Gaston County Public Library History

          30 June 2012

• The dissolution of the Gaston-Lincoln Regional Library System caused both counties to operate as two separate library systems with their own library card. The two counties agreed to provide a library card to residents of the other county at no charge.

          January 2013

• Cindy Moose retired as Director of the Gaston County Public Library. Assistant Director Laurel Hicks became Interim Director.

          April 2013

• Community Survey – an online opportunity for Gaston County citizens to provide comments and suggestions for the first draft (which is the result of community needs assessments, forums, focus groups, steering committees, and library staff input) of the Gaston County Public Library’s 2013 – 2016 Strategic Plan. This survey will allow participants to provide feedback on the Gaston County Public Library’s proposed vision, mission, competencies, and high priority goals and objectives.

          September 2013

• Laurel Hicks becomes Gaston County Public Library Director.
• 14 teens attended the Animation Station workshop using the Library’s new Ready Animator equipment provided by a Balthis Foundation grant. 

          October 2013

• Akers Foundation grant provided Board Books to circulate to parents of babies and toddlers. A quantity of bright, colorful, and age-appropriate sturdy books has been placed in each Library branch, stored in baby-accessible bins. This will help to supplement the library’s goal of supporting early literacy skills for the youngest patrons
• The Digital Bookmobile was parked at the Main Library in Gastonia for a day as part of its national library tour. The Digital Bookmobile is an interactive experience. Visitors climb aboard and travel through 5 rooms to view a "Gadget Gallery" of portable devices and learn about the simple process of downloading ebooks from the Library.

          November 2013

• Wi-Fi approved for Gaston County Public Library and funded by Gaston County. Initial planning for Wi-Fi begins.

          January 2014

• Ferguson Branch Library became the first free wireless Internet WiFi hotspot of the Gaston County Public Library due to local cooperation with the Gaston County and Gastonia City IT Departments. The branch is housed at the City of Gastonia Erwin Recreation Center, 913 N. Pryor St., Gastonia.

          February 2014

• Gaston County Public Library added Union Road and Lowell to the active WiFi installations.