Posted July 23, 2004.

Dickson County Library Gets More Funding, Keeps Its Books

After over a year of threats, lawsuits, and spirited disagreements, county commissioners voted 9–3 July 19 to restore $20,324 to the Dickson County (Tenn.) Public Library budget for two years to ensure that books and services funded by the state remain intact. The funds, slated for each of the 2003–2004 and 2004–2005 fiscal years, will come from the general fund balance and allow the county to satisfy the terms of its 23-year-old maintenance of effort (MOE) contract with the state, the July 21 Dickson Herald reported.

The breakthrough took place following the state’s July 14 decision to reduce the county’s annual obligation nearly in half—from $40,571 to $20,324—by deducting the cost of a book security system from the MOE.

“I’m excited,” said Commissioner David England, who has voted each time to restore the funding. “I wish we could have avoided this yearlong question mark hanging over our county, but I’m tickled that everybody for whatever reason decided to get together.”

State Librarian Edwin Gleaves, who last July had threatened to repossess one-quarter of DCPL’s collection if the library was not funded adequately, told the Herald, “I’ve had several people call to say the whole state is watching Dickson County. This will send a signal that we are serious about enforcing the MOE.” He added that while other libraries in the state have encountered similar situations, all restored the necessary funding when the issues were examined thoroughly.

Posted July 23, 2004.