A Message from The Friends of the Aberdeen Library: A Library for the Next 100 Years

Aberdeen has a tradition of literacy that is grounded by the Page Memorial Library, which is beginning its 108th year of service in downtown Aberdeen. It is the second oldest continuous use public library in North Carolina. The building is 960 square feet, containing approximately 6,500 volumes and is opened four hours a day Monday through Friday. This facility has faithfully served southern Moore County as a library free to the public since 1907. We are committed to continuing the tradition set by Page Memorial Library. The Friends of the Aberdeen Library was formed by a group of citizens dedicated to bringing a new library to Aberdeen that will serve the needs of our citizens for the next 100 years.

The goal is ambitious – bring a new library to a site in Aberdeen’s Historic District with approximately 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of space that will provide the following:

• A children’s section
• After school programs for our children 
• Summer reading and activities for our children 
• Access to volumes of books through the continued association with the Sandhill Regional Library System 
• Meeting space for local civic groups 
• Learning areas for English as a Second Language and Adult Reading classes 
• Access to computers for school research, job searches and general access to the World Wide Web as a resource for students and businesses
• Adequate space for the library staff to support the needs of the library and its users
• Full time hours on a weekly basis with the appropriate staff and volunteers
  

We have been working with the Town Board of Commissioners to determine a suitable site in the downtown area and are close to making a selection.

Once we have the site locked down, we will begin a fund raising campaign to find the necessary monies to build this facility. This endeavor will take several years to raise the necessary funding. We anticipate our fund raising efforts to begin now and culminate in 2017 with a new facility being constructed and opened in 2018. And through it all we will be working with the Town Board to ensure that Page Memorial Library remains a part of the Sandhill Regional Library System.

The Friends of the Aberdeen Library is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to help find funding to build and sustain this new library – all donations are tax deductible. The new facility will be a member of the Sandhill Regional Library System and will be maintained by the Town of Aberdeen. Our Capital Campaign to raise the necessary funds has begun – and we hope that you will join us! You can become a supporter of The Friends of the Aberdeen Library for $25/annual dues and/or you can make a contribution towards the library funding.

If you would like for us to meet with your organization or group and share our vision statement and goals, please drop us a line and we will set up a date. Our mailing address is: P. O. Box 583, Aberdeen, NC 28315. We look forward to your involvement in this endeavor.

Please check out our web page: http://aberdeenlibrary.wix.com/aberdeenlibrary. Take the survey on the right hand side of the web page and let your voice be heard. Also, like us on Facebook, friendofaberdeenlibrary, and take the survey on that page. Or drop us a line at: P. O. Box 583, Aberdeen, NC 28315. We look forward to working with you to bring a new library to Aberdeen – one that will be here for the next 100 years!