A group of dedicated community leaders approached Rural Studio about building a small library in downtown Newbern. Within the town’s rural context, they hoped that the library could become a social center, providing such resources as after-school programming, computer access, and the first public internet point in the community. The Old Bank Building, part of Newbern’s historic downtown, was donated by a local family to house the new library.
The Bank Building was renovated and expanded in order to accommodate its new function as a library. A small outdoor space along the north of the building offers library patrons an outdoor reading space. The white brick exterior of the Bank Building remains in-tact to preserve the memories of the historic Bank Building, while the interior of the building provides opportunities to learn about the town’s history and heritage.