Hickory Public Library serves a diverse population with services for all ages. We have an active community of retirees and seniors, a thriving children’s program and a strong partnership with Hickory Public Schools. The Launchpad for Learning shared access program provides library accounts for every enrolled K-12 student at HPS. Staff offers monthly outreach visits to afterschool wraparound programs, childcare centers and assisted living facilities.

The Library is a department of the City of Hickory and serves the municipal population of approximately 41,000 along with residents of surrounding communities. The City serves as a regional hub for business, transportation and services for approximately 370,000 people due to its location at the geographic center of a four-county region. Because of Hickory’s central location, our programs draw visitors from surrounding rural counties.

Our two library locations are situated in community centers as well. Our main facility, Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, is located on Hickory’s SALT Block (Sciences, Arts and Literature Together), providing wide-ranging cultural experiences for all ages as the home to Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory Choral Society, Western Piedmont Symphony and Catawba Science Center, a children’s science museum. We work closely with all of these partner agencies to provide enhanced library programs.

The Ridgeview Branch Library is a community branch located in the historic Ridgeview neighborhood, and shares a campus with Ridgeview Recreation Center, Taft-Broome Park, Brown-Penn Youth Center, Brown-Penn Senior Center and Community Ridge Daycare. The branch has been newly expanded and renovated and the grand re-opening is scheduled for December 2021. The branch serves as a true community hub and anchor.