Roanoke County Public Library System
Established in 1945, the Roanoke County Public Library system [RCPL] consists of a Headquarters Library on Rte. 419; three major branches in Glenvar, Hollins, and Vinton; and two neighborhood branches in Mt. Pleasant and Bent Mountain. Conveniently located and service-oriented, County libraries have an extensive collection of books, magazines, videos, DVD's, audio books, CD's, CD-Rom's, and more. The system also provides a full spectrum of library services, from reference assistance, consumer information, and storytimes for children, to the latest in electronic information, Internet access, computer labs, and public instruction in software and databases.
With an annual circulation of more than 930,000, and the number of
annual visits by its patrons exceeding 695,000, RCPL is the busiest library system in Southwest Virginia. It is also the recipient of
multiple statewide awards for innovations in children's programming, special events for adults, and creative promotional efforts.
County libraries are fully automated, with remote access to magazine indexes and other databases and an online catalog.
Construction work on the 55,000 sq. ft. South County Library should be completed by March 2010. Entrance to the library will be
through a roundabout to be constructed at the intersection of Meadowlark Road and Merriman Road. In addition to more space for books,
computer work stations and new media, the new library will feature attractive displays, WiFi and docking stations, a small business
center, cozy reading nooks, self-checkout stations and even a drive-through window for easy pick-up and return of materials. A
community center will include a large meeting room that can be subdivided into smaller rooms, an auditorium, a coffee shop, an
information commons area, a used book shop, and two computer labs. The entire center can be closed off from the rest of the library
to host after-hours events.
Adult residents of the area may apply for a Guest Borrower Card at Roanoke College's Fintel Library, or public library patrons may obtain the Library's circulating materials through the Interlibrary Loan program.
Fintel Library offers over 220,000 bound volumes, with a total holding of over 554,000.
The libraries at Virginia Tech include holdings of more than 2,237,000 volumes. The University holds the distinction of being a selective depository for federal documents and is an invited member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL).
Adult Virginia residents are extended privileges at Virginia Tech libraries with a Virginia Driver's License or Virginia Identification Card and in-state address and phone number.
Libraries on the Virginia Tech campus include:
- Carol M. Newman Library (main)
- Art & Architecture Library
- Geosciences Library
- Northern Virginia Resource Center
- Veterinary Library
(Source: Virginia Tech
2007)
The Wyndham Robertson Library at Hollins University opened in April 1999 as a state-of-the-art academic library designed to accommodate the full range of information formats, from manuscripts and incunabula to print, microforms, from CD-ROMs to videos, sound recordings, digital videodisks, and multimedia formats to Web-based research sources. At the opening the library was designated the first National Literary Landmark in Virginia by The Friends of Libraries, USA. All of this grew from a cornerstone, first laid in 1908 for the Charles L. Cocke Memorial Library.
The current collections of the Wyndham Robertson Library consist of more than half a million items, including books, print periodicals, e-texts, videos, screenplays, rare books, and manuscripts. More than 14,000 journals are available in print or through electronic database subscriptions. In addition, Media Services provides different media formats and equipment, and
Special Collections and Archives houses interesting collections and rare materials.
Hollins University welcomes all area residents to use the Wyndham Robertson Library. Guests are invited to search the online catalog and to use the library periodicals and government documents within the library.
Other local libraries accessible to residents of Virginia include Virginia Western Community College's Brown Library, and the Roanoke Higher Education Center Library.