Union County opening Southwest Regional Library this week

WAXHAW – Union County is opening the Southwest Regional Library to the public at 9 a.m. April 19 and hosting a grand opening celebration for the community at 10 a.m. April 20.

The 19,000-square-foot library offers expanded collections, programs and meeting spaces at 1515 Cuthbertson Road, next to Cuthbertson Middle School. 

“We are thrilled to finally be opening the new Southwest Regional Library,” said Nina Chaffin, library director for Union County. “Our ability to provide our patrons with expanded access to materials, programs and technology is the direct result of all the hard work and dedication of our community supporters and elected officials.”

The Southwest Regional Library includes a children’s storytime area, reading nooks, a STEAM lab, study rooms, an outdoor patio and technology spaces.

The cost to build the new library was $14.7 million and was mostly made possible through the support of the community. In 2016, voters approved a $10 million bond for construction of the new library. The Union County Library Foundation raised an additional $822,000 for books, amenities, technology and programming spaces.

“With heartfelt gratitude, the Union County Library Foundation extends our thanks to the many individual donors, partners and sponsors who helped transform the dream of Southwest Regional Library into a reality,” said Angela Bennett, chair of the foundation. “Southwest Regional stands as a testament to the transformative power of collective vision. The joy of exploring, creating, and learning will now flourish within this space thanks to the steadfast support of our incredible community.”

Construction broke ground in 2021 and was delayed at times due to supply chain issues.

“This library is much more than a physical space,” Deputy County Manager Patrick Niland said. “It symbolizes a longtime commitment by residents to invest in community engagement and lifelong learning for generations to come.”