Durham County Main Library

One of my happy places. They have a lovely open area, and it's fun to walk through and explore all the thoughtfully designed spaces that are welcoming to people of all ages. Great place to find new titles, study, get some work done, or attend one of their fun events to learn something.

I can’t understand why more people don’t just bring this library up in regular conversations. It is GORGEOUS! The beautiful straight lines, the classic architecture, the sky lights to provide endless amounts of sunshine, the wood staircase, the patio seating overlooking downtown area, the cute study seating towards the 4th floor, the sensory rooms to decompress the little ones, and the remarkable teen/youth area. This library is something you’d think would belong in a major metropolitan area and it’s here in Durham! I love it! I’ve made it a point to just visit once a month even if I’m not checking out a book. To sit quietly, meditate and take in the amazingly inspiring space. Thank you Durham for being the cool kid who doesn’t need to show off!!!!

This library offers a uniques experience for both adults and kids. The thoughtfully designed chairs, reading nooks, light fixtures, skylight, wall textures bring joy to anyone who spends some time here. Exceptionally calming color combinations and quirky architecture add to the experience. Although many of the features such as the recording studio, innovation lab, conference halls etc are closed due to COVID-19, general areas are available to public. Plenty of parking space and bike racks available.

Books are for nerds! And this is nerd heaven.

The Durham County Main Library has so much to offer. It’s spacious, clean, and welcoming. There are all sorts of amenities that I’ve never seen at a library before. I recently attended a virtual 3D printing seminar to learn how to use the machines on-site. Gracey was knowledgeable and super passionate about helping others. The opportunities to learn here truly feel endless. There was even a Super Smash Brothers Ultimate battle hosted here the other day.

Whether you want to escape to a different world with their large selection of readables or you want to try to get a better grasp on this world with some of their hands-on learning experiences, Durham County Main Library has what you need. This is my favorite library for sure.

Superb public facility. Friendly and helpful staff, decent book collection, easy checkout/return process. Building is well designed and maintained with bright and modern architecture. Even has six free charging station for electric vehicles. Tax well spent!

Clean place and modern. Inviting to all ages, including play area for the little ones. Staff is friendly and helpful, you can check out books DVDs and audiobooks. Definitely a place to visit by yourself or the family.

Beautiful built and wonderful staff! Update - 04/06/24 - The Library is such a wonderful environment for everyone! Offering many programs, computers, sensory rooms, and many other amenities! No matter where I've lived the library has always been a staple in my residency! The staff are kind and helpful when needed and the facility is immaculate! Always an enjoyable experience!

The information desk personnel were extremely helpful. The library itself is beautifully architectured and has a ton of spaces for reading, studying, etc. The floors are well laid out, clean, and easy to navigate.

First time using the amenities my children go all the time. The available room was right on time and a great experience overall.

In the short time I have lived in Durham I have absolutely fallen in love with this place. The resources available are second to none, whether it be books, stations to work at, a place for the kids to play, the STEAM studio or simply just a place to relax. It's become a habit of mine to come by here after work, pick a random book of the shelves and just read and unwind. There's plenty of space and seating to do so. Also helps that the library space itself is genuinely beautiful, inside and out. They also organize a ton of events, both at the library and around town as well, many of them being free to the public. Seriously, if you are a Durham County resident and haven't come by here yet you are genuinely missing out on one of the best of its kind services in the region, maybe even the state.

Love the large children's area where they have magnatiles, a light bright wall, and other entertaining things for young children. The library offers weekly activities for kids of all ages; they do storytime, Legos, sensory, and arts and crafts. It's 3 floors with a teen area and quiet workstations. It's one of the nicest libraries I've been to!

Impressive public library with a Maker lab available to residents. You really need to visit this beautiful library and see what it has to offer.

Such a great public amenity! As the first library in the state of North Carolina, this historic building stands the test of time with its inspiring and refined architecture, cozy and welcoming interior, and a great collection of books for all ages.
Terraces on the upper floors provide great outdoor seating and a panoramic view of the area. The interior space offers a wide range of seating options, from individual chairs to quite a few study areas, and meeting rooms for collaborative study and discussion.
It's an inviting, inspiring, and exciting space to visit.

I went to the Durham County Library downtown. My purpose was to find books on North Carolina cultures and history, and the whole experience turned out to be quite delightful.

The library is huge. The ladies are so nice and helpful!

Such a lovely atmosphere!! There's a fabulous children's area and an amazing 4th floor balcony with tables & chairs!

The library is welcoming and cutting edge st the same time. There's something for everyone to enjoy; books, media, computers, maker lab, and more. Patrons can also experience unique programming any day or evening of the week.

Nice views of Downtown, good books, and lots of space.

Spacious library with comfortable seating, lots of natural light. Staff were helpful. Close to coffee shops and other downtown amenities.

The new Main Library building is amazing. At first I was in awe how big and open everything is, but its perfect. It was fun finding nice places to sit down and read for a bit. There is so much to do and see.
The book selection is amazing as always and an having easy to use computers around the library to find book was convenient. It was also very easy to get help if I needed it and many clearly marked signed for exits and entry ways.

At the time of writing, some of the rooms the public will be able to use, like study rooms, were closed due to covid restrictions.

I hope to make weekly trips!