The Main Library will remain closed beyond July 28 to fulfill independent safety verification requirements.

Hundreds of Free Programs, Summer Activities and Helpful Services Continue at Branches Across Davidson County

The Main Library in downtown Nashville will remain closed beyond July 28, the date restoration experts initially targeted for reopening.

A multi-disciplinary team, which includes restoration experts, professional engineers and industrial hygienists, have advised Library leadership to keep the Main Library closed until independent safety verification experts can conduct third-party reviews required for reopening.

Main has been closed for restoration following a June 10 fire in the adjacent parking garage. Initially, July 29 was selected for reopening, but the timeline has been fluid, with the safety of staff and patrons at the forefront of decision-making.

“We look forward to welcoming everyone back at the Main Library as soon as restoration experts tell us it is safe to reopen,” said Terri Luke, NPL Director. “Meanwhile, we are committed to serving our customers with free programs, helpful services, and access to the NPL collection at our branch locations across Nashville.”

NPL offers hundreds of free programs for all ages, access to free public computers and WiFi, access to the library collection and free, helpful services through NPL’s Book-A-Librarian at branch locations across Davidson County. Books, audiobooks and e-books remain available online, and summer programming continues at branch locations.

Impact Assessment

Following an assessment of impacts to the building, the temporary closure allows for completion of a full and thorough cleaning and restoration process by restoration experts, environmentalist professionals, and industrial hygienists. 

Crews began working 24 hours a day in 12-hour shifts immediately following the fire to thoroughly assess the Main Library, which measures roughly 300,000 square feet across five levels. 

  • More than 90 percent of the building sustained very light soot and smoke impact. 
    (Light impact occurs when residue found on a surface—a table or furnishing, for example—is so minimal that it cannot at first glance be differentiated from normal dust typically found in any building or workplace.)
  • Meanwhile, less than 10 percent of the building—primarily the Conference Center area on the first floor—sustained moderate or heavy impacts. 
    (Moderate impact occurs when a surface is still visible through soot, and heavy impact occurs when a surface cannot be seen through soot.)
  • Air quality within the Library has been restored to normal, and routine ongoing monitoring will continue throughout the restoration process out of an abundance of caution.
  • Ninety-nine percent of books and materials housed at the Main Library are fully restorable with a light cleaning.
  • Restoration experts are evaluating artwork and other assets throughout the building.

While the Main Library is Closed

  • We are working to redirect books and materials on hold that were located at the Main Library for patron pickup to Looby Branch Library at 2301 Rosa L. Parks Boulevard.
  • You will receive a notification when your items are ready for pickup.
  • For questions and assistance regarding your patron account, please contact us.
  • We also encourage patrons to return books and materials to our other locations across Davidson County during the closure. We hope you will visit us at these locations and use the library online here on our website.
  • We look forward to serving you again at the Main Library soon!

Parking Garage Information