Northwestern Regional Library System

History

In 1938, the Woman's Club, with help from Federal WPA funds, established Elkin's first library in one room of the E & A Railroad Building on West Main Street. Books were donated by local residents and Virginia Price was the first librarian.

The library soon outgrew its small quarters, and in 1942, it moved to the Gilvin Roth YMCA where it occupied a room with a fireplace and an 8,000 book collection.

In 1964, the Elkin Public Library became a member of the Northwestern Regional Library system. In 1965, a fund drive was begun for construction of a new library. As the building neared completion, Friends of the Library volunteers spent many hours assembling the new shelves and moving books. On April 20, 1969, dedication services were held for the 15,000 square foot brick building on North Front Street, where the Elkin Public Library occupies the first floor and the Northwestern Regional Library headquarters is housed on the second floor. Patricia Bryan was librarian from 1969 to 1989. Joan Sanders served as librarian until 2002. Martha Smith is currently the Branch Librarian.

The Library houses a collection of 45,000 books, audio/video formats, magazines and microfilm. Approximately 65,000 items circulate each year, and about 47,000 users visit the library annually.