Tennessee Libraries have both challenges and achievements

Libraries in Tennessee face various challenges, but also have reason to celebrate and be hopeful for the future. Lack of money is often a problem, especially as libraries face an ever-increasing demand for better technology. A search of newspaper articles on the state of libraries in Tennessee returned results on a variety of types of libraries (public, academic, electronic), although articles on public libraries were perhaps the most common.
Public libraries have both good and less-good things happening. As is likely the case with libraries across the country, many public libraries in Tennessee have been seeing an increase in need for internet computers (Herrington 2005). Unfortunately, public funding for libraries can not keep up with demand, as Tennessee is not a wealthy state. However, grants have made it possible for some libraries to purchase more computers and provide more internet access (Moore 2007). Public librarians note that patrons require the internet for a variety of tasks, ranging from general information seeking, to applying to jobs, to social networking. In some rural libraries, truckers have been known to get off the highway just to check email at a local library.
While many Tennessee residents would like to spend more time online, they are facing a problem with availability of books. Loftin (1997) informs us that Tennessee has the worst ratio of library books per resident. The statistic is one book for every six residents. Of course, some of this is due to budget constraints. Local government spends about $9 per resident for library service, while the national average is $11. I read this article around the same time I had read the article on stereotyping for class and it made me think about the stereotype of people from the rural south being illiterate. Although I could not find a recent statistic on the literacy rate of those in Tennessee, if it is lower than the national average, this article may help to partly explain this. With less free reading materials available, it could follow that Tennessee residents have had less opportunities to practice reading. However, our stereotypes might make us think that people who are illiterate or have limited literacy are lazy or stupid, when in fact they may just have had less money to spend on reading materials. Taking it a step further, we might consider that they may have had less time and energy to spend on reading, if they are working long hours at a grueling, minimum wage job.
The electronic library may be hard to define, in Tennessee it may be best described as a cross between an academic and a public library. Tennessee created a statewide electronic library in 1999, but its funding does get called in to question from time-to-time (Lusk 2000). Since Tennessee has so many rural libraries, an electronic library is an invaluable resource- it would be impossible for the individuals libraries to purchase the material and databases themselves. Any Tennessee resident may use the electronic library from home, work or anywhere else with internet- they just need to obtain the password from a local public or academic library.
Academic libraries were featured in several newspaper articles. Students at the University of Tennessee Chattanooga can access the online catalog from anywhere in the world, thanks to an upgrade in 2001. The new software also allows them to electronically save search results and bibliographic information. The software was paid for by extra student fees. Additional software upgrades, in the northeastern part of the state helped two universities and one public library system be better connected and share more materials through increased interlibrary loan capacity. Both the college libraries, Northeast State Community College Library and East Tennessee State University, have newly built physical libraries which feature state-of-the-art technology as well as more access to computers, internet and a large collection of materials, both online and on-site (M-2 Presswire).
Overall the state of libraries in Tennessee is looking up. Lack of funding available from local governments is being combated by grants and other donations (Moore 2007). Although Tennesse’s literacy rate may not be the best, many foundations exist to improve this, and money is being funneled in to the libraries for programming and collections. New libraries have been built, the state’s electronic library has been kept up well and is still being funded, and access to the internet and other technology continues to be a priority. It would be a good sign if more state (as opposed to city/county) government money was being spent on libraries, as this would show a more systematic commitment to improving literacy and access to the libraries, but hopefully librarians and other concerned citizens will continue to lobby their representatives and fund-raise in the meantime.




References

Herrington, A. (2005, July 4). Libraries caught in Web demand. Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.

Loftin, M. (1997, July 17). Embarrassing rank for Tennessee. The Chattanooga Times. Retrieved from LexisNexis.

Lusk, K. (2000, Oct. 17). Tennessee Electronic Library gives access to free databases. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.

Moore, R. (2007, Nov. 29). Bulk of library funds local. The Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved from LexisNexis.

Shimshock, G. (2006, Sept. 6). Innovative Interfaces. M-2 Presswire. Retrieved from LexisNexis.