The Central Rappahannock Regional Library satellite locations, which have been on hiatus since March 2020 due to COVID, will be reopening.
The Belmont Satellite Location will be reopening Monday, March 13 and is made possible by a partnership with Spotsylvania County, Belmont Ruritan Club, and the Belmont Club of Women. Every Monday, free wifi, computers, printing, and other library services are available at Belmont Community Center, 7124 Belmont Road, Mineral, VA.
Each Monday, from 4-7 p.m., the following services will be available:
- Computers, printing, and internet access
- Hold pick-ups
- Books, movies, and audiobooks for all ages
- Homework help and reading recommendations
The Partlow Satellite Location will be reopening in early April and is made possible by a partnership with the Partlow Ruritan Club. Every Tuesday, free wifi, computers, printing, and other library services are available at the Partlow Ruritan Center, 3229 Partlow Road, VA 22534.
- Each Tuesday, from 4-7 p.m., the following services will be available:
- Computers, printing, and internet access
- Holds pickup
- Books, movies, and audiobooks for all ages
- Homework help and reading recommendations
A library card is not required to take advantage of services at either location, but those interested can apply for one on-site. Customers can use library computers or take advantage of free wifi on their own devices. The library brings services to the community, including satellite locations, through CRRL’s Library on the Go initiative.
It’s time for the 28th Annual Teen Art Show at the Fredericksburg Branch of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library.
The library will hold a reception to view the teen artwork submissions on Friday, March 3, 2023, at 7 p.m., at the Fredericksburg Library Branch, 1201 Caroline Street.
Students from Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Westmoreland will have artwork on display.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Porter Branch has been selected by their local Giant Food store for January’s Community Bag Program.
In January, the Friends of the Library will receive a $1 donation from each purchase of a $2.50 reusable Community Bag at the Giant Food located on 317 Worth Avenue in North Stafford.
Giant Food’s Community Bag Program is designed to make it easy for shoppers to give back to their local communities while supporting the environment.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library continues to distribute free at-home rapid COVID-19 test kits in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health.
Customers can pick up test kits through curbside pickup at most library branches during open hours. Kits are unavailable at Towne Centre Branch, Fried Center, or IdeaSpace.
Up to four COVID test kits can be requested per visit. Test kits are currently in stock in limited quantities. If stock runs out, a notice will appear on librarypoint.org and CRRL’s social media and be updated once stock is replenished.
Neither a picture ID nor a CRRL library card is required to pick up a test kit. These easy-to-use kits are for use at home. Each kit is labeled with instructions and an expiration date. Tests must be stored between 36-86 degrees Fahrenheit to remain viable. These are rapid antigen (not PCR) tests for COVID-19.
To reserve a kit for curbside pickup, go to librarypoint.org/ask to request via chat or phone during library open hours. Requests by email cannot be accommodated. Please specify your preferred pickup branch. If contacting via phone, select your branch from the menu. COVID-19 test kits may not be requested after hours.
For any questions about using the test, interpreting the results, or what to do next, contact a healthcare provider, the local health department, or the Virginia Department of Health at www.vdh.virginia.gov/protect-yourself/covid19testing or 1-877-ASK-VDH3 (1-877-275-8343), Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
For more information, visit librarypoint.org/news/covid-tests.
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library Board of Trustees, on Monday, December 12, approved a strategic plan to guide the regional organization to serve more people and to create new opportunities for its users through 2027.
With it, the libraries aim to bolster services and resources (books, movies, technology access) and to increase the promotion of the library branches and services.
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Late fees at public libraries in the Fredericksburg region are a thing of the past.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal to permanently eliminate fines on overdue materials on December 12, 2022.
The library eliminated fines for children’s and teen materials in July 2017 to support the educational development of children and teenagers and suspended fines on adult materials in March 2020 due to the onset of covid and the difficulty in accepting returned materials.
The regional library system has not reinstated fines since and is taking a major step toward improving access. As of January 3, 2023, all fines on customers’ records will be waived, and future fines on overdue materials will be eliminated. Fees will still be charged for lost or damaged materials.
“Eliminating fines supports CRRL’s mission of inclusivity and is an important step in making the library even more accessible,” said Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Board of Trustees Chair Diana Risavi.
“Studies have shown that low-income individuals and families are disproportionately affected by overdue fines, with people of color even more so. Eliminating fines allows us to address this inequity and remove a barrier to access,” added Library Director Martha Hutzel.
Studies have shown that eliminating fines reduces financial barriers and improves access for everyone.
Eliminating fines also often results in an influx of returned materials from cardholders whose accounts had previously accumulated fines, and increased requests for library cards from residents who would otherwise be concerned about accumulating fines, according to the press release.
Eliminating fines also results in significant savings in staff salaries required to collect and process fines and the small amount of lost revenue will be addressed with other strategies, the press release states.
Currently, 51% of Virginia public libraries have eliminated fines for all age levels, including Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Richmond, and Williamsburg. CRRL is proud to join this movement of eliminating overdue fees to increase inclusion and lower barriers to access.
Central Rappahannock Regional Library has published its Director’s written report for September 1, 2022 – November 30, 2022, which is part of the consent agenda for the Library Board’s December 12 meeting.
This report highlights how the library has pursued its strategic plan during the fall quarter by providing innovative programming, communicating with customers, addressing community needs, and embracing local partnerships.
According to the report:
- An annual audit is nearing completion, with results to be reported at the March 2023 Board meeting
- Meetings with local budget managers for the FY24 budget have begun
- FY23 spending is on target, and projections are positive, even with a reduced
budget - Created a new financial report on direct and indirect expenses by locality and by
branch for most expenses - ARPA funds from the Library of Virginia are expected in the amount of $18,000
fo the telehealth booths - CRRL received a grant of $7,500 from the Community Foundation for
technology and equipment
The library’s Board of Trustees will meet at 4:30 p.m. today (Monday, Dec. 12, 2022) at the Howell library branch, 806 Lyons Boulevard in Stafford County, to discuss the library’s new strategic plan. The library’s last strategic plan, penned in 2016, aimed to “Inspire lifelong learning for everyone in our community.”
Here’s the link containing the meeting agenda. It’s open to the public. The next Board of Trustees meeting is March 13, 2023.
The Central Rappahannock Regional Library serves Stafford, Spotsylvania, Westmoreland counties, and Fredericksburg.
Elected leaders and Central Rappahannock Libary officials gathered at Porter Branch Library in North Stafford to celebrate its 30th birthday.
The full-service library at 2001 Parkway Boulevard features a collection of books, films, and music, meeting rooms, a Makerlab, and weekly children’s activities and serves as a community gathering place.
Members of the Board of Supervisors helped the excellent Porter Library celebrate its 30th birthday with a special cake today! In pic, l to r, Supervisor Meg Bohmke, Supervisor Pam Yeung, General Assembly Delegate Tara Durant and Martha Hutzel, Director of the CRRL. @crrlnews pic.twitter.com/2IkkZpwsI3
— Stafford County (@staffordvagov) November 16, 2022
Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s Deputy Director Rebecca Purdy has been elected to a 2-year term as Secretary on the Virginia Library Association Executive Committee.
Rebecca Purdy has worked at CRRL in several Youth Services roles, including Youth Services Coordinator, since receiving her Master’s of Science in Library and Information Science from The Catholic University of America in 1995, and becoming the library’s Deputy Director in 2016.
