Library
In 1926, the Signal Mountain Library began as a volunteer library located in the Signal Mountain Grammar School, now the MACC. In 1954, the library moved to the old Signal Mountain Post Office at the corner of James and Signal Mountain Boulevards until 1970, when it moved to its current location. The present library building, constructed in 1987, was paid for by donations from mountaintop residents.
The library operates as a department of the Town of Signal Mountain under the direction of the librarian and receives no annual subsidy from the State of Tennessee or any other local governments. It is completely funded by town residents through property taxes and donations.
The Friends of the Library, a non-profit organization, helps generate financial support above the annual budget provided by the town for the library’s operation. The Friends sell used books at the Book Nook on the lower level of the library and accept memorial donations and other contributions from individuals or groups wishing to support the library’s collection and its programs.
The Mountain Library Foundation, which operates under the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga, encourages and receives large donations that are held for investment to finance capital projects and major new initiatives to achieve its mission to bring the library to a level of excellence not possible with current town funding and to establish the library as an outstanding community resource.
HoursMonday : 12 - 8
Tuesday : 10 - 6
Wednesday : 10 - 6
Thursday : 12 - 8
Friday : CLOSED
Saturday : 10 - 2
Sunday : CLOSED
Services
Checking Out Materials: Books, books on CD, and DVDs may be checked out for two weeks. A one-time renewal is available on all items except for those that are on reserve. There is a charge of 25 per day for overdue books and audio books. Overdue movies are $1 per day.
Notary: We have a certified notary on staff available during regular business hours. Our fee is twenty dollars per person per visit—cash or check only. In order to manage our time most effectively, we ask that you make an appointment at least twenty-four hours in advance. For a complete list of services provided, click here. (Mortgages, which require a different certification, are excluded.) Please address all inquiries to Lisa Garbee at lgarbee@signalmountaintn.gov or call 423-886-7323.
Passports: The Signal Mountain Library now serves as an official U.S. Passport Application Processing Center. If you or anyone in your family needs to apply for a U.S. passport, we will be happy to help. (Renewals are handled by the passport holder, but we can provide you with the necessary form.) In order to make things run as smoothly as possible, please bear in mind the following:
1. Because of the time involved, passport service is by appointment only. We do not accept walk-ins. To make an appointment, please call us at 423-886-7323 or email lgarbee@signalmountaintn.gov.
2. There are two fees that must be paid at the time of your appointment. The execution fee for passport service is $35, payable by cash or check to the Signal Mountain Library. The application fee, paid by check to the U.S. State Department, will vary depending on the type of passport and speed of service requested.
3. You must also provide your own passport-compliant photograph. The CVS on Ridgeway Avenue is one convenient option for this essential step.
Beyond these points, remember, too, that the rules and regulations governing passport applications are complex. Please be patient with us and the process as a whole.
For more information, visit https://travel.state.gov.
Genealogy: The Signal Mountain Library serves as a FamilySearch affiliate library, which means our patrons now enjoy greater and more convenient access to a wealth of genealogical resources. We are one of only a few hundred such affiliates in the country. The popular web service has over 6 billion searchable names and 2 billion images of historical genealogical records. FamilySearch adds over 300 million items of information—including birth, marriage, death, census, land, and court records—to its database every year. The service is available to the public free of charge during regular business hours.
Photocopier: There is a photocopy machine on the main level of the library. Copies are 25 cents a page.
Group Meeting Space: Space on the lower level may be reserved for group meetings.
Computer Use: Those wishing to use the computers are asked to sign in at the desk. Minors must have parental permission to access the internet. Printed pages cost 25 cents each. Help is available at the desk.
Local History: The Signal Mountain Historical Committee maintains an archive of materials such as maps, photographs, newspaper clippings, and books on the history of Walden’s Ridge and the town. The library holds books by local authors Emma Bell Miles, Gordon Wetmore, Mary and William O. Steele, and others. Donations of historical items are always welcome.