The anchor of Jackson County — once a courthouse, now a library — continues to serve its citizens.
The Jackson County Courthouse is an icon. Sitting on top of a hill at the west end of Sylva’s Main Street since 1914, the neoclassic building — capped with a cupola and statue that seem to hold the mountain sky in place — commands a view for miles.
For years, people came to the courthouse for judgments and sentences — they came out of obligation. But today, people want to climb the 107 wide, white steps up to the historic Jackson County Courthouse, now part of the Jackson County Public Library Complex.
Patrons open the tall, glass doors and step into an atrium that connects the old with the new — the first life of the building with the second. An elegant, 20,000-square-foot library addition, also neoclassic in design, now extends from the back of the courthouse. It’s bright and airy, with cathedral-high walls of windows overlooking Dark Ridge Mountain. Instead of a bailiff or a cadre of lawyers, you’ll find a smiling greeter to welcome you. A hushed reverence still falls, a shared characteristic of courthouses and libraries, but it’s a thoughtful, inspiring silence that encourages you to come in and read and think, learn and grow.
Finding your space
On the first floor, new books and staff recommendations grab adult readers’ attention. Children explore the wide-open, colorful area where they play with a train set, pull books from low shelves, and curl up in moon-shaped rockers to read. Or they sit down in one of the tiny, pastel chairs to use a computer — kid-size from monitor to mouse. A courthouse is cold and formal, but this space is warm and intimate.
“It’s the attention to detail,” says Edie Peden, a reference librarian with a nine-year tenure. The reference staff resembles a top-notch concierge, learning each guest’s interest in order to fill his or her needs from the extensive collection of books, technology, and media. The reference desk — crafted with rich, cherry-colored wood and inset with blue and gray metal undulations to match the mountain scenery — sits on the second floor.
“We’ve had a lot more teens come here than in the old location,” Peden says. “They come in to hang out, talk, and have fun — they don’t get library phobia.”
While most of the paint colors, fixtures, and furniture resemble early 20th-century style, the large teen area is hip, with lime green chairs, purple-pleather booths, and industrial metal shelves.
Every patron should feel comfortable at the Jackson County Public Library Complex, whether you’re a 70-year-old tracing family history through genealogical records in the historic half or a 12-year-old researching homework on the Internet in the new half. After all, it took the whole community to make this happen.
A second life
The courthouse served Jackson County as a place of justice until 1994 when a new center took its place. The old landmark — the most photographed building in Jackson County — transitioned into a pretty shell, empty of any purpose other than beauty.
The Jackson County Commissioners pondered what to do with the old courthouse, which was beginning to rot under the 44,000-pound lead cupola with incorrectly installed flashing. In the meantime, the library hired a consultant to hold dream sessions with local residents to create a wish list for a new library, a longtime goal of the Friends of the Library group.
When the commissioners proposed joining with the Friends of the Library to accomplish both goals in one facility, the Friends hesitated. The obstacles, including a $1.6-million price tag, seemed too many. But the opportunity to continue the building’s legacy of civic engagement, service, and responsibility won them over.
“We had kids bringing in ziplock bags of change and donations from Jackson County natives now living across the country,” says Dottie Brunette, head librarian and a Sylva native.
With the help of devoted residents, the Jackson County Public Library Complex, incorporating the old courthouse and the new library addition, opened this past June. The renovated courthouse, once again a place of service, now houses the Jackson County Museum, which is supported by the Jackson County Historical Association, the Jackson County Genealogical Society, and the Jackson County Arts Council. The sloping, heart-pine floors shine with polish, and the windows, with heavy, dark green drapes, watch out over downtown Sylva — a commitment to place and past.
In July, more than 7,500 visitors came through the doors and checked out almost 11,000 books. “I’ve seen old friends, patrons, and area residents,” Brunette says, “regional folks coming in to see what all the hoopla is about and those who’ve made this a travel destination because of their love of history and architecture.”
As you leave the Jackson County Courthouse, descending the 107 wide, white steps, you realize you’ve just experienced a place where the present meets the past, where the future builds on the history that came before it.
Find Your Spot
Five areas offer readers the specific resources they need.
The adult area, on the second floor, contains the expected array of books, as well as a large, comfortable seating area. Reference materials and large-print books are also housed here. The tables have direct access to electrical outlets for charging a laptop. But the hidden gem is a balcony with two rocking chairs, providing a beautiful view and a tranquil area to read.
Librarian recommendations:
Burning Bright by Ron Rash
Coming To Rest by Kathryn Stripling Byer
The Day of Small Things by Vicki Lane
The children’s area, located directly across from the main circulation desk on the first floor, is a burst of bright colors, displays, artwork, and furniture. Everything from the decor to the child-size computers helps children feel at home and comfortable in the library.
Librarian recommendations:
Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile by Gloria Houston
Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O’Roark Dowell
The teen area of the library is located on the second floor and is designed to address the tough situations teens often encounter. The area includes four computers, booths for use when working on group projects, and wireless Internet access, which is also available throughout the library.
Librarian recommendations:
Shine by Lauren Myracle
The Lost Gate by Orson Scott Card
The genealogy reading room contains almost everything that someone wanting to research family history could ever need. A state-of-the-art microfilm reader allows patrons to scan through and print what they need. The library collects regional and local genealogical records, which before never had a dedicated space, and houses them here.
The community room, on the second floor, is a large, auditorium-style room with space for 100-150 people. The multipurpose area accommodates large gatherings, such as lectures and meetings. Apart from the community room, conference rooms and atriums work well for smaller groups and special events.
— Carson Blackwelder
Jackson County Public Library Complex
310 Keener Street
Sylva, N.C. 28779
(828) 586-2016
fontanalib.org/sylva
Janet Hurley is a freelance writer and founding director of True Ink, which provides creative programming for young writers. She lives in Asheville with her husband and two children.
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