Bon Air is only a short drive from downtown Richmond, but as you navigate through the neighborhood, it gives the impression that you are far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. Trees line the streets while Victorian homes and buildings speak to a bygone era and invoke a sense of nostalgia and relaxation. Paved walking trails wind throughout the neighborhood to connect residents with shopping, Bon Air Elementary School and the library...Bon Air Library, to be exact. Nestled in the heart of Bon Air, the library has served the community since it was built in 1975 and has seen the area shift and grow over the years. The original neighborhood library, Hazen Memorial Library, was built in 1902 and became part of Chesterfield Public Library in 1967.* Today’s Bon Air Library is a source of learning and recreation for its community and is a true extension of the serene landscape that surrounds it.
Three gardens encompass the building. The Not-So-Secret Garden, located by the front doors, was designed, planted and is maintained by the Oxford Garden Club. Local children often enjoy the shade while sitting in this garden. To the other side of the front doors is a pollinator garden provided by Chesterfield Cooperative Extension. Flowers grown here attract all sorts of pollinators, including beetles, bats, moths, wasps, birds, bees and butterflies. Around the back of the library is a rain garden that helps the James River and Chesapeake Bay. Customers can – and do! - take advantage of these gardens as places of respite and beauty. You’d rather enjoy nature from inside? Not a problem at Bon Air! Large windows are strategically placed to allow you a perfect view of the natural beauty while you sit to read, study or work. What about those times when you’d rather be indoors but your child wants to be outside? You can both find your happy place in the children’s section, where you can sit under a large tree and read together.
Wait. What? A large tree inside the library? Yes, you read that correctly. Bon Air has an artificial tree in the middle of the children’s area that extends to the ceiling and has petal-shaped pillows around the base of the tree for seating. Picnic tables nearby add to the natural, casual ambience. Library staff ensure books in the area are made easily accessible by rotating the front-facing books that get checked out quickly throughout the day. Children have fun with the library’s mascot, Avalanche, a stuffed penguin who made his appearance after the COVID lockdown ended in 2020. Children also win prizes by finding Avalanche when he hides inside the library.
Displays in the adult and young adult/teen areas of the library reflect an overall customer preference for choosing titles based on first look. Adult non-fiction, in particular, has entire shelves devoted to front-facing books, which allow you to browse more easily and see books you might not have noticed otherwise. Bon Air has a considerable print collection and is a destination for finding either the book you wanted when you walked in or a new book you found while walking through the library. As in the children’s section, front-facing book displays are regularly updated by staff as they walk about, providing a roving reference for all customers in need.
As you walk through the library, you will notice clean lines, ample lighting and open spaces. Branch Manager Margaret Howard says she chooses to keep the minimalist aesthetic because it helps carry the calm of the neighborhood into the library and reduces distractions for teens who study or meet with their tutors at the library. Several LEGO® creations are on display, as Bon Air has a prolific LEGO®club and wants members to have the opportunity to showcase their work; however, these displays are arranged atop a bookshelf that is not in direct sight of tables and meeting rooms that are consistently used for study, so they do not become a distraction for those trying to focus. This is important, Howard notes, as the demographic of the neighborhood has shifted over the past 10-15 years, moving from a predominantly senior community to one including more young singles and families, and library usage reflects this growth.
From community residents running the connecting trails or walking their dogs, to folks who just want a relaxing place to go read a book with their children, Bon Air Library has something for everyone. Recent additions of sidewalks leading to the library have made it even more accessible to those living in the neighborhood. It is consistently one of the most heavily trafficked libraries within Chesterfield Public Library and yet it never feels overcrowded or overwhelming. On the contrary, the near-constant flow of customers only serves as a reminder that Bon Air is a beloved part of its community, treasured by people of all ages, and is treasured as a wonderful resource and oasis.
*The original Hazen Memorial Library building is now a landmark venue and museum.
