Central Community Library serves Manassas Virginia as a part of the Prince William Public Libraries system. The website to this system can be found here. The website navigation is okay but it could use a bit more work/updating. If you click on the specific link for Central Community Library, it takes you to a page that has information about the library, its operations hours, a video of the building’s recent renovation, and it has a link to more information on the library’s Makerspace.
Staff is not listed on the website. But in person, there seem to be about 4 to 5 librarians or staff members a day. Visitors can interact with the staff in person and on the phone. There is an option to chat online with a librarian, but it is not listed on the main website. Instead, it is listed on the catalog site. There is no social media account specifically for Central Community Library, but there is a Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Youtube account for Prince William Public Libraries.
On Central Community Library’s webpage, there is a link to the digital library page. That page lists all of the online databases and apps that patrons can access with their library cards like Hoopla, Libby, JSTOR, The Wallstreet Journal, and much more. The library itself has fiction and nonfiction books, Young Adult titles, children’s books, and periodicals. Patrons can find materials in the catalog on the Prince William Libraries System website as well as on the computers in the library itself.
Central Library also offers a Makerspace and the RELIC Progam. The Makerspace has tools and resources for patrons to create, design, and learn. The space is equipped with sewing machines, 3D printers and pens, recording equipment, virtual reality headsets, and coding and tech toys. The RELIC (Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center) Program focuses on Virginian genealogy and local history. The collection contains books, maps, photographs, and more. While many libraries today “face unprecedented challenges from numerous, varied, and powerful forces,” (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 93) it is encouraging to see the ways in which they are offering new and different services with Makerspaces and genealogy programs to keep up with the changing world of information.
The Prince William Public Library System has its own magazine that highlights all the upcoming events and activities. The magazine can be accessed on its website and lists all the virtual programs that are available for Sprince. Some of these programs include storytimes, writing groups, book clubs, and online gaming. Central Library does carry popular books in different languages and has programs for Spanish-speaking people. The parking lot has 5 handicapped parking spaces and automatic doors for people who need to use them. While the website contains information for all the branches in the Prince William Libraries System I believe the website could be better. More information about the staff and positions would be helpful to add as well as an email address patrons could use for communication.
The building is located in Manassas City and is across the street from Parkside Middle School. The building is small and cozy but filled with a lot of shelves and places to sit. From the outside, the building reminds me of an old strip mall building, with one floor. The children’s section has a colorful mural of a wooded scene with animals on the wall.
The parking lot for the library is mostly in the front of the building with some spaces on the sides. The building has two sets of doors, one to enter and one to exist. Outside next to the door on the right there is a book drop-off location for patrons to drop off their loaned books. The library does have a signage board outside by the doors with the opening times as well as any special closure times. There are also some benches outside for patrons to use. There is a bus stop about 4 blocks away from the library.
Central Library has around 5 study spaces that patrons can reserve to use. In addition to these spaces, some are equipped with projectors and tv screens. There is also a community meeting room that groups can reserve to use as well. There are public computers in the middle of the library as well as tables and chairs for people to sit at so they can work or read. The shelves in the kid section are kid height friendly. The rest of the bookshelves are about 5 and a half feet tall. There are low tables and chairs, high tables and chairs, and regular tables and chairs for patrons to use.
While patrons can use most of the materials in the Makerspace and RELIC center there are some resources that are restricted. In the Makerspace, only the librarians are able to operate the 3D printers. In the RELIC center, some of the more delicate books, maps, and photographs are kept locked up and can only be accessed with the assistance of a librarian. The space is very welcoming when you walk in and does not match the exterior of the building. The library was recently renovated in 2020 and has new furniture and technology for patrons’ use.
Public libraries “create strong links to social, educational, and governmental agencies to help coordinate the library’s role in addressing community issues,” (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 106) which I believe is what Central Community Library is doing with its programs and services for the people of Manassas. The library does advertise programs and services that are available to patrons. Some of these programs and services include job search assistance, career coaching, GED and career certificate programs, tax preparation, writers groups, and much more. A lot of the signage in the library is flyers with a few banners. They also have a couple of book displays as well as glass case displays. The books are classified by genre and then by author in the fiction and nonfiction sections. The library welcomes everyone in the community. During my visit, I saw kids, teens, and adults. I also saw some people with physical and mental disabilities. All of these patrons were welcomed by the library staff.
This library serves the Manassas City Public. This includes primary and secondary students, families, young children, and Spanish speakers. I observed patrons using computers, reading, browsing the shelves, studying, and gathering in meeting spaces. The staff helps people find materials for patrons, sign up for study spaces, and gives aid in using the equipment and technology. The patrons all seemed comfortable using the library. While the patrons of the library were very diverse, I did notice that 4 out of the 5 staff members were white women. The other staff member was a white man. While “public libraries can also negatively affect human rights and social justice by denying access by groups,” (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 117) I noticed all people were welcome into the space and encouraged to use the services the library provided.
While the library had some standard collections, like books, periodicals, and movies, Central Community Library also had some special collections. These collections, other than the Makerspace and RELIC, were American Girl dolls that could be borrowed and light therapy lamps. Other than the public computers, printers, and scanners the library also has technology in the Makerpsace to create. Some of the study rooms have projectors as well. I also noticed a phone charging station that patrons could also use. With the technology in the Makerspace, there may be some technical and developmental barriers as the technology is newer and not as common.
The interior design and layout of the space are very welcoming and inviting. The computers and most of the chairs and tables are in the center of the library. Then the perimeter of the building has the collections, the kids and YA section, the Makerspace, and the RELIC program. The YA section of the library seemed small compared to the Children’s section and the Fiction and Nonfiction section. There is a middle school across the street from the library and I thought that the YA section would be bigger. Young people are an important group for library services and make a large amount of the people who attend public programs so very amazed at the size of the YA collection compared to the adult and kids sections (Rubin & Rubin, 2020, p. 139). I was surprised by the size of the library on the inside. From the outside, the building looks small. So I was happy to see that not only did the library offer books, computers, and periodicals, but that it also had multiple study rooms, a Makerspace, and the RELIC Program space. I would be interested in learning how the library and staff make their choices on which collections and materials to bring in based on the community and how that is measured.
References
Merico, C. (2022). Image of Central Community Library building. [Photograph]
Merico, C. (2022). Image of Central Community Library children’s area. [Photograph]
Merico, C. (2022). Image of Central Community Library display. [Photograph]
Rubin, R. R. and Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Caitie, I really like your observation of the library. The website was very easy to navigate and everything was easy to navigate. The Makerspace is awesome, especially since they have a 3D printer. The magazine is great who prefer physical copies. I really liked the tree mural on the wall , which made it seem very welcoming. Being able to check out American Girl dolls and having online gaming, really shows that the library is aware of the surrounding community. Unfortunately the YA section did not reflect the demographic, as you stated, and the staff was not as diverse as the patrons were. I think it is unfortunate that a lot of libraries look so drab on the outside, but the inside is really nice. I guess because the librarians can’t control the outside building. I wonder if more children and Young Adults would be drawn to the library, if it looked equally appealing outside.
Hi Shawnee! Yes, unfortunately, the YA section is lacking in its collection. Since the library is located across the street from a middle school I expected the YA section to be a bit bigger. It seems that area is used more for studying. I hope that in the future this area of the library expands and patrons can have more access to YA materials.
This library seems like a nice library to visit. Something that stood out to me was the sewing machine you mentioned! I’ve seen the 3-D printers, charging stations, and other technology like that but never a sewing machine! How unique and fun! I also wonder if they have the light therapy lamps to borrow because they saw a need in the community.
I also thought the addition of a sewing machine was interesting! I have never seen a library with one either and they also have an embroidery machine as well. I hope in the future to check out all the Makerspace has to offer, especially the sewing machine and embroidery machine.
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Hi Caitie, like other commenters, I’m so impressed by CCL’s fascinating special offerings, especially in the Makerspace program! I’ve never heard of this and now am curious about how public libraries get the idea for such wonderful and unusual programs like this. I also love that they advertise online gaming as one of their programs — it sounds like CCL does a great job coming up with and implementing a broad array of diverse activities to engage patrons and truly foster a rich community space. Thanks for sharing!
I was also impressed by all of the different things the library had to offer. It seems the space is trying to stay up to date and modern with its offerings. I just hope that it doesn’t impact the other collections the library has to offer. I am wondering how much of the budget went towards the Makerspace as the Young Adult section seems to be lacking and in need of improvement. They also have virtual Dungeon and Dragons meetings as well. I think the library is doing a good job of trying to meet the needs of the patrons through virtual programming.
Caitie, I haven’t responded yet but I did see you also mention on my post how these libraries share genealogy departments. I wonder how common that is among public libraries! I think it’s great to have that information accessible to the general public. I also liked reading about the Makerspace, I wish one of our libraries had one. A neighboring county one might, I know one has a 3D printer! I think I’d have the same observation as you knowing there’s a middle school right across the street, you’d think the YA section would be bigger. And now that I think about it the YA section is fairly small in all of our locations and is definitely smaller than the children’s section at every location. And now I’ll be thinking about why that is? Libraries should share the love and space size between age groups!
Hello Caitie,
It’s amazing to see libraries that look “old” or “doesn’t look like a library” vibe on the outside, but when you go in most of the things seems so new! When I saw the picture of the entrance of the library I immediately thought that I wouldn’t think that would be a library unless it stated it clearly. Looking at the interior pictures, I can see how well-lit the library is which is a great place for reading and checking out books. I also thought that it was a shame that the YA section could have been bigger, as you mentioned, there is a middle school across the street from the library and having more access to different kinds of YA books would definitely make a good impact on the students.
I liked the fact the library has implemented a Makerspace area. This seems to be a huge trend, and some libraries are allowing their patrons more access to the materials available. Although I understand only allowing library staff to use the 3D printers, does this impact the enjoyment and engagement of patrons? On the other hand, I’m glad the library has a dedicated YA section. Too many students lose their love of reading in middle school.