Ribbon Cutting ~ Bowman Library's 20th Anniversary
to commemorate the
20th Anniversary of Bowman Library
Wednesday, 7/14/2021, 11:00 am
Mary Jane and James L. Bowman Library
871 Tasker Road
Stephens City, VA 22655
A library in Frederick County was a dream for the Handley Library staff and board for many years before it made its way onto the County’s Comprehensive Improvement Plan (CIP) in the early 1990s. As the library moved up the list of CIP projects, a “small temporary library” in the form of a bookmobile opened on July 3, 1996. It operated two days each week from the parking lot of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stephens City and alternating Saturdays in the Food Lion parking lot. The church also allowed the library to hold story times in their social hall during the summer.
A building site on Tasker Road in Stephens City eventually was selected and the public saw preliminary floor plans for the library in January 1999. When additional costs for furniture, site preparation, and VDOT highway entrance requirements threatened cuts in the size of the building and the materials, a Frederick County businessman stepped in with a gift of $500,000. That generous contribution allowed the library to be built to original specifications. In recognition of that gift, the building was named for James L. Bowman and his late wife, Mary Jane Bowman.
Together with the Clarke County Library in Berryville and the Handley Library in Winchester, the Mary Jane and James L. Bowman Library became the third location in the Handley Regional Library System when it opened on July 16, 2001.
This past year, Frederick County completed a walking trail around the adjacent lake, and partnered with the library to add a StoryWalk. In July that walk will be displaying pictures and the story of how Bowman Library came to be.
The celebration of Bowman’s 20 years will continue on Saturday, July 17, with live outdoor music, a photobooth, Mattie’s Mobile Soft Serve, displays, and tours of the library. Come on July 14 for the commemorative ribbon-cutting and visit the library again on July 17, between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm for lots of family fun!
Friends of Handley Regional Library, a library support group, began in 1977 with informal groups of people who joined together to provide specific services for the library. Friends' volunteers staffed the children’s area and offered programs for young people and adults. In 1979 the Handley Library addition opened, providing a large and wonderful Children’s Room with a full-time children’s librarian. The Friends continued to help in planning and producing a wide range of workshops and activities for children.
Today the Friends enrich all the services of the regional library system. The Friends organization serves an ever-expanding Handley Regional Library system, including Handley Library in Winchester, Bowman Library in Stephens City, and Clarke County Library in Berryville. Join the Friends in the following goals:
- to support the Handley Regional Library and assist its staff
- to encourage reading and the use of the Library
- to attract community resources to support programming
- to involve the entire community in Library and Friends programs
BECOME A FRIEND
As a member of Friends of Handley Regional Library you will receive our newsletter plus invitations to special Friends events - like Preview Night at the Book Sales and the Annual Meeting. Most important, as a Friend you will help support the Library.
Click Here to become a Friend
https://www.handleyregional.org/sites/default/files/2019-03/friends%20application%202016.pdf
There are many benefits to having a ribbon cutting ceremony for your new business. Ribbon cuttings are publicized in the Business Agenda printed and digital newsletter, which reaches approximately 15,000 readers, on the Chamber’s Facebook page, chamber Business Agenda Update email blasts, and Chamber Calendar.
Date and Time
Wednesday Jul 14, 2021
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
Location
Mary Jane and James L. Bowman Library 871 Tasker Road Stephens City, VA 22655
Fees/Admission
Free
Website
Contact Information
Mary Hester Anton
540-869-9000 x 205
Send Email
