CAMDEN — Camden soon will lose its status as North Carolina's only county without a library.

Camden County plans open its own library July 1 after partnering with Pasquotank County for library services for more than 70 years.

Camden County manager Michael Renshaw says the county plans to lease 6,800 square feet in a business park, furnish it and stock it with computers and about 20,000 books at a cost of $450,000.

Camden has a population of about 10,000 and is one of the smallest and poorest counties in the state.

Officials say the library will offer more reading on computers and less on bound paper.