Central Rappahannock Regional Library Headquarters

This is a really cute library! They have a warm and a welcoming vibe once you step in. This is the HQ (as it has some administrative offices), but they do have an okay selection of books. I really liked their new titles/​awards/​bestsellers/​staff picks sections, as well as their ‘My Librarian’ service. You pick a librarian that seem to have the same interest in the genres as you, and look at their recommended list. You can also send them a request for a personalized reading list in which they get back to you pretty quickly — how awesome is that?! This location also hosts classes, community events, art exhibits, book sales, and even musical performances on the steps. The staff here are super friendly, and the patrons are all respectful in terms of keeping the noise level to a minimum. Free parking can be found along Caroline.
+‘My Librarian’ service
+friendly staff
+free parking along Caroline

The library is a great place to sit in peace and quiet and study but the minute you walk outside, you are in the territory of the homeless people

Great quiet place. I love their study room, it is so roomy sometimes i forget i am in a library with people coming in and out.

location specific review:
multi-​level library in a historic brick building. street parking in front & side, parking lot in rear. located along one way streets in historic downtown fredericksburg.
street level ½) has a conference room, book donation area, & help desk. it can be described as a hallway — and thankfully it’s heated/​cooled.
next level 1: half a flight of stairs up) has audio books, a computer lab (with a fax machine, FREE), audio books, movies.
level 2) children’s books, YA books, adult fiction, a kids play room.
level basement) has reference and historical virginia books… haven’t been down there yet… and i THINK you can also get down there through the computer lab, though i’m not certain.
elevator available
staff here is very friendly & helpful — i’ve delt with five of them over two visits.
not a ton of seating available in the books.
region specific review:
after my first visit to the CRRLs i have been able to enjoy the libraries they have around me (two within the areas i can comfortably frequent most).
they have a mobile app — which i have downloaded but haven’t used. reserving books is easy.
i don’t like their computer card catalog. when you type a general keyword you get ungrouped results. i think i’d prefer it to show the results grouped… BOOKS ~ VOICE RECORDING/​AUDIO ~ etc. instead it comes jumbled voice then electronic then book then another voice/​electronic.
the self check out is a bit sensitive to use — having to hold the book below a line and wait for confirmation then removing item… sometimes it catches twice, although, it lets you know that the item was already checked out and to scan another. i DO like that you can have the receipt printed, emailed or print & emailed to you.

I’m very happy to have the Central Rappahannock library system. You can order books from any of the branches and deliver them free to your branch of choice for pickup. For those slow readers out there like myself, the best thing is you can keep renewing a book forever as long as no one puts a request for it. I’ve been to a lot of bigger library systems and none had this unlimited time feature. The online system process emails you reminders when your books are due a few days in advance. Fines are minimal. I’ve borrowed books to audiobooks to videos.
The HQ branch in downtown Fredericksburg is full featured and hosts many community activities such as weekly free music concerts during the summer months. Librarians are always helpful and understanding. Superb experience!

I love this library!
When I was going through the top 100 films list, I borrowed most of them from this library. A friend joked that this was my video store. The audiobook selection is pretty good here too, and I was able listen to a number of selections from the top 100 novels list. Everyone who works here is really friendly and helpful, and they take the extra effort to see that all of your needs are met. Plus they are generally literate too! I just went here yesterday to pick up Ruth Reichl’s Garlic and Sapphires, having lost my copy in Manhattan, and the librarian started talking to me all about this book — she loved it. I just loved that she knew it. And when they don’t have the book you are looking for, they will gladly walk you through the inter-​library loan process. Finally they have an amazing book sale here twice a year where you can stock up on like new classics for $ 1/​book. Like I said, I just love this library!