Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County, TN - File #: RS2022-1632

• File #: RS2022-1632
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 6/27/2022
• In control: Metropolitan Council
• On agenda: 7/5/2022
• Final action: 7/5/2022
• Title: A resolution recognizing the retirement of Metro Nashville Public Library Director Kent Oliver.
• Sponsors: Russ Bradford, Kathleen Murphy, Nancy VanReece, Freddie OConnell, Bob Nash, Larry Hagar, Joy Styles, Courtney Johnston, Jeff Syracuse, Angie Henderson, Erin Evans, Kyonzte Toombs, Ginny Welsch, Tonya Hancock, Mary Carolyn Roberts, Kevin Rhoten, Dave Rosenberg, Robert Swope, Colby Sledge, Brandon Taylor, Zulfat Suara, Thom Druffel, Bob Mendes, Burkley Allen, Gloria Hausser, Brett Withers, Jonathan Hall, Emily Benedict, Tanaka Vercher, Delishia Porterfield

Date	Action By	Action
7/7/2022	Mayor	approved
7/5/2022	Metropolitan Council	adopted
7/5/2022	Rules, Confirmations, and Public Elections Committee	approved
6/28/2022	Metropolitan Council	filed

title
A resolution recognizing the retirement of Metro Nashville Public Library Director Kent Oliver.

body
WHEREAS, after a 51-year career in public libraries, Nashville Public Library Director Kent Oliver will retire on July 22, 2022; and

WHEREAS, Kent Oliver received his bachelor's degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas and his master's degree in library science from Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas; and

WHEREAS, Oliver started his career as a reference librarian at the Topeka Public Library in Topeka, Kansas. He served as head of public services at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Missouri, library director at the Olathe Public Library in Olathe, Kansas, associate director for branch services for the Johnson County Library in Overland Park, Kansas, and library director at the Stark County District Library in Canton, Ohio; and

WHEREAS, Oliver joined Nashville Public Library in 2012 after the Nashville Public Library Board unanimously voted to approve his hiring; and

WHEREAS, under his leadership, Nashville Public Library has expanded its community education initiatives in health, digital, citizenship, and adult literacy, and has grown its nationally recognized partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools; and

WHEREAS, the library's footprint has also grown under Oliver's leadership, with new locations in Bellevue and Southeast Nashville, and a new Donelson branch library set to open in 2024; and

WHEREAS, during Oliver's career, Nashville Public Library built and renovated several Metro Nashville Public Schools libraries, and its partnership with MNPS, called Limitless Libraries, gives Metro students access to over two million books and materials; and

WHEREAS, in 2017, the Library Journal named Nashville Public Library "Library of the Year" - the best public library in the United States and Canada - a coveted and highly prestigious award; and

WHEREAS, that same year, Nashville Public Library eliminated all overdue...