History

Public libraries first appeared in Chesterfield County during the early part of the 19th century. The early libraries began as a citizens’ movement. Some of the significant dates of CCPL’s development are:

  • 1903 - Hazen Library opens in Bon Air.
  • 1935 - Public Library of Chester opens.
  • 1964 - Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors votes to establish a library system.
  • 1967 - Chester and the Hazen Library open as libraries of the Chesterfield County Library System.
  • 1968 - State funding is received to begin a bookmobile. Two bookmobiles make 21 stops weekly, combined.
  • 1972 - Bond referendum passes to fund a new library at the Courthouse Complex (Central library), plans to develop libraries for Bon Air, Ettrick-Matoaca, Midlothian and Clover Hill are included.
  • 1976 - LaPrade, Ettrick-Matoaca and Bon Air (replacing the Hazen Library) libraries open.
  • 1977 - Central Library opens as a 22,800 square foot facility, other libraries have been approximately 7,500 square feet.
  • 1980 - Midlothian Library opens.
  • 1981 - Bookmobiles retire, Library system now consists of five libraries.
  • 1984 - Coin operated public computers become available at the Central Library.
  • 1988 - Bond issue is approved to fund the expansion of Central, Midlothian and Bon Air. Funding is also approved to build two new libraries: Enon and Matoaca West.
  • 1989 - Greater than 50% of the County’s population has a library card
  • 1992 - Enon Library opens
  • 1993 - Meadowdale Library opens
  • 1994 - Clover Hill Library opens
  • 2001 - New Chester Library opens
  • 2001 - LaPrade Library renovated
  • 2008 - New Meadowdale Library opens
  • 2013 - Ettrick-Matoaca Library renovated
  • 2013 - Ground is broken for new library located on Courthouse Road near Reams Road
  • 2014 - Bon Air Library renovated
  • 2016 - North Courthouse Road Library opens
  • 2018 - Central Library renovated

Silvers, Dorothy Fuller. Chesterfield: An Old Virginia County. Volume II, 1955-1989. Chesterfield, VA: Chesterfield Museum Committee of the Chesterfield Historical Society, 1992.

Weaver, Bettie Woodson. Chesterfield County Virginia. A History, 1970. Chesterfield, VA: Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, 1970.