Watauga Regional Library

What is a Regional Library?

Tennessee’s Regional Library System has been in existence for over sixty years. Its mission is:

• To provide supplementary library materials to member public libraries
• To assist local governments in public library development and expansion
• To provide continuing education to local library staff and trustees
• To assist in the selection and maintenance of library technology
• To provide direct outreach library services to the disadvantaged who have difficulty using local public libraries

The Regional Library System is composed of twelve multi-county regions serving 211 small and medium-sized public libraries throughout the state of Tennessee. Membership in the Regional Library System is voluntary. The four metropolitan library systems (Memphis-Shelby County Public Library, Knox County Library, Nashville Public Library, and the Chattanooga- Hamilton County Bicentennial Public Library) are considered single-county regions.

State assistance received by local public libraries through the Regional Library System is intended to supplement local appropriations as required in the establishment of public libraries by the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 10, Chapter 3. In return for State assistance, each public library desiring to belong to the Multi-County Regional system must maintain “the allocation of locally appropriated funds at a level not less than the amount appropriated the last fiscal year as well as the expenditure of locally appropriated funds at a level not less than the total amount expended in the last fiscal year.” Annual Maintenance of Effort agreements between the State Library and Archives and local cities and counties make certain that State funding does not supplant the fiscal responsibility of local governments on behalf of their public libraries

What is the Watauga Regional Library?

An award-winning agency of the Tennessee Department of State: The Watauga Regional Library is one of twelve regional libraries in the state of Tennessee. The regional libraries are administered by the Tennessee State Library and Archives, which itself is a division of the Dept. of State. In May, 2000, Watauga received the Tennessee Library Association's Resource-Sharing Award for its trail-blazing service.

Not really a library?: Despite our name, the Watauga Regional Library isn't the kind of library that you can walk into and check out books. We operate in the background, helping local libraries serve the public, primarily with services related to the communications network created by the Tennessee legislature, the Northeast Tennessee Public Library.

Our purpose: The purpose of the Watauga Regional Library is to improve public library service in the northeast Tennessee counties of Carter, Greene, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi, and Washington. We do this by providing a variety of types of assistance to local public libraries:

• Internet access: Watauga pays for Internet access for its member libraries. The Internet is a resource of growing importance for everyone. Watauga is the only regional library in the state that provides this service.
• Wide area network: Watauga pays for high-bandwidth T1 lines and communications equipment to connect local libraries with the Internet and with ETSU. The connection with ETSU allows Watauga's customer libraries to use Innovative's Millennium, a state-of-the-art library management system that automates everything from checking out books to issuing overdue reminders.
• Technology support: Whether it's setting up a new computer, configuring a local area network, coordinating the shared use of Innovative's Millennium, Watauga staff are available to assist local libraries in this increasingly critical area.
• Cataloging and retrospective conversion: A variety of services is available to libraries needing to maintain their catalogs or convert them from the old, manual card catalog into computer format.
• Training: An important aspect of the regional library system is its provision of training to staffs of local libraries. This is an increasingly critical need for under funded public libraries facing the challenge and the potential of the Information Age.
• Consulting: The boards and staffs of the local libraries benefit from consultation with Watauga's professionals in the areas of library management and bookkeeping.
• $$$$$$$ for books: The materials budgets of local libraries are supplemented with an annual contribution from the regional library.

In addition, Watauga does provided some services direct to some non-library customers:

• Headstart Programs: Watauga supports these public preschools with deposit collections of books.
• Community centers, nursing homes: As funding allows, and where an organized program that promotes reading is in place, Watauga assists these with deposit collections.

The Watauga Regional Library provides these services with a staff of 6 and an annual budget of $490,000. We strive to serve in a manner that is as efficient and effective as possible. We also strive to serve all libraries, regardless of size.

Although Watauga is a part of the Dept. of State, it has an advisory board made up of two citizens from each of the six counties in the Watauga region. Members are appointed by the county commissions. The purpose of the board is to ensure that the operation of the regional library remains effective and relevant.

As you make use of the libraries in these counties, remember the Watauga Regional Library, the mostly "unseen" library that has remained an educational and social presence in the area since 1942.
 

2700 South Roan St. Suite 435 Johnson City, TN 37601-7587
423.926.2951 (Office)
423.926.2956 (Fax)
© 1999 - 2008 The Watauga Regional Library