library of virginia

I visited the Library of Virginia twice in the past weeks doing family history research. I have only praise about this library...informative website, friendly & helpful staff, great resources & books, a gift shop and cafe.

Took a school group of High School students for a tour. Not sure if the general public is allowed to view some of the older books locked up, but our group was given a tour which included viewing books that were 200-400 years old that were a part of Richmond and U.S. history. We also toured the achieves downstairs. Our guides were superb. They seem to really enjoy their jobs. I definitely will return with my family.

This was a beautiful building. The computers were not easy to use.This has very good history of VA after the revolution.

I would encourage everyone to visit the "To Be Sold" exhibit at the Library of Virginia now until the end of May 2015. It tells an important story that most of us never learned in school. We need to know these facts in order to understand our city.

I like the fact that so much information is available for many things. I am doing genealogy and it not only has Virginia info but has other states that border Virginia. Great Staff.

If your ancestors came from Virginia, this is where you need to do your work. A beautiful building, stocked with worlds of resources and the most helpful staff ever. The little cafe on the ground floor offers superb food so you never have to leave the building (Try the Chipotle Chicken Panini!).

We were searching for family records. We found some. We probably need to return. The staff was helpful and patient. We really liked the microfilm scanners

Disliked nothing! The staff are extremely helpful and patient; very knowledgeable. I am disabled and had a LOT of help holding doors, opening them for me, being sure I was safe and happy and well cared for. The building is gorgeous. The resources are phenomenal. I did not eat at the lunch counter this visit though I could smell the delicious preparations, but last time it was delightful.

So this is not what you think of as a library with a children's room and what not. It's more like the library of congress that acts as an archive. One could easily spend hours here just going through the exhibits on slavery. It was absolutely fascinating! I never got upstairs because my family was ready to leave but I could have stayed there many more hours digging around. Best stop of our trip for sure!

I have been to the Library of Virginia multiple times. My ancestors were enslaved in VA. It's the first place I go when Ancestry.com doesn't have what I want. While they don't have everything (due to fires and records being destroyed). They have tons of microfilm and great machines for printing what you find. There also have volumes of history books.The staff there is friendly and very helpful. I am so grateful that the Library of Virginia is there and free to use.

The Library of Virginia is not your typical local lending library. This is THE Library of the State/Commonwealth of Virginia. And, in that regard, if you were researching anything, including family genealogy, to do with Virginia history or culture, here is where you might begin. Needless to say, much of their collection consists of rare or uncommon print material. Their collection is extraordinary: 800,000+ bound volumes, 300,000+ photographs, and millions of manuscripts, written records, public documents, prints, and newspapers. For the general public, the Library of Virginia has numerous events, mostly free, each month. These may include: author book talks, lectures, workshops, and film screenings.In the lobby and in an adjoining large room, there is always an exhibit of some sort. These are first class, museum-quality, exhibits. Currently, the exhibit is, "To Be Sold, Virginia and the American Slave Trade." This exhibit will run approximately seven months (until May 30, 2015). Associated with this exhibit are numerous lectures and workshops.There is no admission charge. The Library is open six days a week, from 9-5. There is a limited amount of free parking, below the building. The Library is just two blocks from the State Capitol and other downtown attractions.

As well as having a very helpful and patient staff they have invested in technology to make time spent here more productive. Very nice building -- our second or third visit here.

We spent a lovely afternoon reading in this lovely old historic library, we had to use a relatives library card and the staff kindly reserved our books until our relative could collect them the next day. There is a lovely children's section, the young adult section was having work done but the staff member guided us around so our daughter could chose a few books. There is a good space for using the lap tops where the children can have computer access too. Very warm and welcoming space. Perfect if you're staying at the Linden Row Inn hotel too.

Knowledgeable archivists and librarians, excellent collection of records, a small deli on the ground floor, limited underground visitor parking, next to City Hall, less than two blocks to the restaurant in the Marriott, thoughtfully stocked gift shop.

This library is an amazing resource of information on the state of Virginia. It's very well laid out with an efficient staff of people to help you research your heritage or any other information you need on Virginia Civil War Revolutionary war or early US history.