Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library
🏢 Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries Network · Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library
Opened in October 1977 through a joint effort by the neighboring towns of Bolivar and Harpers Ferry, this Jefferson County library sits at 151 Polk Street just minutes from the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers — a community anchor in one of West Virginia's most historically storied corners of the Eastern Panhandle.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Thursday | 8:30am–7pm |
| Friday | 9:30am–5:30pm |
| Saturday | 9:30am–3:30pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 151 Polk Street, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Phone: (304) 535-2301
Website: bolivarharpersferrylibrary.com
Plus Code: 87F486FV+P7 (Harpers Ferry, WV)
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📖 About Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library
The Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library was established through an unusual partnership: in January 1976, the Jefferson County Board of Education transferred land in the Town of Bolivar to support a public library jointly serving both Bolivar and the adjacent Town of Harpers Ferry. The library opened in October 1977 as part of a wave of 53 libraries built across West Virginia between 1965 and 1977 under the Library Services Act. Today it serves more than 14,000 residents in this portion of Jefferson County — the state's Eastern Panhandle, bordering both Maryland and Virginia along the Blue Ridge foothills. The library offers free Wi-Fi hotspots for loan, Dolly Parton's Imagination Library enrollment for young children, and a full digital suite through its shared catalog with the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Public Libraries Network. Programs range from chair yoga and stitching circles to the Harpers Ferry Stitchers craft group and homeschool gaming. The library is open until 7 p.m. on Thursdays.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened October 1977 through a joint initiative of the Towns of Bolivar and Harpers Ferry — named jointly to reflect both communities it serves
- Located minutes from Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, site of John Brown's 1859 raid and a Civil War river-crossing junction
- Serves over 14,000 residents in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle, bordered by Maryland and Virginia
- Offers free Wi-Fi hotspot loans and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library enrollment for children birth to age 5
- Extended Thursday hours: open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. for after-work visits
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Bolivar-Harpers Ferry cardholders can stream, learn, and research free through the library's digital resource suite:
📚 Services
- Circulating book, DVD, audiobook, and magazine collection
- Free Wi-Fi hotspot loans for take-home internet access
- Dolly Parton's Imagination Library enrollment (children birth–age 5)
- Public computers and in-library free Wi-Fi
- Printing, copying, and fax services
- Interlibrary loan through the MBCPL network
- Job-search assistance and reference services
🎸 Programs
- All Ages Storytime, Book Babies Storytime, and Crafty Storytime
- Library Lego Challenge for children
- Homeschool games programming
- Harpers Ferry Stitchers craft group
- Chair Yoga for adults
- Youth and Adult Summer Reading Programs
📍 Nearby Libraries in Jefferson County, WV
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Harpers Ferry · Browse all West Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the library named after both Bolivar and Harpers Ferry?
The library was jointly established in 1977 by the Towns of Bolivar and Harpers Ferry, two small adjacent communities in Jefferson County's Eastern Panhandle. The land was transferred from the Jefferson County Board of Education to Bolivar, but the library was designed from the start to serve both towns — so both names are reflected in the institution.
Is the library near Harpers Ferry National Historical Park?
Yes. The library at 151 Polk Street in Harpers Ferry is just minutes from the park entrance. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park preserves the site of John Brown's 1859 raid on the federal armory and the Civil War-era lower town at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.
Does the library offer free language learning or streaming services?
Yes. Cardholders have free access to Mango Languages (self-paced language courses), Kanopy (thousands of films and documentaries), OverDrive/Libby (e-books and audiobooks), Universal Class (online continuing education), and WV Info Depot (research databases).
What is Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, and can I enroll my child?
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails one free, age-appropriate picture book each month to enrolled children from birth to age 5. The Bolivar-Harpers Ferry Public Library participates in the program — ask at the desk or call (304) 535-2301 to enroll your child.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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