Our Mission
The mission of the Harold D. Cooley Library is to respectfully serve the people of Nashville and its environs as a clearinghouse of diverse opinions and works, and as a cordial and peaceful access point to the full spectrum of information presented in book, audio, DVD, electronic and digital resources. In this regard, the Cooley Library strives to maintain an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere, respecting the right of each individual to hold and maintain one’s point of view, and providing, insofar as the library is able to do so with its limited capacity, support for the presentation of even the most divergent and polarizing of works. Further, the Cooley Library endeavors to rewardingly impact its patrons and the local community by offering onsite and offsite programs to enhance and enrich their lives, ranging from presentations on health, technology, resume writing and job searching, to crafts for adults and children, kids story time and authors’ book signings. The library embraces the goal of being a municipal venue for educational, social and recreational pursuits. Cooley Library’s services are readily provided to its patrons without regard to race, ethnicity, nationality, age, religion, disability, socioeconomic or citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or political views.
History
The women of Nashville’s civic clubs founded Cooley Library in 1942 and the Alston Street facility was built in 1971. The library was housed in the Alston Street facility until July 2004. The library moved to a temporary location at 501 S. Barnes Street. In October of 2007, the library made a final move to its permanent home at 114 W. Church Street.
The library was dedicated to Congressman Harold Dunbar Cooley, a Nashville, North Carolina native and a United States Congressman from 1934 to 1966.
Mr. Cooley made extensive contributions to the field of agriculture by serving as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee from 1949 to 1966.
He was instrumental in the Nation’s farming program and provided a key role in the development of the: Farmers Home Administration, Soil Conservation Service, Crop Insurance Program, Tobacco Program, as well as, Wheat and Cotton Programs, Federal Crop Insurance Program, and Food for Freedom Act. For his extensive contributions to farming and agriculture, the North Carolina Farm Bureau, North Carolina State Grange, and the Progressive Farmer have honored Mr. Cooley with Man of the Year Awards.
