History :

The Olivia Raney Local History Branch is a reincarnation of the name of the original public library of Raleigh, which was chartered in 1899, opening in Jan. 1901. Located at the corner of Hillsborough and Salisbury Streets, the original library was created in memory of the Olivia Blount Raney, by her widower, Richard Beverly Raney. This building was used until the mid-1970's, when the collection was moved to the Kress Building on Fayetteville Street. This library was closed in the mid-1980's, with much of the collection being moved to the Cameron Village Library, as part of a new regional concept in our library system.

About ten years later, a movement by interested citizens brought forth a successful bond issue and funding to support a local history library in the Wake County Library System. This beautiful facility is located on the County Government campus called the Wake County Office Park, off of Poole Road, just outside the Beltline, at 4016 Carya Drive. Its neighbors are the Library Administration Building and the Historic Oakwood (Farm) Park, with its well-known pecan grove.

The collection of 18,178 items is primarily local and family history oriented, broadly interpreted to serve the diverse background of local residents today. One will find background materials on American, North Carolina and local history for students and researchers. For the genealogist, there is a variety of resources covering both American and international geographical areas