Leveraging Diversity to Create Stronger Connection
Prince William Public Libraries
Innovation Synopsis
Prince William Public Libraries serves the most diverse community in Virginia, where nearly 42% of residents speak a language other than English at home—almost twice the national average. Recognizing this diversity not as a challenge but as an opportunity for innovation, Prince William Public Libraries redefined what inclusivity looks like in a modern library system. It expanded its world language collection, developed culturally responsive programming, and created welcoming spaces where every resident feels represented and valued. The impact was profound: a branch located in the heart of immigrant neighborhoods saw a 400% increase in adult world language checkouts and a 133% rise in Spanish book circulation in just one year. Community members donated books in their native languages, and national organizations supported PWPL’s mission to ensure that everyone, regardless of their native language, feels that the library is a place where they truly belong.
Challenge/Opportunity
For decades, Prince William Public Libraries (PWPL) had served a calm, rural, and homogenous community. Over the past 10 years, Prince William County (PWC) has become the most diverse in the state. This was a new reality to adapt to, and PWPL did not hesitate to meet its community needs. It has innovated and expanded its offerings to be more inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds.
PWPL serves a diverse and growing community of over 520,000 people in PWC and the City of Manassas in Virginia. PWC is the most diverse county in Virginia, with a diversity index of 73.7%, and ranks #10 most diverse county in the U.S. (2020 U.S. Census). Between 2010 and 2021, the population increased every year, making PWC the fifth fastest-growing county in Virginia, with many new residents being immigrants. Almost 42% of residents speak a language other than English at home, nearly double the national average of 22% (U.S. Census estimates for 2019-2023).
Key Elements of Innovation
PWPL redefined what it means for a library to serve everyone. PWPL innovated its approaches across all aspects, from its spaces to its collection, and placed inclusion at the heart of its mission.
PWPL enhanced its collection and programming to better reflect the area's diversity. The collection includes literature featuring stories and characters from diverse backgrounds, and programs support the understanding of different cultures and beliefs. PWPL began providing library information in foreign languages and strengthened its outreach to organizations serving immigrants. These efforts yielded significant results in the FY2025 (July 2024 – June 2025).
PWPL’s efforts and achievements help market public libraries as inclusive, welcoming, and barrier-breaking. They elevate public libraries from book-borrowing institutions to community hubs that innovate and evolve to reflect their communities, build bridges through language and culture, and offer resources everyone can benefit from.
Achieved Outcomes
PWPL’s commitment to fostering inclusion and connection achieved remarkable outcomes and recognition in FY2025.
Immigrants reached out and offered support: A local Muslim organization donated 260 Urdu books, and Nepalese community contributed over 170 Nepali language titles to the collection. National organizations also took notice: PWPL was selected to join the Latino Poetry: Places We Call Home national initiative and received support from ProLiteracy, New Readers Press, the Library of Virginia, and the American Library Association.
Most notably, the Carnegie Corporation of New York awarded PWPL a $400,000 grant—its largest in history—recognizing the library as one of only 11 nationwide (out of 1,400 applicants) for its commitment to reducing access barriers for non-English speakers.
PWPL patrons responded too: at a branch located in the heart of immigrant neighborhoods, adult world-language checkouts increased by 400%, and Spanish book circulation rose by 133% in a single year.
