Community Corner

PHOTOS: John Marshall Library's 50th Birthday Celebration

The library in the Rose Hill community hosted an all day event Saturday.

John Marshall Library celebrated its 50th birthday Saturday in an all-day event that included a performance from the Falls Church High School string ensemble and other entertainment.

The birthday party included a FLAG ceremony, music, refreshments and prizes. Delegate Mark Sickles, Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay and library Board Trustee Member Willard Jasper and other library representatives were in attendance along with dedicated volunteers with the John Marshal Library Friends Group.

During the ceremony, McKay said even with budget cuts, Fairfax County supervisors have come to understand that people "love and cherish the libraries and parks" of Fairfax County.

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Sickles said people still enjoy leaving their homes and going somewhere else to find something interesting to read despite the rise of online sales and the use of different e-readers. Instead of becoming obsolete, John Marshall — and other local libraries — are working to incorporate e-readers in their daily services to the community.

The John Marshall Library opened in the Rose Hill Shopping Center storefront in April 1963 and moved into its present location across the street from the shopping center in February 1975. The library is located next door to Rose Hill Elementary School and receives more than 160,000 visitors each year who peruse its large catalog of about 78,000 books and enjoy its beautiful gardens — which volunteer Carol Dickerson maintains.

Find out what's happening in Kingstowne-Rose Hillwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

McKay and Branch Manager Kathryn Alleman confirmed that the library will go through some renovations in the next few years.

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