Local author fair at Mebane Library highlights centennial celebrations

Alamance County Public Libraries announced a Local Author Fair to be held at Mebane Public Library on Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event is part of the library system’s yearlong 100-year celebration and will bring area writers and readers together for sales, readings and panel discussions.

Local authors will be on hand to sell and read from their books, offer signed copies and network with readers and other writers. Panel discussions will be moderated by Toastmasters of Mebane, offering structured conversation and questions from the audience. The library’s announcement, posted Jan. 12, 2026, includes an online registration form and an FAQ for authors who wish to participate, and it lists contact information for event questions.

For Alamance County residents this fair is more than a chance to buy local books. Libraries act as community health hubs, and events like the fair support literacy, cultural expression and social connection. Reading and storytelling are linked to educational outcomes, mental well-being and civic engagement, all of which shape long-term community health. The fair will also create economic opportunities for local writers, bookstore sales and local vendors who benefit when readers gather in town.

The event is timed amid other library activities listed in the system’s news-and-events feed, including January programs and reading challenges that encourage participation across ages. Bringing together writers and readers from Mebane, Burlington, Graham and surrounding towns can help center voices that are too often left out of mainstream publishing. Library-hosted events can lower barriers to entry by offering space, publicity and facilitation that independent authors may not otherwise find.

Practical access will determine how widely the fair serves the community. Public transit connections, parking at the Mebane Public Library, seating and ADA accommodations will affect attendance by seniors, families with young children and residents with mobility needs. Organizers have posted registration details and an FAQ online and included contact information for event-specific questions; residents and authors are encouraged to consult those resources for accessibility, participation and vendor details.

As the library system marks 100 years, the Local Author Fair offers a tangible way for neighbors to support local storytellers, strengthen literacy and build social ties across Alamance County. Readers and writers should check the library’s news-and-events postings for registration and event updates, and consider attending to celebrate local voices and the civic value of public libraries as the centennial year unfolds.