The Independent Hill Neighborhood Library in Manassas celebrated its 30th anniversary.
“This library is a gathering place… [it] is truly a pivotal and integral part of the Independent Hill community. The staff here has done a great job in making sure that the resources that are available in this building are the resources that best fit the community around it,” stated Supervisor Marty Nohe in a release.
During the ceremony, the library’s new pavilion was named for Joyce Phillips – a longtime Prince William County employee and former chair of the Prince William County Library Board of Directors, chair of the Prince William County Library Foundation and a member of the Virginia Library Association, which awarded her its Outstanding Trustee Achievement Award, according to a release.
“I can’t think of any name that’s more fitting than naming it after Joyce Phillips. Joyce is somebody who dedicated a really big part of her life to our library system, but who has dedicated an even larger part of her life to all of the young people in Prince William County,” stated Nohe in a release.
Phillips was present for the ceremony and spoke about her commitment to Prince William libraries.
“It’s a really great honor. I’ve always loved the library and tried to do things for the library. It’s also a little embarrassing to be the center of attention,” stated Phillips in a release.
According to the Vice Chair of the Library Board of Trustees Mary Jo Rigby, Phillips was a huge part of getting the county’s six neighborhood libraries built.
“I made a great many speeches to the Board of County Supervisors about funding and things like that,” stated Phillips in a release.
