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1
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2
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- Lexington Library opened October 23, 1928 on West Second Avenue in Burgin´s
store, the building that is today Buddha’s Texas Grill in the old
Snack Shop Building. Davidson County was one of the first NC libraries
to offer bookmobile service throughout the county to all residents.
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3
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4
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- Lexington and Thomasville libraries opened with a total budget of $7,000
derived from county and city revenues. Davidson was later one of only
two North Carolina counties to receive funds from the Julius Rosenwald
Foundation to provide library services to the entire county. This grant made Davidson County
the first county in the South extending library service to all citizens
including African Americans.
- October 25, Thomasville Library opened in the library room of the high
school which was located on the second floor of the school on
East Main Street. The
collection consisted of 200 books.
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5
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- A few months later, the library was moved to a small room on Commerce
Street in 1929.
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6
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- 1st branch of the Lexington library for African American citizens
was opened in the Dunbar School serving children during the
school day, and adults after school. This "colored" branch was
consolidated in 1968 at the 221 South Main Street location.
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7
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8
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- In 1929, the Davidson County Public Library which consisted of the
Lexington and Thomasville libraries began serving the rest of the county
from a "Book Truck." From 1929 until 2003 all sections of
Davidson County have been served by a bookmobile.
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9
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- In the North Davidson Area
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10
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11
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12
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13
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- November/December, 1936
- The library moved to 48 Salem Street, due to a need for more space.
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14
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15
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- Lexington, Thomasville, and Thomasville “Colored” libraries
all moved to different facilities during this year.
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16
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17
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- During May of 1938, the Thomasville library was moved to a room on the
first floor of the west wing of the new City Hall which had been
designated for that use.
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18
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19
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- When Church Street School was opened in 1938
for the African American community, the county moved the
contents of the small library building on the corner of
Church and Highland Streets to the book collection of the
school and checked out books to children, and after school, to adults.
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20
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21
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- In response to requests from local citizens, the Davidson County
commissioners in May of 1946 approved an appropriation of $50 per month
for a third branch of the Davidson County Public Library in Denton with
the understanding that suitable quarters would be provided by the town.
The local Lions Club responded by providing the location, which was a
rented room above Morris-Lanier Grocery Store on the south side of
Salisbury Street at the North Main intersection.
- The library was located upstairs with a collection of about 600 books.
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22
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- In August 1950, the Denton Library moved to N. Main St. now the home of
the Village Restaurant.
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23
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24
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25
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- In 1955, a community-minded group of individuals composed of six area
clubs realized the need for a library in Welcome. They met and agreed to
rent the two rooms in the home and office building of Dr. V.C. Lanier
(presently BB&T Bank) to open a library for the citizens of the
area. Each club would pay two months rent each
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26
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- Denton moved to its 3rd location in July 1958 on S. Main
St. now DENCO Inc.
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27
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28
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- In 1961 after the death of J. Walter Lambeth, a wing for reference
services was added to the Thomasville building in his memory.
- In 1968, the Brown Street
Library closed and was consolidated into the 22 Randolph St.
location. All races had been
served from the 22 Randolph St. location since 1962.
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29
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- The library system purchased
a new bookmobile in the 1960s.
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30
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- In 1966, The library moved from its crowded E. Center St. facility to
the Peeler & Briggs Building, its first Main Street location. The
building at 221 South Main Street is located next to the Civic
Center. In 2003, it is a fabric store.
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31
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- In 1969, the Denton Library was moved into space in the new county
building on Salisbury Street; this new location did not necessarily
offer more space than previous locations, but it did have the advantage
of being county owned.
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32
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33
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- 1970 the Davidson County Historical Museum became a division of the
library. The museum is in the Old Court House on the Square in
Lexington. Built in 1858, it is the oldest building owned by Davidson
County and is often used as a symbol of both the history and the modern
presence of Davidson County and its citizens.
- The museum was founded in this building in 1972 by the Davidson County
Historical Association.
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34
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- In 1971, the library with other county agencies moved into a new county
facility built for their use.
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35
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- The library system became a part of county government in 1975.
- Expanded services increased public use of the Lexington facility and
exacerbated the facility's space problems. By 1975, the library
director's office and technical services division had been moved from
the library to rented quarters.
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36
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37
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- When the Columbia Food Building, at 602 S. Main St., became available in
the fall of 1982, the library trustees were asked to consider the
property as a possible site.
- In July 1983, the project received a $200,000 grant from the State of
North Carolina.
- The fund drive began on Nov. 9 and by Feb. 11, 1984, the campaign had
passed the halfway mark of its goal of $600,000. Three months late,
pledges in excess of $900,000 had been received from the community.
- Construction bids were awarded by the county commissioners in July, work
began in October 1984, and the project was completed on May 24, 1985.
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38
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- The move to the new facility was accomplished June 8 through 24 and
again was a community effort with the National Guard and National Guard
Auxiliary volunteering their services. The dedication on June 30, 1985,
culminated a 25-year effort to secure a new headquarters library for
Lexington and Davidson County.
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39
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- By 1987, county agencies had vacated the North Davidson Library and
Office Building leaving the 5,920-square-foot building available solely
for library usage. A larger children’s department, office space
and work area were created and the library continued to grow and
increase services and provide a wider range of materials for the growing
population of the northern section of the county.
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40
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41
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- Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the new library on Aug. 4, 1989.
- On July 20, 1990, doors closed at 22 Randolph Street library
building. Last Summer Reading Party held in the building
on the same day that volunteers began to move the materials
to 14 Randolph Street.
- The new facility opened on Aug. 20 and was officially dedicated on Oct.
25, 1990.
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42
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- In 1991, the county acquired the Denton High School vocational education
building across West Salisbury Street from Denton Elementary School.
- March 2, 1992,
- 310 W Salisbury St. became the Denton’s current home.
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43
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44
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- In 1998 the county commissioners approved the expansion of the North
Davidson facility to help meet the needs of that growing community. In
May of 1999 the new 3,000-square-foot addition was ready for occupation.
The North Davidson Library staff pitched in to help paint shelves in
order for the library to be prepared for the June summer reading
program.
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45
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46
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- Following a funding campaign that raised over $280,000,the West Davidson
Public Library, was officially dedicated on June 3, 2001, becoming the
fifth library in the county system.
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47
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- The West Davidson Building was named in honor of Edna and Ardell Lanier.
- Donor contributions provided an etched glass Tree of Knowledge window.
- Lucille Myers a former school teacher gave $30,000 for a lighted stained
glass window relating the concepts of reading, teaching and learning for
the entrance foyer.
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48
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49
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Notes
