About Our Library

The Jennie Stephens Smith Library, established in 1934, serves as the headquarters of the Union County Library System in New Albany, Mississippi. It stands as a cornerstone of the community’s educational and cultural life, providing services not only to New Albany but to all of Union County through its main location on King Street and its branch in Myrtle, the Nance McNeely Library.

Union County Library courtyard

Jennie Stephens Smith

The library is named for Jennie Stephens Smith, a respected local historian and genealogist whose work helped preserve Union County’s heritage. And, yes, she was a librarian! Her dedication to documenting the region’s history is reflected in the library’s strong focus on genealogy and local-history collections, which remain a defining feature of its mission.

Beyond its archival role, the Jennie Stephens Smith Library has evolved into a vibrant community hub. It hosts summer reading programs, author events, educational workshops, and even creative outreach initiatives like a bicycle checkout program and partnerships with local markets. Through these efforts, the library continues to promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement throughout Union County.

Mississippi Room

Mississippi has a rich literary heritage rooted in its deep sense of place, complex history, and storytelling tradition. The state’s blend of cultures, struggles, and triumphs has inspired powerful voices who explore themes of identity, race, family, and the human condition. Writers like William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, and Richard Wright drew from Mississippi’s landscapes and social realities to create timeless works that capture both the beauty and the burden of Southern life. This enduring connection to storytelling continues to shape Mississippi’s influence on American literature today. For these reasons, we have a generous space dedicated to our great state and its literature!

Creating a foundation of a love for reading

Reading starts early around here! Our enclosed children’s book area has plenty of space for your young ones to find a place to explore, read and enjoy a vast selection of books to try.

Board of Trustees

We have a dedicated board to keep our library at the forefront of service and amenities for our community.

Glenn Duckworth
District 1

Barbara Fuller
District 2

Mike Conway
District 3

Kathy McDonald
District 4

J. Lynn West
District 5 – Board Chair