Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Ripplecon 2023 at Main Library Storytime with Ripple at Belmont Branch Library Storytime with Ripple at Belmont Branch Library Storytime with Ripple at Belmont Branch Library Storytime with Ripple at Belmont Branch Library Storytime with Ripple at Belmont Branch Library Storytime with Ripple at our West End branch Storytime with Ripple at our West End branch Storytime with Ripple at our East End branch Storytime with Ripple at our East End branch An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library and the Black History Museum of Virginia An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library and the Black History Museum of Virginia An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library and the Black History Museum of Virginia An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library and the Black History Museum of Virginia An Afternoon of History: Rosa Bowser, Richmond Public Library and the Black History Museum of Virginia Storytime at Main Library with Maya Smart Storytime at Main Library with Maya Smart Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Richmond Public Library Presents Maya Smart: Reading for Our Lives Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton Read Up Richmond: Featuring Marlon James with Njelle Hamilton
RPL 100
100 Years
of serving the Richmond community
RPL 100
Richmond Public Library is celebrating 100 years of service to the City!
Richmond Public Library’s history begins before the City Council formally created a City-funded public library in November 1922. We are choosing November 2022-November 2023 as our Centennial Year to recognize when Richmond began the process of creating a public library for all. Our history mirrors the city’s in many ways, especially in the enforced segregation of library users. Our history also includes hopeful, progressive achievements like the popular, well-used Rosa Bowser Branch for Black Richmonders, the gradual establishment of branch locations throughout the city, and a constant, continuing dedication to increasing access to information and literacy for all Richmonders.
Currently, Richmond Public Library includes nine locations throughout the City. All library locations offer programs and classes, event spaces, free wireless internet access, and public use computers. We provide a variety of services including research assistance, job search support, computer help, reader’s advisory, and notary services. Some of our proud recent achievements include the elimination of overdue fines, a new and improved online catalog, hosting numerous authors, journalists, and community representatives, and the creation of library rain gardens through a partnership with the James River Association—to name a few!
As we look to the future, we have so many exciting things planned. We recently developed a brand new strategic plan with goals focused on accessibility, early literacy, lifelong learning, organizational strength, and attention to what makes Richmond unique, achieved through community engagement and the expansion of a Richmond history collection. We also plan to renovate our Main Library, creating a future-ready community hub focused on books, technology, and people. Finally, we hope to continue to provide first-rate customer service as we have done over the last century.
RPL 100 is a collaborative project with representation from all branches and areas of Richmond. It is committed to producing an accurate, thorough, and inclusive record of the Library’s first 100 years and presenting public programs that Inform, Enrich and Empower.
We are glad you are here.
Timeline
RPL Digital Archives
Our digital archive contains photographs and documents showing how Richmond Public Library has grown over the last 100 years.
Stories & Memories
RPL 100 is a collaborative project with representation from all branches and areas of Richmond. It is committed to producing an accurate, thorough, and inclusive record of the Library’s first 100 years. We would like to invite you, our patrons, to help us create a meaningful and factual history of this organization. By compiling a fuller, forthright narrative of the Library’s efforts, we hope to facilitate future communication and growth among the Library’s staff, its patrons, and our city as a whole.
RPL 100 Celebration & Special Collections Open House
Sat
04
Nov.
11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Richmond Room at Main Library
Explore our newly-established Richmond Room, which houses our local history, business, and law collections. We will have artifacts and exhibits from our Special Collections available for viewing, and staff will be available to answer your questions.
Celebration Photos
We'll be creating a lot of memories over the next year as we celebrate a century of service to our city. Please check back often to enjoy photos taken at our various RPL 100 events!