About Us
OUR COMMUNITY
The Fairbanks North Star Borough is called home by just under 100,000 residents. Known as the 'Golden Heart City', Fairbanks boasts our very own world-class University of Alaska Fairbanks, as well as Fort Wainwright Army Base. Surrounded by beauty at every turn, Alaska's Interior is world renowned for outdoor activities in all seasons, from ice fishing to river rafting to aurora viewing. We consider ourselves lucky to call this place home.
This is the community served by Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Libraries, seeking to 'Inspire Lifelong Curiosity and Growth." Our system consists of Noel Wien Library in Fairbanks, North Pole Branch Library in North Pole, and the Bookmobile which provides library services to outlying areas such as Ester, Two Rivers, Salcha, Haystack, assisted living, and the homebound.
The libraries have a volunteer Library Commission whose members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Assembly. The Library Commission represents the public, advises the Director on library policies, and hears public appeals related to Library materials. Other community partners include the Fairbanks Library Foundation and the Friends of North Pole Branch.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Fairbanks North Star Borough Public Libraries’ mission is to provide Borough residents free access to the full spectrum of opportunities that inform, inspire, and entertain, and to offer an open forum for diverse facts, ideas, and opinions.
ABOUT THE LIBRARY COLLECTIONS
In addition to a full range of print materials for all ages, the libraries offer downloadable books, CDs, audio books, MP3s, videos, DVDs, interactive CD-ROMs, and video games. Besides the large collection of printed magazines and newspapers, the libraries provide access to online databases covering thousands of periodicals and reference sources. The libraries participate actively in statewide and local cooperative collection development efforts, and provide interlibrary loan services to borrow items not available in the Fairbanks collection from other libraries.
ARTWORK
Both Noel Wien Library and North Pole Branch Library are fortunate to house internationally acclaimed art collections. Through the generous support of the Fairbanks Library Foundation, who graciously have allowed their collection to be displayed at the libraries, visitors are charmed by the size of outstanding art that greets their visits. The famous whimsical mural in the children’s area was created by wildlife illustrator William D. Berry, for whom the children's room is named. Mr. Berry passed away in 1979 before the mural was complete and so Trina Schart Hyman, a Caldecott award-winning artist completed the mural in 1980. Rockwell Kent, Claire Fejes, Ron Senungetuk, and Eustace Ziegler are among the artists whose works are displayed in the main library.