The Space and Physical Access
The Central Rappahannock Library (CRRL) Fredericksburg location is the main branch of a regional library system that includes 10 branch libraries and extends through several counties. The library is a multi-floor, historic brick building set in the historic downtown area of Fredericksburg. There is easy access whether one is walking, biking, or driving, and good regional bus access is provided. The library is ADA accessible through the use of ramps and elevators, though some shelving and resources may be out of the reach of someone confined to a wheelchair. The library has a good-sized auditorium with a stage and piano as well as several meeting rooms and study rooms that are available via reservation. There is a healthy mix of open space, open stacks, large windows with a view of downtown or the Rappahannock River, as well as quiet spaces and nooks for quiet reading and research. The library has both computer labs and free Wi-Fi available throughout the spaces. The library divides it collection by floor with the main floor focusing on circulation and adult fiction, the second floor devoted to children’s literature and programming, and the top floor focused on adult services. The bottom floor is devoted to the special collection (Virginiana Room) and law library.
Digital Access
librarypoint.org is the hub for all of CRRL’s digital resources. The catalog is accessible through the website or the library’s mobile device app. Patrons can check out e-books, place holds, search for events, participate in digital programming, and ask questions of a live librarian. The website is bright, highly organized, includes information about staff and how to contact them, and is constantly updated. The only complaint is that there might be too much information, and even though content is highly organized, there are several layers to find what you are looking for. A quick look at the home page on one particular day also didn’t lend itself to much diversity with mainly stock images of white patrons being used.
Services and Intellectual Access
The library is organized using the Dewey Decimal system and the catalog can be searched via computers located throughout the building or through the librarypoint app. While the webpage did not seem to display much diversity on one particular visit, the library in-person shines with diversity. While staffing is mostly white, there were a number of displays celebrating PRIDE and Juneteenth. The library also does a great job of advertising their services and programs through a variety of signage throughout the spaces as well as a professional quality monthly magazine titled What’s Happening @ Your Library.
People (Patrons and Staff)
It’s difficult to discern exactly how many staff work in the building, but there appear to be department heads for each department, librarians for each department, clerks, at least one security guard, and a branch manager on site. The staff that is seen is very busy interacting with patrons, assisting children with book selection, helping a teen patron checkout a Nintendo Switch, answering phones, and emptying book return boxes. The library strives to serve the entire community, and its central location with multiple means of transportation makes it accessible to most. However, I didn’t see a lot of signage in alternate languages which might limit visits from those populations of patrons. There are activities and programming for teachers, seniors, those needing a notary, writers, children, teens (they even have their own teen hangout space), historians, genealogists (an extensive genealogy section is found in the basement with the special collection space), and anyone that needs to have an exam proctored for them.
Collections
Even though the building is quite large, a considerable amount of space is dedicated to meeting rooms, special collections, and the law library. That means the shelves are constantly turned over. CRRL allows books to be returned and checked out at all of their branches, so that leads to a constant turnover of the collection. In addition, books are weeded frequently and sent to a central warehouse located in downtown Fredericksburg. Like most modern libraries, the collection now doesn’t just focus on print resources. E-books, audio books, DVDs, tablets, hotspots, and a collection of home gadgets (Tech on the Go) are all available for patrons to checkout.
Other
I am in awe by the sheer amount of programming offered. The in-person collection may not wow a visitor with its size and scope, but a quick look at the library’s webpage or a quick look at the variety of posters displayed throughout the library quickly let you know that this library is a busy place with lots of services. Everyone working is wearing multiple hats and always engaged in some sort of work to keep the operation moving along. I am blown away by how they handle the volume of books and resources that they have to share with all the other branches and the central warehouse, and I would love to see more of how that operation works behind-the-scenes. Rubin and Rubin (2020) remind us that “public libraries can also negatively affect human rights and social justice by denying access by groups such as the homeless” (p. 117). I know from my visit and my librarian interview that this library handles a lot of issues with the homeless population of Fredericksburg, and I’m interested to learn more about how they serve that important need of giving the homeless a place to feel safe while serving the needs of the variety of patrons that utilize this library.
Resources
Rubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.
Todd,
That looks like a beautiful library – I love that atrium! I am noticing more now in public libraries that there is less space for books and more space for studying, meeting rooms, and programs. That does seem to be a trend in libraries now. I guess there isn’t really a need to house the books in the library when patrons can simply put one on hold and pick it up a day or two later. It seems that libraries are now used for “doing things” rather than just finding a good book. I think it is great that this library does a lot of programming and is involving the community so much. Public libraries have always been my “happy place” and looks like this one would be too. 🙂
I wonder if that is sort of what we will see in our futures project as well…that trend that libraries don’t need to be visited for circulation. People can do drive-up/curbside, electronic, or maybe there will be other options down the road. Because of that, to me it seems that programming over collections now is really where libraries are trying to differentiate themselves and standout.
Hi Todd, it’s interesting how public libraries are both very similar and very different. Dividing up the floors by collection type makes perfect sense. I find it interesting that the library offers notary services and proctoring for people taking exams! What a great service! In our classes, we have talked a lot about accessibility and diversity. So far, it seems to me that there is a variety of programming but is there really a way to make the people who participate more diverse? I know here in Henrico County, sign-up for activities opens two weeks before an event but the slots fill up lickety split. What types of events do they hold in the auditorium? Is the location where you went easily accessible by car? I know in some cities, parking is an issue. I’m also surprised by how many libraries have law libraries or law collections (but maybe I shouldn’t be)!
I felt the CRRL website to be a bit overwhelming also. Great info, but like you say, lots of layers. I’m glad to see the downtown branch had Pride and Juneteenth displays. How big were they? I also was impressed by the programming-it’s just incredible. Do you know if they have one person in charge of all of that? I’d imagine they have to have a huge team handling the programming aspect–but it also validates what we’ve learned about libraries becoming more services-based than book-based.
The displays were not super huge, but I’ve seen them spotlight it at at least one other branch (Salem Church) that we visit more often since it is closer to our house. I’m guessing their admin team does a lot of the work. My librarian made it pretty clear in my interview with him that a lot of decisions come from above and that they are checking them constantly with scheduled visits and surprise observations. A little too much oversight for me.
What a beautiful location! Interesting how they publish a magazine about library activities. I wonder if that is one person’s job or eveyone takes a month or at least contributes. To publish a magazine monthly is expensive and I’m impressed they have that money in the budget. We print out our calendars and put them online which is a much cheaper option. The community must be used to the magazines and clearly it does a good job reaching the community.
I love that atrium as well and the way it brings the outdoors in. I’m curious to know how well attended their programs are attended in this post-Covid (?) environment and when they returned to in-person programming.
Those tech resources and programming options seem amazing! And the space looks so bright. I’m also remembering your library interview and thinking about the librarians who work there – they seem to be working very hard to make all this happen, and hope that they get some time to breathe and take breaks.