History :

Athens Drive Library occupies a unique position in Wake County and North Carolina as the only public library housed within a high school. This cooperative library serves as the local branch for the southwestern Raleigh area as well as the media center for the Athens Drive High School students.

In the late 1970s, City Councilwoman, Miriam Block, envisioned a public library as part of the new Athens Drive Educational Environmental Complex. This educational facility would be open to the community. The new high school, which opened in 1978, would serve as the anchor but would encompass the Lake Johnson recreational park and greenway, Community Schools, night classes, a childcare facility, and the Athens Drive Public Library.

Through its history, Athens Drive has been recognized as an innovative concept for its shared public resources. As a result, the Athens community enjoys all the benefits of a full service library as well as a variety of other county services.