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This is your gateway to our most popular resources. Search for books and eBooks, access tools for research and learning, and discover our unique collection of genealogy and local history materials.
All databases are available from this page.
Engraver size varies by location. Cut wood or engrave on wood, metal, stone, leather, glass and more.
The Eastside Makerspace machine can hold items up to 19.6 x 12.5 x 5 inches. The Marksbury Family Branch Makerspace machine can hold smaller items like coasters and keychains up to 4.53 x 4.53 inches. Some items are available to purchase in the space, including keychains, business cards, coasters, and bookmarks.
Join us for a walking tour of Lexington’s literary history!
Tour Length 1.05 miles
The music clips used in this tour are from “Walking Barefoot on Grass” by Kai Engel, and are used with a CCBY license. It is available here.
Make buttons and magnets using equipment and supplies available in the Makerspace.
The Eastside Makerspace offers 1.25” and 2.25” button makers for buttons and magnets. The Marksbury Family Branch Makerspace offers 2.25” button makers for buttons and magnets and 1” button makers for keychains, earrings, and paperclip bookmarks. Button, magnet keychain, earring, and bookmark materials are available to purchase.
Use a variety of heat presses to transfer your original designs on to personal items.
The Marksbury Family Branch Makerspace has an automated heat press, large and small handheld presses, sublimation printer, and Cricut machines. The Eastside Makerspace has a small handheld press, automated heat press, and Cricut machines. Please supply your own personal items to transfer on to. Sublimation paper and heat transfer vinyl are available for purchase, or you can use your own free of charge. Speak with a staff member before bringing or using your own materials.
Print your large-format designs on paper and vinyl. Printer size varies by location.
The Eastside Makerspace’s 24” printer is compatible with paper, photo paper, and banner vinyl. The Marksbury Family Branch Makerspace’s 20” printer is compatible with photo paper, sticker paper, banner vinyl, and heat transfer vinyl. Paper and vinyl are available for purchase and are priced per linear foot.
The William Stamps Farish Fund Theater is a state-of-the-art facility in one of Main Street’s busiest places.
Fully renovated and updated, the theater on the Central Library’s first floor is home to theater, dance, live music, film, community events, and meetings. The Lexington Public Library makes the facility available at some of the city’s best prices, with affordable business, nonprofit, and government rates.
Join us for a walking tour of Downtown Lexington’s historic LGBTQ+ places. The full tour is available as a single MP3, or you can download individual tracks. For the single MP3, music will play between the stops. You can pause the track while you walk between stops.
This tour covers a walking distance of 1.6 miles.
Friends of the Lexington Public Library provides financial, advocacy and volunteer support to the Library. Shop at the Friends Book Cellar in the Central Library for a great selection of used books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and vinyl records, all at discounted prices.
Together, we’ll enrich our Lexington Public Library for the next 230 years.
Tracing its history back to 1795, the Lexington Public Library is a gateway to knowledge, a bridge to opportunity, and a hub for community connection. The name of the society honors that legacy — when a small group of citizens came together to create something lasting for their community - a library positioned to evolve to meet the ever changing needs of our community.
Members of the 1795 Society are philanthropic leaders and dedicated library champions. Supporters make a three-year pledge of at least $1,000 per year - whether you are an individual donor interested in making an annual or monthly gift, you are making your estate plans, or you are a corporate partner looking to connect your organization to community impact, we invite you to join this legacy of connection, learning, and leadership in support of the public library!
Join the 1795 Society, a community who enable the Library’s critical work and build a legacy of learning, access and opportunity for generations to come.
Meet with a librarian for one-on-one consultation. Please submit the Book a Librarian Appointment Request Form or call 859-231-5500 during business hours to schedule an appointment. Appointments are scheduled Monday-Friday during Library business hours and typically last 30 to 45 minutes.
The Digital Studio provides people of all skill levels the equipment, software, and AI creative tools for filmmaking, photography and digital art, music making, and media preservation.
Throughout June, join us as we celebrate Pride Month with programs, books, podcasts, and more.
Read articles from magazines and journals, learn a new language, or locate a newspaper article. These resources can't be found with a search engine but are available for free with your library card.
The Lexington Public Library offers an Interlibrary Loan (ILL) service which allows cardholders in good standing to borrow books and receive copies of articles we do not own and cannot purchase. Our borrowing network includes over 4,000 participating public and academic libraries.
Use this machine to personalize your fabric items. Please supply your own personal items for embroidery. Thread is available free of charge, but please supply your own if you need a specific thread for your project.
Sewing machines are available to use for basic sewing projects. Needles, notions, and threads are provided in the Makerspace. Please bring your own material, as well as thread if you require something specific.
Sewing machine brand varies by location.
Lexington, Kentucky (December 20, 2022) – Lexington Public Library announced today that its popular LPL After School program will return in 2023, beginning January 2.
LPL After School is a FREE drop-in program for kids aged 5-12 that takes place after regular school hours, Mondays through Fridays from 4-6pm. The Library, in partnership with God’s Pantry, will provide snacks for all participants as well as STEAM and enrichment activities, homework help, and reading recommendations. And there’s no need to register—just show up!
The Luna Library, a program of Believing in Forever, collects and distributes children's books with an African American history or Black character focus. It is an alternative for African American parents looking for books that provide context and knowledge to understand the stories of the African American experience in this country for their children. Believing in Forever is a champion of diversity and inclusion, and the positive impact books have on children of all races.
Submit an application to participate as a vendor at the 2026 Kentucky History and Genealogy Conference.