After extensive renovation, COVID delay, Durham's Main Library to reopen today

There's some really good news for Durham County Library patrons: The Main Library is opening today and hours at other libraries are being extended.

The Main Library, which had been slated to open in April 2020 after a massive renovation, will be open to the public for the first time from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., today, Tuesday, July 20.

Starting Wednesday, July 21, it will operate on expanded business hours along with all other Durham library locations except for the Bragtown Branch. Hour will be:

• 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Wednesday
• 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurday through Saturday.

The Bragtown Branch Library hours are 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.

All locations are closed on Sunday. The Durham County Library reopened some of its locations on a limited schedule in April.

“By expanding our open hours, we are responding to the need for greater access to the library and a return to normalcy after this past year,” says Tammy Baggett-Best, library director, in a press release. “We are looking forward to spending more time with the community at our library locations.”

The Main Library closed in 2017 for the massive expansion and renovation project. The new facility has nearly 100,000 square feet of space, 33,000 square feet more than the previous building. it includes four new inclusive play areas, a multi-sensory environment with a fiber optic water fall, an interactive light wall, two maker spaces, an outdoor terrace and green roof and, of course, lots of books.

“We expect the fully reinvented space to be a significant community and learning center for all,” Baggett-Best said in a press release about its opening. “We are so excited to at last share this amazing building with our library community.”

The library system's decision to expand its public hours comes as the county's health department lifts COVID restrictions as more people get vaccinated and COVID cases are declining. Library locations will continue to ask patrons screening questions, check temperature, mandate face masks for everybody age 2 and up and require physical distancing.