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.