The Lawson McGhee Library is located in downtown Knoxville and serves as the main library for the citizens of Knox County.  The library has more than 380,449 items in its collection including magazines and journals, movies and documentaries on DVD and video, books on tape, music CDs, and downloadable books.

The main library houses the Periodicals Room, Sights & Sounds Department, Children's Room, Interlibrary Loan, Books for the Homebound, a large print area and a Spanish collection.

The Reference Department is staffed by professional Reference Librarians and has over 28,000 items.  A Business Reference section provides access to information on careers, marketing trends, starting a business, insurance, census reports, government regulations, and real estate.

Computers are available free of charge for use by the public.  Computer users have access to the Internet as well as software programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Power Point, and Access software.  Free computer workshops are held on a regular basis.

In addition to the main library, the Knox County Public Library System includes 17 branch libraries, the Beck Cultural Exchange Center, and the East Tennessee History Center.  The various points of service bring the resource and services of the library closer to the citizens.