The legislative body of any county and/or the governing body of any incorporated city or town has the power to establish and maintain a free public library, give support to any free public library already in existence, contract with another library for library service for its citizens, or enter into contractual agreements with one or more counties or cities for joint operation of a free public library.  T.C.A. § 10-3-101 et seq. To fund these services a county may levy a property tax or may use funds raised for general county or municipal purposes.  Libraries established under these statutes must be free to all inhabitants of the county and/or city; the city or county may allow use of the library by those residing outside its territorial boundaries upon such terms as it may deem proper. T.C.A. § 10-3-107.

Counties may participate in the state's regional library system. The regional library system is composed of such regional offices as the secretary of state may establish, each office providing support and assistance to the public libraries in the counties assigned to it under the direction of the state librarian and archivist. The secretary of state may establish criteria for joining and for continuing participation in the regional library system. Local public libraries meeting such criteria may join or leave the regional library system by vote of the county commission or city governing body. T.C.A. § 10-5-101.