Davidson County Public Library
🏢 Davidson County Public Library System · Lexington, North Carolina
Davidson County Public Library
The Lexington main library on South Main Street is the headquarters of the Davidson County Public Library — the first county-wide public library system established in North Carolina, dating to 1928. It stays open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and anchors a system of branches and a bookmobile.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–3pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 602 South Main Street, Lexington, NC 27292
Phone: (336) 242-2040
Website: co.davidson.nc.us
Plus Code: 867XRP9R+JC (Lexington, NC)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Davidson County Public Library
Davidson County Public Library holds a notable place in state history as the first county-wide public library system organized in North Carolina, tracing its roots to 1928. The effort grew out of the Woman's Club of Lexington, which in the mid-1920s raised money for a subscription reading room in Lexington before the county took on library service for all its residents. Today the system is headquartered at the Lexington main library at 602 South Main Street and operates a network of community branches — including Thomasville Public Library and West Davidson and North Davidson locations — together with a bookmobile that carries books to outlying communities. The library is a member of NC Cardinal, the statewide Evergreen catalog consortium, so a Davidson County card borrows and places holds across a large shared network of North Carolina libraries. Beyond lending, the system contributes local newspapers and photographs to DigitalNC and offers public computing, programming and genealogy resources for Davidson County families.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Headquarters of the Davidson County Public Library, recognized as the first county-wide public library system established in North Carolina (1928)
- Lexington main library at 602 South Main Street, open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday for after-work and after-school visits
- Anchor of a county system that also includes Thomasville, West Davidson and North Davidson locations plus a bookmobile serving outlying areas
- Member of NC Cardinal, the statewide Evergreen catalog consortium — one card borrows across a large shared network of North Carolina libraries
- Contributes historic Davidson County newspapers and photographs to DigitalNC, and offers genealogy and local-history resources
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Davidson County cardholders reach free statewide and national digital collections from home or in the library:
📚 Services
- Physical book, audiobook, DVD and periodical checkout across the county library system
- Bookmobile service carrying materials to outlying Davidson County communities
- Genealogy and local-history resources, with historic materials digitized on DigitalNC
- Shared borrowing and holds across the statewide NC Cardinal (Evergreen) network
- Public computing stations and free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying and scanning
- Children's, teen and adult reading collections
- Meeting and study spaces at the Lexington main library
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and early-literacy sessions
- Summer reading challenge for all ages
- Youth activity and after-school programs
- Adult book clubs and reading programs
- Genealogy and local-history programs
- Community and cultural programming at the main library
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Piedmont Triad
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Lexington · Browse all North Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is Davidson County Public Library really the first county-wide library system in North Carolina?
Yes. The Davidson County Public Library is recognized as the first county-wide public library system established in North Carolina, with roots going back to 1928. It grew out of an early Lexington reading room organized by the Woman's Club of Lexington, and the county then extended library service to all of its residents — a model that other North Carolina counties later followed.
What are the hours of the Lexington main library?
The Lexington main library at 602 South Main Street is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is closed on Sundays. Branch locations elsewhere in Davidson County keep their own schedules, so check the specific branch before you visit.
Can my Davidson County library card be used at other North Carolina libraries?
Yes. Davidson County Public Library is a member of NC Cardinal, the statewide Evergreen catalog consortium, so your card lets you search a large shared catalog, place holds on items from participating libraries, and pick them up locally. You can also use NC LIVE, the state's free digital library, from home with your card.
Does the library still run a bookmobile and have other branches?
Yes. In addition to the Lexington main library, the Davidson County Public Library system operates community branches — including Thomasville, West Davidson and North Davidson locations — and a bookmobile that brings books and materials out to residents in outlying parts of the county who are not near a branch.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
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