Good morning, Cookeville.

Spring is officially here, and this week the library is stealing the show. Today, the Putnam County Library is screening a PBS documentary about librarians fighting book challenges — and sticking around for the panel discussion afterward is well worth it. The rest of the week has good stuff too: a brand new pet spa opens Wednesday, Young Professionals are gathering Thursday, and Hix Farm has live music Tuesday and Thursday plus trivia Wednesday.

Let's get to it.

— The Cookeville Scoop Team

Ribbon Cutting: Peachy Clean Pet Spa — Wednesday, April 1 — Cookeville's newest pet grooming business is celebrating its grand opening with an official ribbon cutting hosted by the Chamber. If you've got a dog or cat in need of a spa day, this is a great time to meet the team and learn what they're all about. Details on time and address are at the Chamber's events page — worth a quick check before you head over. Free to attend.

Chamber New Member Lunch — Wednesday, April 1 — If you've been thinking about joining the Cookeville-Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, this monthly lunch is the friendliest possible on-ramp. Low-key, no pressure, and a good way to see who's already in the room. Registration required — check the Chamber for time and location.

YP Highlands — Thursday, April 2 — The Chamber's Young Professionals group meets this Thursday. If you're a young professional in the area and haven't connected with this crowd, this is a good excuse to show up. Details at the Chamber's events page.

Irrationale Kitchen + Taps runs happy hour twice daily on Tuesdays and Fridays: 2–4 PM in the afternoon, then again from 8 PM through close. $3 select draft beers, $6 well spirits, $5 house wine, and half-price select appetizers — either window works depending on your evening. Full specials at irrationalekitchen.com.

The Putnam Room has Whiskey Wednesdays this week — half off all whiskey, bourbon, and scotch from 5–9 PM. If bourbon is your thing and you haven't found an excuse to make it a Wednesday evening ritual, there it is. Weekday happy hour also runs 3–5 PM if you need something before dinner. theputnamroom.com.

The Putnam County Library is screening The Librarians, a PBS documentary about librarians navigating the national wave of book challenges, today — Monday, March 30 — from 1:30 to 4:00 PM. Admission is free, and a community panel discussion follows the film.

If you've been following the national conversation about book bans and library funding, this is a chance to have that conversation locally. The documentary puts librarians — often the quietest people in any public debate — at the center of a fight that's very much still going on. And the Q&A format means this isn't just passive watching. It's a real conversation with the people who work here, in this community, every week.

Worth saying plainly: the Putnam County Library is one of Cookeville's more underappreciated assets. Between Lego Club for kids, Story & Craft storytimes, Lunch & Learns, and a full calendar of free programming, it's quietly doing a lot for a wide range of people in this city. Today's event is a chance to show up for the library the same way it shows up for us.

The film itself has been widely praised since its PBS broadcast — sharp, emotionally honest, and not especially preachy. Whether you come in with strong opinions or just curious ones, the discussion after is probably where the most interesting things get said.

It's at 50 East Broad Street, starts at 1:30 PM, and there's nothing to register for — just show up. If you have kids in school, drop them off and make an afternoon of it. The library has a lot going on today (more in Happenings below). Free. More at pclibrary.org.

The Librarians Screening & Q&A at Putnam County Library — Today (Monday, March 30), 1:30–4:00 PM. PBS documentary about librarians and book challenges, followed by a panel discussion. See the full write-up above. Free, no registration needed.

Lego Club (Ages 5–12) at Putnam County Library — Today (Monday, March 30), 3:30–4:30 PM. Kids build freely with Legos in this weekly drop-in session. Limited to 25 participants, so arrive a bit early. Free. pclibrary.org

Story & a Craft: National Crayon Day at Putnam County Library — Tuesday, March 31, 10:00–11:00 AM. It's National Crayon Day (yes, it's a real thing), and the library is celebrating with a storytime about how crayons are made and a hands-on craft activity for little ones. Free. pclibrary.org

Live Music at Hix Farm — Tuesday, March 31, ~7:00 PM. Myster Dahctor and Alan Benest play a mix of solo and duo sets every Tuesday night at Hix Farm Brewery (54 S Cedar Ave). The Food Lab is open for dinner from 5:30 PM if you want to make an evening of it. Free to attend. hixfarm.com

Wild Guess Trivia at Hix Farm — Wednesday, April 1, evening. Pull together a team and head to Hix Farm for weekly trivia night. Good low-key midweek option if you need a reason to get out of the house. Free to participate. hixfarm.com

Twice Told Tales Book Sale at Putnam County Library — Saturday, April 4, 10:00 AM–1:00 PM. Used book sale by the Friends of the Putnam County Library — gently loved books for $0.50–$3.00. If you're a library Friend, Friday is your early access day. Otherwise, Saturday morning is a genuinely fun browse. pclibrary.org

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Thanks for being here with us, Cookeville. Hope you have a wonderful week — and if you find yourself at the library today, we hope the conversation is a good one. 🧡

— The Cookeville Scoop Team