Dozens of Things You Can Do Through the Richmond Public Library
Obviously you can use your handy Richmond Public Library card to stack your TBR pile up way high, but did you know our local libraries can do so much more for you? We asked the RPL staff to fill us in on all the public library offerings, and we got quite a scoop in return. Thank you, Susan R. and the whole RPL team!
Here’s what you should ~check out~ the next time you’re at your local branch — in addition to some good reads, of course!
— by Kelsey Heintz, Managing Editor
First things first
The City of Richmond and its bordering communities have access to nine public libraries — one in each voting district:
Main Library 101 E Franklin St (Monroe Ward)
Belmont 3100 Ellwood Ave (Museum District)
Broad Rock 4820 Old Warwick Rd (South Richmond)
East End 1200 N 25th St (Fairmount)
Ginter Park 1200 Westbrook Ave (Bellevue)
Hull Street 1400 Hull St (Blackwell)
North Avenue 2901 North Ave (Northern Barton Heights)
West End 5420 Patterson Ave (Westhampton)
Westover Hills 1408 Westover Hills Blvd (Westover Hills)
And here you can find the hours and more specific info for each branch.
Books and then some
Once you’ve stocked up on lit for your current reading list, you can peruse your branch’s collection of magazines, musical scores, music, movies, and other media.
Are you more of an e-reader, e-watcher, or e-listener? No problem! With your library card, you can also use online platform Libby to download books and Hoopla to download books, audiobooks, comics, movies, television shows, and music. BiblioBoard dishes similar offerings, too.
Conduct some thorough research
If you’re looking to brush up on some local history, the Richmond Public Library gets you access to a host of notable collections to help you do just that:
The Richmond Authors Collection at the Main Library Branch “represents the breadth and range of Richmond writers and includes the works of authors who have lived in Richmond (or the adjacent counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, Goochland and Hanover) for at least one year of their lives.”
The branch also has filing cabinets on filing cabinets of newspaper clippings covering local history, from biographies to obituaries spanning the 1900s and early 2000s.
There’s the written public records of the City of Richmond, too.
If you’re looking to do some legal research, you can access online platforms Westlaw Next and Lexis Advance with your library card, as well.
Get help with homework, job searching, and gardening, too
Some of the Richmond Public Library branches offer students help with homework, but you’ll want to call ahead to your branch first and double-check their current services.
If you’re job searching, the Job Seeker Assistance feature is a one-stop-shop for all your job-seeking needs, from what sites to search, how to finesse your resume, and more. (The AtoZdatabases can help here, too.)
There’s also the Master Gardener virtual help desk, which connects you with Virginia Extension Master Gardeners — “a dedicated team of more than 5,000 volunteers who work in communities throughout Virginia to promote research-based horticulture.”
Enjoy some family-friendly fun
Fun for kids at the library extends far beyond the (v adorable) Children sections full of board books and more. There are many programs that both kids and teens can enjoy. (If you’re a toddler caregiver, we’re particularly big fans of Book Babies over here.)
And the Just For Kids Streaming Collection is “a thoroughly kid-safe, advertisement-free media platform they can freely explore and enjoy.”
Use hands-on tools and quiet spaces
Access the public library Wi-Fi, work on the onsite computers, reserve a private meeting or study room, utilize the Innovation & Memory Labs (which feature tech tools and creative software applications for graphic, audio, video, artistic, maker, craft, or educational uses).
You can have items notarized (call ahead to double-check with your branch), and fax, scan, and photocopy docs at $0.15 per page.
Explore more in RVA:
