CARRBORO, NC – The grand opening celebration of the Drakeford Library Complex located at 203 S. Greensboro St. is set for 11 a.m. Friday, March 21. A previous date for the grand opening was postponed following a winter storm that created hazardous travel conditions.
The $42 million development is the home of the Orange County Southern Branch Library, the Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department, Orange County Skills Development and NCWorks Career Center, WCOM Radio, and public performance and multipurpose spaces.
The largest public facility in the history of Carrboro, the three-level building was designed by Perkins & Will Architects and built by Barnhill Contracting Company. At about 52,000 square feet, it features a library, workrooms, classrooms, meeting rooms, flex spaces, a radio studio, third-floor terrace, a performance space and more. The building is attached to a parking deck consisting of 171 parking spaces.
Grand Opening
While the facility has been open to the public , the event to mark its completion is cause for celebration. The grand opening will feature a ribbon cutting, remarks by special guests including members of the Drakeford Family, and tours of the building. Refreshments will be provided by Neal’s Deli and Open Eye Café.
Officiating the public ceremony will be Carrboro Mayor Barbara Foushee and Orange County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jamezetta Bedford, joined by U.S. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, Town Manager Patrice Toney, and members of the Drakeford family, including Derrick Drakeford and Bobby Drakeford, sons of the late Dr. Robert Drakeford.
Find the following services at the new Drakeford Library Complex:
The public complex hosts traditional library services as well as new collaborative programming. New and enhanced programs will weave together learning with leisure, personal growth with vital workforce readiness. Residents will be able to seek help with literacy and learning and with job and career searches, all under the same roof.
- Orange County Southern Branch Library – The Orange County Public Library provides free access to a rich collection of a variety of materials, ranging from books to board games with digital access available through services like Libby and Hoopla. Beyond its collections, the library offers essential resources such as research databases, public computers, and free Wi-Fi. With a focus on community engagement, the library hosts programs and events for all ages, from storytimes and book clubs to programs that promote lifelong learning. Patrons can also take advantage of meeting and study room reservations, notary services, and digital learning resources. For more information, visit https://orangecountync.gov/1152/Locations-Hours
According to Erin Sapienza, director of the Orange County Public Library: "The library is more than just a place for books; it is a dynamic community hub where learning, culture, and collaboration come together. By co-locating with partners in Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources and the Orange County Skills Development Center, we are expanding opportunities for our residents in ways never before possible. We are excited to welcome the Carrboro community into this inspiring new space and whether you're here to borrow a book, find a study space, explore career resources, or participate in a community event, we are here for you.” - Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department including performance/multipurpose uses and a Teen Center, managed by the Town of Carrboro. The department’s staff offices are located here. https://www.carrboronc.gov/275/Recreation-Parks-Cultural-Resources ;
According to J.G. Ferguson, director of the Recreation, Parks & Cultural Resources Department: “Recreation and cultural services have always been the heart of the Carrboro community. We are excited to launch a teen center, the first for Carrboro, as well as performance space that will be utilized for many of our special events and festivals.” - Orange County Skills Development and NCWorks Career Center -- The center serves as a comprehensive resource hub, offering career assessment and counseling, on-site and virtual workshops, training and education information, employment assistance for individuals with disabilities, and talent management strategies and solutions for employers. Learn more at https://www.orangecountync.gov/1823/NC-Works-Skills-Development-Center ;
- WCOM Radio -- WCOM is a community radio station broadcasting locally on 103.5 FM via a 100-watt signal. https://wcomfm.org/ ;
- Durham Tech – Durham Technical Community College, which serves Orange and Durham counties, offers a Nursing Aid NA Lab. Durham Tech's Center for the Global Learners and Center for Workforce Engagement also will use classroom and office space.
- Guardian Ad Litem – The Orange County Guardian ad Litem Program is part of the North Carolina Guardian ad Litem Program, a division of the North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, which recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer advocates in every county across the state. Its mission is to be a voice for the children in our community. Volunteers are trained as child advocates for abused and neglected children. Child advocates and attorneys work together to champion children’s needs in court. Child advocates promote a safe and permanent home for children. Learn more at www.volunteerforgal.org.
- Opportunities for education, art, and connection – A reservation system for meeting space is being developed by both the Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources Department and the Orange County Library. It will be made publicly available following coordination among the public partners.
- Learn more at https://www.carrboronc.gov/3122/The-Drakeford-Library-Complex
Historical Background
Separate votes by the Carrboro Town Council and the Orange County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, gave final approval for the library and civic development. The vote followed a long-term collaboration between Carrboro and Orange County, engagement with residents, boards and commissions, and design and planning work. Construction has been underway following a groundbreaking ceremony on May 5, 2022. Project updates have been provided at https://townofcarrboro.org/1151/Drakeford-Library-Complex-formerly-The-2 ;
Sustainability Features
Green building features on the LEED-gold equivalent structure include a 75 kW rooftop solar array, daylighting, and a high-efficiency heating and cooling system, water saving fixtures, green roofs and native plantings.
There are five public EV charging spots, and another 25 parking spots are installed with EV-ready infrastructure for future upgrades.
Getting There
- Situated in the heart of downtown Carrboro, the complex is located at 203 S. Greensboro Street, south of Carr Mill Mall and Weaver Street Market. The main entrance on Roberson Street is directly across the street from Open Eye Café and a couple blocks west of The Arts Center.
- Access the parking garage from Roberson Street. Parking rules will be consistent with the Town of Carrboro rules for all public parking locations, which is free two-hour parking. For more about parking in downtown Carrboro, visit www.CarrboroNC.gov/Parking ;
- Accessible from Chapel Hill Transit bus routes CW, F, and J routes, the Go Triangle 405 route, a sidewalk along S. Greensboro Street, and the Libba Cotten Bikeway.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are the hours of operation? Please contact agencies directly for their specific hours. The Orange County Southern Branch Library hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12 to 6 p.m. Sunday. Carrboro Recreation, Parks and Cultural Resources regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for staff member appointments. Programming hours will vary for special activities and events.
- What are the parking rules? Access the parking garage from Roberson Street. Public parking is available on levels 1-3. Parking will be consistent with the Town of Carrboro rules for all public parking locations, which is free 2-hour parking. For more about parking in downtown Carrboro, visit https://townofcarrboro.org/2774/Downtown-Parking
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ABOUT ROBERT DRAKEFORD
CARRBORO, NC – The new public building at 203 S. Greensboro St. is named the Drakeford Library Complex in honor of former Mayor Robert Drakeford.
Robert “Bob” Drakeford made history as Carrboro’s first Black mayor, elected in 1977 and serving until 1983.
- Dr. Drakeford served as alderman from 1975 to 1977 before being elected as mayor in 1977. A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill’s city and regional planning program, he was an advocate for public transit and cycling, and he developed valuable collaborations with other progressive Black mayors in the South during his tenure.
- Dr. Drakeford held public office when the Council (then Board of Aldermen) hired Richard Knight as the town’s first Black town manager, employed from 1976-1980. And he served as mayor during the hiring of the Town’s first professional planner, who was Black. This decision helped set high standards that eventually made Carrboro more accessible to pedestrians and cyclists. He also established a loan program to encourage business entrepreneurs and created the Carrboro Community Park, later renamed the Hank Anderson Community Park. The biggest issue during his tenure was planning the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Bus System.
- Dr. Drakeford was a veteran who proudly served our country in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968. Following his time in service, he received a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University, and a master’s degree at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, going on to further his education by receiving his Doctorate of Philosophy from the University North Carolina at Greensboro. He was a political science professor, serving with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and 4-H Development at Auburn University.
- Dr. Drakeford was born on April 25, 1945 in New York City, son of the late Robert and Elizabeth McLeod Drakeford, and died on May 16, 2022 (buried at the Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery).
- Thanks to the Wilson Special Collections Library at UNC-Chapel Hill for photograph of Robert Drakeford.