This December, Prince William County residents are in for a treat as two pastimes—reading and ice skating—come together at the Winter Reading Kick-Off event.
Hosted by Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) and sponsored by the Prince William Ice Center in Dale City, the event promises an afternoon of fun for all ages on Sunday, December 1, from 1 to 3 p.m.
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Press release:
There's still time to swing by your library and get ready for the holiday season! Here’s the schedule:
- Wednesday, November 27: Libraries close early at 5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 28: Closed for Thanksgiving Day.
- Friday, November 29: Closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.
- Saturday, November 30: Dale City, Dumfries, Independent Hill, Lake Ridge, and Nokesville Libraries will be closed for the holiday weekend.
Heads-up! Chinn Park Library will be closed from Monday, November 18, through Sunday, December 8. Stop by today to stock up on books and resources!
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Press Release:
On Nov. 15, Prince William County will join communities nationwide to celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD). ARD, an initiative of Keep America Beautiful, has been an annual awareness campaign dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States since 1997.
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Prince William County will celebrate America Recycles Day (ARD) on November 15, 2024, as part of a national campaign by Keep America Beautiful to promote recycling. County staff and Keep Prince William Beautiful volunteers will discuss recycling on November 13 at Chinn Park Regional Library and on November 15 at Central Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. People can also participate in the "I Recycle" pledge contest by November 20 at www.mwcog.org/recyclesday, with a chance to win a $300 REI gift card or, for one K-12 student, an additional $500 school recycling grant. For details on county recycling programs, visit www.pwcva.gov/recycling.
 On November 15, Prince William County will join communities across the nation in celebration of the America Recycles Day (ARD). ARD, an initiative of Keep America Beautiful is an annual awareness campaign dedicated to promoting and celebrating recycling in the United States since 1997.
To celebrate America Recycles Day, County staff and Keep Prince William Beautiful volunteers will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. to talk with residents about recycling in Prince William County and the “I Recycle” pledge contest at Chinn Park Regional Library on November 13, and Central Library on November 15.
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At the October 15, 2024, meeting of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, the county’s mobile libraries were celebrated for their vital role in delivering educational and health resources to underserved communities. These mobile units, known as the "13th branch" of the Prince William Public Library (PWPL), are helping bridge gaps in access to services and fostering community engagement.
Launched in March 2024, the state-of-the-art Mobile Library was officially introduced at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 21, 2024. County leadership, library staff, and community members gathered to mark the occasion, inviting attendees to tour the new addition to the library system. As part of PWPL's broader initiative, the mobile library is a critical component of the newly formed Community Outreach Services division. It aims to bring library materials, programs, and technology to areas that need them most.
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The Prince William Library Foundation mourns the loss of founding member and Board Secretary Joyce Eagles, who was instrumental in the organization’s activities and achievements since its inception in 1997.
From her obituary:
Joyce Eagles, 81, of Woodbridge, passed away on this July 24th, 2024.
Joyce was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Tirzah and Antranig Juskalian on April 12, 1943. She went to school in Belchertown, Massachusetts. She married Douglas Eagles on June 26, 1967 in Belchertown; they had 57 great years of marriage together. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a BA in Zoology. Joyce worked at the Belchertown State School helping mentally handicapped children for six years before moving on to other pursuits and to Iowa as Doug completed his PhD and post-doc work. There, their first son, Scott, was born in 1973.
Joyce and Doug moved to Manassas, Va. in 1974 and grew their family to another son, Ross, in 1978. Their family moved and ultimately settled in Woodbridge, Va. where they have lived for over forty years with travel to and from the area. Most of Joyce’s work has been as a volunteer, showing her passions for education, nature, history, conservation, and preservation.
Joyce Eagles served her community since 1990 on the Prince William Water Board of Directors. She was the first female board member and the longest serving board member with over 34 years of service. During that time, Joyce served as Chair for six years, Vice-Chair for eight years, and Secretary Treasurer for nine years. She was the Chair of the Audit Committee and participated in numerous community outreach events each year- including the ”Water Art Invitationals”. She provided valuable oversight and guidance- always caring about the customer, the community, and the employees she served.
Joyce supported Prince William Cooperative Extension’s and PW Housing Fairs’ community outreach- from teaching first home buyers financial planning to dressing as Glinda, the good witch, for “There’s no place like a home.” Joyce was a founding member of the Prince William Library Foundation in 1997 and served consecutively on the executive board of directors. Joyce loved our public library system and the many essential programs the Foundation was able to fund for our community..
Her advocacy was paramount from chairing the committee to analyze the expansion of development of the Manassas Battlefield to preserving the acres of the wetlands of the now Occoquan Bay Wildlife Refuge, Joyce has been recognized as a supporter of the environment.
With several other community members, Joyce organized meetings to establish the Greater Manassas branch of the American Association of University Women in 1975 as one of its charter members. A life member of AAUW, she joined the Woodbridge branch in 1982 and actively supported STEM endeavors for science fair judging and career roles for girls at regional conferences. For AAUW of Virginia, she served as Parliamentarian for the state board.
Joyce is preceded in death by her parents Tirzah and Antranig Juskalian, her spouse’s parents Clyde and Helen Eagles, and her son, Scott Eagles.
She is survived by her husband Douglas, her son Ross, brothers Richard (Susan) and Andrew (Carolyn); nephews John, Russ (Clara) and Brett (Tara); nieces Kelly, Andrea and Tirzah; and great nieces Marlene, Vincent and Catalina – among the many immediate and extended family members.
Memorials may be given in her name to Virginia Hospital Center – https://vhchealthfoundation.org/; Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center – https://sentara.tfaforms.net/4709133 ; and The American Heart Association – https://www.heart.org/?form=FUNELYZXFBW The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses of the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington’s Intensive Care Unit and the emergency room doctors and nurses of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge.
Flowers may be sent to Mountcastle Turch Life Celebration Funeral Home, 4143 Dale Blvd, Dale City, VA 22193 in time with her August 9th Ceremony, from 2-4pm. Sympathy cards may be mailed directly to the family home.
Prince William County Public Library is hosting spine-chilling events as part of its Summer Scares series, promising a frightfully good time for all ages. The series, which runs from Friday, July 19, through the weekend, features a variety of events at several library locations.
Friday, July 19: A Full Day of Horror
The Summer Scares series begins today with a day packed with events across multiple libraries:
- Potomac Library: Adults can dive into a day of horror with the “2 Sentence Spooky Book Review: J Edition.” This event is a perfect opportunity for horror enthusiasts to share their thoughts on their favorite spooky reads.
- Haymarket Gainesville Library – Juvenile Books Area: Young readers aged 8-11 are invited to explore a special horror book display and write a two-sentence review for a chance to win a prize.
- Haymarket Gainesville Library – Teen Area: Teens aged 12-18 can participate in a similar contest, sharing their spooky book reviews and competing for prizes.
- Montclair Library: This location offers a variety of events for grades 6-12, ages 8-12, and adults, celebrating the horror genre with book displays and review contests.
- Chinn Park Library: Open to all ages, Chinn Park Library invites everyone to enjoy horror book displays and join in the fun of Summer Scares.
Saturday, July 20
The horror-themed activities continue on Saturday, with events running all day at the following locations:
- Potomac Library: Adults can again enjoy the “2 Sentence Spooky Book Review: J Edition.”
- Haymarket Gainesville Library – Juvenile Books Area Children aged 8-11 can check out the horror book display and enter their reviews to win prizes.
- Haymarket Gainesville Library – Teen Area: The teen contest continues, allowing ages 12-18 to share their spooky book insights for a chance to win.
- Montclair Library: This location will again cater to grades 6-12, ages 8-12, and adults, featuring horror book displays and review contests.
- Chinn Park Library: Open to all ages, this library will continue to offer horror book displays and encourage participation in Summer Scares activities.
Sunday, July 21
The weekend of horror concludes on Sunday with events at:
- Chinn Park Library: All ages are welcome to enjoy horror book displays and participate in the Summer Scares festivities.
Haunt the Library for More Fun
Library visitors can also visit the event page to see upcoming contests for kids and teens and an exciting adult horror trivia night. With events tailored for different age groups, everyone can find something to enjoy during the Summer Scares series.
“We’ve been having a frightfully good time with our Summer Scares displays!” said a library representative. “We encourage everyone to haunt our event page and participate in the fun.”
Prince William Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Program for 2024 is here, offering an exciting adventure for readers of all ages! Starting June 10 and running through August 11, participants can dive into a world of books and earn rewards.
This year’s theme, “Adventure Begins at Your Library,” encourages everyone to explore new genres, discover fascinating stories, and develop a lifelong love for reading. The program includes a variety of activities, from story times and book clubs to creative workshops and special events.
Readers can track their progress online and earn badges and prizes for reaching their goal of 500 minutes of reading. Whether you’re a young reader or an adult book lover, the Summer Reading Program has something for everyone.
Visit your local library or the Prince William Public Libraries website to sign up and start your summer reading adventure today!
The Manassas City Library celebrated its third anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024, with a lively party attended by library staff, Manassas Mayor Michele Davis Younger, and councilmen Tom Osina and Mark Wolfe.
The celebration included a book sale organized by the Friends of Manassas City Library, which featured Manny the penguin, the library mascot.
During the event, Manny entertained partygoers by walking around, shaking hands, and taking photos. As the library enters its fourth year, the Friends of Manassas City Library has set a new goal to build a LEGO replica of Manny. The penguin mascot's library adventure began on the library's opening day, February 2, 2021, amid an ice storm.
