The regional library program was first developed in Tennessee because of the large population, the distances between the cities, and the lack of public library service across the state. The program was first authorized by state legislature in 1936 but was not funded until 1940, when the Tennessee Valley Authority contracted with Lawson McGhee Library in Knoxville to provide service to four counties in East Tennessee.

During 1946, the counties of Franklin, Lawrence, Marshall and Warren formed a region known as the Middle Tennessee State College Region. In 1947, three counties were added to the region - Coffee, Rutherford, and Wilson. These were followed by Bedford County in 1949, Maury County in 1951. and Moore County in 1953.

In July 1954, Lawrence, Marshall and Maury counties were transferred to a new region at Columbia called the Blue Grass Region. At the same time three other counties were transferred from the Austin Peay Region into the newly formed region. These counties were Hickman, Lewis and Perry.

In October 1955, Giles County came into the Blue Grass Region with Wayne County joining in 1956. Williamson County, the last county in the state to join the regional system, joined Blue Grass in 1968. Since 1968 the region has been made up of nine counties - Giles, Hickman, Lawrence, Lewis, Marshall, Maury, Perry, Wayne and Williamson.

The Blue Grass Region was set up by Miss Mary Nelson Bates of the Tennessee State Library and Archives, who acted as director until the arrival of Miss Mary Melton in October 1954. Since then Blue Grass has seen a succession of regional directors. The current regional director is Marion Bryant.

The Blue Grass Regional Library Board was officially organized on July 25, 1955. Blue Grass contracts each year with the nine member counties and the Tennessee State Library and Archives to coordinate local library services in the region to provide technical
advice and assistance to the local librarians. The region supplies a large collection of materials to supplement those owned by the local libraries and provides regular bookmobile service in the rural areas of the region.

As the largest of the twelve multi-county regions, the Blue Grass Region's service area covers 4,822 square miles and has a population of approximately 327,409. The regional library currently services 25 libraries and 40 bookmobile stations. On July 1, 1999, Blue Grass became a part of the State of Tennessee Department of State.