Harnett County officials announced the new Harnett County Resource Center & Library will open to the public Monday, April 26. The facility is located at 455 McKinney Parkway, Lillington, in the Harnett County Government Complex between the Harnett County Courthouse and the Health Department. Due to COVID-19, building capacity will be limited. Anyone entering the facility will be required to wear a face covering and adhere to social distancing guidelines and other COVID-19 protocols required by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
Nearly half of the 56,000-square-foot Resource Center & Library is home to a new, modern Harnett County Public Library. The facility also provides a new and more prominent home for Harnett County Veterans Services, which will have direct access to the Harnett County Veterans Memorial Park and to other County departments, connecting the County’s 15,000 veterans to valuable resources and services.
Other departments located in the Resource Center and Library include Harnett County Parks and Recreation, and the County’s administrative offices including the County Manager’s Office, Finance Office, Human Resources, and Legal Department. The facility also includes a new meeting room for the Harnett County Board of Commissioners and a nearly 4,000-square foot training and meeting space that can be subdivided to host smaller meetings and training sessions, as well as large events.
Harnett County Manager Paula Stewart is excited for the new facility to open to the public. “The Harnett County Resource Center and Library will be a hub that connects citizens to the resources they need to grow and thrive,” stated Stewart. “I am excited to announce the opening of this facility, which provides enhanced programming and learning opportunities to our residents. I am honored to have been a part of the project team and to welcome residents and others to this new facility.”
Monday will mark the first time the public will be able to access the Harnett County Public Library since it closed in January to allow staff to prepare for the transition to the new space, though Library staff have continued to provide curbside services during the closure. The Library had outgrown its previous location and additional space was needed to house its growing collection of print and digital resources, and for expanded programming.
“The new library offers a welcoming, inspiring, and open atmosphere for patrons to learn, discover, create, and succeed. Amenities and features of the new library are a children’s programming room, makerspaces, study space, Teen Zone, and a public meeting room,” stated Angela McCauley, Harnett County Public Library Director. “We are thrilled that the citizens of Harnett County will have access to a modern facility that provides a wide selection of popular books and services, opportunities for personal growth and development, STEM activities, and educational entertainment.”
The completion of the Resource Center & Library goes a long way toward accomplishing the County’s two decades-old master plan of locating all County departments in a centralized campus, providing convenient access for citizens seeking County services. County Administration’s transition to the new building allowed the relocation of other departments into the former County Administration Building and other buildings in and around the Government Complex including Development Services, Information Technology, and Solid Waste.
Harnett County Public Library Operations
The Harnett County Public Library will be open for public access Monday through Thursday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Curbside services will continue to be available Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. An outdoor book return drop box will also be available for residents to return books after hours. For more information on Harnett County Public Library’s Curbside services or upcoming programs, visit https://harnett.libguides.com/hcpl or call 910-893-3446.
Harnett County Veterans Services Operations
Harnett County Veterans Services will be open for public access from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. An appointment is required to see a Veterans Services Officer individually in their private offices. No appointment is required for the following services: Veteran license plate application signatures, property tax exclusion application, or to drop off paperwork. These actions will be handled at the reception window. A secured drop box will still be available outside of the RCL building for Veterans to drop off paperwork after hours. To make an appointment with a Veterans Services Officer, call 910-893-7574.
County Administration Operations
Harnett County Administration Offices, which includes the County Manager’s Office, Finance, Human Resources, Legal, and Parks & Recreation, will be open for public access Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Individuals seeking services from County Administration Offices can also visit www.harnett.org for a list of phone numbers to contact these offices directly.
Harnett County Board of Commissioners will continue to hold regular meetings the first Monday of each month at 9:00 AM and the third Monday of each month at 6:00 PM. Work sessions will also be held on the second Tuesday and last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 AM. These meetings will be open to a limited number of the public to attend in person and virtual options to watch the live stream of the meetings will be available. For more information on the Board of Commissioners meeting schedule, visit www.harnett.org/boc.
A grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony will be scheduled for later this spring to celebrate the opening of the facility and provide an opportunity for residents to tour the building and learn about available amenities.
For more information on the Harnett County Resource Center and Library, visit www.harnett.org or contact Harnett County Public Information at 910-814-6001.
