Fredericksburg Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library System
Digital Access-
Link for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library System-
www.librarypoint.org
Link for the Fredericksburg Branch (formerly known as Headquarters) https://www.librarypoint.org/locations/HDQTRS/?_ga=2.211371985.592500004.1629118698-736723921.1628527986
The website is well organized and easy to navigate. It is part of the larger website for the Central Rappahannock Regional Library system. The system serves residents of Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Westmoreland, and Stafford Counties. The Fredericksburg Branch mostly serves residents close to Fredericksburg. The branch manager is named and his email address is provided on the site. There are also options to email, chat, or call by phone to reach the library. A fun feature of the website is a page introducing the librarians with their picture with their suggestions of genres and a place to email a certain librarian for individual book recommendations.
The website provides access to online databases to browse books, eBooks, audiobooks, DVDs, and Library of Things items. It also lists various services that the library offers including Exam Proctoring, Library to Go, and Teacher’s Corner. The summer reading programs and events are listed. To name a few they offer Paws for Reading (reading to a therapy dog), movies, grief support, language groups, and bookchats at local breweries. One event they are holding is an open meeting to discuss how the library chooses its collection and how they are including diverse materials in the collection. I would be interested in attending that meeting, and it made me happy to know that they are having those discussions. It reinforced what Gooding-Call said in her article, “Librarians, for the most part, are sincere people who mean well. They are individually and regionally eager to grow and improve.” (2021) I know that, as a society, we are experiencing turmoil surrounding book collections, and I am heartened to see that the public library in my town is trying to be transparent and welcoming of discussion about it.
With programming for English learners, diversity conversations, large print and audio books, ADA descriptions for library access, free computer labs, and free Covid tests, it seems like all are welcome at this small city’s library.
The Space and Physical Access
The Fredericksburg Branch of the Regional Rappahannock Regional Library System is located in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg. The area is rich in Civil War history and has buildings and architecture that reach back to colonial times. The 3 story, brick building was constructed in neoclassical style in 1908 to serve as a school (Library of Congress). It was built in accordance with the ideas of reforming education and educational spaces at the time, with large windows (LOC), so it is a very comfortable, open, welcoming space. From the front of the building, I realize that even though it was built as a school, the building is large and ethereal. As many times as I have seen this library, this is the first time that see that the building’s size and formal beauty could be seen, as sacred and awe inspiring. (Ettarhd, 2018) The formal entrance sits on historic Caroline Street, but many people enter the building through the back doors from the ample parking lot. The parking lot has a drive up book return. The lot is landscaped with plants, benches, a couple chairs, and bike racks. Patrons enter the building through an atrium that connects the main building to the old annex, then enter the library itself. The directions to enter are clearly marked with signs. The library has been renovated throughout the years, so it is fresh and inviting.
Inside the library, there are open spaces with kiosks, meeting rooms, classrooms, quiet reading rooms, study rooms, a computer lab, open areas with tables, and a bright teen room with comfortable seating. There are also couches, tables, and desks tucked into nooks and corners throughout the building. Wifi is free and accessible throughout the building as well. Once inside the building, elevators take patrons from floor to floor, providing access to people with wheelchairs or those with mobility issues. The furniture is sized to fit the age of the population, so adults in wheelchairs would need help accessing books from top shelves. There are staff members readily available in every part of the library to assist.
The bottom floor of the library houses the Virginiana Room, which has historical records of local interest. These items need to be accessed with the help of a librarian or staff member. There are blueprints, maps, and artifacts pertaining to the history of the area as well as the microfiche and microfilm collections.
Services and Intellectual Access
Signs throughout the library give testament to the many programs the library offers. Posters advertise concerts, a knitting club, a Fun Fest, Books and Wine, Games Groups, and various writing groups. The floors are clearly marked with signage, and the signs in the stairwells tell what is on the floor above and below as well. The catalog is easily accessible from every section in the library. Nonfiction books are arranged by Dewey Decimal System, and fiction is arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. Some genres are pulled out of fiction for their own collection, including mystery, science fiction, books in foreign languages, and paperback books. There is a section of large print books for visually impared people. For the Deaf community, and those who want to learn about it, the library’s website has a link to the Library of Virginia Deaf Culture Digital Library. The collection of books in languages other than English was small and limited to Spanish, but other libraries in the system have larger collections and more languages available. These can be easily transported through the courier to each library, but non-English speakers could have difficulty accessing the information needed.
People – Patrons and Staff
The library serves Fredericksburg and the surrounding areas, as part of the larger Central Rappahannock Regional Library System. Fredericksburg itself has areas with ethnic diversity as well as socio-economic diversity. The computer lab was being used by people who appeared to be of different ages and ethnicities. The children’s floor was abuzz with activity. Parents, young children, school aged children, and teens were on computers, reading books, and lounging with graphic novels. On the adult, nonfiction floor, the study rooms housed individuals and teams of people, the open area held people working on their computers, and the staff member assisted people with issues as they arose. Staff in the building includes librarians, programmers, circulation people, customer service people, supervisors, and both volunteer and paid pages. As helpful as all the staff is, this library is full of English materials, and it could be intimidating to a non-English speaking person.
Collections
The library has large collections including fiction, nonfiction, children’s, graphic novels, local history documents, and DVDs. The third floor houses a law library with a part time dedicated librarian. There is a computer lab with internet connected PC computers and WIFI throughout the building for patrons.
On the children’s floor, there is a bookshelf with themed backpacks available to check out. These “Adventure Packs” contain books, a log, and other items of interest to the topic. For example, the Railway Adventure Pack has 3 games in it – Roads and Rail, Rush Hour, and a Street Sign matching game. Sight impaired people, while able to read large print books or audio books, may not enjoy these packs.
Groel, C. (2022). Adventure packs CRRL [Photograph]. CC BY-NC
Other
As a person who appreciates the history of the town where I live and who loves repurposed buildings, I enjoyed being in this converted school to library. I had a choice of places to set up my computer to work, and it surprised me that the place I felt most comfortable was on the nonfiction adult floor, right in front of the law library. I enjoyed watching people of different sizes, shapes, and colors come through the area, even though it was on the top floor of a multi-floor building. I was surprised at how much at home I felt.
References
Ettarh, F. (2018, January 10). Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves. In the Library With The Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/
Gooding-Call, A. (2021, March 8). A History of Racism in American Public Libraries. Book Riot. https://bookriot.com/racism-in-american-public-libraries/
Library of Congress. (n.d.) Lafayette School, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, VA Drawings from Survey HABS VA-1515. Retrieved July 19 from https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.va2268.sheet
I love how the old school was converted into a library building. Also, the Virginiana Room and the law library you mentioned in this public library reminds me of the public library I visited that had a special collections (law library) inside in one room. I never knew that there were smaller libraries inside of larger libraries until I visited one myself. You mentioned the library including only English materials. I wonder what would be a good way for them to incorporate materials for those of other ethnicities and those who speak other languages.
What a beautiful library building, reminds me of the movie Matilda. The “Adventure Packs” are such a great idea for a mobile program that will keep children occupied. When the children’s section of a library is busy , I have always considered that a win in library world. I also like Amber’s comment on incorporating items that would server other nationalities.