Culpeper County Library names local history room for longtime staffer Julie Bichon

At a ceremony at the Culpeper County Library in the Southgate Shopping Center, officials and community members dedicated the library's local history room to longtime staffer Julie Bichon.

Director Brian McCormick, introduced by the event's Chamber representative, said, "Julie Bichon has been here for 30 years," and described the board's decision to honor her tenure. He told attendees the library board voted unanimously to rename the space the Julie Bichon Local History Room and that the library will arrange permanent lettering for the room.

The dedication recognized Bichon's decades of work helping patrons with local history, genealogy and reference questions. "We don't go in that room," Bichon recalled, repeating a comment she was told early in her career about the local history collection before she became its chief resource. She described being trained by a longtime part-time colleague, Marie Debutts, and accepted the honor with gratitude.

Kim Jepsen, identified by organizers as a member of the library board, and a representative of the Chamber joined staff and community members in the presentation. Organizers said they would hold a ribbon-cutting and finalize the room's lettering at a later date.

The short ceremony highlighted the role of the local history collection in serving Culpeper County residents and small businesses. Library leaders and community partners said the naming is intended to preserve institutional memory and recognize decades of public service by Bichon.

Officials asked attendees to remain for a brief ribbon-cutting following the remarks.