Smith County Public Library

Smith County Public Library is a public library system serving Smith County, Texas, with its main branch located in Tyler, Texas. The library system is a member of the Northeast Texas Library System and provides access to a wide range of materials and services, including eBooks from OverDrive, Inc., audiobooks from Audible.com, and databases from EBSCO Information Services. The library also participates in the TexShare program, which allows patrons to borrow materials from other libraries in Texas, such as the University of Texas at Austin and the Dallas Public Library.

● History

The history of the library dates back to the early 20th century, when it was established with the support of the Tyler Women's Club and the Smith County Commissioners Court. The library has since grown and expanded, with the help of funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The library has also received support from local organizations, such as the Tyler Junior College and the East Texas Symphony Orchestra. Notable figures, including Laura Bush and Barbara Bush, have visited the library to promote literacy and education, and the library has partnered with other institutions, such as the Smith County Historical Society Museum and the Tyler Museum of Art, to provide educational programs and exhibits.

● Library Services

The library offers a range of services, including interlibrary loan services, test preparation materials from Kaplan, Inc., and career development resources from LinkedIn. The library also provides access to genealogy resources, including Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online, and offers technology training classes, taught by instructors from Microsoft and Google. Additionally, the library offers children's storytime programs, featuring books from Penguin Random House and Scholastic Corporation, and author readings, with authors such as John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks. The library has also partnered with other organizations, such as the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA, to provide programs and services for youth.

● Branches and Locations

The library system has several branches and locations throughout Smith County, Texas, including the Lindale Public Library and the Whitehouse Community Library. The library also has a bookmobile service, which visits rural areas and provides access to library materials, including DVDs from Netflix and music CDs from Sony Music Entertainment. The library's branches are located near other community organizations, such as the Smith County YMCA and the Tyler Parks and Recreation Department, and offer a range of programs and services, including summer reading programs and holiday events, sponsored by companies like Target Corporation and Walmart.

● Collections and Resources

The library's collections include a wide range of materials, including fiction and nonfiction books from Penguin Random House and Hachette Book Group, audiobooks from Audible.com, and eBooks from OverDrive, Inc.. The library also has a large collection of DVDs from Netflix and music CDs from Sony Music Entertainment, as well as databases from EBSCO Information Services and ProQuest. The library's resources also include online tutoring services from Chegg and TutorMe, and test preparation materials from Kaplan, Inc.. The library has also partnered with other institutions, such as the University of Texas at Tyler and the Texas A&M University-Commerce, to provide access to academic journals and research databases.

● Community Programs

The library offers a range of community programs, including author readings with authors such as John Grisham and Nicholas Sparks, and book clubs featuring books from Penguin Random House and Scholastic Corporation. The library also offers children's programs, including storytime and craft classes, sponsored by companies like Crayola and Disney. The library has also partnered with other organizations, such as the Smith County Historical Society Museum and the Tyler Museum of Art, to provide educational programs and exhibits, and has received funding from organizations such as the National Endowment for the Arts and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The library's community programs also include health and wellness programs, featuring speakers from Mayo Clinic and American Heart Association, and financial literacy programs, sponsored by companies like Charles Schwab Corporation and Fidelity Investments. Category:Libraries in Texas