About Us

“When one wishes to do a thing, the most one can do is try.” --Jennie Woodworth.

The Jennie Woodworth Library opened its doors on June 1, 2009, carrying forward a legacy of vision and community spirit that reaches back more than a century.

Its namesake, Jennie Woodworth, first came to White Bluff in the late 1870s. After a brief time away, she returned in 1905, arriving in a covered spring wagon from Chicago. What she found was a struggling little town—muddy streets, shabby houses, no sidewalks, no school, and livestock roaming freely. Guided by the encouragement of her mentor, Colonel Killibrew of Montgomery County, Jennie took it upon herself to bring change.

A determined advocate, Jennie petitioned the state legislature to incorporate White Bluff as a city, despite opposition from major taxpayers. Once incorporated, progress followed: a school was built, sidewalks laid, and even a tax increase was secured to fund improvements. But Jennie’s most enduring achievement was the establishment of the Elizabeth House in 1905—a combination school and library funded entirely through donations collected from Episcopal churches nationwide. With donated books and a mission to educate, Elizabeth House became White Bluff’s first library. It also served as a hub for community life, offering reading classes for all, sewing classes for young ladies, and even hosting the town’s very first Christmas celebration.

More than a century later, the people of White Bluff carried Jennie’s vision forward. On June 1, 2009, the Jennie Woodworth Library officially opened in the former city administrative offices on Taylor Town Road. Like its predecessor, it was built through the generosity of local businesses, organizations, and residents. The library was entirely volunteer run, a labor of love embraced by the community it served.

The strong support of those volunteers and donors allowed the library to grow. In March 2015, the library moved into its current home inside the Bibb-White Bluff Civic Center on Old Charlotte Road. Today, the Jennie Woodworth Library is open six days a week, offering a wide variety of books, DVDs, audiobooks, and access to technology, with public computers for both adults and children. The library also provides regular storytimes and a summer reading program, continuing Jennie’s tradition of inspiring learning and imagination for young readers.

More than just a collection of materials, the Jennie Woodworth Library is an enterprise of the people of White Bluff and the surrounding communities. Carrying Jennie’s spirit of determination and belief in the power of knowledge, the library continues to be the welcoming heart of the community: honoring history, sparking imagination, promoting literacy, and opening opportunities for lifelong learning to all.

Colorization of Christmas Tree picture
by Rachel Christian