The Obion River Regional Library, part of the Tennessee State Library and Archives Public Library Service, hosted a Library Legislative and Mayoral Breakfast on Friday, February 1, 2019, at the Regional Library Office in Martin to highlight the many ways that public libraries are serving Tennesseans. Fourteen northwest Tennessee county and city mayors were in attendance for the third annual event including: Joseph Butler, Mayor of Carroll County; Gary Reasons, Mayor of Crockett County; Benny McGuire, Mayor of Obion County; Jake Bynum, Mayor of Weakley County; Jill Holland, Mayor of McKenzie; John Holden, Mayor of Dyersburg; Pam Mabry, Mayor of Newbern; B.W. Beasley, Mayor of Milan; Ricky Jackson, Mayor of Trenton; Carlton Gerrell, Mayor of Paris; Terry Hailey, Mayor of Union City; Randy Brundige, Mayor of Martin; Cindy McAdams, Mayor of Greenfield; Diane Poole, Mayor of Gleason. Also in attendance was Ed Jackson III, Regional Director for Congressman David Kustoff.
Counties served by the Obion River Regional Libraries include Benton, Carroll, Crockett, Dyer, Gibson, Henry, Lake, Obion, and Weakley, with a total of 20 libraries in the region.
State Librarian & Archivist, Chuck Sherrill, was on hand to give an update of the new State Library facility in Nashville and provided the latest facts and figures on Tennessee’s public libraries. Judge Tommy Moore and the Dyersburg McIver’s Grant Public Library Director, Kathryn McBride, gave examples of how patrons in their local libraries have been helped in non-traditional ways. All speakers emphasized that the 21st century library is about much more than books.
The Obion River Regional Board of Trustees served as hosts: Benton County: Mary Lou Marks; Dyer County: Sylvia Palmer (Vice-Chair); Gibson County: Don Farmer (Chair) and Dr. Beverly Youree; Henry County: Dr. Norma Gerrell; Obion County: Mike Cox and Ellarine Moses; Weakley County: Dr. Nancy Hinds and Hon. Tommy Moore, along with the Obion River Regional Library staff: Mary Vaughan Carpenter, Regional Director; Jenny Virgin, Assistant Director; Lana Coates, Administrative Assistant; Laura Reaves, Technical Services Assistant; C.J. Sullivan, Library Systems Specialist; and Marlow Peters, Volunteer Coordinator.
