Harnett County celebrated the grand opening of the new Benhaven Public Library with a ribbon cutting and open house on Thursday, February 8.

The Benhaven Campus served the community for 100 years and the community gathered to celebrate the much-anticipated moment of its new purpose.  

“We are not just inaugurating a building, but opening the door to a world of knowledge, inspiration, and opportunity,” said Angela McCauley, Harnett County Library Director. “In this community, this library stands as a beacon of learning, a haven for curiosity, and a space where every resident, regardless of age, interests or background can embark on a journey of discovery.”

The Benhaven Public Library is the newest Harnett County Public Library branch located in Western Harnett County. The library is a space where citizens can receive a variety of services at little to no cost including books, computer lab access, printing, children’s story time, employment resources, free wi-fi access, various events, and more.

Harnett County District 5 Commissioner, Matthew Nicol expressed his excitement for the various offerings and the expansion of services through satellite offices with Veterans Services and the Department of Social Services.

Veterans Services offers services on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of each month from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. with an hour lunch break at noon and the Department of Social Services offers services each Thursday from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

County Manager Brent Trout spoke about the benefits and resources that the campus provides and how the facility can support the community.

“Our residents that need these services can have the opportunity to come here instead of driving to Lillington. It’s something that provides support in a better way, and makes life easier for our residents,” said Trout.

The event also included remarks from Dr. Laura Street, Benhaven Elementary School Principal, Dr. Jasmin Nixon, Harnett County Early College Principal, prayer by Harnett County Commissioner Brooks Matthews, and Taylor Davenport who led the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem.

The Benhaven Campus not only houses the library, but it also has a refurbished gym that provides opportunities for recreation, a newly built playground, renovated ball fields, and Early College.

Watch the full event, visit the Benhaven Public Library Facebook here. 

For more information about the Benhaven Library, visit https://harnett.libguides.com/about/benhaven

Harnett County is one of the fastest growing counties in North Carolina with approximately 140,000 residents. Harnett's tagline of "Strong Roots, New Growth," describes a county in transition, one that values its rural agricultural heritage while also embracing new growth and industry. Harnett County is optimally located just between North Carolina's capital city of Raleigh and the internationally recognized Research Triangle Park to the north, and the nation's largest military installation in Fort Liberty to the south. 

For more information, contact Community Relations Director, Desiree Patrick at publicinfo@harnett.org or 910-893-7555.