Kempsville Area Library

Awesome clean and well-​organized library with exceptional customer service, free parking, clean bathrooms with a changing table for babies, etc.
Items can be hold and renew on-​line on the library website or by calling the library.
Materials can be returned to any branches of the Virginia Beach public library.
The library is conveniently located by the Kempsville park. There is a playground available a five minute walk from the parking.

I cannot tell you how long it has been since since I’ve searched for anything in a library!!! I put items on hold using the library website and then pick them up at the library closest to me. This day I needed to go inside to return something and decided to see if they had any items on a new interest in-​house. I was directed to the catalog computer to do my search and wrote down the numbers I needed. I had no problem finding the print materials at all. The audio materials I could not find at all. I searched several rows and was not able to find the audio recording with the number or alphabetically. I had to ask for help! The lady who helped me went to find it right away and brought the CD to the counter explaining that they had recently moved all of their audio items. She then directed me where to check out my items but the line was long so she graciously called me over to another station and checked me out herself. The checkout system uses Radio-​frequency identification (RFID) to recognize the books, the key is to spread the books like a fan. the RFID stickers cannot be read by the computer when they are overlapping.
They have new, cool electronic return slots outside. Return one item at a time.

Popped in with my mom (she’s a VB resident) to return one book and pick up another. I saw lots and lots of kids about, which is to be expected during the summer school’s out season.
The library looks to be quite technologically with it. The check-​out process is bar code reading and proximity readers. Same with the return drop outside. Neat!

My children love going to this library. They have a great selection of children’s books. I think it is so cool that they have a playground outside, too. Go in and let them read some books to work their brains, then take them outside for some exercise. There are also some puzzles and blocks for the kids to play with in the children’s section. There’s even computers for the kids to play on, too.
They offer numerous programs for children, including Onesies Rhyme Time, Just 2s, 3s Please, Preschool Story Time, and more. The schedule is here:
They also have book bags for certain subject matter, such as potty training. If I remember correctly, it contains a variety of books for kids about using the potty, a worksheet, and a music CD. You just grab the bag and check it out. No need to search for potty training books on your own. I’ll make note of the other bags available the next time I go in.

yes i like this place too, closet home, nice and quiet and the librarians were very nice. The only thing that bothered me was the computer room in the back smelled like dead cats or something, not sure if it was just SOMEBODY or what, but i just had to breath out my mouth… yuck

Since Mary F. didn’t feel like providing citations or facts in her alarmist review of the library I thought I’d shed some light on the subject for you (and for her.)
The levels of 2-​butanone and methylene chloride in the air inside the library were 100 to 1000 times LOWER, respectively, than the federal limit. The renovation addressed these non-​issues and the library is still a safe place for kids and adults.
As for the chemicals at the playground. Mary, the entire playground is mulched. If your kids are playing there, they are fine. Even if they are digging through the mulch and rolling around in the dirt, they are still fine. All soils has things like arsenic, lead, etc. Even your back yard. It occurs naturally in the soil and is also deposited from the air. It is just a matter of what acceptable concentrations are, and in this case the soil at the library is fine.
I work as an environmental scientist and I am very familiar with these issues, and unfortunately very familiar with civic leagues who know very little about these issues scaring people with misinformation.

Hooray for libraries! (I’m a nerd.)
Virginia Beach residents are really lucky to have such a great library system. More people should take advantage of this wonderful city service.
I practically grew up at the Kempsville Area Library, doing my homework after many school days in their study carrels. The staff would always help me find books and research my reports.
Now, I generally just check the library database online and stop by to check out items I put on hold. They have a ton of audio books to borrow, which is great for my long commute. You can even download audio books directly to your iPod from the library website! That’s a free service that many people pay
$ 30+ a month for.
The library has been recently renovated and is clean and well kept. It’s smaller than Central Library, but the staff is friendly and it’s a great branch.