Alexandria Library (Alexandria, Va.)

Alexandria Library (Virginia)
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<p>Coordinates: 38°48′28″N 77°2′49″W
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<p>Alexandria Library
<p>Alexandria Library (Virginia) is located in AlexandriaCharles E. Beatley, Jr. Central LibraryCharles E. Beatley, Jr. Central LibraryKate Waller Barrett Branch LibraryKate Waller Barrett Branch LibraryEllen Coolidge Burke Branch LibraryEllen Coolidge Burke Branch LibraryJames M. Duncan Branch LibraryJames M. Duncan Branch Library
<p>MapWikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
<p>Location US
<p>Established 1794
<p>Branches 6
<p>Collection
<p>Size 503,191
<p>Other information
<p>Director Rose T. Dawson
<p>Website alexlibraryva.org
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<p>Beatley Central Library
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<p>Reference area in Beatley Central Library
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<p>Duncan Branch Library in 2019
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<p>Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library
<p>Alexandria Library is the public library in Alexandria, Virginia in the United States.[1]
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<p>History
<p>In 1794, Alexandria Library opened as a private lending library, calling itself the Alexandria Library Company.
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<p>In 1937, Dr. Robert South Barrett donated funds to build a public library in memory of his mother, physician Dr. Kate Waller Barrett (1857-1925). The Society of Friends granted a 99-year lease for use of its former Quaker Burial Ground (then used as a playground).[2] An informal agreement provided that the interments would not be disturbed, although the few gravestones were transferred to the Woodlawn Quaker Meetinghouse and a granite marker acknowledges the former use. Thus, the new library building was built without a basement, but rather on a concrete slab foundation (as were subsequent additions).[3] The Library Company cooperated in this effort, contracting with the Alexandria City Council to turn over its collections to City of Alexandria as the City agreed to include the public library's operating expenses in its budget.
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<p>Due to practices common in Virginia and other Southern states at the time, the public library originally only permitted white residents to use the facility. On August 21, 1939, several young African American men, in a strategy devised by attorney Samuel Wilbert Tucker (who grew up about two blocks from the new library), staged a peaceable sit-in at the library to enable African Americans to use that public facility in the first known non-violent sit-in of the Civil rights movement in America.[4][5] Although they were arrested, charges were ultimately dropped by city attorney Armistead Boothe, and a branch library was built in 1940 for African Americans and named after Robert H. Robinson, which closed circa 1960 and now houses the Alexandria Black History Museum.[6][7]
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<p>Current operations
<p>Today the library consists of a new central building (built in 2000 and named for mayor Charles E. Beatley) and four branch libraries, and includes two special divisions: Local History /Special Collections (in what became the Kate Waller Barret Branch Library) and a Talking Books division for the blind and visually handicapped. The other library buildings are: the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, the James M. Duncan Branch Library and the law library branch located in the historic Alexandria City Hall near the Barrett branch.[8]
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<p>Patrons check out more than 1.5 million titles annually, including books, CDs, DVDs, magazines, eAudioBooks, and other items. The system owned 503,191 items and had 700,921 library visitors (more than 1.3 million including its web site) in FY2017.[9] The library's current director is Rose T. Dawson. Among its more than 150 employees are more than 40 staff with master's degrees in library science.[8]
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<p>The library offers a wide variety of programs and services, both in the branches and via the Web site. Each branch has computers for access to the Internet, the catalog, downloadable material and databases. Library sponsored programs include: summer reading, One Book/One City, literary discussion groups, author book signings, children story times and other events for the city's diverse population. The Alexandria Library also started offering passport services[10] at the Barrett Branch[11] and Beatley Central Library in October 2016.
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<p>Non-resident privileges
<p>Non-Residents of the city who work, own property or attend school in the city may obtain a library card without charge. Non-Residents that live in an area that will offer reciprocal library card privileges to Alexandria residents may also obtain a free library card. Thus residents of the District of Columbia, the Maryland Counties of Montgomery, and Prince George's, the Virginia cities of Fairfax and Falls Church, and Virginia counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, and Prince William are all eligible.
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<p>Nearby public library systems
<p>Arlington Public Library
<p>Fairfax County Public Library
<p>District of Columbia Public Library
<p>Prince George's County Memorial Library System
<p>References
<p>"Alexandria Library". alexlibraryva.org. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>Martha Claire Catlin, Historical Overview of the Woodlawn Quaker Meeting (October 2016), available at http://woodlawnfriends.org/home/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Historical-Overview-of-the-Woodlawn-Quaker-Meeting.pdf
<p>Francine M. Bromberg et al., "To Find Rest from All Trouble: The Archeology of the Quaker Burying Ground Alexandria Virginia" (Office of Historic Alexandria, 2000) pp. 90-91, 109-111, 180-182
<p>"1939 Library Sit-In". alexlibraryva.org. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>"How An Alexandria Man Came To Lead One Of The First Civil Rights Protests". WAMU. October 3, 2014. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
<p>"The History of the Alexandria Black History Museum". Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>"Robert Robinson Library - African American Historic Sites Database". African American Historic Sites Database. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>"Locations and Hours". alexlibraryva.org. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>"Library" (PDF). Alexandria Library. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
<p>"Apply for a Passport". alexlibraryva.org. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
<p>"Alexandria Library Barrett Branch". February 4, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2018.

WELCOME
<p>Welcome to the virtual branch of the Alexandria Library!
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<p>We offer you access to the world of electronic information. Not only can you access our records of holdings and availability, but we offer access to full text articles from thousands of magazines, journals and newspapers through our online databases. You can search genealogy records with Ancestry Library Edition, borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks on Libby and download digital music with Freegal. Free public access to the Internet is available at all branches as well as free Wi-Fi access for laptops and mobile devices.
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<p>Although we have done much to improve our digital services, we have not forgotten our physical offerings. In 2015 the Alexandria Library assumed management of the Alexandria Law Library. This addition to the library network has benefited local litigators and the general public. Access to quality legal information increases the ability of people to seek and obtain fair, accessible, and equitable assistance in reaching an outcome under the law.
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<p>In 2009, and again in 2014 and 2019, the library highlighted the anniversary of America’s first ever library sit-in for civil rights. On August 21, 1939, Alexandria Library staff and patrons watched as a young African American entered and asked to register for a library card. When he was refused, he picked up a book, took a seat, and began to read. Minutes later, another well-groomed and polite young adult repeated these actions. This continued until the young people occupied five tables. Each one sat in silence and read a book. Flustered library staff called the police. While none of these men received a library card at the time, the event has been a catapult for library programming and services to highlight the contributions and needs of the multicultural community that we serve.
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<p>During the recent challenges presented during the global pandemic, the Alexandria Library has risen to the challenge by providing excellent customer service with curbside service, virtual reference services and online programming. We soon realized that many customers were unable to access the internet. The Burke Branch Library piloted a program that would allow those without internet access an opportunity to use an Outdoor Computer Café hosted in the library’s parking lot.
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<p>We remain committed to having books and the types of programming that people have come into libraries to use for years and will continue to offer both in-person and virtual opportunities for our community to learn, explore, create and connect.

HISTORY OF ALEXANDRIA LIBRARY
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<p>THE BEGINNING
<p>The Alexandria Library Company was founded on July 24, 1794, at John Wise's house. A week later the members met in Wise's long room -- upstairs in the smaller section of today's Gadsby's Tavern -- to elect officers. The Reverend James Muir was elected president, Samuel Craig, treasurer, and Edward Stabler, librarian.
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<p>SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE
<p>1794
<p>The subscriber's annual fee was about $4.00 A non-subscriber could 'hire a book' upon payment of 'one shilling per week for a folio, nine pence for a quatro, and six pence for octavos and duodecimos.' Subscribers living in the country could borrow books for 'double the time of town residents, except in the case of new publications.'"
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<p>FIRST ADDRESS
<p>1794
<p>The Company's first address is thought to have been Mr. Stabler's Apothecary Shop on Fairfax Street. The Company's first acquisition was the American Encyclopedia.
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<p>INCORPORATED
<p>JANUARY 9, 1799
<p>On January 9, 1799, the Alexandria Library Company was chartered by the General Assembly of Virginia. First catalog published, which listed the holdings in the hundreds.
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<p>NEW LOCATION
<p>1818
<p>Collection moved to the New Market House, adjacent to City Hall. William G. Cranch apppointed librarian.
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<p>RARE BOOK COLLECTION
<p>1822
<p>Its rare book collection was begun in 1822 with Miller's The Gardener's Dictionary, which had been presented to Dr. Craik by General George Washington.
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<p>LIBRARY MOVES AGAIN
<p>1840
<p>Library housed in The Lyceum. The Lycem was built in 1839 from brick from the original St. Mary chapel, as a permanent home for the Alexandria Lyceum and the Alexandria Library. It later served as a hospital during the Civil War.
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<p>CIVIL WAR
<p>1861
<p>The City of Alexandria was occupied during the Civil War and the Lyceum used as Federal hospital. Books were housed in homes of Alexandria Library Company members.
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<p>FIRST FEMALE LIBRARIAN
<p>1872
<p>In 1872 the library hired its first woman librarian, Emma J. Young. She was paid $150 per year. She resigned in 1873 and was replaced by Miss Emily English. The Panic of 1873 hit Alexandria hard and in 1875 the library finances were so tight that they considered opening a billiard room adjacent to the Library to court public favor.
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<p>THE LIBRARY GETS ELECTRICITY
<p>1903
<p>In 1903 the Library Association moved to the second floor of 806 Prince Street. They rented the second floor room for $100 each year. Electric light was wired into old gas fixtures and this remained the library’s home for the next thirty four years.
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<p>PUBLIC LIBRARY BEGINS
<p>1931
<p>In 1931 the City Manager set aside $1,000 for the establishment of a free public library. On January 28, 1937 President of the Board Mary Powell Scott and Secretary Mary B. Smoot authorized to sign contract agreement between Dr. and Mrs. Robert Barrett, The Society of Friends, the Alexandria Library Association, and the City Council of the City of Alexandria for a library building.
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<p>PUBLIC LIBRARY OPENS
<p>AUGUST 20, 1937
<p>The first Alexandria Free Public Library opens at 717 Queen Street. Dr. Robert S. Barrett Library donates funds to erect the library in memory of his mother, Dr. Kate Waller Barrett, a humanitarian, social crusader, and political reformer. The Society of Friends grants a 99-year lease for use of its old Quaker Burial Ground on Queen Street as the site for the new building. The Library Company signs an agreement with the Alexandria City Council, turning over its collections to the city. In turn, the city agrees to include operating expenses for the public library in its budget. First year’s budget is $5,000. A Library Board is established, including three members of the Association (“The Company”), two members appointed by the Mayor, and two members of the City Council Beatrice Workman appointed transitional librarian.
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<p>KATE WALLER BARRETT
<p>AUGUST 21, 1937
<p>Kate Waller Barrett was born in Stafford County, Virginia on her family's estate, "Clifton". In 1876 she married Rev. Robert Barrett, the minister at her Episcopal Church in Aquia. He was next assigned to a poor district in Richmond. When an unwed mother and her baby came to the rectory one evening, Mrs. Barrett took them in and vowed to work "in behalf of this outcast class." She was horrified at society's abandonment of these women. Rev. Barrett was transferred to Atlanta in 1886. With her husband's encouragement and support, Mrs. Barrett received her M.D. from the Women's Medical College of Georgia in 1892. Dr. Barrett hoped this knowledge would help in her plans to open a shelter for unwed mothers. Despite opposition from city and church officials, she secured land for her shelter. In her search for funds, Dr. Barrett met Charles Crittenton, who agreed to finance the shelter, named for his daughter Florence who had died of scarlet fever at the age of four. The home opened in 1893. Rev. Barrett died in 1896, leaving his wife with six young children. She became Superintendent of the Mission in 1897 and succeeded Mr. Crittenton as President of the Mission on his death in 1909. There were 90 homes with a national headquarters in Washington, D.C. Dr. Barrett was involved in other charitable work and social reform. She served on several national boards and commissions and was active in war work, veterans' relief, women's suffrage, and the restoration of Arlington Mansion. When she died at her home on Duke Street in Alexandria in 1925, the flag over the state capitol flew at half-mast. She is buried in the Aquia Church cemetery.
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<p>EARLIEST KNOWN CIVIL RIGHTS SIT-IN
<p>AUGUST 21, 1939
<p>One of the nation’s most little-known historical events involved leadership from native Alexandrian, attorney Samuel W. Tucker, and five young African American men who demonstrated an act of civil disobedience at the Barrett Branch after being denied library cards.
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<p>ROBERT ROBINSON LIBRARY
<p>APRIL 22, 1940
<p>Robert Robinson Library, named for a grandson of one of George Washington’s slaves, opens for black residents at 638 N. Alfred Street (now the Alexandria Black History Museum). The Robinson Library closed in 1962. Evelyn Roper Beam appointed librarian.
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<p>ELLEN COOLIDGE BURKE
<p>1948
<p>Ellen Coolidge Burke appointed Director of Alexandria Library.
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<p>BOOKMOBILE
<p>1962
<p>The Library begins bookmobile service.
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<p>BARRETT BUILDS ADDITION
<p>1964
<p>Addition built on Barrett Library: Floor space: 14,600 sq. ft.
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<p>BURKE BRANCH OPENS
<p>1968
<p>Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library opens on Seminary Road. Born in Alexandria to a family which traced its ancestry to Thomas Jefferson, Ellen Coolidge Burke lived here most of her life and received her B.A. and M.A. from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After working at the Alexandria Library for almost ten years as a cataloger and reference librarian, Miss Burke became Director in 1948, a position she held until her retirement in June 1969. Miss Burke was responsible for bringing one of the state's first bookmobile services to the city. Under her leadership the system grew to include two branch libraries. The Burke branch on Seminary Road opened in April 1968 and the Duncan branch on Commonwealth Avenue opened in December 1969. Miss Burke was a member of several professional library associations and was active in the League of Women Voters, the Urban League and other civic associations.
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<p>DUNCAN BRANCH OPENS
<p>1969
<p>James M. Duncan, Jr. Branch Library opens on Commonwealth Avenue. James M. Duncan (1897-1967) was born in Alexandria and attended local schools. He graduated from the University of Virginia in 1921. Mr. Duncan joined the Fire Department as a volunteer and became Chief in 1924, retiring from this position in 1947. In 1949, Mr. Duncan was first elected to the City Council, and served until his death in 1967. He was appointed to the Library Board in 1950 and served there for 17 years, working to extend library service to all areas of the city.
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<p>COMPUTERS
<p>1982
<p>In October, the Library automates its catalog with GEAC. All library books are barcoded in a project that took a year to complete.
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<p>YOUNG ADULT SERVICES
<p>1986
<p>Young Adult services added for ages 12-16.
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<p>RENOVATION
<p>SEPTEMBER 10, 1995
<p>In May 1993 the Barrett Library closed for renovation. It reopened again in 1995 with four free internet computers available for patrons.
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<p>LIBRARY WEBSITE
<p>MARCH 14, 1996
<p>The Library's first website goes live.
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<p>BEATLEY BRANCH OPENS
<p>JANUARY 31, 2000
<p>On January 31, 2000 Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Central Library opens on Duke Street. Designed by Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville in association with Michael Graves, Architect, it was named for Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Mayor of Alexandria from 1967 to 1976 and 1979 to 1985. Charles “Chuck” Beatley was born in Ohio and earned an economics degree and an MBA from Ohio State University. His job as an airline pilot flying in and out of National Airport brought him to Alexandria. In 1945 he met and married Marjorie Perry, and they lived in Old Town while he built their home in the Seminary Hill area. Beatley helped organize the Seminary Hill Association and served as president for three years. He went on to serve on the City Council as a Democrat in 1966, then as mayor from 1967 to 1976. Although he had retired from both United Airlines and politics in 1976, Beatley was urged to run for mayor again in 1979 by both Democrats and Republicans. He won the election and served as mayor until 1985. Beatley encouraged historic preservation in Old Town and was a catalyst for the renewal of the downtown business district. He is responsible for many of the features which make Old Town so distinctive, from the waterfront development of parks and private projects, to the brick sidewalks, underground utility lines and colonialstyle street lamps. As mayor, Beatley was an enthusiastic supporter of the Torpedo Factory Art Center, a major cultural attraction in Alexandria. He pushed for the new courthouse building on King Street, the renovation of City Hall, and proposed a large, central library to be built in the West End. Beatley was the city’s representative on the Metro board for eight years and was instrumental in bringing Metro to Alexandria. He also encouraged the development of the local DASH bus system and helped create Fort Ward Park and the Alexandria campus of Northern Virginia Community College. Tireless in his work, Chuck Beatley has been motivated by his love for Alexandria.
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EBOOKS
<p>2005
<p>Alexandria Library begins offering downloadable audiobooks through the online catalog via Overdrive
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<p>WI-FI @ THE LIBRARY
<p>2005
<p>WiFi internet access is expanded to all branches.
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<p>RENOVATION
<p>SEPTEMBER 22, 2005
<p>Duncan Library Branch closed in mid-August 2004 for renovation. In September of 2005, Duncan Library reopens, the first City of Alexandria government building to have a green roof.
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<p>1 MILLION BOOKS
<p>APRIL 2007
<p>Library circulates one million items in April 2007 (1,041,589)
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<p>DAWSON AS DIRECTOR
<p>2008
<p>Rose T. Dawson is appointed the first African-American Director of Alexandria Library
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<p>UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
<p>JANUARY 2010
<p>In January 2010 the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the Special Collections Branch had been selected to join the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. This national program includes vetted places, resources and repositories for people studying the Underground Railroad. The Alexandria Library, Special Collections Division is one of three sites in Alexandria to be accepted by NPS and one of a handful of libraries to make the list.
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<p>SELF CHECKOUT
<p>JUNE 2011
<p>Duncan Branch installs a self-check out machine. Barrett Branch and Burke Branch installs self-check out machines the next spring.
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<p>LIBRARY GOES SOLAR
<p>2012
<p>Solar panels are installed at Beatley Central Library.
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<p>ALEXANDRIA BOOK
<p>2012
<p>Special Collections staff authors the book Alexandria (Images of America) , a pictorial history of the City of Alexandria, using vintage photographs and original documents to show how a small colonial town grew into a modern city. Released on July 2, 2012.
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<p>75TH SIT-IN ANNIVERSARY
<p>AUGUST 14, 2014
<p>The Alexandria Library commemorated the 75th anniversary of the sit-in which took place on this date in 1939 at the Barrett Library. The celebration included a festival in front of the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, complete with music and guest speakers. An historical marker was unveiled at 717 Queen Street as a permanent reminder of the sit-in.
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<p>LAW LIBRARY
<p>2015
<p>The Library was asked by the City to take over management of an additional branch, the Alexandria Law Library, located in the Courthouse at 501 King Street.
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<p>PASSPORTS
<p>JULY 2015
<p>The Library became a United States Passport Acceptance Facility, the only site in Alexandria to provide the service. The service began at the Beatley Library in 2015 but is now also at the Barrett Branch Library.
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<p>NEW LOGO
<p>2016
<p>Despite the fact that the Library had became a separate public entity in 1937, separate from its parent organization, the Alexandria Library Company, the Library continued to use the Company seal as its own until the design of the new logo.
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<p>1,000 BOOKS
<p>2018
<p>Introduced the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, to encourage parents and caregivers to read to their children and ensure their school readiness.