[5][6] With the city promising funds for operations, Cossitt's gift was used entirely on the construction of the library, resulting in an elaborate Romanesque design by architect L.B.

Memphians acted quickly, holding fundraisers and events that would eventually fill the Cossitt Library with books and research materials.

[10] Despite advancements, library facilities remained racially segregated, leading African-American accountant Jesse H. Turner to sue the Memphis Public in 1958.

[13] Controversy during Wallis's tenure continued; in 1969 he gained national attention for refusing to remove Phillip Roth's novel Portnoy's Complaint against the mayor's objections.

The impressive new addition to the Memphis Public Library system featured a multi-story hub comprising a large children's section, space for communal gatherings, reading rooms, computer training labs, and more.

[16] To this day the Benjamin L. Hooks branch continues to be a source of innovation in the community, with its recent addition of teen learning lab CLOUD901.

Since its inception in 1893, the Memphis Public Library system has been characterized by a strong commitment to community outreach and engagement that spans beyond its extensive catalog of materials.

Though Second Editions’ main location is in the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, bargain books and materials are readily available at every branch.

[21] The station's diverse and quality content has led it to be selected as the Model Radio Reading Service by the American Foundation for the Blind.