Floor Plan
Our front doors located on Cherry Street are open. Patrons who require handicap access may enter the library using the back door located behind the book drop. Our doors on Rankin Avenue are not open at this time.
The second floor is currently closed to patrons except on Wednesdays for using the Genealogy Room from 9am to 11am CT.
Non-discrimination Policy
The Sequatchie County Public Library will serve all residents and property owners who live or work in Sequatchie County and/or bordering counties. Use of the library will not be denied or abridged because of religion, race, politics, economic status, sexual orientation, gender, and/or physical ability.
Our library is a welcoming space for everyone. We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where all community members can learn, explore, and grow together. Your library is here for you! The complete text of our Non-Discrimination Policy is included in our Operating Policies. A copy is available for viewing at the library upon request.
MAKING HISTORY
2025 – A Record Summer, New Resources, and Expanded Community Programs
Throughout 2025, the Sequatchie County Public Library continued to expand its role as a center for learning, creativity, and community connection. At the close of the year, the library received a free annual family pass from the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, allowing admission for two adults and up to five children to both the River Journey and Ocean Journey buildings. This addition further strengthened the library’s growing collection of attraction passes available to patrons at no cost.
The 2025 Summer Reading Program became the largest in the library’s history, with 3,961 participants supported by generous local sponsors and the launch of the Dolly Dollars Store, a new reading incentive that allowed children to earn and spend rewards for their reading achievements. The library hosted a wide variety of special events, including STEAM Night with hands-on activities such as erupting volcanoes and exploding pumpkins, and LEGO Nights featuring themed building challenges like Build a Turkey and Gingerbread House challenges.
The library also welcomed several authors for book signings and community conversations, including Xylina Cassandra (Auntie, What’s Alzheimer’s?), Carla Runner (I Survived Property Management—Well, Sorta), Natalie Kimbell (And the Weather Remains the Same), and Ashley L. Hall (The Hall Monitor). Through partnerships with statewide organizations, the library hosted visits from the Tennessee Justice Bus, providing free civil legal assistance, and American Job Centers, which offered resume help, interview preparation, and job-search support.
Several grant-funded projects enhanced services for all ages. An Arts Build Communities Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, with assistance from the Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD), supported a 14-class creative series titled Arts for Everyone, which included quilting, painting, drawing, and other hands-on art experiences. The Thinking Money for Kids grant from the American Library Association and FINRA allowed the library to introduce financial literacy games and add six Playaway Launchpad tablets to the collection—preloaded with educational content and designed for children from preschool through third grade, with no Wi-Fi required.
In 2025, the library also launched its Library of Things, allowing patrons to borrow items such as sewing machines, canning kits, vacuum sealers, and tools for up to one month at a time. Together, these efforts reflect a year of steady growth, expanded access, and community-centered service at the Sequatchie County Public Library.
2025 – Honoring Miss Betty and the Friends of the Library 25th Anniversary
On Friday, December 5, 2025, the Sequatchie County Friends of the Library celebrated 25 years of service to our community and to the Sequatchie County Public Library. The celebration was marked with a beautifully organized Open House, thoughtfully presented by the talented and dedicated members of the Friends.
Throughout the library, guests enjoyed displays highlighting the many contributions the Friends make each year—from fundraising efforts to program support and community engagement initiatives. A special highlight of the event was the first public unveiling of a portrait of our beloved former Library Director, Ms. Betty Worley.
More than 100 community members attended the celebration, reflecting the deep appreciation and support for both the Friends and the library’s history.
Also featured was Miss Betty’s Christmas Decorations Collection, generously donated by her brother, Jimmy Worley, so that her joyful spirit could continue to brighten the library during the holiday season.
The event was a warm and meaningful tribute to the Friends’ legacy and to the lasting impact of Ms. Betty Worley on our library and community.
2025 – Attraction Passes, New DVD Racks, Teen Room, and More
In 2025, the library made exciting additions and improvements to better serve our community. We continued offering free attraction passes to the Chattanooga Zoo and the Creative Discovery Museum—and expanded our collection with an additional pass for each, making it easier for more families to visit. We also added new passes for the Hunter Museum of American Art and the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, including two passes for the railroad museum. These passes give patrons the opportunity to enjoy some of our area’s most beloved attractions at no cost, with one checkout allowed per family each year. Thanks to the support of our Friends group, we received new spinning racks to help organize and display our growing DVD and audiobook collections. We also relocated our Teen Room to a cozier, more functional space connected to the conference room, providing teens with a more spacious and inviting area to gather and create. Additionally, the Friends generously purchased more furniture to enhance the space for all visitors.
Our Director, Robin Burgin, completed her Public Library Management Institute training through the State of Tennessee and is now a Certified Tennessee Public Library Manager. Her certification was presented to her by the Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargis and James Ritter – the Tennessee State Librarian and Archivist. She was also voted 2025 Woman of the Year by the Dunlap Chapter of the ABWA – American Business Women’s Association.
We also got a new Logo this year!
2024 – 65th Anniversary & Time Capsule, Family Room Renovation, Thrive Tribe, STEAM Nights, and More!
In 2024, our Summer Reading Program attendance reached just under 2,000 people! The Sequatchie County Public Library celebrated its 65th anniversary on September 20th by creating a Time Capsule to commemorate more than 65 years of service to our community. Our Family Room received an upgrade during the fall; we created a dedicated space for teens, with furnishings provided by the Friends of the Library. We also launched a new teen program called Thrive Tribe. Additionally, we were fortunate to receive several generous grants to support various initiatives. The Thinking Money for Kids grant from ALA and FINRA provided us with financial education materials for children, as well as programming training and support, along with 6 children’s offline tablets, known as Launchpads, which include financial education games – which became available for checkout in early November. The Rural Technology Fund awarded us a grant to purchase STEM kits for older kids, which will be utilized during our new monthly STEAM Nights starting in October 2024. Furthermore, we were awarded a significant Arts Build Communities Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission, allowing us to offer 18 free art classes open to the public for all skill levels between October 2024 and June 2025, with administrative support from the Southeast Tennessee Development District.
2024 – Saying Goodbye to Ms. Betty Worley
In Loving Memory of Betty Worley
Our beloved librarian, Betty Worley, passed away on November 4, 2024. Betty took on the role of Librarian on April 4, 1962, and dedicated nearly 60 years of her life to serving Sequatchie County and enriching the Dunlap community.
Under her guidance, the library blossomed into a vibrant resource, expanding to encompass the entire Dunlap Community Building and growing to house around 25,000 books by the time she retired. Betty was a pioneer in bringing the library into the modern age, transitioning from traditional card catalogs to computers, and ensuring that our collection included everything from books on tape and VHS to ebooks, online audiobooks, and DVDs.
Her passion for literature and learning helped countless children develop a lifelong love of reading, and she earned the deep affection and respect of all who knew her. “Miss Betty” was not just a librarian; she was a mentor, a friend, and a guiding light in our community.
As we remember Betty, let us celebrate her incredible legacy and the profound impact she had on generations of readers. We invite everyone to share their memories and stories of how Betty touched their lives and memories of her in the comments below. Her spirit will forever live on in the pages of the books she cherished and in the hearts of those she inspired.
Rest in peace, dear Betty. You will be deeply missed. 
2024 – Making the News
See the video on their site: https://newschannel9.com/the-daily-refresh/sequatchie-county-public-library-offers-more-than-just-books
2023 – Summer Reading Program Expanded to Include Teens & Adults
In 2023, we expanded the reach of our Summer Reading Program to include programs for Teens and incentives for Adults. Our kickoff was the biggest yet with more than 300 people stopping by the library for fun, games, and signing up.
2022 – New Director Creates Family Room
In 2021, Ms. Betty Worley announced her plans to retire. Robin Burgin became the Director of the Sequatchie County Public Library in February, 2022. Ms. Worley served as a consultant to assist with the transition until April 2022.
In 2022, our Computer Lab moved to our Media Room and the Overton Conference Room became our Family Room. The Friends of the Library provided a child-sized table and chairs for the use of our smallest patrons. This room now hosts our children’s programs. We also received a Technology Grant from the State of Tennessee allowing us to purchase new public and staff computers.
Also in May 2022, Farley’s Ace Hardware and the Master Gardeners from the UT Extension-Sequatchie County donated gorgeous flowers, plants, and planters. They also continue to generously give their time to care for and maintain the plants around the exterior of the library.
1994 – Building Added to the National Register of Historic Places
In 1994 the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
1992 – Renovation & Renaming
In 1992 the Dunlap Community Building underwent a timely renovation. It was renamed the Frank S. Barker Community Center.
1962 – New Librarian
On April 4, 1962, Wanda Long retired and Betty Worley took over as the new Librarian. She served Sequatchie County faithfully as its Librarian for nearly the next 60 years. During her tenure, the library grew to encompass the entire Dunlap Community Building with around 25,000 books when she retired. She also kept the library up to date in terms of technology – transitioning from physical card catalogs to catalog computers and now to an online catalog database. The library’s collection grew to include books on tape and VHS movies; and – when those grew outdated – ebooks, online audiobooks, and DVDs.
1959 – Sequatchie County Public Library Opens
On September 20, 1959 the Sequatchie County Public Library opened. It filled only one room of the Dunlap Community Building with 1,000 books under its first Librarian – Wanda Long (1936-2016).
Other rooms in the building were for human services personnel, the forestry office, the Federal Housing Administration, a doctor, a dentist, and others.²
The Dunlap Police Department used the building as the town night watch-man’s office during the 1950s. During the cold war, a Civil Defense air raid shelter was built nearby.³
Image from the Carson Camp Historic Photo Collection provided by the Dunlap Coke Ovens Coal Mining Museum and Park
²Sisk-Casson. (2012, March 16). Sequatchie County Librarian Celebrates 50 Years of Service. Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/news/story/2012/mar/06/county-sequatchie-librarian-celebrates-50-years-of/72325/
³ Facebook, January 15, 2026. Dunlap Coke Ovens Coal Mining Museum and Park. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0Mkm2ysevhy3gExH6CWwoECo36s8pQtpPa3x5Np2xvSPhBhh2neMi8zP4sHMizLu2l&id=100069210195435.
1939-1940 – Construction of the Dunlap Community Building
Image from the Carson Camp Historic Photo Collection provided by the Dunlap Coke Ovens Coal Mining Museum and Park
The Dunlap Community Building was built in 1939 and finished early 1940 by the National Youth Administration (NYA). The NYA was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) as part of the New Deal sponsored by Franklin D. Roosevelt during his presidency. It focused on providing work and education for Americans between the ages of 16 and 25. Architects include: Horace Reynolds, Jack Lockhart, Hershel Brock, and Grover Elliot.⁴
⁴ Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation. (1994, May 5). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. National Park Service. Retrieved March 7, 2022, from https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/d33912d2-213e-4c09-a3fa-e045fda54da9
⁵ Federal Works Agency, Works Projects Administration, Office of the Commissioner, Project Application Reference Cards, Record Group 69, Reel 65, page 698, NAID 232261494, National Archives. from https://catalog.archives.gov/id/232261494?objectPage=698
The Future?
We’ve got big plans for next year!
Want to help? Join the Friends of the Library to be involved and help us provide fun, engaging programs and more!
Check out membership details and dues on our Friends page.