Callander: Finally, new library breaks ground

Once in a while in this opinion column writing business you advocate for something and it actually comes to fruition. When that happens, I pinch myself and ask, “Is this for real?”

I’ve particularly written a lot of news stories and editorial columns on traditional neighborhood design development plans that never materialize, but this week I am celebrating along with many others the groundbreaking of the England Run Library. In one year south Stafford will have its first library.

In September 2006, I wrote in the Stafford County Sun, in an article titled, “A library is needed in south,” It’s hard to believe that library supporters have to pull out song-and-dance tricks to convince our elected supervisors that the south central area of our county needs a branch of the Rappahannock Regional Library.

At that meeting of the county board, the supervisors from the northern end (at the time) delayed a vote on the library. It took a little wrangling on the part of Falmouth supervisor George Schwartz and others to finally get that project secured and funded, but it happened and library supporters joined Schwartz at the corner of Plantation Drive and Lyons Boulevard on a sunny May day to take shovels to the soil and mark the start of construction.

“Long-awaited” is an understatement. Twenty years ago the need for a southern Stafford library was contemplated. Despite the county cutting budgets right and left due to the dip in the economy, the new library will be state of the art. When construction bids came in well below budget, the supervisors decided to fully fit the library with plenty of books and computers and whatever else it needed to fully serve the community.

In fact one of the things that libraries provide is free access to computers that can be used by people looking for jobs. Public libraries also support schools by providing resources that students need, so anyone who complains that the library money should have gone to the schools (that truly are struggling financially) should consider that the library is available to the students after school hours and over summers as well as being available to adult non students and to preschoolers.

Central Rappahannock Regional Library has experienced a 10 percent increase in usage this year over last. That can directly be attributed to the free programs and services offered. When parents don’t have extra cash for buying books and tapes or going to movies, they can bring their children to the library.

I have wonderful memories of days visiting the library as a child. Going to the library for story time, to check out books or movies or to “hang out” is great family entertainment for free.

Parents who value libraries send a message to their children: Learning is important. Learning is exciting. With the new library and less discretionary spending available to parents, the good ole days when children spent spare time reading books rather than playing video games may actually return! The England Run Library will also provide comfortable and flexible meeting space, a fireplace and coffee station. Sounds cozy.

Libraries are institutions and community landmarks. They are worth every penny that’s put into them and we can thank our county officials for their foresight.

Alane Callander is a south Stafford resident active in many local causes. Reach her at info@staffordcountysun.com.