Libbie Mill Library opens this week
The doors open on Henrico County’s newest (and state-of-the-artiest) library this Friday, October 30th.
All images/renderings courtesy of Henrico County Public Libraries.
“Have you heard about the new library?”
I can’t count how many times that question has come up in conversation within my circle of friends over the last couple months.
That’s right, we talk about libraries. I happen to be friends with lots of voracious readers, many of whom are raising voracious readers and/or readers-to-be of their own. Quit your eye rolling; we are awesome and also know many synonyms for “awesome!”
But anyway, yes! A new library! And why all the hubbub? Well, for starters, the thing is huge.
Built on three acres couched between Broad Street, Staples Mill Road, and Bethlehem Road1, Libbie Mill Library offers almost 40,000 square feet of space spread out over two floors, with an additional 20,000 square feet up on the third floor that’s being kept available for further expansion2. And allllll of that space is going to be put to good use. Take a look at what Libbie Mill Library has in store for us:
- Digital media library with 3D printers
- Large areas for updated general interest, teen, and children’s collections
- Group collaboration spaces
- Drive-up book return and pick-up window
- Large meeting room with up-to-date technology
- Study rooms
- Quiet reading room
- Large collection of public use computers and devices
- Dedicated children’s story time and programming room
- Children’s reading garden
Libbie Mill Library replaces Dumbarton Library, which permanently closed its doors on October 17th. All are welcome to join an opening celebration for Libbie Mill Library on Thursday, October 29th from 6:00 to 9:00 PM. The library will be open for business beginning at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 30th.
Libbie Mill Library is located at 2100 Libbie Lake East Street in Henrico County. And remember: residents of the City of Richmond and Chesterfield County are eligible for Henrico County Library cards!3
For more information on Libbie Mill Library and its offerings, head on over to the Henrico County Public Libraries website.
- To put it in Richmond terms, it’s in the area across Broad Street from Willow Lawn, sort of near West End Antiques Mall. If you get to the McDonald’s across from Target, you’ve gone too far. ↩
- When you get a couple minutes, watch this cool time-lapse video of Libbie Mill Library’s construction process. ↩
- Pro tip: When one county/city’s library system doesn’t have a book you want, ANOTHER MIGHT! ↩
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Valerie Catrow
Valerie Catrow is editor of RVAFamily, mother to a mop-topped first grader, and always really excited to go to bed.
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
I am super excited to check this place out on 10/29 ! I feel like the drive up book return will save me so many fines.
Not true. If you get to the McDonald’s across from Target (coming from the east), you can turn right on Libbie Avenue and access it from the big grand entrance they’re constructing on Libbie, or go up to Bethlehem, turn right, then right again on Staples Mill and come in through the front. If you get to McDonald’s coming from the west, just turn left on Staples Mill and turn left again when you see Southern Seasons.
Sounds wonderful. Can anyone tell me when the East End of Henrico will be getting it’s new Library? Will it have all of the fabulous details this Library has??
This library can only be accessed directly from Staples Mill, not from Broad.
The new east end library (Varina Area Library) is scheduled to open April 1st. It’ll have all the same great features of this library (and more) and will also be 40,000 square feet!
The east end library, Varina Area Library, will open in mid-June. It’s going to have all the same great features of the Libbie mill library, but be very different and take advantage of the beautiful natural surroundings on its site. And you can get there by riding the Va Capitol Trail!