City Cast Nashville logo

How To Make the Most of Your Nashville Public Library Card

Posted on April 8, 2025   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Margaret Kingsbury

Margaret Kingsbury

A large room with black and white tiles and windows in the ceiling.

Inside the Nashville Public Library’s main branch. (Margaret Kingsbury / City Cast Nashville)

Confession: I’m a Nashville Public Library power user. I go to an NPL branch at least once a week, check out copious amounts of books for my daughter and me, and attend regular library events. NPL offers so many services to cardholders beyond books. Here’s how to make the most of your library card.

Through the Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy apps, you can check out books, audiobooks, music, and movies and enjoy them right on your phone.

Borrow art for up to three months with the Metro Art Lending Library Collection, which currently includes 106 unique framed pieces ready to hang.

After picking up a BCycle fob at the branch of your choice, check out a bicycle from one of the numerous Nashville BCycle stations, for up to two hours at a time.

With more than 200 board games, you’re all set for board game night. You can check out up to two board games at a time.

Or maybe you’d rather check out one of these more physical games, like tennis, pickleball, or croquet.

City Cast

Why the Country Music Hall of Fame Isn't Just for Tourists

00:00:00

NPL’s Community Passports give cardholders two free passes to local museums. Currently, their only Community Passport is to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. In the past, they’ve had passports to Cheekwood and the National Museum of African American Music, so check back now and then to see if more museums have been added.

🧑‍🌾 Plant a Garden

You can borrow vegetable, herb, or flower seeds to start your own garden! NPL also offers numerous gardening classes.

NPL has all sorts of tools: Wrenches, radon detectors, stud finders, to name a few.

Borrow one of the 24 instruments in NPL’s catalog, like a mandolin, handbell set, or violin.

Want to start sewing? Bird watching? Knitting? Engraving? NPL can help.

Borrow cake pans or an ice cream maker for your dessert-making needs, and remember to share with the City Cast Nashville team 😉

🏋️ Get Healthy

Check out a kettlebell, pilates kit, or blood pressure monitor to meet your wellness goals.

NPL’s numerous curriculum kits for educators and caregivers explore a variety of topics, from the human body to multicultural Cinderella tales to robotics. These kits are awesome, and include books, audio recordings, and videos.

🧑‍💼Get Hired

Out of work, or looking for something better? NPL can help you revise your résumé, prep for exams, search for a job, and more.

Make an appointment at the Southeast Library Branch to apply for a passport, and bring all your required documents.

📚 Even more things to do with your library card!

Share article

Hey Nashville

Stay connected to City Cast Nashville and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

The latest in Nashville

Nashville's BestJune 26

The Best Fourth of July Celebrations in the Nashville Area

Want to see fireworks without going downtown? Here are nine other Independence Day celebrations in the Nashville area.

Fireworks going off in a night sky.
Nashville, ExplainedJune 25

Nashville Trivia: Which Musician Signed a Record Deal at The Bluebird Cafe?

The Bluebird Cafe will open a second location, The Bluebird East, inside the Tennessee Titans’ new Nissan Stadium. But how much do you kn...

People lined up outside a small building with a blue awning that says "The Bluebird Cafe." The windows are lit with orange neon lights, and it's night.
Food & DrinkJune 23

Nashville's Best New Restaurants and Bars

Hungry? These are the best new restaurants and bars in Nashville to check out this year.

Sushi on a black tray set on a wooden table, beside two wooden chopstick sets and a menu.
Food & DrinkJune 15

Dine Around the World in Nashville

​​Nashville’s international restaurant scene is booming. Here are some of our best eats from around the globe, inspired by the World Cup.

A copper Turkish teapot sits on a copper platter with two glasses of tea. Surrounding it on a wooden table are small plates of snacks like olives and dip. In the background you can see the counter of a cafe, and some people sitting at a table together.
Nashville's BestJune 11

The Best World Cup Watch Parties in Nashville

Here are some of the best places to watch World Cup games in Nashville, from epic kick-off parties to rooftop bars.

The Japanese men's football team run across the soccer field in light blue jerseys and darker blue shorts.
Keep It Local from City Cast NashvilleJune 4

Local Shops and Day Trips for Vinyl Lovers

If the crowds from music festival season are getting you down, try these record shops and day trips to find some new tunes you can enjoy...

Black shelves full of records in the corner of a shop with salmon-orange walls. There are also black shelves on the walls holding records facing out. The floor is brown with a scuffed texture.
Nashville HistoryJune 3

How To Celebrate Pride Month in Nashville

Pride’s roots trace back to uprisings in 1969 for LGBTQ+ equality. Here’s why we celebrate in June, and how you can get involved in Nashv...

Marchers in downtown Nashville holding balloons that spell LOVE.
Nashville's BestJune 2

Your Guide to Nashville in June 2026

June is one of the busiest month's in Nashville. Here's your guide to all the fun stuff to do, from music festivals to Juneteenth celebra...

Downtown Nashville from the deck of a blue and white riverboat.