Due to a water line bursting, our North Avenue Branch is closed until further notice. We apologize for any inconvenience.

To a historian libraries are food, shelter, and even muse.
Barbara W. Tuchman

An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library & the Black History Museum of Virginia


April 29, 2023
Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia

Join historian Elvatrice Belsches as she discusses Rosa Bowser and the history of 00 Clay Street (the first site of the BHMVA and former location of the Rosa Bowser Branch of the Richmond Public Library). In addition to the presentation, there will be two curated tours of the "Forging Freedom, Justice and Equality" exhibit and RPL staff will host oral history recording sessions as part of our Stories & Memories project.

Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives


April 25, 2023
Virginia Museum of History and Culture

Join RPL and Maya Payne Smart, award winning journalist and literacy advocate, for a conversation about how to help your child succeed and be ready for school. Ms. Smart will provide tips and tools that you can easily use at home to engage your child in ways that help prepare them for school and lifelong learning.

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2023 YAVA Award Celebration


April 22, 2023
Main Library

Join us for our annual Young Adult Virginia (YAVA) Award Celebration! This year our theme is "Retro Video Games" so, grab your controller and mark your calendars! Meet and mingle with your favorite Virginia authors of young adult literature. Ask the authors your most pressing questions and get some author signatures, too! Enjoy music and snacks. And, best of all, learn the winner of this year's YAVA Award!!

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RPL 100 History Presentation & Library Social



All locations

Join us for an afternoon of history and socializing to celebrate Richmond Public Library’s 100th year as a public institution! There will be an informative presentation on RPL’s history, from our roots in private collections to our formal creation in 1922 by Richmond City government, to the growth of our branches featuring 21st century services. Refreshments will follow. Throughout the year, each of our branches will host one of the events. Our next event is Saturday, April 15, 2023 from 1:00-3:00 PM at our Broad Rock Branch. Come help us celebrate our centennial!

Check-It Out: Free Blood Pressure Screening at the Library



Main, Hull Street, and Ginter Park

Check-It Out: Your Blood Pressure at the Library is a community-based initiative to reduce hypertension. Through monthly BP screenings at Richmond Public Library branches, you and your loved ones will have the opportunity to know your numbers, learn about healthy lifestyles, and be connected or reconnected with primary care to support BP monitoring and control.

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Latest from the Blog

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Tax Time!

Lindy Gellings
March 17, 2023
tax
tax help
tax season
taxes
adult
inform-enrich-empower

It's everyone's favorite time of year... tax season! Taxes leave many of us confused and frustrated, but Richmond Public Libraries are here to help. Read on to learn more about filing your taxes worry free. The deadline for filing your taxes this year falls on April 18th. Why not the 15th, like most years? Since the 15th falls on a Saturday, the IRS opted to extend the deadline by a few days. This gives you a few extra days to get everything completed. Do-It-Yourself If your adjusted gross income is $73,000 or less, you qualify for IRS...

YA Reads Best Served Cold

Jennifer Deuell
March 15, 2023
bestservedcold
bewaretheidesofmarch
ireadya
revenge
teenreads
yafiction
fiction
reading-recommendations
reading-suggestions
teens

In honor of the Ides of March, I thought I'd put together a little booklist for you full of YA books all about revenge. Who does revenge better than a teen scorned? No one! Whether scorned by love, embroiled in an age-old feud, or taking a stance against the patriarchy, literary teens just have a way of exacting the most brutal forms of vengeance. I'm sure at one point or another, many of us have been wronged and fantasized about retribution. But, if you're like me, you would never actually go through with it. So let's live vicariously through...

Iranian Lit @ RPL

Laura Price
March 8, 2023
book recommendations
Iran
fiction
iran
nonfiction
poetry
reading-recommendations

In ancient Persia, the mythological hero Rostam performed seven labors in order to prove his worthiness. He slew dragons and villains and overcame adversities with his superhuman strength. Modern Iranians must wish that Rostam were alive today and aiding them in their fight for freedom. The images of hijab protests, street violence, and military force are only some of what is shown when Iranians voice their opposition today. One cannot help but be moved by scenes of women slicing off their hair, rioters, bloodied and confused, being hustled...

hoopla Binge Passes for Kids

Jennifer Deuell
February 24, 2023
childrens
hoopla
online-database

hoopla is a web and mobile library streaming service that RPL provides to our patrons completely free! Through it you can access eBooks, audiobooks, movies, magazines, comics, music, and even TV shows. The best part is that you never have to wait to borrow a title. Every borrow is instantaneous. This is sooooo nice when you're just dying to watch something or you need that book for your book club that's meeting...tomorrow. In addition to the perk of instantaneous borrows, hoopla also offers something called a BingePass. These are passes to...

Read Like a President

Lindy Gellings
February 20, 2023
#bookrecommendations
#bookrecs
celebrations
Fiction
history
Holiday
nonfiction
biographies
fiction
history-and-preservation
holidays-celebrations
inform-enrich-empower
nonfiction
reading-recommendations

"Reading is important. If you know how to read, then the whole world opens up to you." Barack Obama   Throughout our nation's 247-year history, only 47 men have held the title of President of the United States. From those first days of George Washington’s leadership to our current administration, these 47 individuals have profoundly shaped our country and the world as we know it. These men helped create one of the first modern democracies. They led the United States through countless conflicts, economic struggles, and wars. Each...