Talk:Prince William Public Library System

In 1950 the Club started the first public library in Prince William County, which the state designated as a model library and funded for one year. The first bookmobile in the state of Virginia was from this library. The history of this project can be recalled from Virginia Carper’s presentation at our 50th anniversary celebration in 1976: “The library known as the Ruffner-Carnegie Library, located in what was called the Manassas High School, was of special interest to the Club. Annual contributions of money and books were made and the public was encouraged to make use of its facilities. It was however limited in its scope and numbers of volumes and was rather inaccessible. Therefore our club lost no opportunity to encourage and promote the establishment of a public library. After years of meetings, planning, and cajoling, it was during the term of Mrs. Elaine Levine (1952-1953) that our library dream was finally realized. The club Library Committee, under the chairmanship of Mrs. W.L. Lloyd, procured and prepared with their own hands two small rooms in the downtown area to house our first library.” This was located behind Bushong’s grocery just across the street from modern day City Tavern.