Tennessee: “Chattanooga City Council Wants More Oversight of Public Library to ‘Ensure Accountability'”

From The Chattanooga Times Free Press:

Members of the Chattanooga City Council are asking Mayor Tim Kelly’s office to improve oversight of the library by having it report directly to city government, which would require a change in state law.

The director of the Chattanooga Public Library said she does not anticipate the action will result any fundamental changes in how the organization functions.

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The board’s budget is already subject to approval by the council.

The library used to be jointly funded by both the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County, but after the dissolution of a sales tax agreement under the tenure of former Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, almost all of its funding now comes from the city. The rest comes from book fines, book sales and other revenue.

Library Board Chairman William Sundquist said the body welcomes conversations with the city.

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