JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
During the August city meeting in Whitwell, a vote for Orena Humphreys Public Library to remain in the Marion County Library Board was made by the Board of Mayor & Commissioners.
Under “old business” during the meeting, members of the board discussed whether to allow Whitwell’s public library to split from the Library Board and become municipal, or to remain with the countywide entity. Vice Mayor Mike Dillon remarked on Jasper’s decision to pull the Carolyn Stewart Library from the board, adding that if both Orena Humphreys as well as South Pittsburg’s Beene Pearson Library remain with the board, then the Library Board would still consist of members from both the northern and southern ends of the county. He also noted if South Pittsburg’s library was to pull out from the board, then all allocated funds saved through the board for Beene Pearson could go directly towards the Orena Humphreys Library, adding additional funding for the facility.
“If we stay in it and South Pittsburg goes out, that means we can use those funds for our library,” said Dillon.
It was also mentioned how not only would the library receive funds from the county and Library Board, but the city also wouldn’t need to establish an entirely independent library board of its own to govern the Orena Humphreys Library.
It was ultimately voted on by all attending council members that the library will remain with the Marion County Library Board, allowing for Whitwell’s public library to remain under its supervision.