New Hanover County opens new Northchase library, expanding access to public services

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — New Hanover County has officially opened its newest public library branch, bringing expanded access to books, technology, and community resources to residents in the growing northern part of the county.

County leaders dedicated the Northchase Library on Thursday at 4400 Northchase Parkway W. The new 19,941-square-foot facility represents a $12.8 million investment and becomes the fifth branch in the New Hanover County Public Library system.

The new library was built as part of the county’s effort to ensure residents have a public library location within about five miles of their homes. Before Northchase Library opened, many residents in the area traveled to the Northeast Regional Library or the Main Library downtown for services.

“This library is an investment in this community and in the children who will grow up walking through these doors,” said Board of Commissioners Chair LeAnn Pierce. “With the new Main Library downtown and now Northchase, we are delivering on our commitment to put libraries closer to home for families across the county.”

The new branch includes a variety of spaces designed for residents of all ages, including:

• A teen multimedia and gaming social room
• A children’s story time pavilion
• Study rooms for individuals and small groups
• A tween area
• A drive-up book drop
• Space for approximately 50,000 books and other materials

Library officials say the new facility is designed to serve as a community gathering space while providing access to educational resources, technology, and lifelong learning opportunities.

“A library is one of the most welcoming spaces a community has, open to everyone, with something for every age,” said Melanie Morgan, director of the New Hanover County Public Library. “We can’t wait to welcome the Northchase community in and show them everything their new library has to offer.”

The Northchase Library project was designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and constructed by Monteith Construction.

The opening marks the county’s second new library facility in less than a year. The new Main Library in the downtown Grace District opened in October 2025.

The New Hanover County Public Library system now operates five branches:

• Main Library
• Northeast Regional Library
• Pine Valley Library
• Pleasure Island Library
• Northchase Library

County officials say the expansion reflects continued investment in making library services more accessible to residents throughout New Hanover County.