Strawberry Plains Library Director Donna Phillips was among the graduates of the Public Library Management Institute recently. To help Tennessee’s public librarians deal with the many challenges they face on the job, the Tennessee State Library and Archives (TSLA) offers a three-year training program. TSLA is pleased to recognize 23 library directors from across the state who just graduated from the institute.

By Mike Steely

steelym@knoxfocus.com

The Parrott-Wood Memorial Library in Strawberry Plains will have a state of the art computer lab thanks to a $9,000 grant.

Donna Phillips, director of the library at 3133 Old Andrew Johnson Highway, announced the grant last week. The library serves residents in the area that is split between Knox, Sevier and Jefferson Counties.

The grant comes from the Pettway Foundation, at 4823 Old Kingston Pike, Suite 100 in Knoxville. The foundation, administered by The Trust Company, was founded in the last will and testament of Jane L. Pettway, a librarian and parishioner of St. John’s Episcopal Church.

The Pettway corporation gives primarily to human services, libraries and the education and training of library employees, financially-needy women and Episcopal perishes or ministries.

“The Parrott-Wood Library will be using the lab to teach job searching, Microsoft Office, Kids Computer Classes and so much more,” Phillips said, adding, “All classes are free to the public.”

The classes will start at noon on August 25 and area residents can call (865)933-1311 to register.

Phillips and library clerk Christina Maples thanked the Pettway Foundation for their generous donation and for “believing in our cause.”

The Strawberry Plains facility also has Tutoring on Mondays from 4-5 p.m., Movie Magic at the Library on Tuesday starting at 4:30 p.m., a Reading Story Hour on Wednesdays from 11 until noon, Kid’s Night at 4:30 on Wednesdays, an Ayn Rand Reading Club for young adults on Thursdays starting at 4:30 and the Plains Hardback Book Club every third Thursday at 6 p.m.

Strawberry Plains was once a thriving mining community and has an old downtown area where the library is located. The community is located just north of Andrew Johnson Highway and is served by the schools of Rush Strong there, a Jefferson County facility, and the Carter schools in Knox County.