From the beginning, the Highland Library Association fought hard to obtain county funding. The library continued to grow, adding books, services, and programs for both children and adults. The library regularly reported their growth and good news in The Recorder. But, inevitably, the cost to be included in the regional library system continued to grow as well. By 1981 the cost had risen to $17,547. There were also growing conflicts between the library leadership and the regional library system over ownership of items donated locally.
In 1981, the Highland Library Association voted to quit the Botetourt-Rockbridge Regional Library system and try sustaining themselves as an independent library. According to their contract, they needed to give two years notice, and every book and service provided by the regional system would be taken back. Thankfully, Highland was treated very graciously by Library Director, Linda Krantz, and the other libraries in the regional system. They were almost immediately released from their contract and were allowed to keep the books they’d been given. Unfortunately, it also spelled the end of bookmobiles making rounds in the county. Highland County’s grand experiment with joining a regional library system was officially concluded.
