The Montclair Regional Library & the Gainesville Regional Library

On July 25, 2006 the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted affirmatively to place on the November 7, 2006 ballot, a bond referendum that includes two new libraries. The voters approved the referendum.

The two 20,000 square foot libraries, one in Gainesville and one in Montclair, will open in 2012 and 2011 respectively, if the bond referendum is approved by the voters. There have been no new libraries built in Prince William County since 1994. The Gainesville library will cost $24 million and the Montclair library will cost $23 million.

An innovative part of the library design is the incorporation of two historic Prince William County farmhouses built in the 1700s. Both homes were slated for demolition when county historians went into action. Brandon Hanafin, the County’s Historic Division Chief, said the library bond gave the community an opportunity “to save the buildings, interpret them and make them part of something new.”

The Bushey Park House will be incorporated into the Gainesville library. It was situated 6.5 miles away from the planned library site on Route 15 and Lightner Road and has been already moved to the new site. It is in great shape for preservation and to show late Colonial farm life in western Prince William.

The Barnes House will be incorporated into the Montclair library. It is just a half-mile away from the library site to be located at Waterway Drive and Route 234. It was home to the prominent African-American Eppa Barnes and his wife after the Civil War. It will require more renovation.

The Library Foundation Board of Directors look forward to supporting the new libraries. Foundation Endowments have already been established to support the new libraries. We encourage you to consider adding your support through a donation or endowment to the Library Foundation.