Mardi Gras Library Closures
ALL Mobile Public Library locations will be closed Sunday, February 15 through Tuesday, February 17, 2026, for Mardi Gras.
Branch-Specific Closures:
- Ben May Main Library will close early at 5 p.m. on the following parade days: January 30–31 and February 5–13, 2026.
- Ben May Main Library and Local History & Genealogy will be closed on Saturday, February 14.
- Trinity Gardens Community Library will be closed Sunday, February 15 through Sunday, February 22, 2026.
Contact Information
Phone: (251) 340-1535
Email: mainref@mplonline.org
Hours & Location
Ben May Main Library
701 Government Street
Mobile, AL 36602
Library Hours
Monday - Thursday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sun: 1 - 5 p.m.* beginning September 7, 2025 through May 17, 2026.
*Closed on Sundays during summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day). Open Sundays from 1 - 5 p.m. beginning Labor Day through Memorial Day Weekend
Curbside Pickup
Mon - Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
See Holiday Closings
Upcoming Events
Listen, craft, and have some fun!
Join us in the youth programming room to enjoy storytime with books, songs, fingerplays, and more!
Stimulate your baby’s developing senses and help them build listening and memory skills that can help your baby grow up to be a reader. Enjoy meeting other parents and their little ones and making new friends. This program is best suited for ages 0-3.
For more information, please call 251-340-1507 or email mainyou@mplonline.org.
Do you love solving mysteries, finding hidden treasures, and cracking secret codes?
Anime newcomers are welcome!
Join us upstairs at the Main Library Teen Hangout for anime, snacks, and video games.
Disclaimer(s)
Food Allergies
We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy or other allergens.
Come hang out and have some fun!
Disclaimer(s)
Food Allergies
We cannot guarantee that food served at this program has not come into contact with tree nuts, soy or other allergens.
Contacts
Ben May Main Library: Circulation Services
Ben May Main Library: Reference & Adult Services
Ben May Main Library: Teen Services
Ben May Main Library: Youth Services
Connection Center
Interlibrary Loan
Services
These printers can be used to make three-dimensional objects using plastic filament. The 3D printing service is available to all ages.
The meeting room has a capacity of 60 and is available to be reserved for public use. Includes a galley kitchen with a refrigerator and microwave.
The beautiful theater seats approximately 230 people and can be reserved for public use. Including: Stage, Balcony Area, Projection system, Sound system with mics, Piano
A few locations have button makers available for public use. The finished buttons are 2.25" in diameter and cost 25¢ per button.
The rooms house all the children's fiction books, non-fiction books, movies, TV shows, educational videos, board books and reference books.
The AWE Children's Educational Workstations are designed for ages 2 - 8.
Knowledgeable staff can help with your job search, whipping your resume into shape and finding resources to prepare for your next interview.
The reading room has plenty of tables available for study on both floors and public computers on the first floor.
Our exhibit spaces display beautiful art and educational panels regularly. Contact a location if you would like to collaborate with the library on an exhibit.
Fax services available at every library location. Sending a fax to local, long distance and toll-free numbers is $1 per page. Cover pages are free.
Get online access to Candid Community's grant information databases at all Mobile Public Library locations.
Items not owned by the Mobile Public Library, or not available in the needed format, may be requested through Interlibrary Loan (ILL).
Bring your own supplies or pay for the supplies we have on hand. Machines are free to use. Printing costs of the items to laminate not included. Each person is limited to 25 items a month.
Print to the Mobile Public Library printers by going to your library location's PrinterOn website, emailing the location's printer or using the PrinterOn app.
Head up to the second floor to get help from knowledgeable Reference Librarians and use the extensive Reference Collection.
Many Mobile Public Library locations have staff members available (by appointment) to notarize your important documents. Contact your chosen location to see if or when they will be available.
Printers & copiers are available for public use at every location. Black and white printing/copying is $.10 per page. Color printing/copying is $.50 per page.
We offer free proctoring by librarians and reference staff at some of our library locations. Please contact the reference staff in advance to schedule a time convenient for you.
Computers available for public use at every location. Microsoft Office suite including Word, Excel, Access, Publisher and PowerPoint. Educational games for kids. Adobe Reader.
These rooms are dedicated to children's programs, especially Storytimes.
Public computers are available all over the library, but the largest number are in the Technology Center.
Find all the young adult books, paperbacks, video games, magazines and comic books in this area. Also in this room are computers just for teens.
Wi-Fi is available for public use at every location, including on the Bookmobile. Connect to 'Library Name'Guest (i.e. MainGuest) and open a browser window to accept our term and conditions.
