The Decatur County Library

Welcome to the Decatur county Library section. We would like to encourage you to contact us if you are unable to locate the
information you need on this page.

Our Address:
The Decatur County Library
Court Square
20 West market St.
Decaturville TN 38329
Phone: 731-852-3325
Fax: 731-852-2351
Email: taylora@decaturcountytn.org

Our Hours:
Monday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Tuesday 10:00am - 7:00pm
Wednesday 10:00am - 2:00pm
Thursday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 9:30am - 12:30pm
Sunday Closed                                      Need Tax Forms? Click Here        Need A  Decatur County Map? - Click Here

Scrapbooking room
The Decatur County Library is pleased to announce it has set up a room in the library for all of your scrapbooking needs. We
have the Sizzex cutting system with dies available, the entire Creative Memories cutting and template system and a nice
selection of "Stampin Up" decorative stamps with many different colored ink pads available. All of these items may be used
in the library free of charge. We also have scrapbooking paper available to purchase for ten cents a sheet.   

Tombstone Pictures
Athalia Taylor, director of Decatur County Library is pleased to announce she will take pictures of tombstones for family
research. There is no cost for this service. Please e-mail information concerning deceased including name, date of birth
and death, place of burial. I understand some of this may not be known but I will be able to be more accurate if all
information is given. My e-mail address is taylora@decaturcountytn.org. I will send you a digital picture via e-mail of
requested tombstone(s). My main area is Decatur County but I will go into my surrounding counties if the graveyards are not
to far from our county line.   

Decatur County Library now has online databases for family history research
The library has recently acquired Ancestry.com, Heritage Quest and Proquest Obituaries for our patrons interested in family
history.  Heritage Quest and Proquest Obits can be accessed from your home computer using your patron card issued you
by Decatur County Library.  Contact the library at 731-852-3325 or e-mailing Athalia Taylor at dcldsl@tds.net or
taylora@decaturcountytn.org. For further information on accessing the sites or to become a cyberpatron of the library if you
do not live in our area and have ties to Decatur or surrounding counties  

Our History:
The first library service made available to Decatur County was in October of 1942 and was sponsored by the TVA. It was also
during this time that Decatur County became a part of the Regional library system. The first county library was located in the
superintendent of education's office in the courthouse. There were also many branches located throughout the county.
These later became known as bookmobile stations and there are several still located in various businesses today. For a
brief time in the 1950's the county library was located in a commercial building in Decaturville. In 1958 it returned to its home
in the courthouse and there it remained until 1993 when a beautiful 5,000 square foot library was built on Court Square and
became the home of the Decatur County Public Library.

The new library boasts a spacious room "The Bonnye White Allen Community Room" which serves as a meeting place for
many non-profit organizations and government organizations as well as hosting the Grand Jury when it has to convene. The
room was named for Mrs. Bonnye White Allen who was instrumental in obtaining the new library building. She worked many
long hours on this project and one of her greatest pleasures was sitting in the new library and greeting the many patrons
who use our great facility.

Services offered through Decatur County Library
Free Internet Access for patrons
Fax machine for public use
Copy machine for public use
LCD Projector / Laptop available on a limited basis - See Mrs. Taylor for details.
Wide selection of movies available in VHS and DVD including action, western, thriller, Walt Disney and general
Audiotapes
CD's including country, rock, classical, blues and modern
Best Sellers in Fiction and Non-Fiction
Large selection of paperbacks
Tennessee History
Genealogy Reference
Scrapbooking room with complete creative memories cutting system, Sizzex cutting system with dies, and
stampin up decorative stamp system.
Children's books
Cartoon & Holiday Cake Pans
Summer Reading Program
Children's Story hour
Tennessee Electronic Library
All County news papers from 1893 to present are available on micro film

The Decatur County Library is very proud of the material found in the Tennessee and Genealogy room. We have
newspapers on microfilm from 1893 until 1996, marriage and birth records, Census records, cemetery records, county
history records, civil war and revolutionary war book records, county deeds and court minutes along with various old records
from the courthouse listing certain wills, birth certificates and misc. We also have a good deal of information concerning
other counties and states with links to Decatur County families and history.

The Tennessee and Genealogy Room
The Decatur County Library is very proud of the material found in the Tennessee and Genealogy room.

We have newspapers on microfilm from 1893 until 1996, marriage and birth records, Census records, cemetery records,
county history records, civil war and revolutionary war book records, county deeds and court minutes along with various old
records from the courthouse listing certain wills, birth certificates and misc. We also have a good deal of information
concerning other counties and states with links to Decatur County families and history.

We also have many publications and books that can be purchased, with the proceeds of this helping to fund our efforts.

For a list of recommended genealogy links for sites with Decatur County reference information Click on CNN's Online news
site.
URL: http://www.cnn.com

The Children's Department at the Library
Our children's department offers a wide range of titles for children to enjoy. From large print, beautifully illustrated, easy to
read, classics like green eggs and ham to the more advanced readers choices.

Our Summer Reading Program Details
The Decatur County Public Library kicks off the 2007 Summer Reading Program on June 1st and will end it on June 29th.
This year's theme is Jungle Tales: Hiss, Rumble & Roar
Children ages 2 to 14 are invited to attend a free, fun-filled summer of reading, magic, puppets and picnics for your
entertainment. The schedule of events is as follows:

June 1st
"Puppet Show" - 1:00 p.m.
This program is presented by the Shiloh Regional Library staff and we always have a fun-filled afternoon when the puppets
roll into town. This year promises to be loaded with excitement and adventure so be sure to attend.

June 8th
"Skidboots" - Time to be announced.

June 15th
"Safari Greg and the Amazing Urban Safari" - 3:30 p.m.
Safari Greg will be presenting his show "Rainforest Ranger; An Expedition in Reading" and promises to entertain us
completely with his abilities as master magician, comedian and wildlife biologist. Animal lovers won't want to miss this one.
For more info on Safari Greg visit his website at www.safarigreg.com

June 22nd
"Scott Humston - Magician and Storyteller" - 4:00 p.m.
Scott will be making his return appearance to Decatur County Library and we can't wait for his magical arrival. Scott is a
master storyteller and magician who incorporates his love for reading and libraries into every program. Parents will enjoy
this one as much as the kids so don't miss out.

June 29th
"Picnic and Prize Day" - 1:00 p.m.
We end our summer reading program with awards for children turning in their reading and listening logs and will have a big
picnic behind the library with games, hot dogs, face-painting and more. What a way to end a great summer reading program
and thank the children for their attendance and participation.
We hope this reading program instills a love of reading and visiting the library to all the children and we look forward to them
returning many times. Remember these words:

The more you read,
the more you know.
The more you know,
the smarter you grow.
The smarter you grow,
the stronger your voice.
When speaking your mind,
or making your choice.

Library Internet Resources
The Decatur County Library offers Free Internet Access for patrons.
We have six PC's, a scanner, and printers that may be used by patrons. All six have internet access.
We also have two children's computers available without internet access that include various creative learning programs
and games.

Photo: A view of the Internet resource area located at the Decatur County Public Library.

TEL provides free online access to selected electronic databases for all libraries serving the citizens of the state of
Tennessee: public, academic, school, and not-for-profit special libraries.
TEL is supported by federal funds under the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) and is administered by the
Tennessee State Library and Archives, a division of the Tennessee Department of State, Riley C. Darnell, Secretary of State.

Note: You will need our password.
For password information concerning TEL, please contact Athalia Taylor at Decatur County
Library by calling 731-852-3325 or e-mail dcldsl@tds.net.
Click Here To Visit TEL

Our Staff:
Athalia Taylor, Director
Amber Taylor, staff
Margaret White, staff
Mildred Crawley, staff

Our Board Members:
Gail Story-Chairwoman
Jean Myracle
Jeanine England
Judy Tuscnak
Bob Crawley
Tim Keeton
Mark Tubbs

Board members ex-office:
Don Moore
Mickey Larkins
Melvin Taylor



Present board members serving include:
Mickey Larkins – Chairman of the Board
Gail Story – Vice-chairwoman
Jean Myracle – Secretary
Don Moore – Treasurer
Jeanine England
Melvin Taylor
Judy Tucsnak
Mrs. Wanda Conger and Mrs. Edith Taylor presently serve on the Shiloh Regional Board.
Decatur County Public Library
DECATUR COUNTY