Putnam County Library, Cookeville TN

Founded in 1939, the Putnam County Library System consists of the Main Library in Cookeville, with branches in Baxter, Algood and Monterey, TN.

The primary role of the Putnam County Library System is to serve as a popular materials center. The library seeks to build a collection of popular items in a variety of formats, with adequate duplication of high-demand titles.

The library system's mission is to provide free services to all residents. Library materials reflect a broad diversity of format and opinion, assuring that individuals may select freely from a wide variety of items. Patron requests and records are kept confidential under state law.

Putnam County Library Buildings from 1923 - Present

"Miss Laura's Rose Cottage" Book Lovers Club Library
Madison Street (no longer standing) 1923 - 1939
Clara Cox Epperson Library
66 N. Dixie (no longer standing) 1943 -1951

Clara Cox Epperson Library
442 E. Spring Street 1951 - 1973
(former city hospital, then county school offices)
Putnam County Main Library
50 E. Broad Street 1973 - Present

History of Putnam County Library

Without access to books, education was inevitably limited. Fortunately, the 1920's brought about the beginnings of libraries in Putnam County.

The Cookeville Book Lovers Club began a library which eventually evolved into the Putnam County Library. In November of 1923 Clara Cox Epperson suggested that the twelve regular members of the Book Lovers Club contribute $1.15 each to purchase books. The club voted to use these as the nucleus for a circulating library. Members checked out books from the home of Laura Copeland, (known as "Rose Cottage"), to borrowers at a cost to adults of one dollar a year.

The Book Lovers Club raised money to buy more books by sponsoring talent shows, lectures, and movies; hosting tea and bridge parties; selling books; and soliciting donations. By 1929 the library had more than a thousand volumes.

Once the collection numbered over three thousand volumes, James Cox provided room for the library in the Herald building on the square. The Book Lovers Club renamed the library for Clara Cox Epperson, who had died in 1937. In 1939 the Book Lovers Club consolidated their library with that of the Putnam County Board of Education to form the county's first publicly financed library.

- Excerpt from the book Putnam County, Tennessee, 1850-1970

Putnam County Library Board of Trustees
Name	Term Expires
Sue Pogue, Chairperson	June 2013
Greg Rector, Vice Chairperson	June 2012
Larry Garrett, Secretary/Treasurer	June 2012
Beth Thompson	June 2014
Dr. Gerald Barker	June 2013
Ruth Ann Woolbright	June 2014
Alma Anderson	June 2012
Regional Library Representatives
Marla Williams	June 2013
Patricia Lawrence	June 2014

Library Board Minutes
April 13, 2010	May 11, 2010	June 8, 2010	July 13, 2010
August 17, 2010	September 14, 2010	September 30, 2010	October 12, 2010
November 9, 2010	January 18, 2011	February 8, 2011	March 8, 2011
April 12, 2011	May 11, 2011	July 12, 2011	August 9, 2011
September 13, 2011	October 11, 2011	November 11, 2011	January 10, 2012
February 14, 2012	March 12, 2012	April 10, 2012

Putnam County Library Buildings from 1923 - Present
"Miss Laura's Rose Cottage" Book Lovers Club Library Madison Street (no longer standing) 1923 - 1939			Clara Cox Epperson Library 66 N. Dixie (no longer standing) 1943 -1951
Clara Cox Epperson Library 442 E. Spring Street 1951 - 1973 (former city hospital, then county school offices)			Putnam County Main Library 50 E. Broad Street 1973 - Present
History of Putnam County Library Without access to books, education was inevitably limited. Fortunately, the 1920's brought about the beginnings of libraries in Putnam County. The Cookeville Book Lovers Club began a library which eventually evolved into the Putnam County Library. In November of 1923 Clara Cox Epperson suggested that the twelve regular members of the Book Lovers Club contribute $1.15 each to purchase books. The club voted to use these as the nucleus for a circulating library. Members checked out books from the home of Laura Copeland, (known as "Rose Cottage"), to borrowers at a cost to adults of one dollar a year. The Book Lovers Club raised money to buy more books by sponsoring talent shows, lectures, and movies; hosting tea and bridge parties; selling books; and soliciting donations. By 1929 the library had more than a thousand volumes. Once the collection numbered over three thousand volumes, James Cox provided room for the library in the Herald building on the square. The Book Lovers Club renamed the library for Clara Cox Epperson, who had died in 1937. In 1939 the Book Lovers Club consolidated their library with that of the Putnam County Board of Education to form the county's first publicly financed library. - Excerpt from the book Putnam County, Tennessee, 1850-1970