Durham County’s Bragtown Branch Library reopened Wednesday, March 11, 2020 with a day full of activities and celebration. While all the libraries closed a few days later on March 15, 2020 due to the pandemic, the reopening celebration marked an important, long-awaited day and set the stage for Bragtown Branch Library to serve as a meal distribution and Library Take-Out! location later in the year.

Located at 3200 Dearborn Drive in Durham, 27704, Bragtown Branch Library is served by DATA bus route 9, 9A, and 9B. Bragtown was filled to the brim for its March 11 reopening celebration. The festivities included moving testimonials from local community members who have been driving forces in the work of the library and advocating for its reopening, a presentation on the history of the Bragtown Community, and a bilingual storytime in English and Spanish. Artwork featuring a family reading together was donated to commemorate the reopening. Refreshments and activities for children and teens were also part of the festivities. 

Bragtown Branch Library’s main entrance from the parking lot on Ruth Street is now wheelchair accessible. The library also has new flooring, LED lights, drop ceiling and heating/cooling units to enhance the space and improve energy efficiency, a renovated ADA compliant restroom, a new floorplan with a designated children’s area, and new modern furniture and shelving.

Bragtown Branch Library, formerly the Bragtown Family Literacy Center, closed in January 2018 for maintenance after pipes burst during a significant snow. The original Bragtown Branch Library was founded in the early 1960s as a branch of the African American Stanford L. Warren Library to serve Northeast Durham thanks to the hard work of Bragtown community leaders and the Stanford L. Warren Library Board. On July 21, 1961, the land at Ruth Street and Dearborn Drive was deeded to the Durham Colored Library. It opened and was dedicated on March 11, 1962. In April of 1966, the Durham Colored Library merged with the Durham City-County Public Library, and Bragtown became part of the new Durham County Library system. Preservation Durham has recently identified Bragtown Branch Library as a site of historical significance in Durham’s African American history.

During the summer of 2020, Bragtown participated in the Summer Feed Program with Durham Public Schools. It was a true team effort. Bragtown Branch Library Manager Kathleen Hayes described the teamwork and hard work involved to make the program a success, “The team had a tent set up outside where they passed out Summer of Learning materials and other information for the community. One staff member even compiled a list of other sites in the community where patrons could pick up food and another staff member served as a Spanish interpreter to serve our families who speak Spanish. Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 2 p.m., rain, humidity, 98-degree weather, you name it, library staff were there to pass out meals and information.”

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