If there was any doubt that we need a library in White Bluff, those concerns have been put to rest as Vice Mayor Jeff Martin said we are already moving quickly toward outgrowing the space we have. Many people are taking advantage of the computers to look for jobs, take college classes and do research. It is my understanding that the books, DVDs and CDs that have been donated are in high demand as well.

So, don’t sit home on Saturday, come join the community in an afternoon of celebration and support for the new volunteer library in White Bluff.
While you are at it, become a fan of the library on FaceBook at Friends of the Jennie Woodworth Library of White Bluff

For more information: whiteblufflibrary@yahoo.com
Office: 615-797-9553 or 615-797-3131
Library Location: 1014 Taylor Town Road White Bluff, TN

The subject was introduced by Benny Spencer a few weeks ago at a County Commissioners’ budget meeting. Although it was not on the agenda, the idea to close the library was unleashed while the commissioners were trying to come up with ways to cut the county’s budget. Kind of like when you have to broach the subject of cutting the TV cable to make your own budget work. It may not be popular, but it does have to be discussed as an option.

It is my hope that the discussion of closing the library gets tossed out like last week’s periodicals! Curious to find out what was fact and what was fiction, I spoke with my county commissioner, the Mayor’s office and employees of the library.

My district county commissioner assured me that he was against closing the library and that I could contact him for updates on the situation. The Mayor’s office confirmed that closing the library was one of many possibilities, and that various areas of government spending were being looked at to balance the budget. The ladies at the library are not only concerned about their jobs but are also concerned about the people of Dickson; 5 years ago the Summer Reading Program consisted of 125 children, this year they will surpass their goal of 1000 children being enrolled.

What would our community be like without a public library? When industries consider areas to relocate or build new businesses they check to see what a county would have to offer its potential employees. What does it say to outsiders if we can not sustain a library? What does it say to families who want to move here? Recently , I spoke with a woman who relocated here after hurricane Katrina in LA, she said she could have moved anywhere and she and her family chose Dickson; indicating they would have passed it by if it had not had a library. Growing kids need books. Inquiring minds need books. Students need books. What would we do without our books?

Even though the library was not on the agenda for the County Commissioners’ budget meeting Monday the 15th, there were several supporters of the library in attendance- just in case the subject was brought up in discussion again. You can imagine that there are a lot of people concerned about this topic and some vowed to be at the budget meetings each Monday night while closing the library is under consideration.

Since the issue of cutting our library funding has been raised as a very real possibility, it would benefit us all to exercise our civil obligations by becoming aware of and participating in the operation of our local government. Much like a good old fashion civics lesson.

Contact your district County Commissioner ( your district number is on your voter registration card; commissioner’s contact info http://www.dicksoncounty.net) to let him or her know how you feel about this issue. You may want to sit in on a budget meeting – currently being held at the Annex Courthouse on the square in Charlotte at 6:30 on Monday nights. I found the last meeting to be fascinating even if it was a little boring, but I can NOT complain about anything that may or may not happen to the library if I sit at home and do nothing. That is how these things happen, folks, one minute we have a library and the next we don’t – all while we were sitting at home watching TV.

Be civic minded and alert! Get involved in Dickson.