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Regional Libraries

Regional Libraries Map

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 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.