Books and Pamphlets
The North Carolina Collection contains approximately 9,000 state and local history books, pamphlets and government documents. Included in the collection are architectural, family, business, and school histories; planning, zoning, environmental and other government publications; state and county histories and abstracts of records; biographies; literature, art, and travel books. Of particular interest to researchers are the Wilmington city directories which date from 1861 to present day and the local high school yearbooks. The collection also includes a large number of books about the Civil War. Fiction is collected only when the author or subject has area significance.

Photographs
The North Carolina Collection contains over 5,000 photographs of New Hanover County, including the City of Wilmington, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach. Two special photograph collections are the Louis T. Moore Collection and the Robert M. Fales Collection. The Moore collection consists of approximately 900 photographs in panoramic format that were taken between 1921 and 1940, when Louis Toomer Moore was the executive secretary of the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Moore was present to photograph every important local event of the time, as well as chronicle the area’s growth and portray its people. The Robert M. Fales Collection was gathered by a well-known physician who, for many years, had slides made of local images. He was a popular speaker at local clubs and churches. After retirement, Dr. Fales kept office hours in the library’s North Carolina Room where he was a popular resource for the young and old. His collection was mounted on a CD-ROM and can be viewed at the library. The rest of the library’s collections have come from generous donations of photographs, line drawings, postcards, videos and other images. The library encourages donations of both original materials and copies. Copies of some photographs can be obtained for a fee. A fee schedule is available at the North Carolina Room desk.

Maps
The library has approximately 500 maps and charts of Southeastern North Carolina, dating from 1749 to present day. Special collections include the Underwood Collection of survey maps, the Sandborn Insurance maps, and coastal surveys. The library continues to collect modern-day maps, from tourist brochures to bus routes, and appreciates any donations. Copies of some maps can be obtained for a fee.

Vertical Files and Special Collections
The vertical files contain clippings from newspapers and magazines, pamphlets and government publications. The collection is divided with state and local history in one collection and biography and family history in another. Special files include the Louis T. Moore Local History Collection, the Rupert Benson Wrightsville Beach Collection and the Bill Reaves Local and Family History Collection. The library has a small collection of scrapbooks, account books, diaries, letters, family papers and other manuscripts. One entire filing cabinet is devoted to the collection of information about the large inventory of historic buildings in the area. These special collections continue to grow thanks to generous donations from the community. To view a special collection a request should be made at least one day in advance of your visit to the library. 

Newspapers
The North Carolina Room has on microfilm the extant Wilmington newspapers from 1762 to present day. Prior to 1800 all newspapers are indexed. After 1800 there are indexes for various years. The Wilmington Civil War newspapers are vital to research on coastal warfare and blockade running. The library also has early newspapers from nearby coastal communities. The Bill Reaves Collection of newspaper images include people, events and buildings in the region. Newspapers that have not been microfilmed, The Wilmington Post, The Wilmington Journal, The Coastal Carolinian and The Island Gazette, can be seen in the original if arrangements are made at least one day in advance.

Church Records
The North Carolina Collection contains local church records both on microfilm and in book abstracts. St. James Episcopal, Front Street (Grace) Methodist, St. Mark’s Episcopal, St. Paul’s Lutheran and St. Thomas Catholic are among the earliest records in the collection. The library encourages the type  scripting of these early records and staff is available to answer conservation questions concerning the condition of the original documents.

Genealogical Research
The North Carolina Room has the most comprehensive collection of genealogical materials relating to Southeastern North Carolina, as well as a good state-wide collection. Included are numerous volumes of abstracted state and county records and family histories. County records on microfilm include deeds, wills, marriage records, tax lists, court records, etc., for New Hanover, Brunswick, Columbus, Duplin, Bladen and Pender counties. Also on microfilm are the U.S. Federal census records for all North Carolina counties from 1790 to 1920. Records from other states can be rented for a fee. Family Search and various other CD-ROM products are available, as well as Internet access for the genealogist. Library volunteers help orient genealogists to the computerized data. The library works with the Old New Hanover Genealogical Society to provide genealogical programming for the community. The Society also generously supports the genealogical collections with yearly contributions. Together, the library and society have published over 80 abstracts of local records which are available for purchase. An exchange file for anyone wishing to contact other researchers is available. Genealogists are encouraged to donate copies of their research.

 African-American Local History and Genealogy
In 1998, the library published “Strength Through Struggle”  --  The Chronological and Historical Record of the African-American Community in Wilmington, North Carolina, 1865-1950. Written by local historian William M. Reaves, the 600 page history covers social life, community affairs, religious life, political affairs, business, education, military affairs and has 100 pages of biographical sketches of citizens. The book has numerous illustrations and is fully indexed. Copies can be ordered from the Local History Room. The cost is $30.00 which includes tax, postage and handling. Make your check payable to the New Hanover Friends of the Public Library. Mr. Reaves has also given his black family history files to the library. Included in these files are local records regarding those with the same surname. The library welcomes donations to these family files. Other library collections of interest to the African-American genealogist are slave, cohabitation, marriage, city directory, cemetery, church and Freeman’s Bank records.