Residents of Durham County have good news to start their workweek with, as the Main Library located at 300 N. Roxboro Street is now once again open on Sundays. This addition to the weekend schedule is meant to directly respond to community demand, offering a space freely accessible to all residents for additional hours each week.
The update from the County Manager's recent announcement, which was highlighted on the Durham County website, indicates that beginning last Sunday, the Main Library resumed its operations, a service that was paused since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The expanded hours, from 1-6 p.m., are bound to especially meet the needs of those who may not be able to visit during the weekday or Saturday operational hours. The Bragtown Branch Library is also adjusting its schedule, now opening from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Mondays.
These libraries serve as more than just book depositories or quiet study halls. They are community hubs—free to the public—where residents can enjoy co-working spaces, access public computers, and participate in nearly 6,000 annual programs ranging from bilingual storytimes to author panels, as per the information provided by the County Manager. The libraries also play a critical role in bridging the digital divide, facilitating over 90,000 public computer sessions each year and lending out free Wi-Fi hotspots.
During the first Sunday since reopening, the Main Library welcomed 761 visitors, not even accounting for those who came to use the MakerLab. "We had an overwhelming positive response from the community on Sunday," said interim Library Director Stephanie Fennell to the County Manager, according to the Durham County. "Every customer that I encountered, expressed how happy they were that we were open on Sundays and that they have been waiting for years. There were dozens of people coming with their families to check out books, there were people studying and having meetings. Everyone was using the space just as we envisioned they would!"
The library's value seems to have only risen, with over 2.25 million items circulated last year across Durham County's seven library locations and through the mobile library service. Library cards offer free entry into an expansive world of resources and programs that cater to all ages and interests. The library system assures that award-winning services and resources will continue to be available to everyone irrespective of their background.
For more details on the Durham County library locations and their hours of operation, residents are encouraged to visit the County Manager's desk. As the Main Library reemerges as a Sunday destination, the county invites everyone to take advantage of the enriching environment that the Durham County Library system has on offer.
