An outstanding resource sits idle in Purcellville awaiting those longing for a quiet workspace and countless opportunities, this opportunity is the Purcellville Library. While the library serves its purpose of providing a peaceful environment to those in need, it also acts as an outlet for many organizations and programs. The benefits of the library are not biased to any age as everyone can find an area specific to their needs with ease. Spanning from book clubs to escape rooms, the library has plenty to offer.
As students join programs such as National Honor Society, NHS, and begin their college applications volunteer hours are also in demand. The library offers extensive opportunities to receive service hours. Senior Ben Scoll recalls his volunteer experience at the Purcellville Library. He said, “Our theme for the escape room was Candy Land. We were a part of the team that helped set up and created decorations. We also helped with the coordination, then when each group was finished, we helped set it back up for the next people to come.” This program consistently meets in the library as a central, free, and non disruptive area. Their organization capitalized on the opportunity to utilize multiple of the library’s valuable resources. “Thanks to our library coordinator, Elizabeth Stinnette, we were able to use one of the library rooms for our project. I received 8 volunteer hours, which I put towards NHS.”
While it is riddled with extra fun resources, the library also serves its main purpose of being a book outlet. Many college students already pay extensive amounts for tuition and meal plans, and on top of this, the extra cost of books to achieve the class syllabus becomes unrealistic and taxing on a student’s paycheck. However, the library provides a simple solution. If you live, work, or own land in Loudoun County, you are eligible for a free library card to check out the books you need instead of spending large amounts. On top of this, the library is also a great quiet workspace. As children get older and school gets harder, a quiet place away from home to do work becomes essential.
Wilson Cantrall, WHS senior participating in library activities year round, noted his next activities to be taking place. He said, “For the next library event we are going to make terrariums for little kids to coordinate with what they are learning right now.” The focus on children is also of prominence throughout the library’s morals. Tutoring sessions happen daily in the library’s isolated rooms for kids struggling in school. Meeting in a place with little to no distractions is crucial, especially as the students are younger.
Utilizing the library’s full potential is taken greatly into consideration by the community. Whether it is by elementary, middle, high schoolers, college students, or parents, it serves as a place with great amounts of information and options on how to go about becoming more involved in the community, getting volunteer hours, loaning books to save money, and working diligently with no distractions.