{"id":1,"date":"2022-07-11T23:57:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T23:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.odu.edu\/odupresentationtemplate\/?p=1"},"modified":"2022-07-13T16:18:33","modified_gmt":"2022-07-13T16:18:33","slug":"hello-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wp.odu.edu\/mlis-tkram002-rev1\/2022\/07\/11\/hello-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Public Library Visit – Central Rappahannock Library, Downtown Fredericksburg, VA"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Space and Physical Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Atrium
Kramer, T. (2022). Atrium of CRRL Downtown Library<\/em> [Photograph].<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Digital Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

librarypoint.org<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Services and Intellectual Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

People (Patrons and Staff)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Collections<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Tech
Kramer, T. (2022). Tech To Go Station<\/em> [Photograph].<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRubin, R. E., & Rubin, R. G. (2020). Foundations of library and information science (5th ed.). ALA Neal-Schuman.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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,… <\/p>\n

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