About Us
Our Mission:
"The Cheatham County Public Library will enhance the joy of reading and thirst for information by providing current, high interest materials to its citizens. It will be a door to the learning experience for preschoolers and promote independent learning for all ages."
Area served:
The Cheatham County Public Library serves all of the cities/towns within Cheatham County (Ashland City, Pleasant View, Kingston Springs, and Pegram), as well as surrounding areas.
Our Staff: May Lingner - Library Director - Send EmailKimberly Mayberry - Assistant Director - Send Email Amy Cooper - Youth Services Coordinator - Send Email Walter Pitt - County Archivist - Send Email Ricky Gunawan - Library AssistantSierra Primm - Library AssistantLacea Harrison - Library AssistantKim Lonsway - Library AssistantRachel Garza - Library Assitant
The History of Cheatham County Public Library
The first meetings with county officials to explore the needs and the possibility of a public library in Cheatham County took place in 1955. The idea was met with much enthusiasm by members of the community. The Federal Library Service Act was already in place at that time, and provided for a two year demonstration of library services to rural counties which were not a part of the State Regional Library System. Federal funds would be appropriated during each of the two years for operational expenses, with the understanding that at the end of that cycle, the county would be required to appropriate local funds to pay expenses in order to continue receiving regional service. In 1961, at the request of Jack Boyd, local attorney and clerk of the Tennessee Supreme Court, representatives of Cheatham County visited the Lions Club to discuss the possibility of a public library. Those representatives included Jimmy Lockert of Lockert Drug and his father, who was a member of the county court and the state legislature, Mary Nelson Bates, Assistant Director of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and Mrs. Julia Martin, Director of the Warioto Regional Library Center in Clarksville, Tennessee. There were discussions about the location of the public library being housed at the Cheatham County Courthouse, however, it was agreed by Judge Neil Robertson, County Judge, Mary Elizabeth Jean, home demonstration agent, and Mrs. Bates that the current courthouse construction at that time would prevent successful operation of the library. In April of 1962, Mrs. Bess Jordan placed a phone call to Mrs. Bates expressing the community’s continued enthusiasm for a public library. It was then that Mrs. Bates met with Jaycee member Roger Binkley to ask for his assistance in bringing awareness of the Tennessee Regional Library System and the library demonstration to the local citizens and civic organizations to formalize a plan to present to the county court. This was followed by submission of applications to the state and the formalizing of a court-appointed library board. In April of 1963, after a series of meetings with Mrs. Bates, Jack Boyd, Jaycees President Grant Winters, and local attorney Bill Baker, the application was presented to the county court. Judge Neil Robertson submitted the application to the Warioto Regional Library Center, and on April 8, 1963, the county court appointed Cheatham County’s first library board, which consisted of Mrs. Mildred Mays of Kingston Springs, Mrs. Helen Robinson of Pegram, Mrs. Mildred Morris of Ashland City, Mr. Bill Ellis of Pleasant View, Mr. Roger Binkley of Ashland City, Mrs. Effie M. Fielder of Ashland City, and Mr. Dennis Blankenship of Ashland City. Because this was a new board, there were no appointees to the Warioto Regional Library Board. Funding only allowed to two applications to be accepted in 1963, and Cheatham County’s was the third to be received. This meant that Cheatham County would have to wait until the 1965 cycle; however, it put Cheatham County in first position for application for the 1965 cycle. In a March 12, 1965 letter to Judge Neil Robertson, Mrs. Bates, who was now under the title of TSLA Director, advised that the Cheatham County Court should appoint two members to the Warioto Regional Library Board. The board and Regional Librarian, Mrs. Julia Martin, would then meet in May to plan for the “library demonstration”. In July of 1967, it was noted that Cheatham County no longer came under the regulations as a demonstration county because an appropriation was made by the county which qualified it until 1972. The sum of $4,000 was allocated for library operating expenses and for appointing the library board. At this time, Cheatham County became part of the Tennessee Regional Library System. A meeting was held on September 7, 1967 at Judge Jimmy Lockert’s courthouse office for the purpose of forming the library board and to discuss the purchase of new bookshelves, book ends, and library supplies with the county appropriations. A group of the county’s citizens attended this meeting along with Glover Dale baker, James Dowlen, J. C. Balthrop, Judge Jimmy Lockert, Mrs. Julia Martin, and Mrs. Briggs. Eleven Shelves were ordered and 1,200 books were readied to begin the library. Other items up for discussion were salary and hiring of the new librarian. The first library board meeting was held on September 12, 1967, with all members present. Applicants for the new librarian position were discussed and by the evening’s end, Jackie Strunk of Ashland City was hired at a salary of $250 per month. The library’s hours of operation were also set at that meeting, which were 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, except on Wednesdays when the library was closed. Cheatham County Public Library opened its doors for the first time on October 7, 1967, in a single room on the second floor of the Cheatham County Courthouse. The room had eight shelves of books, and the first patron to check out a book was named “Parker Cashdollar”, and he checked out a book entitled “How the Millionaires Made Their Money” (yep, true name, true story)! In its first year, the library circulated 4,616 books. Library books were supplied by the Warioto Regional Library Center, and six bookmobile stations were set up in the county in the locations of Allen Brothers store at Cheap Hill, Nicholson’s Store at Pleasant View, Perry’s Store at Mt. Zion, Bank of Pegram at Pegram, Bank of Kingston Springs at Kingston Springs, and Herbert Dozier’s Store at Greenbrier. An average of 60 books was left at the stations on each visit. Cheatham County Courthouse - Where the first Cheatham County Public Library was housed
The first meetings with county officials to explore the needs and the possibility of a public library in Cheatham County took place in 1955. The idea was met with much enthusiasm by members of the community. The Federal Library Service Act was already in place at that time, and provided for a two year demonstration of library services to rural counties which were not a part of the State Regional Library System. Federal funds would be appropriated during each of the two years for operational expenses, with the understanding that at the end of that cycle, the county would be required to appropriate local funds to pay expenses in order to continue receiving regional service. In 1961, at the request of Jack Boyd, local attorney and clerk of the Tennessee Supreme Court, representatives of Cheatham County visited the Lions Club to discuss the possibility of a public library. Those representatives included Jimmy Lockert of Lockert Drug and his father, who was a member of the county court and the state legislature, Mary Nelson Bates, Assistant Director of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and Mrs. Julia Martin, Director of the Warioto Regional Library Center in Clarksville, Tennessee. There were discussions about the location of the public library being housed at the Cheatham County Courthouse, however, it was agreed by Judge Neil Robertson, County Judge, Mary Elizabeth Jean, home demonstration agent, and Mrs. Bates that the current courthouse construction at that time would prevent successful operation of the library. In April of 1962, Mrs. Bess Jordan placed a phone call to Mrs. Bates expressing the community’s continued enthusiasm for a public library. It was then that Mrs. Bates met with Jaycee member Roger Binkley to ask for his assistance in bringing awareness of the Tennessee Regional Library System and the library demonstration to the local citizens and civic organizations to formalize a plan to present to the county court. This was followed by submission of applications to the state and the formalizing of a court-appointed library board. In April of 1963, after a series of meetings with Mrs. Bates, Jack Boyd, Jaycees President Grant Winters, and local attorney Bill Baker, the application was presented to the county court. Judge Neil Robertson submitted the application to the Warioto Regional Library Center, and on April 8, 1963, the county court appointed Cheatham County’s first library board, which consisted of Mrs. Mildred Mays of Kingston Springs, Mrs. Helen Robinson of Pegram, Mrs. Mildred Morris of Ashland City, Mr. Bill Ellis of Pleasant View, Mr. Roger Binkley of Ashland City, Mrs. Effie M. Fielder of Ashland City, and Mr. Dennis Blankenship of Ashland City. Because this was a new board, there were no appointees to the Warioto Regional Library Board. Funding only allowed to two applications to be accepted in 1963, and Cheatham County’s was the third to be received. This meant that Cheatham County would have to wait until the 1965 cycle; however, it put Cheatham County in first position for application for the 1965 cycle. In a March 12, 1965 letter to Judge Neil Robertson, Mrs. Bates, who was now under the title of TSLA Director, advised that the Cheatham County Court should appoint two members to the Warioto Regional Library Board. The board and Regional Librarian, Mrs. Julia Martin, would then meet in May to plan for the “library demonstration”. In July of 1967, it was noted that Cheatham County no longer came under the regulations as a demonstration county because an appropriation was made by the county which qualified it until 1972. The sum of $4,000 was allocated for library operating expenses and for appointing the library board. At this time, Cheatham County became part of the Tennessee Regional Library System. A meeting was held on September 7, 1967 at Judge Jimmy Lockert’s courthouse office for the purpose of forming the library board and to discuss the purchase of new bookshelves, book ends, and library supplies with the county appropriations. A group of the county’s citizens attended this meeting along with Glover Dale baker, James Dowlen, J. C. Balthrop, Judge Jimmy Lockert, Mrs. Julia Martin, and Mrs. Briggs. Eleven Shelves were ordered and 1,200 books were readied to begin the library. Other items up for discussion were salary and hiring of the new librarian. The first library board meeting was held on September 12, 1967, with all members present. Applicants for the new librarian position were discussed and by the evening’s end, Jackie Strunk of Ashland City was hired at a salary of $250 per month. The library’s hours of operation were also set at that meeting, which were 8:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, except on Wednesdays when the library was closed. Cheatham County Public Library opened its doors for the first time on October 7, 1967, in a single room on the second floor of the Cheatham County Courthouse. The room had eight shelves of books, and the first patron to check out a book was named “Parker Cashdollar”, and he checked out a book entitled “How the Millionaires Made Their Money” (yep, true name, true story)! In its first year, the library circulated 4,616 books. Library books were supplied by the Warioto Regional Library Center, and six bookmobile stations were set up in the county in the locations of Allen Brothers store at Cheap Hill, Nicholson’s Store at Pleasant View, Perry’s Store at Mt. Zion, Bank of Pegram at Pegram, Bank of Kingston Springs at Kingston Springs, and Herbert Dozier’s Store at Greenbrier. An average of 60 books was left at the stations on each visit. Cheatham County Courthouse - Where the first Cheatham County Public Library was housed
In 1971, the Cheatham County Public Library relocated to a house on Elizabeth Street in Ashland City, with a five year lease from the Board of Education Office. The location was then known as “the Grey Palace.” Jackie Strunk’s tenure of thirteen years as the first librarian ended at that location. Jean Hill followed as librarian for a period of one year, after which time Glenda Jacoway became librarian in 1981. In that year, the Cheatham County Commission approved $57,750 to purchase a new building for the library and in December, it moved to 610 North Main Street in Ashland City, to a building previously owned by L. J. Matlock. The library had grown substantially during this time and held a high rate of circulation (3,350 books) which was a great number considering the county’s small size. Ruth Proctor and Janice Pate were hired during this period and remained the core support staff for Mrs. Jacoway for many years. During the time at the Main Street location, Director Jacoway created and implemented many innovative library programs, and the Cheatham County Public Library Continued to grow. Second Location of Cheatham County Public Library - Elizabeth Street, Ashland City
Third Location of Cheatham County Public Library - Main Street, Ashland City
In the late 1990's, The Ruse Tucker family sold their home-site located at 272 Frey Street in Ashland City to the county in the hopes that the county would someday do something “good” with the land. As the Cheatham County Public Library continued to grow beyond the capacity it could hold at the Main Street location (now affectionately known as “Jacoway’s Hideaway”), that “hope” for something “good” became a reality, and on September 10, 2001, ground was broken for the county’s new 10,000 square-foot Cheatham County Public Library at the old Tucker home-site on Frey Street (now known as 188 County Services Drive). The new building was financed by Cheatham County, constructed by KayDon Construction, designed by John Werne III, architect, and furnished by the Friends of the Library. Opening day at the new Cheatham County Public Library took place on May 6, 2002, with open house ceremonies on May 30, 2002. Many residents of the community, board members and supporters, as well as state officials, including Secretary of State Riley C. Darnell, and State Librarian and Archivist Dr. Ed Gleaves, attended the ceremonies.
Cheatham County Public Library today - County Services Drive, Ashland City
Director Jacoway brought many programs already in place at the prior location with her to the new facility. These included Story Time, which was led by Dinise Ohlman until May of 2000, and then by Children’s Librarian Susan Scholma. Summer Hour, created to provide summertime structure to elementary school aged children, which evolved into the Tennessee State Summer Reading Program, and includes professional guest performers, games, activities and reading logs to keep track of how many books the children have read and to determine the top readers for awards and prizes. The Friends of the Library support the library by paying talent fees for the performers and purchasing other materials for the program. Director Jacoway also created a book club for adults in the community called “Book Worms”, which still meets the first Tuesday of every month at the library. In July of 2006, Glenda Jacoway retired after 26 years of service to the library. Director Jacoway’s passion for and devotion to the Cheatham County Public Library has brought it to the wonderful, historical, and resourceful facility it is today. With the recent increase in technological needs in the community, our library has become the local “nerve center of resources”. We have a total of 18 public computers, 7 staff computers (including 3 for the circulation desk), and 3 AWE Early Literacy Stations in the Children’s Section of the library. With all of the new technologies and rapid changes that are trending most recently, there are still constant reminders throughout the building of our library’s amazing history. A very beautiful painting of the old Ruse Tucker home-place hangs above the library’s fireplace mantle to this very day, and if you look over at the “Story Time Cabin” in the children’s section, you will see that it was built from the wood that was formerly the “Tucker Barn”, and it just so happens to point directly toward the site where the barn once stood, surrounded by a grove of majestic trees in the library’s front lawn. There are many more…please come visit us some time and see if you can find the “clues”! And our story continues as we create and live the next chapter…