About Us

About Us

About the E.G. Fisher Public Library

E.G. Fisher Public Library’s Mission

The E.G. Fisher Public Library builds community, offering all people in McMinn County a full range of resources needed to live, learn, govern, and work.

The library is a dependable source of reliable information and of challenging ideas that enlighten and enrich.  The library offers materials in many formats that enhance leisure time and expand our knowledge of our world.  The library encourages the love of reading and the joy of learning and offers the assistance people need to find, evaluate, and use electronic and print information resources that help us live successful and rewarding lives. 

Our Manager Team

Richelle Brinkley

Circulation Manager
and Cataloger

Rebeckah Coleman

Library Director and Caretaker of the E.G. Fisher Public Library

Jerri Hill

Genealogist and Reference Specialist

Meleena Livesay

Program Director and Volunteer Coordinator

Cyndi Scott

Administrative Assistant and Interlibrary Loan (ILL) Specialist

Jenny Tudor

Assistant Circulation Manager and Program Assistant

E.G. Fisher Public Library

Location

1289 Ingleside Avenue Athens, Tn, 37303

Library Hours

Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday

9:30AM – 8:00PM

Wednesday & Friday

9:30AM – 5:30PM

Saturday

9:30AM – 5PM

Closed

Sundays & First Wednesday of the Month

Contact

(423) 745-7782

Resources

Discover Essential Resources in Athens, TN

Your Guide to Community and Library Services

Explore a comprehensive collection of resources and services available in Athens, TN, from community organizations to library offerings, all designed to support your educational and personal growth.

Community Organizations & Resources

  • Athens Chamber of Commerce
  • Athens City Hall
  • Athens City Schools
  • Athens County Schools
  • Athens Housing Authority
  • Athens Parks & Recreation
  • McMinn County Dept. of Children’s Services
  • McMinn County Dept. of Human Services
  • McMinn County Dept. Economic Development Authority
  • McMinn County Health Dept.
  • McMinn Senior Center
  • McMinn County Veteran Services
  • Athens-McMinn Family YMCA
  • Athens Head Start
  • Coordinated Charities
  • United Way of McMinn and Meigs Counties
  • Grace and Mercy Ministries
  • Love Thy Neighbor Project
  • Nourish One Child
  • SETHRA
  • Wesley Memorial Food Pantry
  • McMinn County Veteran Serives
  • Table Graces
  • Good Faith Clinic
  • CASA McMinn & Meigs
  • Athens Utilities Board
  • Isaiah 117 House
  • Women at the Well
  • the H.O.P.E. Center
  • American Job Center of Athens
  • Adult Education (Athens)
  • McMinn County Education Foundation
  • UT Extension Office – McMinn
  • Star Regional Medical Center – Athens
  • Full Circle Medical Center for Women
  • Shower Bus

Tennessee Electronic Library

Homework Help

Find encyclopedia and journal articles on all kinds of topics to help with school projects.

Test Prep

Prepare for academic and occupational exams like ACT, SAT, AP, EMT, HiSET, CLEP, NCLEX, and more.

Career Tools

Explore new careers, build a resume, and improve workplace skills.

Genealogy

Locate census and vital records to research family history.

Newspapers

Discover hundred of newspapers, including the Tennessean (1812 – today).

Language Learning

Uncover 100+ languages, including English.

Legal Assistance Resources

Find Legal Help in Athens, TN

Legal Aid of East Tennessee

Legal Aid of East Tennessee provides essential free legal assistance to low-income individuals and families.

Tennessee Legal Assistance Hotline

Call the Tennessee Legal Assistance Hotline for immediate legal advice and referrals to local attorneys who can help with your case.

McMinn County Juvenile Services

McMinn County Juvenile Services’ mission is to provide preventive and rehabilitative services to juveniles and families in need.

Southeast Tennessee Legal Services

Southeast Tennessee Legal Services is dedicated to providing accessible legal assistance and guidance to individuals and families in our community.

Community’s Book Recommendations

Books

Community’s Book Recs

Take a look at the different books our community has recommended!

 

 

 

 

Five Days at Memorial 

Sheri Fink

Non-Fiction

Eight Ways to Keep the Devil from Under Your Feet

Joyce Meyer

Non-Fiction

Where are the Coins?/ ¿Dónde están las monedas?

Joan Garringa Bacardi

Non- Fiction

Educating the Wholehearted Child

Clay and Sally Clarkson

Non-Fiction

Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness

Sharon Salzburg

Nonfiction

The Book of Enoch

Translated by R.H. Charles

Religion

The Book of Giants

Joseph B. Lumpkin

Mythology

Greenlights

Matthew McConaughey

Memoir

A People’s History of the United States

Howard Zinn

History

The Race

Robin Rekittke

PRC

Swallows and Amazons

Arthur Ransome 

Classics

 

The Count of Monte Cristo

Alexandre Dumas

Classics

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Jules Verne

Classics

A Hole New World

PopularMMOs

Graphic Novel

Guts

Raina Telgemeier

Graphic Novel

Dog Man and Cat Kid

Dav Pilkey

Graphic Novel

The Baby Sitters Club Series

Ann M. Martin

Graphic Novel

Claudia and the Bad Joke

Ann M. Martin

Graphic Novel

Flood-A-Gedden! (Agent 9)

James Burkes

Graphic Novel

Working Cotton

Sherley Anne WIlliams

Picture Book

Tokyo Ghoul

Sui Ishida

Manga

My Hero Academia, Vol. 1

Kohei Horikoshi

Manga

Naruto, Vol. 37

Masashi Kishimoto

Manga

Shanghai Girls

Lisa See

Historical Fiction

Sweet Home Alaska

Carole Estby Dagg

Historical Fiction

I Survived!

Lauren Tarshis

Historical Fiction

Fawkes

Nadine Brandes

Historical Fiction

A Tent for the Sun

Mary Ray

Historical Fiction

 

A Thousand Ships

Natalie Haynes

Historical Fiction

City of Girls

Elizabeth Gilbert

Historical Fiction

Beyond the Bright Sea

Lauren Wolk

Historical Fiction

The Clue of the Hissing Serpent

Franklin W. Dixon

Mystery

The Thirty Nine Clues

Rick Riordan

Mystery

Encyclopedia Brown, Boy Detective

Donald J. Sobol

Mystery

Spy School

Stuart Gibbs

Mystery

Suspect

Robert Crais

Mystery

7 Days of Peter Crumb

Jonny Glynn

Horror

Christine

Stephen King

Horror

Float

Laura Martin

Fantasy

The Magic Half

Annie Barrows

Fantasy

The Trials of Apollo

Rick Riordan

Fantasy

Kingdom’s Edge

Chuck Black

Fantasy

Oddity

Eli Brown

Fantasy

The Alloy of Law 

Brandon Sanderson

Fantasy

The Dark Witch

Nora Roberts

Fantasy

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

J.K. Rowling

Fantasy

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

J.K. Rowling

Fantasy

The Chronicles of Narnia

C.S. Lewis

Fantasy

The Night Angel Trilogy

Brent Weeks

Fantasy

The Green Ember 

S.D. Smith

Fantasy

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief 

Rick Riordan

Fantasy

Wings of Fire

Tui T. Sutherland

Fantasy

Redwall

Brian Jacques

Fantasy

The Witches

Roald Dahl

Fantasy

Will Wilder

Raymond Arroyo

Fantasy

Where the Woods End 

Charlotte Salter

Fantasy

Dark Lover

J.R. Ward

Fantasy

Raising Dragons

Bryan Davis

Fantasy

 The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Carrisa Broadbent

Fantasy

Divergent 

Veronica Roth

Sci-Fi

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

Sci-Fi

The Maze Runner

James Dashner

Sci-Fi

Hank the Cowdog

John R. Erickson

Fiction

The Little Prince

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Fiction

The Boxcar Children

Gertrude Chandler Warner

Fiction

The Oath

Frank Peretti

Fiction

¡Qué Nervios! El Primer Día de Escuela

Julie Danneburg

Fiction

My Side of the Mountain

Jean Craighead George

Fiction

Puppy Academy

Gill Lewis

Fiction

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Fiction

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot

Jeff Kinney

Fiction

Adultling Life Skills for Young Adults: Beyond Basics

Jaqui Meyer

Non-Fiction

Sisters

Raina Telgemeier

Juv. Graphic Novel

Indigo Isle

T.I. Lowe 

Christian Fiction

Bungo Stray Dogs

 Kafka Asagiri 

Action Manga

Keeper of the Lost Cities

 Shannon Messenger 

Fantasy Fiction Series 

Jayber Crow

Wendell Berry

Literacy Fiction Series

The Last Kids on Earth

Max Brallier

Children’s illustrated novel

Ella Enchanted

Gail Carson Levine

Children’s Fantasy Novel

Calvin and Hobbes

Bill Watterson

Humor

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

 V.E. Schwab

Fantasy Novel

One of Us Is Lying

Karen M. McManus

Young Adult Fiction Series

House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths

 Ned Vizzini 

 Fantasy Novel

From You To Me

K.A Holt

Realistic Fiction

Junie B. Jones

Tim Probert

Humorous/Comical Stories

Lightfall Series

Karen M. McManus

Fantasy and Adventure

House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths

 Ned Vizzini 

 Fantasy Novel

From You To Me

K.A Holt

Realistic Fiction

Join Our Book Ratng Community

Fill out a book recommendation slip at the front desk !

Meet Libby

Did you know EG Fisher Library has thousands of ebooks and audiobooks? You can borrow them, instantly, for free, using your library card and the device in your hand. Click the link below for information on how to get started today! https://help.overdrive.com/en-us/1307.htmlWatch the Libby video

Get started with Libby

Step 1

Install the Libby app from your device’s app store.

Or, visit libbyapp.com in your Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (Chromium) browser.

Step 2

In Libby, follow the prompts to find your library and sign in with a valid library card.

Step 3

Browse your library’s collection and borrow a title.

Step 4

Borrowed titles appear on your Shelf and download to the app automatically when you’re connected to Wi-Fi, so you can read them when you’re offline.

From your Loans, you can:

  • Tap Read With… to choose where you’d like to read a book in Kindle (U.S. libraries only) or in Libby.
  • Tap Open Audiobook or Open Magazine to start reading or listening to that title.
  • Tap Manage Loan to see options like Renew and Return.

If you need more help with Libby, please visit Libby Help. Happy reading!

Dyslexic Font Setting

In a book, tap the center of the screen, then look for the uppercase A and click it. From there, tap OpenDyslexic under “Book Design.”

FAQs

Are you open since Covid-19? 

Yes! Masks are recommended but not required.

When are you open?

We are open Monday through Saturday. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday we are open from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm. Wednesday and Friday we are open from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm. Saturday we are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are closed Sundays and the first Wednesday of the month. Don’t forget to check our website and Facebook page for important updates.


Does the library print and make copies?

Yes, we can print and make copies. We have a public copier that takes quarters, and we have a private printer that can print, fax, and make copies.


How much does it cost to print, make copies, or fax?
It is $0.25 per page for black and white, $0.50 per page for color, and $1.00 per page to send and receive a fax.


Does the library have internet?
Yes, we have free public Wi-Fi that can be used inside the library, outside on the patio, and even the parking lot.


Can anyone use the library and get on a computer?
Everyone is welcome to visit our library, read our books in the library, and use the table spaces. To use a computer, you will need either your library card in good standing or a valid ID. If you cannot provide either, you can have access to a 15-minute computer. If you owe fines, you must pay down $2.00 to get on a computer.

How do I get a card?

Bring in a piece of mail with your current address and a valid ID.

Do I have to live in McMinn County to get a card?

No!

How much does it cost to get a card?

For McMinn County residents, it is free! For out of county, the cost is $10.00 per year.


How many items can I checkout?
You can check out a maximum of 20 items combined at one time. Magazines, audio books, and DVDs have a 5 per card limit and hotspots and Chromebooks have a 1 per household limit.


What is the loan time for materials?
Books, magazines, and audio books are checked out for 3 weeks. DVDs, Hotspots, and Chromebooks are checked out for 1 week.


How much are fines for late materials?
Books, audio books, and magazines are $0.20 per day overdue. DVDs, Hotspots, and Chromebooks are $1.00 per day overdue.
 
How do I request materials that are not located at E. G. Fisher Library?
You can request materials that are not located at our library either by filling out an interlibrary loan request form online or requesting an interlibrary loan through the phone or at the counter with one of our library clerks. You can put 2 requests in at a time. You can also check Tennessee Reads to see if the book is available as an eBook or audio book through Libby/Overdrive.


Who can use the interlibrary loan services?
Patrons of our E.G. Fisher Public Library can use the interlibrary loan services.


Is there a fee for interlibrary loan services?
It does not cost to request material from other libraries using the interlibrary loan program. This is a free service provided by the State of Tennessee.


Will I be notified when my interlibrary loan reserve arrives?
We will call you when we have received the requested material. Once we receive it, we can hold it for one week before we must return it.

Do you have programs?

We do! Check our website under “Programs,” our Facebook page, or give us a call!

What is the cost of your programs?

Free!


How do I renew books?

To renew books or other material you can call us at 423-745-7782 or renew in person.


What can I do if a book I want is already checked out?
If there is a item you are wanting but it is already checked out by another patron, you can put the item on hold. To put the item on hold you can either do it over the phone, in person, or online.

 
How do I put an item on hold online?
To put an item on hold online, log on to our Verso online catalog. If it is your first time logging in, enter USERPASS as the password. Afterwards, you can create a new password. Then you will search for the item you are wanting in the search bar or the advance search bar. Once you locate the item, click “Place Hold”  or find.


Can you see my checkout history?

We can only see what patrons have checked out currently or connected with any fines. If you want to keep track of the materials you have completed, we recommend keeping track online in our Verso catalog. Go to “your account,” then “checkout history,” then click “activate history.”

How do I make an account on VERSO, the library catalog?

Go to our website. Click: library catalog. When Verso is loaded, look in the upper right corner for Login. If it is your first time logging in, enter USERPASS as the password. Afterwards, you can create a new password. From here, you can explore your account.  Keep in mind if you have any fines on your account, you will not be able to renew your materials or place holds.


How do I check out a hotspot?

Hotspots are free to check-out and provided by East Tennessee Foundation and the TOPS grant. To checkout a hotspot, you must be 18 years or older and your household account must be in good standing. New cards are ineligible for the first month. If we do not have any available at the counter, you can be added to the wait list. We will notify you when one is ready for pickup. Once a hotspot becomes available to check out, you will need to bring your library card and ID.


How do I check out a Chromebook laptop?

Chromebooks are free to check-out and provided by the Tennessee Community CARES grant. To checkout a Chromebook, you must be 18 years or older and your household account must be in good standing. New cards are ineligible for the first month. If we do not have any Chromebooks available at the counter, you can be added to the wait list. We will notify you when one is ready for pickup. Once a Chromebook becomes available to check out, you will need to bring your library card and ID card. When you are here we will go through the process of checking you out the Chromebook.


Do you offer audio books and eBooks?

We have digital audio books available to  check out in person in the library. We also are linked with Overdrive/Libby which allows you to use your library card to have access to online audio books and eBooks.

Do you rent golf clubs?

We do! Rentals are for 24 hours with a maximum of 3 clubs per card (balls included). There is a little course over at Prof Powers Park a couple of blocks away. Ask at the front desk for directions.

What are the Wetlands behind the library?

The Oostanala Creek has flooding problems. The Wetlands were created to help alleviate those problems by creating a place for the storm water run off to go and providing a natural habitat that allows wildlife to flourish.

Did the library used to be a barn?

No. It was built as a library in 1997.

How do I support the library?

You can volunteer or donate to our PayPal.