Then, two years ago, they got even more than they could have hoped for: an $8 million facility that not only houses loads of books but also a state-of-the-art cultural center that has quickly become a hub of activity in town.

Following the opening of the Holly Springs Cultural Center in December 2006, approximately 100,000 visitors each year have gazed at art exhibits, checked out library books, grabbed a cup of coffee, taken classes and watched performances.

“It was an historic joint project between Wake County and Holly Springs.

And the response has been good,” said Dan Briscar, director of the cultural center. “We held about 150 events in our first year. We had puppet shows, dance shows and even national shows.”

Briscar hopes that within the next few years, as the center and its mission become better known, attendance will continue to grow.

Besides containing the library, the cultural center has a theater with a state-of-the-art sound system, four large conference rooms, which are also used for classes, an outdoor stage surrounded by lush grass, and the Grand Lobby, which hosts exhibits, a reception desk and a coffee bar.

“I sometimes like to get coffee from the cultural center during my lunch break,” said Tricia Fitzgerald, a patron who lives in Raleigh but works in Apex. Fitzgerald sometimes spends part of her three-hour lunch break sipping coffee and looking at exhibits in the reception area.

“My friend asked me to go to an outdoor concert here last spring, and I loved it. I think it’s great that they offer so many classes and activities for kids, plus you’ve got the library right here, too.”

The center regularly holds art, drama, music and special-interest classes for children and adults; it is part of the Holly Springs Recreation Department. Regular events include puppet shows, movies on Saturday mornings in the library and specially designated times for seniors to gather and play games. Local theater companies often use the facilities for performances as well.

The second Friday of every month features Art After Dark, where galleries in Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina leave their doors open a little longer than usual, and sometimes have door prizes and wine tastings, too. An informal reception is held at the cultural center after.

February’s Art After Dark event featured photographs by Tom Leonard III in the cultural center. The next Art After Dark, on March 13, will feature photographer Juliann Butcher.