1.2 Organization of library
The Little Dixie Regional Libraries is a two county public library system serving Randolph and Monroe Counties, except the 1965 incorporated area of Monroe City.
The Randolph County Library District was organized in 1946 excluding the cities of Huntsville and Moberly, where municipal districts were in existence. In 1958 Huntsville joined the Randolph County Library District, and in 1969 the City of Moberly joined the district.
In 1953 Monroe County Library District formed, excluding the incorporated towns of Paris and Monroe City, which had their own libraries. The Monroe County Library District immediately contracted with Randolph County for library service, forming Little Dixie Regional Libraries.
In 1967 Paris joined the Monroe County Library District. In June 1966, a Monroe County circuit court decree was signed to allow the Atterbury Trust funds to be used for a public library building in Madison. The Madison library was completed August 17, 1970, and the Atterbury Trustees released the building to the Monroe County Library Board. The Atterbury Memorial Library opened on November 6, 1970.
Little Dixie Regional Libraries is supported financially by a property tax, levied annually by the respective counties.
Each County Commission appoints five board members to that county’s library district board. These members also serve their respective counties on the Little Dixie Regional Libraries board. Little Dixie board members determine library policy, approve expenditures of library funds, hire the director and approve other appointments.
Posted online September 7, 2021