Directions: Zebulon Branch Library is located at 1000 Dogwood Drive, off N. Arendell Avenue (State Hwy. 96), near the interchange with U.S. Highway 64.
Phone: 919-404-3610
Branch Manager: Suzanna O'Donnell
Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
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Zebulon Branch Library History
The Zebulon Library, which opened with 800 volumes in the Zebulon Woman's' Club building in 1952, was funded by donations and a grant from the "Finer Carolina" contest, sponsored by CP&L. It was staffed and managed by volunteers from the American Legion Auxiliary. The library closed temporarily in 1958, but reopened the following year as part of a National Library Week celebration. On September 1, 1959, the community welcomed its first librarian, Mrs. Gilford Bufkin. She worked two days per week for an annual salary of $480. The hiring of a librarian made it possible for the Wake County Bookmobile to begin a relationship with the Zebulon Library. Mrs. Melvin Lanier, and later Mrs. Raymond Pippin, served as librarians in the 1960s, when the community raised the funds to purchase the old post office building to replace the Women's Club building, which was no longer adequate for the town's needs. The new library, almost 2,000 square feet, opened in March 1967, with new furnishings and books. On September 1, 1967, Mrs. Edythe Tippet was hired as librarian. At this time, the library was open 15 hours per week and had a collection of about 4,000 volumes. About half of those were borrowed on a rotating basis from the Olivia Raney Library in Raleigh. In 1970, Zebulon Library joined the Wake County Library system. Under the agreement, the town was responsible for the salaries and the building and its maintenance. The County provided operating staff, supervision and all library supplies and materials. A major renovation of the building and furnishings was completed in 1983. In 1986, Jean Ells was hired as librarian after the retirement of Mrs. Tippett. The Zebulon Library switched to an automated circulation system and library catalog in 1990 and was renovated again in 1991. The countywide bond referendum passed in 1993 allowed for a new library to be built for the Zebulon community. Ground was broken in November 1997, and the 5,000-square-foot building, with more than 30,000 volumes, opened in September 1998. The facility, on Dogwood Drive, adjoins the elementary school and the Wake County Eastern Regional Center.