Our Impact
More than brick and mortar
Blount County Public Library is a legacy spanning more than 100 years. We're here to ensure it lasts another hundred.
By the numbers
What it takes to build a legacy
From a single donated room in 1919 to a regional hub for learning and gathering.
Foundation giving goes directly into collections, technology, and community spaces.
Timeline
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1919
The first public library in Blount County opens on October 24, in a rented room on Broadway, just east of Cusick Street, in Maryville.
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1931
The library moves to the A.K. Harper Memorial Library building, where Dandy Lions Gifts is today.
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1981
In response to community growth, a new library building opens on McGhee Street, dedicated by Gov. Lamar Alexander on January 26.
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1997
The Foundation for the Blount County Public Library is founded to raise funds for the current library building. Founding board members included Marty Black, Joy Bishop, Tom Taylor, Ed Harmon, and many more.
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2002
On May 22, the current library building opens in Alcoa on North Cusick Street, housing 419,000 books in a 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility.
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2016
The Foundation sponsors conversion of a former bank building adjacent to the library into the Learning Lab, created for community education, Recovery Court life skills classes, and Summer Reading programming.
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2020
The Foundation funds several technology improvements, including LED lighting retrofit, cutting-edge security cameras, and virtual meeting upgrades in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2023
A generous gift from Mr. Ed Harmon enables upgrades to the library's children's area, including discovery areas for various stages of child development.
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2024
The Teen Room opens, funded by a generous gift from Mr. Stephen J. Kelly in memory of Mrs. Eileen Mary Kelly, creating a space for teens separate from the children's area.
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2025
'The Bookie Monster' automated book return and new RFID circulation system is fully implemented at the library thanks to investment by the Foundation, saving staff hours and making book return more convenient for the public.
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2025
Returns, reinvested
The library launches its centennial-plus campaign, directing every efficiency gained back into collections and youth programming.
Signature Project Spotlight
Returns, Reinvented
Blount County Public Library has some of the highest circulation numbers in Tennessee, which is a good problem to have. Every day, hundreds of books, movies, and audiobooks come back through the doors, all needing to find their way home.
The Foundation funded a new automated book sorter, lovingly named 'The Bookie Monster,' along with the RFID technology required to run it. Patrons can now return items any time and get a receipt confirming the drop-off. Library staff, once buried in hours of manual sorting, can spend that time helping patrons and running programs instead. The project was completed in May 2025.
Are you a library champion?
Your gift uplifts the whole community. Find out how you can help.