Johnson Pine Regional Library tells Scott County supervisors about programs, automatic doors and outreach

A representative of Johnson Pine Regional Library highlighted library programs, partnerships and facility improvements during the Scott County Board of Supervisors meeting.

The library representative told the board the regional system serves Wise, Dickenson, Scott and Lee counties and the city of Norton. She introduced local board members Lindsay Fisher and Rebecca Scott and Jonathan Virgic, the Mc branch manager, who recently joined the staff. The library representative said counties fund staffing and building operations while the Virginia State Library supports programming and collections.

The library reported a series of community-facing initiatives: a permanent story walk in the park, family craft nights, a crochet club and large summer‑reading programming. The Friends of the Library group raised more than $7,000 to install automatic doors to help patrons with mobility issues. The library also described outreach into schools, senior centers and events such as a Barter Theatre performance supported by a Virginia Commission for the Arts grant.

Staff described databases and digital services available free to county residents, including reading and homework help, genealogy resources (HeritageQuest, Ancestry via FamilySearch), ABCmouse and TumbleBooks for young children, and live tutoring services that require a library card. The presenter noted some databases require a Virginia IP address or a library card for remote access.

Board members asked about the Friends of the Library group (monthly meetings, roughly six to seven regular volunteers) and how to join. The presenter said the next meeting was scheduled for the following day at 5:30 p.m. and encouraged residents to consult the library programs calendar for events and volunteer opportunities.

The board thanked library staff and volunteers for their work and for the library’s community programs.