Alexandria Library (Virginia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexandria Library (Virginia) |
|
|---|---|
| Country | US |
| Established | 1794 |
| Branches | 6 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 503,191 |
| Other information | |
| Director | Rose T. Dawson |
The Alexandria Library is a public library system. It serves the city of Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States.
Contents
Library History
Early Beginnings (1794)
The Alexandria Library first opened in 1794. It started as a private library. It was called the Alexandria Library Company. People paid a fee to borrow books.
Building a Public Library (1937)
In 1937, a doctor named Robert South Barrett gave money. He wanted to build a public library. This library would honor his mother, Dr. Kate Waller Barrett. She was a doctor too.
The land for the new library was special. It was a former burial ground. The Society of Friends owned it. They agreed to let the library use the land for 99 years. The library was built without a basement. This was to avoid disturbing anything underground.
The old Library Company joined this effort. They gave their book collection to the City of Alexandria. The city agreed to pay for the new public library's costs.
A Step Towards Fairness (1939)
At that time, many places in Virginia had unfair rules. Public places, like libraries, were often only for white residents.
On August 21, 1939, some young African American men took action. They wanted everyone to use the library. An attorney named Samuel Wilbert Tucker helped them. They went to the library and sat down quietly. This was a peaceful protest. It was one of the first "sit-ins" in the Civil Rights Movement.
The young men were arrested. But the charges were later dropped. In 1940, a separate library branch was built for African Americans. It was named after Robert H. Robinson. This branch later closed around 1960. Today, the building is home to the Alexandria Black History Museum.
How the Library Works Today
Library Buildings and Collections
Today, the Alexandria Library has a main building. It was built in 2000. It is named after Mayor Charles E. Beatley Jr. There are also four other branch libraries.
The library system has special sections. One is for Local History and Special Collections. This is in the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library. Another is a Talking Books division. This helps people who are blind or have trouble seeing.
Other library buildings include:
- The Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
- The James M. Duncan Branch Library
- A law library branch inside the historic Alexandria City Hall
What You Can Find and Do
People check out over 1.5 million items each year. These include books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines. You can also find eAudioBooks and other items. In 2017, the library had over 500,000 items. More than 700,000 people visited the libraries. Many more visited the library's website.
The library's current Director is Rose T. Dawson. The library has over 150 employees. More than 40 of them have special degrees. These are called Master’s degrees in library science.
The library offers many programs and services. You can find them at the branches or online. Each branch has computers. You can use them to access the internet and the library catalog. You can also download materials and use databases.
Some popular library programs are:
- Summer reading challenges
- "One Book/One City" events
- Book discussion groups
- Author book signings
- Story times for children
The Alexandria Library also helps with passport services. You can get a passport at the Barrett Branch and Beatley Central Library. This started in October 2016.
Getting a Library Card
For Non-Residents
If you do not live in Alexandria, you might still get a free library card. You can get one if you:
- Work in the city
- Own property in the city
- Go to school in the city
You can also get a free card if you live in an area that shares library services with Alexandria. This means residents from these places can get a card:
- The District of Columbia
- Montgomery and Prince George's Counties in Maryland
- Fairfax and Falls Church cities in Virginia
- Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, and Prince William counties in Virginia
See Also
- Arlington Public Library
- Fairfax County Public Library
- District of Columbia Public Library
- Prince George's County Memorial Library System
Images for kids
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Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
