Libraries have long been at the heart of the communities they serve, and the North Plains Public Library is no exception. Since establishing operations in a small janitor’s closet at the Jessie Mays Community Center in 2000, the library’s services have evolved right along with the changing times and the growing community.

"Today's small-town library is a gathering place where the community can find favorite books, make copies, use free Wi-Fi, take workshops and classes, and explore new interests," said Library Director Robin Doughty.

With a mission “to connect people with information, resources, and experiences for personal enrichment and enjoyment, and to engage and strengthen the community,” our Library is so many things to so many people. It’s an educational resource offering a multitude of books, classes, and programs for all ages. It’s a free connection to the digital world for those needing internet access, to use a computer, or to print important documents. It’s an early literacy resource in more than just the English language. It’s also a lifeline and a place to come and cool off in extreme heat or warm up in extreme cold.

If you haven’t visited us, the library is a small but mighty 2,500 square foot facility adjacent to City Hall offering over 16,000 items in various formats from print to electronic to downloadable online. As a member of the Washington County Cooperative Library Services, the library also has access to many other materials for patrons through a daily courier service.

The library building is owned by the non-profit Friends of the North Plains Public Library while the contents, staff, and operations are managed by the City of North Plains. The Friends contribute to the annual budget for acquiring new materials.

The library is and always will be a warm, welcoming, enlightening, community-focused space to find information and connect, to broaden perspective, and, yes, of course find a fun book to read!

Learn more about the library on our website: NorthPlains.org/Library.