Pender County officials and community members gathered on May 6 to break ground at the site of the new Hampstead Branch Library, a project that aims to expand library services in one of the county’s fastest-growing areas.
The development of this new facility is seen as an important step for residents seeking greater access to educational resources and community programming. The library will be named the Judy Holly Sidbury Hampstead Branch Library, honoring Judy Holly Sidbury, who was a founding member of the Pender County Friends of the Library. Her husband, Al Sidbury, donated $1 million toward the project.
The planned 20,000-square-foot library is scheduled for completion in summer 2027. It will feature a larger children’s area with an expanded collection, a dedicated teen room, two large meeting rooms, eight private study rooms, and a semi-covered outdoor courtyard designed for reading and community events. Pender County Manager Colby Sawyer welcomed attendees at the ceremony and spoke about how the new library connects to the site’s history as a place for learning and growth.
Randy Burton, chairman of the Pender County Board of Commissioners, said that projects like this demonstrate continued investment in services that benefit residents. Jeremiah Daniels, president of Daniels and Daniels Construction—the company building the facility—said he values partnerships like this one when creating spaces intended to serve communities. Allen Phillips-Bell, director of Pender County Library System, thanked donors including Al Sidbury and announced both his donation and naming honors during his remarks.
Al Sidbury shared thoughts about his late wife’s dedication to local libraries through her work with Friends of the Library. Liz Piacenza from Topsail Township Friends of the Library announced their $500,000 donation while thanking decades’ worth of supporters.
County leaders highlighted that expanded facilities like these are particularly significant given educational needs in Pender County; recent data show that among high school juniors taking ACT tests during 2022-23 in science (28.1%), reading (39.2%), and math (26.4%), only around one-quarter to two-fifths were considered ready for college according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Construction is expected to conclude by summer 2027 with hopes that once open it will provide welcoming spaces where residents can read, learn together, gather for programs or meetings—and continue building strong community connections.
