Ed and Relda Cruze recently presented the Seymour Library with its original sign that once stood in Ed’s mother’s front yard. (The Seymour Herald/Submitted Photo)

From humble beginnings, services offered by the Seymour branch of the Sevier County Public Library System have grown over the years to the point that more space is needed in the present building.

In 1970, a bookmobile from the Nolichucky Library System began dropping off 75 books every couple of months at the home of Elizabeth Cruze.  The books shared space in her beauty shop at the back of her Chapman Highway house and were loaned on the honor system to her customers and other readers.

Nowadays, there are well over 25,000 books, tapes, video games and other items for loan at any time in the Macon Road library. More than 15,000 Seymour residents hold library cards, including some from Knox and Blount counties who pay the out-of-county fee of $25.

David Phillips, branch manager, told Friends of the Seymour Library recently that the demand for services is growing by leaps and bounds.  The number of items circulated in the first quarter of 2012 has increased 53 percent over the same time last year to more than 13,000.

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