines, renewals, etc) please call your local branch or log into your Online Account

 

Sections: Murfreesboro