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One Margaret Mitchell Square
Atlanta, GA 30303
404.730.1700
About This Branch
History of Central Library
Departments and Services
Directions by Marta
Directions by Car
Meeting Spaces
Events and Classes
Click here for the 2013 Holiday Closing Schedule
Hours
| Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
Saturday |
Sunday |
| 9-8 |
9-8 |
9-8 |
9-8 |
9-6 |
9-6 |
2-6 |
History of Central Library
In May 1980, a new Central Library was opened to the public under the leadership of Ella Gaines Yates, first African-American director of the library system. Marcel Breuer, a participant in the innovative Bauhaus Movement, planned and designed the building, working closely with his associate Hamilton Smith. The Central Library was dedicated on May 25, 1980. Breuer was unable to attend the dedication ceremonies and died a year later on July 1, 1981 at the age of 81. In 2002, a major renovation of the Central Library was completed and the library system celebrated the centennial of the year in which public library service in Atlanta began. See also One Hundred Years of Library Service: A History.
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Departments & Services
Lower level
Childrens Department (Programs, Storytime, Arts & Crafts, Computer Lab) • Art Gallery • Auditorium • Alcove
First floor
Library Cards • Circulation/Customer Service Department • Friends of the Central Library Book Store • Volunteer Services • Human Resources (Employment) • Voter Registration • Fulton County Office of Cooperative Extension
Second floor
Ivan Allen Jr. Reference Department (U.S. Government Depository, Newspapers & Magazines, Directory Collection, Reference Line, Virtual Reference, Wellness Information Zone, Foundation Collection, Interlibrary Loan) • 2nd Floor Meeting Room
Third floor
General Collections Department (Main Circulating Collection of Books, Bestsellers, CDs, DVDs, etc.) • Teen Technology & Homework Center (Computer Lab & Study Rooms for Middle and High School Students, Young Adult Collection) • 3rd Floor Meeting Room
Fourth floor
Learning and Career Center (Foreign Language Materials, Computer Hub) • Study Materials, Language, Literacy & ESL, Computer & GED Classes, Public Computers, Adult Literacy, AMLAS (Atlanta Metro Library for Accessible Services), Fulton County Office of Workforce Development
Fifth floor
Special Collections (Margaret Mitchell Exhibit, Genealogy Collection, Collection on the History of Atlanta, Georgia and the Southeast)
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Directions by MARTA
From NORTH of Central Library
(By bus except Sunday) Take bus 110 which comes southward on Peachtree Street from Arts Center Station and northward from the Summer Hill neighborhood and Five Points.
(By train) Take southbound train to Peachtree Center Station. Exit station at south end (Ellis Street exit) and use escalator on right. Library is across the street on the right on corner of Forsyth Street and Carnegie Way. Entrance is on Forsyth Street
From SOUTH of Central Library
(By bus except Sunday) Take bus 110 which comes northward from the Summer Hill neighborhood and Five Points and southward on Peachtree Street from Arts Center Station.
(By train) Take northbound train to Peachtree Center Station. Exit station at south end (Ellis Street exit) and use escalator on right. Library is across the street on the right on corner of Forsyth Street and Carnegie Way. Entrance is on Forsyth Street.
From EAST of Central Library
(By bus except Sunday) Take bus 16 - Noble which stops at the corner of J.W. Dobbs and Peachtree coming from the Virginia Highlands neighborhood, North Highland Ave., Freedom Parkway, Ralph McGill and Courtland on its way to Five Points Station.
(By train) Take westbound train to Five-Points Station. Change to northbound train and exit at Peachtree Center Station. Exit station at south end (Ellis street exit) and use escalator on right. Library is across the street on the right on corner of Forsyth Street and Carnegie Way. Entrance is on Forsyth Street.
From WEST of Central Library
(By train) Take eastbound train to Five-Points Station. Change to northbound train and exit at Peachtree Center Station. Exit station at south end (Ellis Street exit) and use escalator on right. Library is across the street on the right on corner of Forsyth Street and Carnegie Way. Entrance is on Forsyth Street.
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Directions by car
From NORTH of Central Library via Expressway
Take I-75 or I-85 South to exit 249-C "Williams Street Downtown" (exit is on the right). Take Williams Street until you reach Andrew Young International Blvd. (Williams Street going south ends at Andrew Young International Blvd.), then turn left. The street bears off to the right and becomes Carnegie Way. Parking is available the next two blocks in a street level lot or a parking deck across from the Library. The Library is on the right on the corner of Carnegie Way and Forsyth Street after passing the parking deck. The Library entrance is on Forsyth Street.
From NORTH of Central Library via surface streets
Take Peachtree Street south to downtown. Go one block south of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and make a right onto Forsyth Street and another immediate right onto Carnegie Way. Central Library is on the left.
From SOUTH of the Branch
Take I-75 or I-85 North to exit 248-C "International Boulevard". Stay in the left lane, go to second traffic light and make a left onto International Blvd. Follow International for four blocks and make a left onto Peachtree Street. Go two blocks on Peachtree (one block south of the Ritz-Carlton) and make a right onto Forsyth and another immediate right onto Carnegie Way. Central Library is on the left.
From EAST of the Branch
Take Ponce de Leon headed west to Peachtree Street (at Fox Theater). Make a left onto Peachtree Street and travel approximately one mile to downtown. Go one block south of the Ritz-Carlton and make right onto Forsyth and another immediate right onto Carnegie Way. Central Library is on the left.
From WEST of the Branch
Take I-20 East to Interstate I-75/85 North. Off of Interstate 75/85 North take exit 248-C "International Boulevard". Stay in the left lane, go to second traffic light and make a left onto Andrew Young International Blvd. Follow Andrew Young International Blvd. for four blocks and make a left onto Peachtree Street. Go two blocks on Peachtree (one block south of the Ritz-Carlton) and make a right onto Forsyth and another immediate right onto Carnegie Way. Central Library is on the left.
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Central Library Meeting Spaces
The Central Library has four (4) meeting areas which are available for community meetings. These are:
Auditorium (Lower level, seats 290)
Alcove (Lower level, seats 50)
2nd Floor Meeting Room (seats 50)
3rd Floor Meeting Room (seats 60)
See Meeting Room Policies & Guidelines for details on reserving meeting facilities at the Central Library or any other AFPLS meeting space.
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Central Library