Library Love: The Island Library—Chincoteague Island, Virginia
by June Locco
Just beyond a marsh-fringed causeway lies Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Summertime brings thousands of tourists to the island for camping, fishing, beachcombing, and a few days to slow down and breathe the salty air. If you are lucky enough to find a vacancy in July, you can watch the annual Pony Swim and visit the Fireman’s Carnival to take a spin on the tilt-a-whirl and enjoy the sweet summer taste of funnel cake.
But when tourist time slows and the community has a chance to breathe, one of the elements that makes a town a home is a library. Book lovers may recognize the island’s name from Marguerite Henry’s 1947 children’s novel Misty of Chincoteague, but the literary heart doesn’t stop there.
Whenever I go on vacation, my love of words draws me first to the bookstores, and second to the local library. I need the grounding that only being surrounded by books can bring. This year’s summer break brought me to the eastern shore of Virginia. Libraries have a way of drawing people together, and Chincoteague’s Island Library has a history of being a gathering place for islanders and visitors alike.
At first glance the tiny white building, with its stained-glass transom windows, is a glimpse of another time. A historical marker on the porch railing tells the story. Built in 1887 as the town’s drug store, the building later belonged to Wallace “Tig” Jester, the town barber. For 75 years, the walls would echo with laughter, stories, and town gossip as Mr. Jester cut hair and shaved away the bristly chins of his neighbors.
In 1983, there was a drive to save the historic building, and it was (literally) moved down the street to become the town library. I felt a buzz I couldn’t quite explain when I read that the library opened on July 4, 1995. Independence Day. Books are freedom, and could there be a better birthday for a library?
The entryway room of the library is, as expected, very small. Ornate woodwork frames shelves of books and local art, and the librarian’s desk holds a shadowbox containing—what else—Mr. Jester’s antique barber tools.
However, just like a great book, the library encompasses a depth that took me by surprise. In 2010, the library’s new wing was opened, with a remarkable staircase that is breathtaking in both its scope and the way in which the design flawlessly connects old and new. An elevator is tucked neatly in the wall, bringing access to the upstairs loft, where more books wait by live plants and cozy reading chairs. When I asked permission to take photos for this piece, I was told to be sure to notice the view from upstairs— “the best view on the island.” Indeed.
Meeting spots are tucked among the walls of books, and the library offers book events and a welcoming children’s area. Bits of local history are displayed throughout, and a sense of pride hums in the air. The library itself is a story.
The Island Library is privately funded, but open for anyone to visit. Libraries are a hub of the community. There will always be worries about budgets and book bans, but oh how lucky we are to have these spaces to be surrounded by books. No matter how far we travel, a library feels like home.