Former Library Director Dianne Duncan will fill a vacancy on the Putnam County Library Board of Trustees.
The Library Board had recommended Duncan, while many citizens recommended Maryleigh Bucher. Both nominees spoke before the Putnam County Commission. Duncan said she believes in reading to young children and that her experience with bookkeeping and as a director would help her serve on the board.
“Because of those jobs, I have a working knowledge of the library’s responsibility ot the community,” Duncan said. “From my years of bookkeeping, I know how to create a library budget and keep within the budget.”
Bucher said she does not have the library experience from an organizational standpoint, but has a love for literature. Bucher also said she wants parents to be able to take their child to the library and not worry about the material that might be in a children’s book.
“I wanna see it as a safe environment where they can go and pull any book off the shelf, and a parent can put their phone away because they are not concerned that they are not getting inappropriate material,” Bucher said.
Both candidates said that they would work to not censor books, but ensure that children would not be exposed to harmful material. The library remains embroiled in a discussion about appropriateness of content in books.
Commissioner Jonathan Williams voted to appoint Duncan, but said it was not an easy decision.
“There are people I like, and respect, and agree with, who support both candidates,” Williams said. “And so this has been a little bit more of a challenge for me than some other votes have been. But District One doesn’t pick up the phone and call their county commissioner very often because we are a district that lies entirely within the city limits of Cookeville. So District One gets more excited about issues than it does about county issues. But my vote tonight will reflect the overwhelming opinion of the District One voters who have contacted me.”
Commissioner Kathy Dunn said she believed both Duncan and Bucher would be great candidates for the board. Dunn said the county should change the bylaws and expand the library board from seven to nine members.
“I think it’s wonderful that we have people who care, are passionate, and want to serve,” Dunn said.
Williams said there should be more spots opening up on the board and encourages those interested to keep applying. The commission elected Duncan with a 12-8 vote. Duncan will serve a three-year term.