06/05/2026
As many of you know, the Town Council meeting was last night, and concerns were raised by the Historical Society regarding the library's use of one of the three upstairs rooms in the train depot, commonly known as the "third room."
For those who may not be familiar with the space, the third room is the room with the large picture window. It contains train-related displays, local history items, information about the sisters who were murdered, and memorabilia related to Oliver Springs schools and football. My understanding is that this room was originally intended to be used by the library and was not considered part of the museum exhibit space.
Recently, I reorganized the library to better accommodate community events. Because our library space is limited, I previously had to move five bookshelves every time I hosted an event just to make room for tables and seating. After carefully rearranging the library, I reduced that number to two shelves, making it much easier to host programs for the public.
As part of that reorganization, I moved one bookshelf upstairs into the third room. The shelf contains Tennessee history books and train-related books. Since the upstairs area functions as a museum focused on local and Tennessee history, I felt those materials were appropriate for that location. I did not move, remove, or alter any Historical Society displays or items. There was an unused space that fit the bookshelf perfectly, and I believed it was a practical way to better utilize the room while also improving library operations.
I was surprised to learn that this decision caused concern. My intention was never to disrespect the Historical Society or interfere with the museum. My goal was simply to make the library more functional for patrons while placing history-related books in a location where they complemented the existing exhibits.
I admit that after the meeting, I wished I had spoken more fully to explain my reasoning. I care deeply about our library, our local history, and our community, and I never want anyone to feel that their contributions are not valued.
I hope we can continue to have open conversations and work together to find solutions that benefit both the library and the Historical Society. We all share the same goal: preserving our history while providing the best possible resources and services to our community.
