Longview Public Library

The Longview Public Library sits at 222 West Cotton Street downtown, in a roughly 35,000-square-foot main branch. The collection runs to about 150,000 items, and the building offers dozens of PC and Apple computers plus free Wi-Fi for anyone who walks in the door. Beyond books and DVDs, the library is one of Longview's busiest free community spaces. It runs children's programs, arts and crafts sessions and seasonal activities, and it hosts outside groups — the Gregg County Genealogical Society meets there monthly. The genealogy and local history department keeps microfilm census records, city directories, cemetery records and other archival material for Texas and many other states, with a genealogy librarian on staff to help researchers find their footing. The library is open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sundays. Program calendars, catalog access and current hours are posted on the City of Longview website.