Library of Virginia

I usually hate libraries. With a vengeance. I was that kid in college who always needed comfortable places to study and the library just wasn’t one of them. Don’t even talk to me about those fluorescent lights and the people who talk just to be buttheads.
When the internet at my house failed me this morning, I decided I needed to get out of the house. So, I chose to go to the library! I love taking advantage of the warm days in RVA. Our city is so beautiful and I knew that going to the library then taking a stroll to a nearby café for lunch would be the perfect day.
You should know that there is a free parking deck underneath the building. I fought for street parking and then once I walked into the library I realized that that was a dumb idea because the nice lady at the desk informed me about the parking deck. Perf.
So, off I went into a nice little spot on the 2^nd floor to perch for the day. The lighting in the library wasn’t annoying. Check! The chairs promoted good posture. Check! There weren’t annoying people who talked the whole time. Check! I admitted that I was a total n00b and none of the workers judged me. Check! You know what, Library of VA, we’re gonna be best friends. As long as the weather’s nice, I’ll be there keeping my new spot warm.

Great library, lots of space, huge tables, big windows, wifi and computers and all the things you’d expect. Free underground parking is a bonus. Only complaint is that printing is absurdly expensive at 25c/​page (Richmond libraries charge 15c and VCU is less than that) and it’d be nice if they stayed open past 5.

I do genealogy research and the Library of Virginia is a real treasure.
The space itself is exceptional. Open, spacious, lots of natural light, wifi and many comfortable areas to read and study. You can also park in the their underground garage.
Their holdings on all things Virginia are extensive — court records, archival records, newspapers, maps, journals, etc, and many are available on-​line.

There are many excuses I can come up with to not study, but this library
gets rid of most: lots of light from large
windows, comfortable chairs & desks, quiet, free wifi, clean bathrooms,
convenient location, no cell phones allowed (love it!). That said, I can do without the guards. The place is so nice & they are so protective of it, a water bottle on the desk is a huge violation. Important to me, so star minus. L

I’m a writer so I’ve spent my fair share of time in libraries doing research. Next to the New York Public Library, this is my favorite. It’s kind of like the National Archives, but for the state. They have old plantation records and all manner of documents from life in the Old Dominion, as well as special exhibits.
It’s also just a cool building and good library with Wi-​Fi, free parking, and lots of good work space. Add the smell of books and what more could you ask for? A café perhaps? It’s got one and it’s an offshoot of Max’s Positive Vibe, one of the coolest ideas in RIchmond restaurant history.
They train people with cognitive or physical disabilities and help them find paying jobs, and it’s been wildly successful. Now they’re dishing up good food and good vibes at the Library.
There’s also a cool shop, called the Virginia Shop, that has art and all other things that hail from our great state.