Meet the Staff - Kim Henderson

Meet Kim Henderson. She is the Technical Services Assistant with the Buffalo River Regional Library.

How long have you worked here?

I’ve worked for the Regional Library since 1978. In December 2018, during the Service Awards Ceremony, I was recognized as the longest serving active employee of the Regional Library System. I began my career as a bookmobile/library clerk working on the bookmobile and as a book processor (on manual typewriters). I then moved into a full-time book processor position working with the first computer, gradually adding part-time cataloger to the mix, then full-time cataloger and processor. I finally moved into my present role as Technical Services Assistant.

What are some of the things you do as a Technical Services Assistant?

As Technical Services Assistant I do many jobs. I notify libraries of their yearly State and Federal allocated funds; track spending and number of items purchased; provide lists of approved vendors and specific instructions for each vendor; electronically place orders and reconcile packing slips/invoices for payment; and provide MARC records/cataloging for items not found in the state database.

I also provide one-on-one training to the librarians and library staff for Acquisitions or cataloging, both in person and by telephone. I am also a liaison between libraries and vendor reps.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of the job is the satisfaction of being an integral part of providing materials to public libraries. I’ve loved to read all my life. My mom told me that I would “read” my books to anyone who would listen since I was three – no I couldn’t actually read, but I had been read the books many times and was able to recite them, word-for-word. Reading is one of my favorite pastimes today.

Do you have a favorite collection?

Large print materials and e-books are my go-to now as I am getting older. The larger font, both in a hand-held book and on an electronic device, makes reading more comfortable and enjoyable. I read a wide variety of materials so I really don’t have a favorite genre, but if I had to pick just one it would be Christian Fiction.

What makes libraries and archives relevant to modern society?

Tennessee is rich in history and much of that history is available through libraries and archives. Libraries and archives are a vital link to information for ALL people, regardless of age, race, religion, politics, or economic status. Archivists diligently preserve and catalog our past, and in a hundred years or so from now, they will still be preserving and cataloging our present day-to-day lives for future generations, too.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett

Meet the Staff - Debra Mattingly

Meet Debra Mattlingly. She is the Assistant Director with the Clinch River Regional Library.

How long have you worked here?

I’ve worked for the Clinch River Regional Library since January 2016. In the previous 37 years, I worked in business, academic and public libraries in Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, Colorado, Tennessee, Maryland and Florida. I love all types of libraries. I also really love Tennessee, so we returned when we had the chance 3.5 years ago.

What are some of the things you do as an Assistant Director? 

As an Assistant Director of one of the 9 regional libraries across the state, I think of my job as a librarian to librarians. I work with 33 libraries in 9 counties, primarily providing support and training to the staff in these libraries. I attend board meetings, prepare and present training, and encourage libraries to continue to improve their good work in their communities. I work on reports that libraries can use to advocate for more funds from their local funding bodies or that provide more ideas for them to use in their communities. I miss the day to day interaction with the general public from my previous positions, but I love what I am doing now.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Meeting and working with all the wonderful people in Tennessee libraries is the favorite part of my job. The library staffs in our 33 libraries and the other assistant directors across the state are fabulous colleagues with whom to work and from whom I am continually learning.

Do you have a favorite collection?

My favorite collection at the Library and Archives is the Library for Accessible Books and Media. What’s not to like in a free library program of recorded, large print, and braille materials that is available to all ages of residents of Tennessee who are not able to use standard print materials due to visual or physical disabilities? I encourage all of our libraries to become familiar with their services and share with their communities. I especially like the quarterly Adult Book Club and the children’s programs offered to eligible participants. Children are mailed the craft materials in advance so everyone can participate in a story and craft, no matter where they live in Tennessee.

What makes libraries and archives relevant to modern society?

Libraries and archives are one of the few places in our society which serves ALL ages, races, creeds, religions, political affiliation, and economic status. Everyone who abides by our rules and policies are welcome to enjoy free materials, programs, research assistance, internet access, or just a place to BE either alone or with others. Libraries offer materials in many formats to meet the educational and recreational needs to those in their communities, from birth until death.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett

Meet the Staff - Caitlyn Haley

Meet Caitlyn Haley. She is the Assistant Director with the Red River Regional Library.

How long have you worked here?

I have worked for Red River Regional Library since November of 2016. Before that, I was an intern for Public Services at the Library and Archives during the summer of 2015!

What are some of the things you do as an Assistant Director?

As an Assistant Director of a regional library, I work on a lot of interesting projects. I organize and put on training sessions for 14 public libraries and their staff. I work one-on-one with public library directors on topics like affordable internet access, grants, disaster preparedness, and of course, READS and TEL training sessions. I attend board meetings with the regional director. I also get to work with library boards, which is a fun part of the job! I help develop statewide training sessions that the Tennessee State Library and Archives puts on, with my fellow Assistant Directors throughout the state and with the Planning and Development Staff in Nashville.

What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part of my job is learning more and more each day how special public libraries are to Tennesseans. I have the privilege of traveling around my region to visit rural and urban public libraries and seeing the amazing work they do for their local communities. I also get to work with them to make their libraries better in a variety of ways, which is a very gratifying part of my job.

Do you have a favorite collection?

My favorite collection at TSLA is the Women’s Suffrage in Tennessee collection. Tennessee had an incredibly significant role in the national suffrage movement and I love the documents we have at the Library and Archives that document that time period.

What makes libraries and archives relevant to modern society?

Libraries and archives are relevant to modern society because they are the places we turn to when seeking clarity about our present day society. They give us clues, insights, explanations, and context for how we have arrived in today’s world. Libraries and archives are places of trust, knowledge, and growth for all citizens of our modern society.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett

Obion River Regional Library Hosts 2018 Legislative Day

Representatives from nine West Tennessee counties gathered in Martin Feb. 2 to discuss a range of issues affecting the state’s public libraries. The event was organized by the Obion River Regional Library, which is part of the Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Attendees included Sen. Ed Jackson (R-Jackson) as well as many county and city mayors from across the region.

The meeting included a briefing by Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist Chuck Sherrill about the need for the continuation of state dollars for the completion of a new Library and Archives building in Nashville. The modern facility will be co-located with the Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall creating synergies for visitors and school groups.

“I think this was a very productive meeting. Each year, the Tennessee Library Association hosts Library Legislative Day in Nashville while the General Assembly is in session. This year’s event is scheduled for March 14. While Library Legislative Day helps secure important library support from the state, most public library funding comes from counties and cities,” Sherrill said. “Holding events like these in the communities served by our local libraries get to the heart of what makes libraries important anchor institutions. I hope everyone who attended this event took away some useful information.”

The meeting also included a discussion of the importance of providing broadband internet access at libraries and the funding requirements city and county governments must meet in order to keep their libraries in compliance with state standards. The “Return on Investment” for each library was also highlighted as just one means of assessing the impact of public libraries on the communities they serve.

Photo Lineup - 2018 Library Legislative Breakfast

Benton County -- Left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Mary Lou Marks, Benton County Library Board; Alvin Smothers, Benton County Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

Carroll County -- Back row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Jean Alexander, Director, McKenzie Memorial Library; Reggie Lawrence, Obion River Regional Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist. Front row left to right: Beverly Miller, McKenzie Memorial Library; Nikki Cunningham, Director, Carroll County Public Library; Mona Batchelor, Obion River Regional Library Board.

Dyer County -- Left to right: Robert Ell Hurt, Obion River Regional Library Board; Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Sylvia Palmer, Obion River Regional Library Board; Kathryn McBride, Director, McIver’s Grant Public Library; Lee Weakley, President, McIver’s Grant Public Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

 

Gibson County -- Back row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Lindsey Ingram, Director, Gibson County Memorial Library; Dr. Beverly Youree, Obion River Regional Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist. Front row left to right: Kay Pounds, President, Gibson County Memorial Library Board; Missy Blakely, Director, Mildred G. Fields Memorial Library; Alderwoman Tammy Wade, Milan.

Henry County -- Left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Mayor Brent Greer, Paris; Connie McSwain, Director, W.G. Rhea Public Library; Susan Pemberton, Obion River Regional Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

Lake County -- Left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Dr. Robert Shull, Obion River Regional Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Mayor Denny Johnson, Lake County; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

 

Obion County -- Back row left to right: David Searcy, Obion County Public Library Board; Mayor Benny McGuire, Obion County; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

Front row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Ellarine Moses, Obion River Regional Library Board; Carolina Conner, Assistant Director, Obion County Public Library; LeEllen Smith, Obion County Public Library Board; Michele Barnes, Director, Obion County Public Library; Mike Cox, Obion River Regional Library Board.

Weakley County -- Back row left to right: Deena Smith, Director, Sharon Public Library; Joyce Haworth, Sharon Public Library Board; Jerry Swaim, Dr. Nathan Porter Memorial Library Board; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist.

Middle row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library Board; Mary Ellen Harris, Sharon Public Library Board; Faye Kendall, Sharon Public Library Board; Lynn Alexander, C.E. Weldon Public Library Board; Mayor Cindy McAdams, Greenfield; The Honorable Tommy Moore, Obion River Regional Library Board; David McAlpin, Ned R. McWherter Weakley County Public Library Board; Jim Phelps, Gleason Public Library Board.

Front Row left to right: Nancy Hinds, Obion River Regional Library Board; Candy McAdams, Director, Ned R. McWherter Weakley County Public Library Board; Mike Rea, C.E. Weldon Public Library Board; Judy Paschall, Director, Gleason Public Library Board; Mayor Diane Poole, Gleason; Patsy Ezell, Gleason Public Library.

 

Library Directors -- Back row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library; Deena Smith, Sharon Public Library; Candy McAdams, Ned R. McWherter Weakley County Public Library; Lindsey Ingram, Gibson County Memorial Library; Senator Ed Jackson, District 27; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist; Michele Barnes, Obion County Public Library.

Front row left to right: Kathryn McBride, McIver’s Grant Public Library; Jean Alexander, McKenzie Memorial Library; Connie McSwain, W.G. Rhea Public Library; Missy Blakely, Mildred G. Fields Memorial Library; Nikki Cunningham, Carroll County Public Library.

 

Obion River Regional Board -- Back row left to right: Don Farmer, Chairman, Obion River Regional Library; Alvin Smothers, Benton County; Robert Ell Hurt, Dyer County; Reggie Lawrence, Carroll County; Dr. Beverly Youree, Gibson County; Senator Ed Jackson; Chuck Sherrill, Tennessee State Librarian & Archivist; The Honorable Tommy Moore, Weakley County; Dr. Robert Shull, Lake County; Sylvia Palmer, Dyer County; Mike Cox, Obion County.

Front row: Nancy Hinds, Weakley County; Mona Batchelor, Carroll County; Mary Lou Marks, Benton County; Susan Pemberton, Henry County; Ellarine Moses, Obion County; Mary Carpenter, Director, Obion River Regional Library.

The Tennessee State Library and Archives is a division of the Office of Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett