Northwestern Regional Library System

History

The Dobson Community Library began in September 1949 as the Surry County Library. It occupied cramped quarters in the Surry County Courthouse. The library opened with 106 volumes and by the end of the first year of operation it had acquired 2,900 books.

Closing a few years later, the library was not reopened until 1959 when it became a charter member of the Northwestern Regional Library.

From 1959 until 1962, the library occupied a room in the Surry County Agriculture Building with the Northwestern Regional Library headquarters housed on the second floor.

In 1962, the Dobson Library moved to larger quarters in a building at the corner of Atkins and Crutchfield Streets. That building was used until April 1997 when the library was relocated to the former Northwestern Bank building on Atkins Street.

By September 1994, the library relocated once again-this to a smaller space of approximately 2,400 square feet at 305 South Main Street.

In June of 2004, the library was fortunate to move to a larger and much more desirable location--the former Davis & Son Funeral Service building at 113 S. Crutchfield Street. This move was made possible by the generosity of the owners, Greg and Janet Seivers and by the donation of muscle, services or money of many in the community.