Phillip Kent Barton

Phillip Kent Barton passed away unexpectedly at his home in Salisbury, NC, on

December 3, 2025, surrounded by his husband Steve and their canine companions

Tyler and Gabe. Phil was born on April 7, 1949, to the late Glen Steele Barton and

Dorothy Smith Barton.

Phil received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West

Virginia, and a Master of Library Science Degree from Indiana University, which led to a

lifelong career in public libraries. He served as a Federal Project Coordinator for Ruth

Enlow Library of Garrett County in Oakland, Maryland, and as the Director of the

Southport-Brunswick County Library in Southport, NC. In 1977, he was hired as Director

of the Rowan Public Library, beginning three decades of leadership that resulted in

tremendous growth in public library services for the citizens of Rowan County.

Phil's leadership and vision, along with the support of his excellent staff, local

government and Rowan communities, saw Rowan Public Library grow from a single

library in Salisbury to a county-wide system with the addition of RPLEast Branch

(Rockwell) and South Rowan Regional Library (China Grove/Landis), a bookmobile

serving over forty Rowan County childcare centers, an outreach van serving seniors at

meal sites across the county, and the beginning of plans for the present-day RPL West

Branch in Cleveland. He invested substantial library resources in children's services and

summer reading programming, setting a high standard for RPL's current and future

services. Under his directorship, the Edith M. Clark History Room, located at RPL's

Headquarters branch, became a nationally known genealogical research archive for the

Southeast and remains so to this day.

Under Phil's directorship, Rowan Public Library offered space to the Rowan County

Literacy Council, allowing this organization to grow in size and scope. RPL led in

technology innovation, being one of the first libraries in North Carolina to provide

internet services and move to an online catalog. In 1988, RPL was named an American

Library Association's Library of the Future and received honorable mention as a Library

Journal Library of the Year.

Phil served as president of the North Carolina Public Library Director's Association and

was recognized by his peers as NCPLDA Director of the Year Award in 1998. He also

served as President of the North Carolina Library Association.

Phil sustained a multi-decade-long partnership with Smart Start Rowan, serving terms

as Chair of the Board and volunteering countless hours to serve in various capacities in

support of SSR's mission to ensure all children enter school healthy and ready for

success. Phil was recognized as the 2019 SSR Champion for Young Children for his

work with and leadership of the organization.

Phil was instrumental in expanding and revitalizing Friends of the Rowan Public Library

by recruiting dedicated volunteers and aiding its establishment as a 501(c)3 non-profit.

He received the organization's Friend of the Year award in 2007. He also led the

creation of the 501(c)3 non-profit Rowan Public Library Foundation for the purpose of

developing an endowment fund to support the enrichment of library resources and

services in Rowan County. He served as its Executive Director from 2007-2025 and was

named Director Emeritus in 2025. Today, the RPL Foundation has assets in excess of

$1.5 million and 201 endowments to support the mission of Rowan Public Library.

After his retirement from RPL in 2007, Phil shared his knowledge of library facilities as a

library consultant helping to develop space needs studies, building programs, and

furnishing plans for libraries across North Carolina.

‘Mr. Barton' as he was endearingly called by library staff, even after his retirement, was

a powerful force to improve public libraries in Rowan County and across North Carolina.

A lifelong advocate of improving the lives of adults and children through library services,

he leaves a rich legacy of public service, innovation, and advocacy. Staff at RPL today

refer to Mr. Barton as an original low-key-genius and continue to benefit from the

professional standards and well-crafted policies he created. Under his mentorship, four

staff members advanced to become public library directors. He will always be

remembered for his advice and mentoring, assistance with special projects and tricky

situations, and for his genuine support and friendship. He is a much-loved and well-

respected participant of non-profit organizations in Rowan County and the library

profession in North Carolina.

Phil is survived by his husband Steve Barton, his brother Bradley and wife LuAnn,

brother Tim and niece Lesley and nephew Max.

A celebration of life service will be held April 18, 2026, at 2:30 pm in the Stanback

Auditorium of RPL's Headquarters branch, located at 201 W. Fisher St. in Salisbury.

Those wishing to honor Phil and his legacy are asked to contribute to the Phillip K.

Barton Endowment previously established by Mr. Barton through the Rowan Public

Library Foundation, 201 W. Fisher St., Salisbury, NC 28144.