The DeKalb County Library Board and staff will host a 50th Anniversary Celebration on Sunday, Sept. 24, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. Everyone is invited to come and join celebrating Justin Potter Library’s 50 years of service to the community.
There was a dream by many in the community, especially Mrs. Emma Burton, for a permanent library building for DeKalb County. In 1966 when federal money became available on a matching basis for library construction, Mrs. Burton began searching for matching funds.
She found these funds at the Justin and Valere Potter Foundation. The Potter family, natives of DeKalb County, had moved to Nashville many years before and had prospered in business. They established a foundation to furnish money for educational facilities, and donated $50,000 to match a Federal Library Services Construction Act Grant. The total $100,000 covered the cost of land as well as the building and initial furnishings and equipment.
The 3,764-square-foot building opened in June of 1967 and was named Justin Potter Library. Mrs. June Vaughn was director at the new facility with Mrs. Jewel Fowler as assistant. In 1968 Mrs. Idell Spann became the director. When she retired in 1991, Mrs. June Vaughn returned as director after 23 years. Kathy Winchester Vardy was the director from 2004 to 2007. Kathy Hendrixson took over as director in 2007 to the present time.
In 2003 a 2,000-square-foot expansion of the library was funded by the DeKalb County Court with donations from members of the community for the shelving and furniture. The library, which was built to hold 10,000 volumes in 1967, now contains over 25,000 items today.
Justin Potter Library has come a long way in 50 years to establish itself as a “hub” of the community. The library’s vision is that all DeKalb County residents will have the opportunities they need to improve the quality of their lives with a mission of providing quality materials and services that fulfill educational, informational, cultural and recreational needs of the entire community in an atmosphere that is welcoming and respectful.
The library now offers books, videos and DVDs, music CDs, microfilm, audio books, magazines, and newspapers. The public has access to both computer and wireless internet fax, copy, scanning and notary services are offered.
Other services available are Interlibrary loans, TWRA Boating Exams and tax and voter registration forms. Those with e a library card have access to over 100,000 free eBooks, audiobooks and streaming video through the Regional Download System (READS) and there are hundreds of databases available through TEL (Tennessee Electronic Library).
There are over 1,000 book downloads a month using the READS program that count toward the library’s circulation. The library offers AWE Early Literacy Computers for Children ages 2-8 (English and Bilingual Spanish versions) with over 60 educational titles.
There is no better place to share your family tree or uncover the past than the library. Justin Potter Library has an extensive collection of county genealogy and history materials. County Historian Thomas G. Webb is at the library about every day to assist DeKalb residents in searching for their family history. With donations to the Memorial Fund, it is possible to have a book dedicated in memory of a family member or friend.
The library hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year including Older American’s Day for the past 39 years, Summer Reading, holiday events, community discussion groups, teen programming and volunteer opportunities (Tennessee Promise), author book Signings, homeschool events, computer and art classes (Helen Sefsik teaches the community art classes every Wednesday that the library co-sponsors), Sign-up for Books from Birth: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Bookmobile and Outreach programs to the schools.
In addition, the library has partnered with other organizations for other events that benefit the community. In 2016-2017 there were close to 40,000 visits to the county libraries with 8,000 registered borrowers, 64,000 materials checked out, hosting of 112 programs with over 2,000 in attendance and about 15,000 computer users, including wireless.
These accomplishments would not have been possible without the dedication and hard work of the DeKalb County Library Board, staff, volunteers and the support of Smithville Study Club, DeKalb County, City of Smithville and Tennessee and Federal Governments, Justin and Valere Potter Foundation, the regional library, local organizations and the community throughout the past 50 years.
Members of the Library Board in 1967 included:
• W.R. Lassiter, Chair
• Mrs. Emma Burton, Chair Building Committee
• Mrs. Otha Dell Conger, Building Committee
• Mrs. Nell McBride, Building Committee
• Mrs. Bessie May White
• Mrs. Rosa John Twilla
• Mrs. Janelle Pugh
Members of the DeKalb County Library Board of Trustees in 2017 include:
• Genrose Davis
• Annette Greek
• Jane Hobson
• Brenda Hooper
• Betty Pankey
• Jane Ramsey
• Pam Redmon
• Jan Thomas, Board Chair
• Bobby White
Justin Potter Library Directors since 1967 have included:
• June Vaughn, (1967-1968) & (1991-2004)
• Idell Spann, (1968-1991)
• Kathy Winchester Vardy, (2004-2007) started work at Justin Potter Library in 1996
• Kathy Hendrixson, director from 2007 to present and librarian at Justin Potter since 2000)
Staff in 1967 included:
• June Vaughn, director
• Jewel Fowler
• Melford Smith
The current staff 2017 includes:
• Director Kathy Hendrixson
• Amanda Bain
• Laura Bauswell
• Gretchen Byford
• Wendy Crotty
• Burgandy Evins
• Diane Haberman
• Rebecca Maloney (worked through June 2017)
