North Indian River County Library — Sebastian, Florida

The North Indian River County Library is the public library branch that serves Sebastian and the northern part of Indian River County. It is part of the county-run Indian River County Library System, which lists a Main branch in downtown Vero Beach, a North branch in Sebastian, a Western branch at the Brackett Library on the Indian River State College Mueller Campus, the Marian Fell Library in Fellsmere, a vending library in the Intergenerational Building and a Law Library on the second floor of the Main branch.

The Sebastian branch is at 1001 Sebastian Boulevard, which a 2015 Vero News notice placed three miles west of US 1. The county lists its phone as (772) 400-6360 and its hours as 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. A single Indian River County library card works at every branch, so Sebastian residents can borrow from and return to the whole system.

Sebastian had 25,759 residents with a median age of 57.6 as of the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023. In 2023, Indian River County officials described the county as having three libraries, each with its own calendar of activities and resources, with the North Indian River County Library serving as the Sebastian member of that group.

According to a July 2009 Vero News report, the North County Library opened in 1990 as a 17,000 square foot building and was expanded in 2002 to 25,445 square feet. At that time the Sebastian branch housed 131,150 items and had 19,502 registered patrons; in June 2009 alone it lent 33,282 items and recorded 19,247 patron visits.

The same report described a stalled plan for the next expansion. The Indian River County Board of Commissioners had discussed buying land next to the library on Sebastian Boulevard, but price negotiations stalled, and the county instead used library impact fees to buy materials for the new Brackett Library on the Indian River State College campus.

Growth came on the existing site instead. In April 2023, during National Library Week, Indian River County announced that a 2,800 square foot, single-story addition to the North Indian River County Library was nearing completion, adding two small conference rooms and expanding the parking lot, as reported by Vero News and Sebastian Daily. County Public Works Engineering developed the project with the General Services Library Division, working with MBV Engineering and Donadio and Associates Architect, and Proctor Construction Company served as the contractor for the Sebastian addition.

Beyond books, the Sebastian branch hosts the county system's Makerspace, which the county announced as open at the North IRC Library. It is meant for families and adults to explore science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, and provides a Cricut machine, 3D printer, laser engraver, sewing machine and other tools for in-house use. It is not a staff-led program: users work from written instructions and video tutorials. Sessions are booked through the North IRC Library Children's Department in one or two hour blocks up to 7 days ahead, with a maximum of 12 people in the room and an adult required with any minor.

For younger children, the county lists Story Time in a Bag and STEAM-to-Go kits at the IRC Main Library, Brackett Library and North IRC Library. STEAM-to-Go kits are designed for ages 2 to 12, each Story Time in a Bag holds four picture books plus play pieces and songs, and kits check out for 14 days, one per card.

Adults in Sebastian can also apply through the library for Career Online High School, which the county describes as a way for adults 19 and older to earn an accredited high school diploma and a career certificate online. Applicants must be Indian River County residents with a library card in good standing and at least one year of high school completed; scholarships are limited.

Any Indian River County resident can get a card at the North Indian River County Library by showing proof of residency, such as a Florida driver's license with a county address, a property tax record, a current utility bill or a voter registration card, according to the county's library card policy. Cards for children under 16 must be co-signed by a parent, guardian or grandparent, and cards are valid for two years from the patron's birthdate. Visitors who live outside Indian River County, including seasonal residents of Sebastian, can buy a non-resident card for $10 for three months, $20 for six months or $30 for a year, or a computer-only card for $5 a year.

The Sebastian branch has a large meeting room for up to 200 people. The county meeting room schedule lists the North Indian River County Library large room at $50 a full day or $30 a half day for non-commercial use, and $120 or $60 for commercial use; study rooms and conference rooms carry no charge at any branch. Events must be free and open to the public, rooms are available only during library hours, and bookings are made by calling the North Library at 772-400-6360.

Local groups use the building as a gathering and exhibit space. The Friends of the North Indian River County Library, a support group, met in the Library Conference Room in September 2015 to plan programs including the Library Coffee House and a Winter Film Series, according to Vero News.

The Sebastian River Art Club lists the North Indian River County Library as one of its Art Around Town venues, with about 12 paintings by club artists displayed for two months at a time and changed over on club business meeting dates. The club's history page also notes that the library displays a bust of Bama Vickers Lawson, who moved with her parents to Sebastian in 1908, ran a milliner and dressmaker business, and whose personal library was donated to the Women's Club of Sebastian after her death in 1985 at age 103.

The county frames the branch in civic terms as well. In its 2023 announcement of the Sebastian addition, Indian River County officials said the Board of County Commissioners recognizes the role libraries play by providing internet and technology access, literacy skills and support for job seekers, small businesses and entrepreneurs.