In the strategic plan adopted last year, we set high priority goals to provide robust outreach, programming and partnerships; expand technology offerings; modernize library facilities; and offer high quality collections.

We have been hard at work to realize these goals.

In addition to the major improvements to our Lumberton Children’s Library, with the support of the Caton Family Charitable Foundation, painting the Main library, and renovating the exterior of the building, we have even more projects underway. So far this year, RCPL has been awarded four grants and we’ve received exciting news about State funding for our Fairmont Public Library relocation project.

RCPL received a $40,000 Adapting Technology Grant from the State Library of North Carolina to expand technology access to our citizens in response to the increased need arising from the pandemic. These grants were made possible by funding from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, IMLS, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, LSTA, as administered by the State Library of North Carolina, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (IMLS grant number LS-250229-OLS-21).

The grant funds provided new laptops for staff who create digital programming and host community events. We are also expanding our computer labs in Red Springs and Maxton. This will include additional computers and new computer furniture. We are also excited to announce that we will be launching a Chromebook Lending program this fall. We have 50 Chromebooks, 40 of which were purchased with grant funds, that will be available for patrons to borrow for personal use. We hope that these devices will greatly help our community connect to the digital world with ease. We are finalizing the details of this lending program and will share more information soon.

Supporting the health and wellness of our library staff is also very important to us, especially during such tiring times. We received a $1,260 Wellness Grant from the NC League of Municipalities, NCLM, who provides our medical insurance, for a 10-week weight loss and fitness program for our covered employees.

The grant paid for pedometers, a 1-gallon motivational water bottle, and entry fees into a virtual marathon through the Conqueror Challenge. Participants also have free access to a skills-based digital weight loss program offered by NCLM. Participants set individual hydration and fitness goals and we are all looking forward to our virtual marathon, which starts in a couple of weeks. Our team will collectively trek 828 miles around Iceland in the Ring Road Challenge over the course of four weeks.

We strive to be champions for early literacy efforts in our county. We are incredibly excited to announce that the Library was just selected to receive a $2,000 grant from the Robeson County Community Foundation Unrestricted Endowment and a $2,300 grant from the Robeson County Community Foundation Frank M.& Betty Fukuda Memorial Fund to establish community early literacy centers.

These are component funds of the North Carolina Community Foundation. The Unrestricted Endowment is funding “The Reading Cycle” project, which will empower our staff to create two literacy centers in local laundromats to enrich the experience of young children while they wait. The Frank M. & Betty Fukuda Memorial Fund is supporting the “Reaching Readers” project, which will create 2 literacy centers in Pembroke community locations to support the fund’s mission of enhancing Native American education. These literacy centers may include bookcases, youth seating, books, literacy manipulatives, and signage. We are in the planning phase of these projects and look forward to sharing more information this fall.

We have a wonderful opportunity to expand youth services and modernize library facilities all in one project. We are thrilled that the NC legislature appropriated $500,000 to the Town of Fairmont for the library relocation project in the new budget. This is in addition to the earlier $50,000 grant secured by Sen. Danny Britt. We are incredibly grateful to Rep. Charles Graham and Sen. Britt for this magnificent appropriation to invest in the public library services for the Fairmont area.

The project was locally adopted last year between the Town of Fairmont and the RCPL board of trustees. We have been investigating the possibility of moving the library from its current location to the “old post office” building across the street. News of this funding will ensure that we can carry out this project. Demolition in the new site is underway and space planning is currently being worked on. Although we do not have a completion date at this time, this is a prioritized project for RCPL and the Town. We look forward to bringing innovative youth programs and beautiful library spaces to Fairmont soon.

Life is busy at the library and we couldn’t be happier. Our strategic plan is modeled after community input and we are making it happen. We enjoy seeing our communities use their libraries and cannot wait for these new projects to be fully realized. We are grateful for every bit of support we have received and we hope you come visit us soon.