Library director outlines services, asks court to sponsor Jackson County’s Got Talent

Ashley Wagers, director of the Jackson County Public Library, summarized 2024 operations and asked the Fiscal Court to consider sponsoring the county talent competition.

Wagers said the library circulates not only books but laptops and, at times last year, Wi-Fi hotspots; the library also launched an ebook collection restricted to Jackson County cardholders. The library runs a monthly food-box distribution (in partnership with local and regional agencies) valued at about $120 per box, provided a bookmobile delivery service to homebound patrons and administered GED tests locally — a stated benefit because the nearest testing centers otherwise are in London or Richmond. Wagers reported 1,035 food boxes distributed since June and said 200 of those went to homebound patrons. She said the library administered 266 GED tests in the prior year, including tests administered to incarcerated individuals.

Wagers described other services: a seed-library program, weekly early-literacy sessions (Lilypad), take-home make-and-take kits, an outdoor classroom added with grant funds and a local talent-show production last year that streamed on PRTC and drew about 30,000 views. She asked the court to consider sponsoring the Jackson County’s Got Talent event this year (sponsorship tiers begin at $1,500), and noted the library and Save the Children collaborate on several youth initiatives.

County officials praised the library’s work but did not take an immediate vote on the requested sponsorship; one official said the county could use local government economic-assistance (LGA) funds for programming if the court approves in a future session.