Current Library Board

Our Board of Trustees oversees the strategic direction, financial health, and policies of the public library to ensure it remains a vital community resource. Working under Tennessee state law, the board focuses on long-term governance and funding while the library director manages daily operations. Meetings are open to the public and held every two months on the second Monday. Agendas are available at the library the week before each meeting.

Current Staff

Director – Robin Burgin
Assistant Director – Laura Woody
Clerk Coordinator – Natalie Tipton
Part-time Clerk – Linda Powell
Part-time Clerk – Michelle Farmer

Our small but dedicated library staff works tirelessly to keep daily operations running smoothly and to serve our community every day. From helping you find that one book to managing our collections and hosting engaging programs, our team is committed to providing friendly, resourceful assistance to every visitor. While our Board of Trustees focuses on long-term governance, our effective staff is on the ground ensuring the library remains a helpful, welcoming, and vibrant space for everyone

Library History

2026 – A New Storybook Trail in Sequatchie County!🌿

In August 2026, the Sequatchie County Public Library and the Sequatchie County Friends of the Library helped bring Sequatchie County’s first Storybook Trail to life at the Coop’s Creek Greenway Trailhead on Pine Street! 🌳📖

The trail gives families a chance to read, explore, and play outdoors, with a story displayed one page at a time along the walking trail. The first featured book was Llama Llama Loves to Read by Anna Dewdney. 🦙❤️

The Storybook Trail officially opened with a ribbon-cutting celebration on Friday, August 21, attended by community leaders, children, and families. Library Director Robin Burgin and Friends of the Library President Dede Roberts joined community leaders and children in cutting the ribbon.

The celebration continued Saturday with storytime, free books, crafts, nature activities, and a scavenger hunt. Library staff, the Friends of the Library, the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), and community partners came together to celebrate this new resource and bring Preschool Page Turners outside for a special storytime. 🌿

The Storybook Trail was made possible through the support of the Friends of the Library, Sequatchie County Public Library, Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation (GELF), Postal Annex, and Friends of the Park, with special assistance from Sequatchie County and the City of Dunlap.

This new community resource created another wonderful way for children and families to enjoy books together while encouraging early literacy, imagination, movement, and quality family time. 💚📚

📍 Coop’s Creek Greenway Trailhead — 98 Pine Street, Dunlap, TN 37327

2026 – New Programs Bring Learning & Movement to the Library 🏺💃

In late summer 2026, the Sequatchie County Public Library introduced two new programs that brought very different kinds of learning and fun to our community: DIG: Junior Archaeologists and Chair Dancing!

🕵️ DIG: Junior Archaeologists

Instructor Pam Kiper led a six-week adventure for students in grades 5–8, where young archaeologists investigated artifacts from a mysterious lost culture and worked to uncover its secrets. They also created their own cultures by designing artifacts, symbols, messages, and clues for others to discover. 🔍🏺

The class filled up quickly and was a huge success, thanks in large part to Pam’s enthusiastic volunteer instruction. Each week featured a new hands-on lesson, giving participants plenty of opportunities to explore history, creativity, and discovery.

🪑💃 Chair Dancing

A volunteer instructor – Diana Walters – started Chair Dancing, a free, low-impact exercise class for adults of all fitness levels. Meeting three days a week, the 45-minute sessions offered simple seated exercises for those looking for a comfortable way to get moving.

Whether patrons were trying exercise for the first time or simply wanted a gentler workout, Chair Dancing provided a welcoming place to build healthy habits, get active, and have fun together. 💙

Both programs added something new to the library’s growing lineup of opportunities to learn, move, create, and connect with our community. 📚✨

2026 – Library Awarded $970 Grant for Robotics & Engineering Expansion🤖

In 2026, the Sequatchie County Public Library received a $970 grant from the Rural Technology Fund to expand our monthly STEAM Nights with more hands-on robotics and engineering activities through Robo Explorers! 🚀

The grant gave children and families opportunities to explore coding, robotics, and engineering through interactive challenges, building projects, and open-ended experimentation. Participants could explore together at the library and borrow kits to continue their learning at home.

This grant built on RTF’s previous support, which helped us launch our monthly STEAM Night program. With this additional funding, we were able to expand access to meaningful STEM experiences and give our rural community even more opportunities to learn, create, and problem-solve together. 🌟

We were grateful to the Rural Technology Fund for supporting technology education and helping libraries provide engaging STEM opportunities that inspire the next generation of learners and innovators. 💙

More about the Rural Technology Fund

2026 – Library Awarded $3,200 Grant for Family Arts Nights🎨

In early 2026, the Sequatchie County Public Library received a $3,200 grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Southeast Tennessee Development District to host four special family programs with the Creative Discovery Museum: Connecting Arts & Sciences! 🖌️🧪

The interactive programs brought hands-on art and science experiences to families, teens, and adults at the library. Participants explored the connections between art and science through creative projects, experiments, and activities designed to spark curiosity and make the arts accessible to everyone. Families could create together, while teens and adults also had opportunities to work on projects of their own.

The Tennessee Arts Commission, established in 1967, supports and promotes the arts and Tennessee’s cultural heritage. 🏛️ The Southeast Tennessee Development District works with communities across the region to strengthen partnerships, improve quality of life, and preserve each community’s unique culture and history. ✨

We were grateful for their support, which helped us bring new opportunities for creativity, learning, and family fun to our community!

More about the Tennessee Arts Commission

More about the Southeast Development District

2026 – Library Awarded $20,000 Grant for Tennessee Celebration🎉

In 2026, the Sequatchie County Public Library received a $20,000 Project Support Grant from the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial, through the Tennessee State Museum. The grant supported “Stars & Stories Week” 🌟📖 during the final week of our 2026 Summer Reading Program, celebrating Tennessee’s 230th birthday 🎂 and America’s 250th anniversary 🇺🇸.

The week featured storytimes, teen and adult workshops, family-friendly activities, and a Tennessee 250–themed parade float 🛷 created with help from community volunteers. The library also worked with community members to highlight the unique people, places, and stories of Sequatchie County.

About the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial & Tennessee State Museum 🏛️
The Commission promotes an inclusive, statewide celebration of America’s 250th anniversary and supports projects that preserve Tennessee’s unique stories, objects, and landmarks. The Tennessee State Museum helps administer the grants and ensures projects connect communities with Tennessee’s role in the nation’s history.

We were proud to be part of this statewide celebration and grateful to everyone who helped make Stars & Stories Week a memorable part of our library’s 2026 programming! ✨

More about the Tennessee Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial

More about Tennessee State Museum

2026 – We had an Amazing Summer of Reading Program!

Our 2026 Summer Reading Program was bigger, busier, and more book-filled than ever! From babies to seniors, our community came together in June 2026 to READ 30 PAGES EVERY DAY and celebrate the joy of reading.

🎉 6,968 participants joined us this June — nearly double last year’s 3,974!

📖 Together, we read an incredible 454,560 pages — up from 251,010 pages last year!

🌟 We also hosted almost 60 programs and special events, filled with stories, magic, puppets, STEAM activities, LEGO fun, juggling, book clubs, and plenty of opportunities to learn and play.

From our kickoff party to our big celebration at Harris Park, 2026 was a summer to remember! Thank you to everyone who read, participated, attended programs, and helped make our Summer Reading Program such a success. 💛

We can’t wait to see what we’ll read together next summer! 📚☀️

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.

2025 – New Logo! New Look!

In 2025, our library got a fresh new look! We updated our logo and launched a new website to better reflect who we are and make it easier for our community to connect with us, discover resources, and stay up to date on everything happening at the library. We’re especially grateful to the Sequatchie County IT Department for all of their help and support throughout the transition!

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 – Losing a Local Legend
Saying Goodbye to Ms. Betty Worley

2024 – Making the News

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 thanks to assistance from the Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation .

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 – Betty Worley

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.

Sisk-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/

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.

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

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.

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

1935 – National Archives Records of the Original Project

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