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Library Staff

Early Librarians were Mrs. Lillian Ross, Mrs. Beulah Hamlin, Hobson Mayo and Mrs. Rupelle Speight. Mrs. Speight retired in 1974 and Mrs. Louise Oliver assumed the position. She retired in 1985. Candy McAdams has been the library director since 1997.

 

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Library History

The county library opened in a rented room in the basement of Bowers Hotel on the main square in Dresden on April 9, 1946. Quarters were shared with e Red Cross. When the new Courthouse was completed in 1950 both the library and the Red Cross were moved to a third floor room.

Financial support was low for many years $ 1,462. Annually- and the location inaccessible. Circulation stayed around 3,000 – 4,000 annually for a number of years.

In June 1963, the library was moved to a rented business building on the ground level. A larger county appropriation, and the first city appropriation made this possible. In the first year here circulation increased by 2,000. The new quarters were attractive but small, and were outgrown almost immediately.

Weakley County was voted a two-year demonstration project by the regional board beginning July 1st 1964, which resulted in fast expansion and growth for all Libraries of the County. Regional funds were used to pay the librarians and buy books, and County funds were released to buy furniture and equipment and more books. The County board searched for a larger building, and finally a new building was constructed y a local citizens especially rented to the library. Library hours were increases from twenty per week to thirty-eight, including one evening, after the library opened in the new building in February 1965.

The new library expanded to include a small concrete block building located behind the library in 1993. This building was the Story Book House and was used for story times and summer reading programs.

Former governor Ned R. McWherter originated the idea for a new Library facility to be located next door to hiss home on Linden Street in 1997. He provided funding for the purchase\sell of the land and construction of the building. County Commissioners helped obtain grants to help pay for the furnishings needed in the modern library. The Ned R. McWherter/ Weakley County Library was opened on December 1, 1997. On November 19, 1999 then Ned R. McWherter room was dedicated and the library held its Grand Opening. The library houses some seventeen thousand materials and has seven Internet computers for public use.

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Ned Ray McWherter Museum

The museum is located inside the Weakley County Library and spotlights the life and professional accomplishments of the late Ned Ray McWherter with a special emphasis on McWherter service in the Tennessee House of Representatives, tenure as Speaker of the House, and service as Governor of Tennessee for two terms. During McWherter’s final term as Governor, Tennessee earned the designation as the best managed state in the nation.

The Museum is open during normal library hours Monday through Friday and on Saturday mornings. The public and school classes are invited to visit the museum for an educational opportunity to learn more about McWherter and his outstanding service to the citizens of Tennessee.