Harold D. Cooley Library
🏢 Town of Nashville · Nashville, North Carolina
Harold D. Cooley Library
Harold D. Cooley Library has served the Nash County seat of Nashville, North Carolina since its founding in 1942 by the town's civic club women. Named for Nashville-born Congressman Harold Dunbar Cooley — the longest-serving chair of the House Agriculture Committee in U.S. history — the library moved to its current home at 114 West Church Street in October 2007 and holds a collection of approximately 20,000 books.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–6pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–1pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 114 West Church Street, Nashville, NC 27856
Phone: (252) 459-2106
Website: townofnashville.com
Plus Code: 8774X2FM+H6 (Nashville, NC)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Harold D. Cooley Library
Harold D. Cooley Library is the municipal library of Nashville, North Carolina, the county seat of Nash County in the Coastal Plain region of eastern NC. The library was founded in 1942 through the initiative of Nashville's civic club women, relocating to several sites before settling at its current location at 114 West Church Street in October 2007. It is named for Congressman Harold Dunbar Cooley (1897–1974), a Nashville native who served North Carolina's 4th Congressional District from 1934 to 1966 and holds the distinction of being the longest-serving chair of the House Committee on Agriculture in U.S. history — a record reflecting his decades of work on farm policy, the Farmers Home Administration and the Soil Conservation Service. The library participates in NC Cardinal, the statewide shared catalog, and offers approximately 20,000 books along with periodicals, newspapers, DVDs and audiobooks. Patrons also have access to Libby for digital borrowing and NC LIVE for online databases. Four public internet computers with hourly sessions, children's educational computers, two private study rooms, a conference room seating six, and a dedicated programming room round out the facility.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1942 by Nashville's civic club women — one of eastern North Carolina's longest-serving community libraries
- Named for Harold Dunbar Cooley (1897–1974), Nashville native and the longest-serving chair of the House Agriculture Committee in U.S. history
- Current building at 114 West Church Street opened October 2007 after the library relocated several times across Nashville
- Collection of approximately 20,000 books plus periodicals, newspapers, DVDs and audiobooks in a community-sized facility
- Participates in NC Cardinal — the statewide shared catalog — giving Nashville residents access to materials from libraries across North Carolina
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Nashville cardholders can borrow digitally and research online through the library's statewide North Carolina resources:
📚 Services
- Circulating collection of approximately 20,000 books plus DVDs, audiobooks and periodicals
- Four public internet computers (one-hour sessions, extendable to two hours daily)
- Children's educational computers with 30+ pre-loaded games
- Printing, copying, scanning and faxing (cash only)
- Two private study rooms (first-come, first-served)
- Conference room seating six with kitchenette
- Programming room for library events
- NC Cardinal shared catalog — request items from libraries across NC
- Interlibrary loan through NC Cardinal
🎸 Programs
- Health presentations and wellness programs
- Technology workshops and computer skill sessions
- Resume writing and job search assistance
- Crafts for adults and children
- Children's storytime
- Author book signings and literary events
- Programs for adults, teens and kids & families listed on the town website
📍 Nearby Libraries in Nash County & Eastern NC
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Nashville · Browse all North Carolina libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Harold D. Cooley, and why is the Nashville NC library named for him?
Harold Dunbar Cooley (1897–1974) was born in Nashville, North Carolina and served the state's 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1934 to 1966. He is the longest-serving chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture in U.S. history, shaping decades of farm policy including the Farmers Home Administration and Soil Conservation Service. Nashville's public library honors this native son who represented the region for 32 years in Congress.
When was Harold D. Cooley Library founded, and when did it move to its current location?
The library was founded in 1942 through the efforts of Nashville's civic club women. After relocating several times over the decades, it settled at its current home at 114 West Church Street in October 2007.
Does Harold D. Cooley Library offer private study rooms or meeting space?
Yes. The library has two private study rooms available on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as a conference room that seats six and includes a kitchenette, plus a programming room used for library events and community gatherings.
Can Nashville NC residents access books from other North Carolina libraries through this library?
Yes. Harold D. Cooley Library participates in NC Cardinal, the statewide shared catalog. Cardholders can search and request materials from libraries across North Carolina through interlibrary loan, significantly expanding the available collection beyond the library's approximately 20,000 local items.
📚 This library has study rooms. See how library study rooms work — booking, time limits and quiet vs group rooms — and find other libraries with study rooms libraries with study rooms by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.