Durham County Main Library Reopens Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Durham, NC — Durham County Library is absolutely thrilled to announce that Main Library in downtown Durham reopens its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 at 2 p.m. Located at 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27701, the fully renovated, four-story building featuring an outdoor terrace and green roof, two maker spaces, public computers, space to work and learn, and a fabulous collection of books for all ages, was scheduled to open in April 2020. While the pandemic delayed the opening and isn’t something we’d planned for, here’s what we’re planning now: a public library in the heart of downtown Durham for all to enjoy.
Main Library moved to its current building in 1980 and serves as the central location for the Durham County Library system, which was established in 1897. In addition to the extensive collections and services available to the public, Main Library houses Library Administration, Community Engagement and Outreach Services, Resources and Technical Services, as well as the extensive North Carolina Collection. Thanks to the passage of a bond referendum in 2016, Main Library closed in 2017 for a major expansion and renovation
Among the many updates to this incredible new facility include an additional 33,000 sq ft, increasing the total size to nearly 100,000 sq ft; four new inclusive play areas, including a multi-sensory environment with a fiber optic waterfall and an inclusive play area with an 8-foot-by-6-foot interactive light wall; an expanded space for the North Carolina Collection; an Incubator space dedicated to serving small businesses in Durham; an outdoor amphitheater and indoor auditorium; and so much more. “We expect the fully reinvented space to be a significant community and learning center for all,” says Tammy Baggett-Best, Library Director. “We are so excited to at last share this amazing building with our library community.”
Durham County Library encourages discovery, connects the community, and leads in literacy. As a department of Durham County Government, the library furthers Goal 1 of the county’s Strategic Plan by enhancing cultural, educational, and creative opportunities. For more information about the library, visit DurhamCountyLibrary.org.