Ridgeview Branch Library grand reopening
The newly renovated and expanded Ridgeview Branch Library will open its doors for a grand reopening event and ribbon cutting this Saturday, December 11.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public is invited to tour the new space and participate in family-friendly drop-in activities in the community room, including holiday music bingo, rock painting, and wooden ornament crafts. Taproot Coffee Bus will be on-site from 10 a.m. until noon and Pooter Pop Kettle Corn will be available from noon until 2 p.m.
A ribbon cutting to celebrate the renovated facility will take place at 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will feature comments from Hickory Mayor Hank Guess, Ward 4 Hickory City Councilman David Williams, and Hickory Public Library Director Sarah Greene, as well as Cozette Sinclair with Friends of Ridgeview Branch Library and David Moore with McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture.
Since last summer, the Ridgeview Branch building has been receiving a major overhaul and upgrade.
A space needs assessment completed by CBSA Architects in 2019 revealed that the library needed an expansion and identified specific needs from the community. Architects from McMillan Pazdan Smith prepared the design plans for the project to meet those needs.
In July 2020, Neill Grading & Construction Co., Inc. was awarded the construction contract for the extensive construction project to update the facility to better serve the community.
In addition to renovating the existing interior of the building, the project added a new community room with capacity for 100 people, a group study room, and an exterior courtyard area with a separate entrance to the new community room.
“We are excited to welcome patrons back to Ridgeview Branch Library after its much-needed expansion and renovation. The library is an integral part of the local community, and we look forward to utilizing this new space to continue providing services and engaging programs to library patrons,” said Library Director Sarah Greene.
Beginning Monday, December 13, regular operating hours for Ridgeview Branch Library will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Ridgeview Branch Library is located at 706 First Street SW in Hickory and can be reached directly at 828-345-6037. For more information about Hickory Public Library, please call 828-304-0500 or visit www.hickorync.gov/library.