Fontana Regional Library serving Jackson, Macon and Swain counties with six public libraries in Western North Carolina

Jackson County
Public Library
755 W. Main Street
Sylva, NC 28779

828-586-2016
Fax: 828-586-3423

Librarian: Dottie Brunette

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Sylva Library Staff (seated, l-r) Librarian Dottie Brunette, Erin Harris, Helen Pate, Tiz Duve. (back row, l-r) Elizabeth Beck, Sally Salyards, Tony Romine, Edie Peden, Michelle Allison.

Plans Revealed for New Jackson County Library

The Jackson County Library is getting a new home. The new library atop Courthouse Hill will feature the historic 1914 Old Jackson County Courthouse, located at the west end of Main Street in Sylva.

In a feasibility study report, project architectural firm McMillan, Smith and Associates of Greenville, SC presented a preliminary rendering of the new library which will incorporate the Old Courthouse space. The new library space will be housed in a two-story building located behind the existing Old Courthouse. The buildings will be connected by a two-story atrium which will serve as the entrance to the library.

The new 20,000 square foot structure will house the main functions of the library such as the circulation desk, book stacks, computers, study rooms and periodicals. The 6,000 square foot space inside the Old Courthouse will be dedicated to meeting and conference space, along with a small catering kitchen and possibly a staff lounge. The 26,000 square feet in the new Jackson County Library will be a significant increase from the 6,400 square feet of the current library.

Because of the exquisite neoclassical design, the architects have vowed to maintain its integrity and will carefully design the new structure’s facade to blend in with the existing architecture. As proposed, the new library footprint will not alter the existing Old Courthouse view from Main Street.

The architects have begun a series of meetings with library administration to determine their requirements for the internal space configurations of the new structure. Following these meetings, they will begin work on more definite plans and drawings. The blueprints for the project should be presented to the commissioners
and library personnel in the spring of 2008.

Jackson County Public Library Board of Trustees

Howard Allman, Chairman*
Sandra Burbank

J. Vance Davidson*

Tina Jones

Maurice Moody

William Shelton

Graham Somerville
Ethan F. Staats*

*Member Fontana Regional Library Board

Preschool Story Time
Tuesdays: 10:30 am. Ages birth - 5 yrs.

Check at the desk for usage limits.

History

Library service began in Jackson County in the 1920s due to the efforts of Lillian Buchanan, Mr. C. J. Harris, and the 20th Century Club. It was sustained in the 1950s through the work of Grace Beck and the Sylva Women's Club.

In 1967 Jackson County voters approved a $20,000 bond issue for a permanent building. With the aid of state and federal grants a library building was constructed. It opened in October of 1970. The first professional librarian was Margaret Sheeran, who directed the library in 1973. Jeannette Newsom replaced Sheeran in 1975 and served until December of 2000. Michael Cartwright became County Librarian in August of 2001. Dottie Brunette, formerly Cashiers Librarian, became County Librarian in May 2007.

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