South Georgia Regional Library

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South Georgia Regional Library

Overview
The South Georgia Regional Library (SGRL) is a public library system serving Lowndes, Echols, and Lanier counties in Georgia. It has six branches. The main library is the Willis L. Miller Library in Valdosta, which opened in 2018 after moving from the old Valdosta-Lowndes County Library location.

Branches
- Allen Statenville Library, US 129 & Jackson Street, Statenville
- Johnston Lakes Library, 720 Lakes Boulevard, Lake Park
- McMullen Southside Library, 527 Griffin Avenue, Valdosta
- Miller Lakeland Library, 18 South Valdosta Road, Lakeland
- Salter Hahira Library, 220 East Main Street, Hahira
- Willis L. Miller Library, 2906 Julia Drive, Valdosta

History
- 1876: Valdosta Library Association formed; a library existed briefly, then closed.
- 1896: The Columbine Club opened a small city library; by 1903 it grew to about 1,500 books.
- 1912–1920: The Carnegie Library of Valdosta was built with Andrew Carnegie’s funding and served as the main library until 1968.
- 1947: The Lowndes-Echols Regional Library System began; it later expanded with Lanier County and became the South Georgia Regional Library in 1954.
- 1955–1963: Branches opened for African American communities; library services were integrated in 1963.
- 1968: A new main library building opened in Valdosta.
- 1992–2012: Several branches were opened or renovated; the headquarters were modernized in 1995; Miller Lakeland library updates occurred in 2012.
- 2018: The Valdosta-Lowndes County Library moved to 2906 Julia Drive and was renamed Willis L. Miller Library.

Access and resources
SGRL is part of PINES, Georgia’s statewide library network, which gives access to about 10.6 million books across 53 library systems in 143 counties. The library also offers GALILEO, providing access to more than 100 databases and thousands of journals online.

Current status
SGRL operates six branches across three counties and continues to provide books, digital resources, programs, and community spaces for local residents.