It all began with a big idea: give students easy access to the best educational resources and learning materials in our libraries and on the Internet. In 2009, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean asked Nashville Public Library to take the lead in a new partnership between the public and school libraries, with NPL recommending specific steps to improve the school libraries, to foster resource sharing between the two institutions, and to improve student access to learning materials. NPL was charged with collection development and purchasing for school libraries to meet state standards for volumes and quality of materials.

 

A pilot project with 3 high schools and a 9th grade academy began 2009. City funding was expanded to carry the program forward to all 16 area high schools in the 2010-2011 school year. The 2011-2012 school year brought more expansion. With the 2012-2013 school year, Limitless Libraries began serving all 140 MNPS schools!

 

Tricia began her library career at 15 in her Kentucky hometown as a Page. After finishing her MLS at the University of KY, she has worked for a library vendor, two State libraries and most recently at Nashville Public Library in Tennessee. In 2011, she was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker. She is most interested in designing programs that fit the needs of the local community and using technology in creative ways. For the past four years, Tricia has focused on creating an innovative partnership between her public library and the local school system, culminating in a merger of the two systems.