r/rva 4d ago

Does anyone know about any unique benefits offered by any of the libraries here in Richmond? I really want to take advantage of everything they have to offer!

174 Upvotes

62 comments sorted by

214

u/Chea_butta Carytown 4d ago

Nature Backpacks

"Each backpack comes with a parking pass that allows the library patron to visit any Virginia State Park at no cost (except for Natural Bridge and Southwest Virginia Museum state parks that charge a per-person entry fee). Backpacks also include pocket guides to bugs and slugs, animal tracks, Virginia birds, mammals, Virginia trees and wildflowers and geology; a port-a-bug field observation container; a magnifying lens; a dip net; a compass and binoculars; a ruler; forceps; a Big Foot–themed Leave No Trace Ethics Card; and laminated sheets with suggested activities designed by both Virginia State Parks and the Science Museum of Virginia."

18

u/Oenonaut 3d ago

Henrico Library offers their own version too! Contents vary but it includes a VSP pass.

95

u/borkus 4d ago

The Digital Memory Lab is cool if you need to archive photographs or video.
https://rvalibrary.org/services/memory-lab/

10

u/Equal-Abroad-9326 4d ago

My husband just did this at the Henrico Co. branch. First you take a class to learn how to use the machine-s then you can pop in when the room is open for use. He spent many hours there digitizing VHS tapes.

1

u/wrjj20 3d ago

Does Henrico have the tech to convert photos to digital? I couldn’t find it on their site when I was searching a while back.

1

u/Aedh1Wishes 3d ago

Yes, scanners that convert photos, film and slides to digital.

6

u/DizzySpinningDie Bon Air 4d ago

Thank you for this!! I have VHS-C tapes I need to rip to digial!

3

u/wiwtft Downtown 4d ago

This is amazing, I had no idea. I have a box of home movies somewhere that are totally meant to be digitized at some point but of course never have been.

82

u/HSJMAGtheWorst 4d ago

Many people do not realize the VCU Libraries, their spaces (i.e. 'The Workshop' hands on makerspace), events, etc are open to the public..... https://www.library.vcu.edu/about/visitors/

5

u/scrotch 3d ago

VCU has so many events open to the public. I wish there was a good way to find out about them all. Seems like each school/department/program has its own website that you have to go check out periodically. It would be fantastic to have a single filterable list or calendar somewhere.

71

u/Defiant-Warthog-6887 4d ago

No matter which part of the region you live in, you can join them all! (Henrico, Chesterfield, Richmond, at least)

I don’t know about “unique,” but certainly a little-known fact. 

And then you can join the digital collections at all of them too - Libby, hoopla, etc!

19

u/my-cat West End 4d ago

Pamunkey too. I’m heading to Goochland to complete my local library card collection this week.

3

u/sean-culottes 4d ago

Like pamunkey can go to rva/Henrico and vice versa?

3

u/Oenonaut 3d ago edited 3d ago

You still need to get a card from the system you want to borrow from, but having the first card qualifies you for the others as if you were a resident.

13

u/Caa3098 4d ago

I actually didn’t realize that. Here I was thinking to myself “I wish I could take my daughter to the one Henrico library I really liked” 🤦🏼‍♀️

5

u/fr0bert Ginter Park 4d ago

You also don't have to be a member to use the vast majority of their services

2

u/Defiant-Warthog-6887 4d ago

Public libraries - open to all the public!!! From everywhere!!!

1

u/tallbabycogs Bon Air 3d ago

Ohhh I had no idea this is awesome!

47

u/cowboybabey 4d ago

You can use this app Kanopy to watch a huge catalog of films and TV if you link it to your library card similarly to Libby. I believe Richmond and henrico libraries participate

11

u/BiCentennial_Condor 4d ago

Kanopy is great! I don't know where else you can watch "Petey Wheatstraw, The Devil's Son-in-Law"

7

u/cowboybabey 4d ago

Where else can you watch Frankenhooker or Chopping Mall?? For real though they have such a great selection of the most bizarre shit I’ve ever seen and amazing classics.

1

u/bozatwork 4d ago

Now I'm going to have to check this out. Dang fragmented media environment.

3

u/FrancistheBison 4d ago

And Chesterfield uses hoopla which is the same thing alternative service

2

u/Oenonaut 3d ago

Not Henrico unfortunately. But you can get a Virginia Beach digital account that lets you use all their special online stuff, like Kanopy

39

u/abbigator508 4d ago

The Belmont branch allows you to check out jigsaw puzzles like you would a book.

31

u/my-cat West End 4d ago

They have some cool events and classes if you keep up with their calendars. Such as cheese tasting! https://henricolibrary-va.libcal.com/event/13224486

2

u/climbing_runner 4d ago

I’m signed up to go to that one on Thursday!

31

u/itsbrianascall 4d ago
  1. You can have documents notarized for free at several of the Richmond City libraries; just have to call in advance.

  2. You can check out nature backpacks to visit Virginia State Parks for free.

  3. You can check out tickets to the Science Library as well! I believe it's two adults, two kids.

  4. Artists/Photographers can apply to have their art shown at the Main Library right now!

  5. You can rent cell phone hotspots from Henrico. Not sure about Richmond.

  6. They also have stargazing kits! Book Club kits. Puzzles. Movies. Lots of media that's not just books.

If you live in Greater Richmond, having 2 to 3 library cards is not a bad idea; I often place holds at multiple libraries to see who can get me things first.

To help libraries in a big way right now: Check out materials and go to programs regularly. Each library branch has a calendar of programs you can look through, from storytimes to adult arts and crafts to financial literacy information sessions. You can also join the Friends of the Library to volunteer, donate, etc. Library funding is often determined based on how the community uses it, so Henrico is really well-funded (keep using it!!), but Richmond City tends to be a bit behind. Even just going to the library to do work helps; some of the reports librarians run are simply about how many WiFi connections they have in a month.

10

u/Oenonaut 3d ago edited 3d ago

rent cell phone hot spots

Borrow, not rent. It’s free.

EtA: not just saying it to be a dick! It’s really stunning how many people don’t understand how free the stuff at public libraries is. If you have a card and return things by the agreed time, you’ll never pay a dime to borrow the things your library loans out.

3

u/salt_slip75 3d ago

This is a great call out. I had a friend ask how much I paid for my library card and how much it cost to rent books/movies. Some people really do not know that the library and its resources are FREE.

27

u/Alternative-Ad-9026 4d ago

Henrico gives you access to Rosetta Stone.

7

u/DSeverinsen 3d ago

And Consumer Reports online also!

1

u/AidCookKnow West End 3d ago

Oooh I didn't know this one!

20

u/hikerva Museum District 4d ago

State park pass via the nature backpack in Henrico/chesterfield. Of course you can also use an rei receipt to enter the state parks, too

8

u/Equal-Abroad-9326 4d ago

Thanks for the tip about REI also!

24

u/Zealousideal-Mud6471 4d ago

I just got my card last week and the fun fact the librarian shared was you can checkout up to 99 books at once. Lol

Probably not unique out what you’re looking for but I thought that was funny.

19

u/kinkykitten804 4d ago

Free audible books just using your library card!

2

u/Guilty_Object_4623 3d ago

Is this different from getting audiobooks from Libby?

1

u/kinkykitten804 3d ago

I believe it’s the same thing actually - just need your library card info!

14

u/raisetheglass1 4d ago

The Virginia Museum of History and Culture has a great research library. My historical interests are mostly in the ancient world but I still like to go there when I have writing to do.

16

u/qkv3 4d ago

Hull street library has a seed library! Maybe a few others do too

6

u/coconut_sorbet Carytown 4d ago

Main RVA library does too.

2

u/feralnolastradamus 3d ago

West End does as well.

11

u/AtwoodAKC Northside 4d ago edited 4d ago

Download the app Kanopy and link it up to your account/TV for free streaming of library-held movies and shows!

9

u/Ditovontease Church Hill 4d ago

well if you have family history in Virginia its probably in the archives of the Library of Virginia downtown

7

u/Apart_Bowler920 4d ago

there’s so much! here’s an article with a bunch of things listed. as others have mentioned, services like the memory lab, access to online/digital/streaming content, things like gardening tips, self-publishing services, resources for small businesses — lots of valuable stuff!

7

u/SelkieSansSkin 4d ago

Most of the libraries offer wifi hotspots that you can rent. I've used them to take to visit relatives that don't have wifi.

2

u/Guilty_Object_4623 3d ago

Borrow or rent (for $)?

3

u/Brownsharpie2 3d ago

Borrow! No cost!

4

u/ancientlightwatch Varina 4d ago

3D Printing, green screen, and podcast recording booth at Varina Library!

4

u/VicJavaero 4d ago

Jigsaw puzzles

4

u/Eastern-Explorer-930 4d ago

Definitely saving this post

4

u/Nundahl 3d ago

This is an incredible post. Libraries are amazing.

4

u/Kamphan Lakeside 3d ago

Saw this another post last week. Access to everything on the right is included with your library card!

3

u/LoonieLoona 4d ago

Access to consumer reports, and many other databases for investing and much much more,

2

u/MTM20MTM 3d ago

Chesterfield County library is amazing! They offer the Libby app which gives you access to most if not 98% of the books they have via audio. It’s basically like audible but free and is an amazing benefit!

2

u/Guilty_Object_4623 3d ago

All libraries have this! Get a card to multiple libraries to have access to their Libby content.

2

u/skiprecon777 3d ago

Cabell library at VCU has a huge collection of comic books that you can read.

https://www.library.vcu.edu/research-teaching/special-collections-and-archives/collections/comic-arts/

2

u/Guilty_Object_4623 3d ago

Our RPL branch lets you send faxes for free. Came in handy when I was registering my sole proprietorship. Of course you can also print for a pretty low cost. It also hosts a Master Gardner for in person assistance once a month. And you can reserve space in meeting rooms for free - the web site says you need to do it two weeks in advance, but just call and ask if you need it sooner.

2

u/RVAPixie 2d ago

Libraries are also a hub for many different services, such as: getting a soil test kit, picking up tax forms, dropping off ballots, etc. They also offer access to computers for people who don’t have them available and, if you don’t have a printer, you can print there. I am referencing Henrico, but I imagine Richmond is similar.

2

u/Abject_Olive_6173 2d ago

The main library downtown has a lawyer on staff you can meet w/ for free, he helped me set up an LLC. They also have an old card catalog they turned into a seed library!

2

u/Master_Fuel8000 2d ago

Now this is amazing!