Noteworthy

Grand opening planned for new Orange County library

A grand opening for the new {{a href="external_link-1"}}Orange County Main Library{{/a}}, 137 West Margaret Lane in Hillsborough, will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, library officials announced.

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HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — A grand opening for the new Orange County Main Library, 137 West Margaret Lane in Hillsborough, will be held at 10 a.m. on Jan. 8, library officials announced.

The 23,500-square-foot building will feature more than 16 public access computers, a teen center, a 90-person meeting room, a local history area and the capacity to hold more than 80,000 items in the complete collection.

The first floor of the library is devoted to children with an expanded collection, unique furniture and a story time area.

The planning of a new library began nearly 10 years ago with the formation of the 2000 Library Task Force. After many years of discussion, a ground breaking ceremony was held in April 2008.

The Jan. 8 ribbon cutting will follow remarks from county and state officials, including Orange County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Valerie Foushee and North Carolina State Librarian Mary Boone.

The Friends of the Orange County Public Library will also present a check for $20,000 that will be used to support the new facility. The public is invited and welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

The Grand Opening will feature an art exhibition, “The Other Side of Orange County” by local photographer Kent Corley and a poem by Friends of the Orange Library member, Max Preston.

Preston will also present a special children’s marionette program at 10 a.m. on Jan. 9 dedicated to the new library.

“The new Main Library will provide excellent educational, recreational and cultural services, as well as being an asset for economic development and opportunity. Our county commissioners and citizens support has been critical to this project from beginning to end,” Orange County Library Director Lucinda Munger said in a statement.

The Orange County Public Library system also includes a branch in Cedar Grove and two branches in Carrboro, the Cybrary in the Century Center and a joint facility in the Carrboro-McDougle Middle School. It is also part of the Hyconeechee Regional Library system, which includes Person and Caswell counties.

For more information about the new library and other available services, visit http://www.co.orange.nc.us/library.