Marie Ellison Memorial Library

06/01/2026

Since our theme this year is "Unearth a Story", the mind automatically goes to dinosaurs. And there are dinosaurs.

But there is so much more to archeology than just dinosaurs. Archeology can help us find our history as human beings, and one of those ways in through Petroglyphs and Pictographs.

Petroglyphs are images carved, scratched or chipped into the surface of a rock. Many places in the western US have them, but they can also be found other places around the country, and around the world! We even have some here in Tennessee!

Pictographs are often painted on rocks, in caves, on belongings and the image is a symbol that resembled a physical object like the sun, animals, people.

Here's a virtual tour of some petroglyphs.
https://www.mnhs.org/jefferspetroglyphs/activities/virtual-tour

Other sites to look at to see petroglyphs and pictographs:

https://www.ancientartarchive.org/rock-art-10-places-to-see-it-in-the-united-states/

and where you can learn about the materials used!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2_xECW13s8

In 2021, we traveled across the United States, visiting archeological sites around the country. These are the 15 best ancient rock art sites that we saw on ...

06/01/2026

Summer Reading starts THIS WEDNESDAY! at 1pm.

Due to the flooding in other parts of the county, our program for this week may have to change.

So this Wednesday is a Surprise! You'll just have to come and see!

We'll also be getting you started for our third year of the Literacy Treasure Hunt- this is for babies through 8th graders!

I'd also like to introduce you to our new program - our Traveling Dino Backpacks! This is a buddy you can check out and take on adventures with you! Each dino comes with a notebook and a dino pen, so you can share your adventures with us! You are welcome to print off and glue in pictures of your adventures together as well, or you can email them to the library! There's snacks in the front pocket for you to share, and each dino has a blanket for naptimes.

You can check a dino buddy out for a week, and we want to hear all about your adventures during that week!

Hope to see you all here!

P.S, - If you are coming for Summer Reading on June 3rd, wear something you can get dirty in!

05/29/2026

05/29/2026

See these two boxes? Inside are just some of the books your family could get for free by participating in the Cocke County Literacy Treasure Hunt!

Now I'm not going to spoil the surprise of what those books may be, just tease you a little. But starting next week, if you go to your home library here in the county, you can get book review forms. All you have to do is write four book reviews this summer in June and July, turn them in to your home library, and you will get a Literacy Passport and a list for businesses and offices that week you can visit to get a free book! Just take your passport in with you when you go! Four booke reviews, four different lists of places all through the county!

Jennifer at the C5 tent can answer questions you might have about it!

And don't forget - Summer Reading Programs start this coming week as well!

05/27/2026

We lost our internet and wifi for a while due to a power blip resetting our router in a way I could not fix, but by luck, our wonderful tech person happened to be in the county doing work elsewhere and was able to swing by and get us all fixed up!

Thank you to Parrottsville Community Library for posting the notice for us!

Send a message to learn more

05/24/2026

Since we're all about books, and we love miniatures, why not the best of both?

Check out this collection if miniature books from the Library of Congress!

05/23/2026

The library will be closed on Monday for Memorial Day.

We'll see you on Wednesday!

05/20/2026

This goes well with our summer reading theme this year - a new species of dinosaur just discovered!

Paleontologists have dubbed the long-necked, plant-eating creature "Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis." It's the 14th named dinosaur from Thailand, and it might be the biggest one ever found in Southeast Asia

05/20/2026

We have a lost community member - he left Pond Curve area yesterday afternoon and has not been seen since.

Please keep an eye out for this gentleman. Please contact the sheriff's office immediately if you see him or his bike.

MISSING PERSON: Please be on the lookout Marty Pellasma, age 71. He has medical conditions. He went for a motorcycle ride late yesterday (19th) morning and hasn't returned. He would be in Cocke County or just over into NC. Possibly Paint Creek, Hurricane Gap to Hot Springs or Martha Sundquist. He is on black/grey Yamaha TW200 dual sport. We have already notified Madison County and Greene County Sheriff’s Office to assist in locating him. Local Volunteer Fire Departments, EMA, and others will begin an active search. If you all have any information that will assist, please call Dispatch at 423-623-3064.