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In 1980,
several citizens of Burlington felt there was a
need for a library in the community. After
generating sufficient interest for the idea,
Karen Hiser, the Keyser-Mineral County librarian
was consulted. With her guidance and support
committees were formed, plans made and set into
motion.
The planning
committee consisted of Alvin Massey, Robert
berg, Brenda Kitzmiller, Ed Barbe, Lucy Ebert,
Roberta Friedland, Frank and Mary Calemine, and
Georgia Baker. Burlington's old post office
building, the historic Twin Mountain and Potomac
Railroad station built in 1912, was leased from
the Burlington Methodist Home for Children and
Youth and became the community's first public
library.
Having
established roots, the need for funds became a
necessity. A finance committee was chaired by
Georgia Baker and 21 persons solicited funds
from Burlington neighbors and friends and
families on the rural delivery route.
Renovations were soon underway and volunteer
workers Robert Berg, Charles Cryser, Gerald
Rogers, Ken Welch, Roger McAvoy and Alfred
Harris removed partitions, installed shelves,
repaired the roof and painted inside the
building. The outside library sign was painted
and hung by Phil Baker, who also lettered the
door.
The Burlington
Branch Public Library opened its doors to the
public on February 28, 1981, with an open house
celebration. The library was open from one
o'clock until four o'clock every Thursday and
Saturday afternoon with Catherine Weaver as
volunteer librarian. Catherine became the first
paid librarian in 1984 with Lea Spanburgh
following in 1986 and retiring in 2002. Today
the libraries Branch Manager is Tonya Mongold
and the Assistant Librarian is Kiki Tolias.
Expansion for the library began in the fall of
1994 and we moved into the new part, an addition
designed by Carl David Smith, of approximately
30 feet X 40 feet, in March 1997. With the
exception of the foundation and roof, it was
built entirely by volunteer labor from the
Ruritan Clubs and the community. We love our
community and are proud of our library. We wish
to provide our service area with the finest of
services and activities. Come by the library and
visit us, we would love to meet you and your
family.
Photo by: Bess Rexroad
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