Richmond Room FAQ
Where is the Richmond Room located?
The Richmond Room is located on the first floor of the Main Library at 101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
When is the Richmond Room open?
The Richmond Room is open anytime the Main Library is open. Richmond Room staff are available during regular business hours and some evening and weekend hours.
Can I check out materials from the Richmond Room?
The materials in the Richmond Room are non-circulating reference materials, meaning they cannot be checked out. You are able to scan, copy, and take photographs of items.
What local history resources are available in the Richmond Room?
Print resources include books on Richmond and Virginia history, local periodicals, ephemera files, and city directories. Online resources offered by RPL include NewsBank, Ancestry, Heritage Hub, and African-American Heritage Quest.
Do you offer digitization services or equipment?
For self-service digitization and history projects, visit our Memory Lab on the second floor of the Main Library.
What are RPL’s Special Collections?
Special Collections at the Main Library include city records, rare children’s books, a zine collection, and musical scores. For more information on these collections and how to access them, visit https://rvalibrary.org/books-media/notable-collections/.
Who do I contact for more information about local history resources or Special Collections?
For questions about the Richmond Room and Special Collections, please contact Chloe McCormick, RPL’s Community Memory Fellow, at Chloe.McCormick@rva.gov or (804) 646-0117.
How can I get help with local history research questions and using the Richmond Room materials?
Chloe McCormick, RPL’s Community Memory Fellow, holds open hours on Mondays from 10am-12pm and Wednesdays from 5-7pm for walk-in inquiries. For assistance outside of those hours, please contact Chloe at Chloe.McCormick@rva.gov or (804) 646-0117 to make an appointment.
Where is the Law Library Located?
The Law Library is located in the Richmond Room on the first floor of the Main Library. The address is 101 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
When is the Law Library open?
Law Library materials and databases are available anytime the Main Library is open. Staff are available during the week and some evening and weekend hours. For the best service, please contact us ahead of your visit.
Email: Charles.Schmidt@rva.gov OR call 804-646-6500.
Do I need a Library card to use the Richmond Room?
You do not need a library card to use the Richmond Room or its materials. All of the materials are considered reference materials and can only be used in the building.
Can you help me write my legal document?
Staff of the Richmond Room will not write documents or prepare legal forms for you. We do have resources and sample motions, pleadings and forms. If you need a lawyer or legal advice, we have information on lawyers and legal services available in and around Richmond. You can also visit the Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help: Resources for Self-Represented Litigants in Virginia.
Do you have legal forms?
Court-approved Virginia forms are available at
The Law Library has books of forms which must be retyped and personalized.
The Law Library also offers free online access to Gale Legal Forms from within the Library or from your home computer with a Library Card.
Westlaw® and Lexis Nexis® forms can be accessed on the Law Library computers.
For further assistance with finding forms, please call 804-646-6500.
How can I find out information about a case?
Information on some Virginia cases is available on the Virginia Courts website. For other sources, please consult with our Law Librarian.
Can you refer me to a lawyer?
For information about finding a lawyer, please see the Find a Lawyer page on Virginia Judicial Court System’s Self-Help Site. You may also contact the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society or the Virginia State Bar Association’s Lawyer Referral Service.
Can I check out law books?
None of the books in the Law Library can be checked out. However, the Main Library and some of our branches have some consumer-oriented law books, such as those published by Nolo, that do circulate.
Can I use the Westlaw or LexisNexis databases from my home computer?
WestLaw and Lexis-Nexis databases can only be used at the Main Library.
Where can I go for more information?
For more information, please see: Virginia Judicial System Court Self-Help: Resources for Self-Represented Litigants in Virginia.