Who We Are
We are the oldest regional library system in North Carolina with 4 locations and a bookmobile that provides library service to the residents of Cherokee, Clay, and Graham County, North Carolina
The story of how we came to be is intertwined with both community integrity and innovation fueled by need.
The Andrews Carnegie Library was built with help from an association formed by citizens in the Town of Andrews and the town Board of Aldermen.
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1915
1922
The Murphy Carnegie Library was built and open to the public through the efforts of the Murphy Woman's Club with funding from Andrew Carnegie and the Town of Murphy. Mary Norvell served as the first librarian followed a year later by Josephine Heighway who served for 48 years.
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1937
Library Trustees, the Town of Murphy, and the Tennessee Valley Authority entered into a contract where the library board agreed to provide library service for TVA employees who were building Hiawassee Dam. A camp library was formed at Hiwassee Village (where the workers lived during the project)
Robbinsville Library was formed and located in a small frame building which once housed a Pressing Club.
1938
1938
The Hayesville Library in Clay County was a one room library located in the courthouse on the square. It was operated by volunteers and stocked by the bookmobile for their residents.
1938
Murphy Carnegie Library and the State Library Commission entered into an agreement to provide the first Bookmobile service to the region. This temporary service (March of this year) provided books to outlying communities who couldn't come to the town libraries and helped establish local deposits of library materials in the various communities. This project continued to serve the community as supported by the Works Progress Administration.
1940
With the completion of the Hiwassee Dam Project, and the expiration of the Tennessee Valley Authority contract, it became necessary to seek means of support for the library. A special election was held November 5, 1940 to levy a tax to county residents to fund and create Nantahala Regional Library. Contracts were negotiated between the counties of Cherkee, Clay, and Graham, and the Towns of Murphy and Andrews for regional service.
Fontana Village Library opened in a single room of the registration building at Fontana Village Resort.