To celebrate National Library Week, we offer you some remarkable facts about your state’s libraries.
State Library of North Carolina historical marker
Most libraries in North Carolina trace their official beginnings to the early 20th century, with a few notable exceptions:
- Bath had a circulating library in the 1700s and claims the honor of being the only pre-revolutionary lending library in the state.
- The State Library of North Carolina was first established in the state capitol building in 1812.
- Statesville had a circulating collection in the 1840s (Statesville Landmark, Mar. 31, 1882).
- Buncombe County, too, can claim with pride that their first subscription library was established in 1879.
- The Durham Public Library, established in 1897, holds the distinction of being the first free tax-supported library in the state. The success of Durham’s public library led to a library boom, with institutions being established in the counties of Wake (1901), Anson (1902), Wayne (1902), Guilford (1902), Mecklenburg (1903), Craven (1906), Cumberland (1907), and Granville (1908). read more
National Library Week is April 11-17, but you can celebrate your public library year ’round.
