$13M library to open in Montclair this October

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A new library will be opening in Woodbridge this fall.

The Montclair Community Library – a 20,000 square foot facility – will be opening near the intersection of Route 234 and Waterway Drive at the end of October.

“Back in 2006, the voters approved a bond referendum which [included] projects like the Montclair Community Library – which was decided to be a 20,000 square foot full-service facility,” said Andrew Spence, a spokesman for the county’s library system.

Spence stated that around $13 million had been approved for the project.

Potomac district supervisor Maureen Caddigan put $267,000 of district funds towards the project, $50,000 was taken from the county’s General fund, developer proffers provided an additional $51,233 and the rest was debt financed, following the 2006 vote, according to the library system’s website.

The library will be full service – which is different from the county’s “neighborhood library” locations – and will include checkout facilities, online collections, community programming, Internet access and floating children and adult collections, according to Spence.

A unique historical feature at the new library

According to Spence, one of the unique features at the library will be the remnants of a post-Civil War building.

“One of the cool benefits of this project is the Barnes house…one of Prince William County’s only remnants of a post-Civil War African American settlement has been moved there – and it will become, hopefully, a reading room and a history interpretive center in partnership with our historical preservation division within Public Works,” Spence said.

Why does the community continue to invest in libraries?

With the onset of digital media and increased use of electronic devices for reading and research, it would stand to reason that some brick-and-mortar library facilities would be phased out.

But in Prince William County that is not the case, as community libraries are still being built and renovated, like the Independent Hill library, which was just approved to undergo renovations by the board of supervisors.

“The community survey that goes out, and is facilitated by Prince William County government does show that the library system itself has consistently had a 95% or higher approval rating. I would lean towards the fact that the community does say that they appreciate the library system and that the board of county supervisors have shown a commitment to the library system by investing into brand new community libraries,” said Spence.

According to Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, the community still gets excited about having local physical library locations.

“The community is excited about having a large library to serve the growing population… Many residents are signing up to work or volunteer.  I have received only positive responses,” said Caddigan.

The ribbon cutting for the library is scheduled for October 29.