About Us

The McDowell County Public Library is a department within McDowell County Government.  We currently have two library locations that serve the county, one in the city of Marion and the other in the town of Old Fort.  Please visit our History page if you would like to learn how the library was formed.

Library Director: Marlan Brinkley, Jr.

Our Mission:

Our libraries will provide free access to ideas, information, and enrichment, and will serve the informational, cultural, educational, and recreational needs of our community.

Our Pledge:

To accomplish our mission in a courteous, efficient, and fiscally responsible manner; to promote literacy, learning, and enrichment without bias; to provide a broad range of resources responsive to the changing needs of our community; to provide a safe and pleasant environment; and to provide a knowledgeable, committed, and caring staff.

Joining the Library

Your first step is to get a library card.  With your card, you will have access to over 5.1 million free books, movies, music, and audio books through NC Cardinal. Your card also grants you access to McDowell County Public Library’s downloadable books and audio books.

Check Out Materials

You can check out up to 99 items in total. Please review our check out policy to see which items you can check out and for how long.

Other services include: