Central Library To Close Until Summer For Renovations

MANASSAS, VA — Prince William County is temporarily closing the Central Community Library in the Manassas area on Jan. 15 for renovations to the nearly 50-year-old building. The library, located in an area of Prince William County bordering the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, is scheduled to reopen sometime in June.

Prince William County has budgeted about $760,000 for the renovations. Based on the design plan, the renovated library will have more open space and a better flow when it reopens. The new layout will give patrons more access to computers, printers, copiers and scanners, mobile printing, and reliable Wi-Fi. The library's bathrooms also will be expanded and made ADA compliant, according to the Prince William Library system.

The improvements to the library, located at 8601 Mathis Ave., are coming as Manassas and Manassas Park are considering whether to opt out of agreements in which they pay Prince William County to provide library services to their residents. Manassas paid Prince William County about $1.1 million in fiscal year 2019 under the shared library services agreement. Manassas Park paid the county about $454,000 for the library services.

When it reopens in June, the Central Community Library will offer U.S. passport services. Prince William County's Haymarket Gainesville and Potomac Community libraries are the only libraries in the system that currently offer passport services. The changes also include a redesigned children's area, a quiety study room and two small individual study or conference rooms for up to four people.

During the renovation period, Central Library's book drop will remain open and all book requests can be picked up at Bull Run Regional Library or another branch.

Before the library closes, Friends of Central Library is holding a used book sale from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 5. Money raised from the book sale supports programming at the library.