A third Wilmington library will be constructed in the coming years after the state announced an agreement to purchase a site on North Market Street.
The creation of the library will be funded through approximately $22 million that was secured in fiscal year 2022-2023 bond bill and American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The new library, which will be located at 3905 N. Market St. where the vintage Saab dealership currently resides, will accommodate increased parking needs and provide ample land for site development.
“Libraries have evolved to meet the needs of communities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Gov. John Carney said. “This new library in Wilmington will provide services to the surrounding community, benefiting families and children for generations.”
This location will not replace the North Wilmington Library Branch at 3400 N. Market St., and instead will exist as a library campus to expand available services. The city’s main library, the Wilmington Public Library, is located in Rodney Square at 10th and Market streets.
The sales agreement is only the first step in creating the new library.
The current site owner can remain on the lot for up to 18 months, while the project undergoes an environmental review and local legislators will continue to meet with the local community about the needs of the library campus.
The initiative to procure the site was led by State Librarian Annie Norman, who worked with leadership at the existing Wilmington Public Library, other community advocates and state legislators during the process.
“This agreement is a huge milestone in our effort to revitalize the community through a state-of-the-art Wilmington Library,” Norman said. “This investment will make a significant difference to the Wilmington community and is a testament to the leadership and hard work of all stakeholders who made this possible.”
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The existing North Wilmington Branch Library will also be using bond bill money, $6 million allocated by the General Assembly, to renovate and expand.
The money will go toward site preparation and design as part of a project to create a new space called “Think. Do. Hub.,” which library officials hope will be completed before the end of 2024.
The renovated library campus will provide space for community organizations and large events, enhance youth literacy rates in the area and spur economic development.
The space will have an updated façade, resources to support workforce development, a state-of-the-art lobby and event space and the potential for a rooftop garden.
In announcing the new library, state leaders, including Secretary of State Jeff Bullock, state Rep. Nmandi Chukwuocha and North Wilmington Library director Jamar Rahming, emphasized the importance of libraries in modern communities, especially those with 21st-century infrastructure and the support to continue impacting youth, marginalized groups and individuals in need of a variety of resources.
“Libraries help bridge inequities in our communities,” said state Sen. Darius Brown. “Reimagining our libraries is paramount to helping our young folks who are falling through the cracks of our education system and as a result, ending up on the streets. This investment is about giving our children in marginalized communities better opportunities to succeed.”
