Maynardville Public Library

Education and Imagination... It All Starts Here

Holding true to the belief of freedom in reading, learning, imagining, discovering and creating, the Maynardville Public Library has three events on the fall calendar that students do not need to miss.
Providing an opportunity for independent education for our community since 1959, the Maynardville Public Library is continuing that through library card month which is currently taking place.

Maynardville Public Library Summer Reading Programs

SLOTH reading buddy

You may recall the story we published in March 2020 introducing the SLOTH reading program, encouraging children to Slow down, Learn, Overcome obstacles, Think, and be Happy. No doubt you also recall the rapid closings that year due to the Coronavirus. Although the SLOTH launch didn’t go exactly as planned, the program has moved forward. Kids are picking up their SLOTH reading buddies at the library and turning in their participation reports to earn prizes.

Maynardville Public Library - If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!

Like what you see at the library? For a fabulous paint job for your workplace, church, or home; contact Tina Dyer at 865-256-7764

I dropped by Maynardville Public Library to see what is going on and man is there a lot! In addition to their amazing way of seeing us through the pandemic with their interactive website, which offers online reading and something for everyone, library staff members have been busy refreshing and revitalizing the building inside and out, as we all look forward to getting out and once again enjoying public spaces together.

Imagination Library Mails Millionth Book

Union County children celebrating at the Imagination Library One Millionth Book Party at Maynardville Public Library. Left bench, Scarlett and Clara Hughes, Leyton Campbell; Right bench, Nettie Mike and Payson Miller

Each month, nearly eight hundred books are mailed out to children across Union County through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation. Maynardville Public Library hosts as the headquarters of the foundation here in Union County, investing their time and efforts in assuring that the hundreds of children in the county that have signed up for the free program are receiving their reading materials each and every month.

A Universe of Stories

Maynardville Public Library Director Chantay Collins and Assistant Mandi Suddath

Maynardville Public Library has kicked off their Annual Summer Reading Program, A Universe of Stories. Reading is made fun with creative ways to earn prizes, rewards, and many perks of online programs. All ages are invited to join in on the program, youth and adult.

Libraries Rock with Summer Reading

A young Summer Reader feeds a tortoise at the Healthy Kids Day kickoff at Maynardville Public Library.

It's that time of year again.

Time for Union County's libraries to welcome that onslaught of kids, fun, laughs, and excitement known as Summer Reading. Both Luttrell and Maynardville libraries will host Summer Reading this year, with opportunities for prizes, food and great programs at each.

Work Underway for Sharps Chapel Book Station Grand Re-opening

Sharps Chapel Book Station attendant Sherry Medina meets with Maynardville Public Library director Chantay Collins for a workshop on new library technology.

In just a little more than a month, years of volunteer work and planning will bear fruit as the Sharps Chapel Book Station opens in its new location, the restored Historic Oak Grove School at 412 Oak Grove Road, Sharps Chapel. The school has been painstakingly restored by Preservation Union County volunteers. The book station will move into half the space, with the remaining space available for event rental through the Union County Mayor's Office.

Thunder Road Author Rally

The 5th annual Thunder Road Author Rally on September 9th at Maynardville Public Library was a success. With 36 authors in attendance, some even from out of state, you can imagine the atmosphere that arose at having so many amazing story tellers of so many different genres under the same roof. The authors signed books, took pictures, shook hands, and had a good time getting to know some of the people that make up the heart and soul of Union County.

Thunder Road Author Rally Revs Engines for Sept. 9

A favorite event is cruising back to Maynardville Public Library Saturday, Sept. 9. The fifth Thunder Road Author Rally will run 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. The event is free to the public and to authors wishing to set up booths.

Maynardville Library Director Chantay Collins said the rally has been a huge success and has filled a need. It started when library employee Jessica Raley joined Knoxville Writers Guild. Around the same time, Chantay and Raley went to an independent author event in Knoxville.

Kids "Build a Better World" at Summer Reading

Kids build with Legos at Maynardville Public Library's Summer Reading.

It was the year 2000 when Chantay Collins first held Summer Reading at Maynardville Public Library. The program, aimed and keeping kids reading during the summer months, started with just 20 kids. This year, participants will top 300, and those kids have clocked more than 10,000 hours of reading so far.

“It’s just snowballed,” said Collins, who is the director of Maynardville Public Library. “We went from having it in the library to next door in the Senior Center because we have so many kids.”