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History

Blackwater Regional Library, a regional system comprising 9 branches and a bookmobile, originated from a single library facility: The Walter Cecil Rawls Library and Museum. On June 13, 1958, the facility was dedicated for the use of the people of Southampton County and nearby communities. Mr. Rawls, born in Southampton County and crippled by polio at the age of 18 months, dreamed of a central library that would serve the people in his native community.

We now happily serve Isle of Wight, Franklin, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex. To express our allegiance to the entire service area, the library system adopted the name Blackwater Regional Library in 2001. The Blackwater River runs through each of our localities.