Richard B. Harrison Library Marks 90 Years, Celebration Set Nov. 9
Wake County Public Libraries will mark the 90th anniversary of the Richard B. Harrison Community Library with a celebration on November 9 at the Tarboro Road Community Center, following nine days of special programming across Southeast Raleigh. The milestone honors the library's origins in 1935, its role as a cultural anchor for Black literature, and ongoing community services that matter to local families, students, and researchers.
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Wake County Public Libraries will present a 90th anniversary celebration for the Richard B. Harrison Community Library on Sunday, November 9 at the Tarboro Road Community Center. The event concludes nine days of programs leading into the anniversary and highlights the library's long standing presence in Southeast Raleigh since its opening on November 12, 1935.
Founded by Mollie Huston Lee, the library has served as more than a place to borrow books. Lee, who became the first Black graduate of Columbia University School of Library Science and helped establish the North Carolina Negro Library Association, built the institution into a cultural landmark. The library today includes the Mollie Huston Lee Collection, a dedicated assembly of Black literature that can be accessed by appointment.
Wake County Public Libraries scheduled a variety of offerings in the lead up to the anniversary, including storytimes for children, exhibits, bingo and a dedicated history exhibit that traces the library's local impact. These programs are designed to engage families and longtime patrons, while attracting new visitors to explore the collection and archives. The nine day slate of activities culminates in the community celebration on November 9.
The Mollie Huston Lee Collection functions as a specialized resource for readers and researchers interested in Black history and literature. Access by appointment allows staff to preserve and curate materials while providing scholars and community members with focused time to consult primary and secondary sources. The collection reinforces the library's role as a repository of local memory and a center for cultural continuity in Southeast Raleigh.
Local leaders have acknowledged the library's legacy and its ongoing contributions to Wake County. Commissioner Tara Waters praised the institution for its historical significance and continued service to the community. For residents, the anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on how a neighborhood library supports literacy, lifelong learning, and cultural preservation.
As the library looks toward its next decade, the anniversary events aim to strengthen ties with patrons and to remind Wake County residents of the library's civic value. The celebration on November 9 and the preceding programs offer practical ways for neighbors to reconnect with a public institution that has shaped local life since 1935.
