Mary Riley Styles Public Library
🏢 City of Falls Church · Falls Church, Virginia
Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Founded in 1899 and named for the civic champion who kept it alive for decades, Mary Riley Styles Public Library anchors Falls Church's historic downtown — the independent city's only library, reopened in 2021 with a LEED Silver expansion and a 20,000-photograph local history archive spanning four centuries of community life.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–5pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 10am–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 120 N. Virginia Avenue, Falls Church, VA 22046
Phone: (703) 248-5030
Website: mrspl.org
Plus Code: 87C4VRPF+5R (Falls Church, VA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Mary Riley Styles Public Library
Mary Riley Styles Public Library has served Falls Church — one of the smallest independent cities in the United States, entirely surrounded by Fairfax County — since 1899, when the Falls Church Village Improvement Society circulated 650 books from a small outbuilding. The library is named for Mary Riley Styles (1869–1946), who chaired the Woman's Club Library Committee from 1919 to 1945; her children later donated land from her estate so Falls Church could build the first facility in Northern Virginia designed from the ground up as a public library, which opened on July 4, 1958. A $10.3 million renovation and expansion completed in September 2021, designed by BKV Group and certified LEED Silver, added 6,849 square feet for a total of 25,727 sq ft, tripled the youth area, created a corner entrance linking the library to City Hall, and elevated the Falls Church History Room to the primary level. The library became fine-free in 2020 and operates as Falls Church's sole public library branch.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded 1899; current building opened July 4, 1958 — LEED Silver renovation completed September 2021 (BKV Group, $10.3 million, 25,727 sq ft)
- Falls Church History Room: 20,000+ historic photos, 120+ oral histories from the 1960s–1981, City Council minutes from 1875, and ~500 maps dating to 1608
- Memory Lab: flatbed Epson 12000XL scanner and microfilm/microfiche reader for patron digitization projects (age 13+, upper level)
- Searchable Digital Archive at archive.mrspl.org — thousands of historic photographs, death notices, council minutes, and newsletters publicly accessible
- Named for Mary Riley Styles (1869–1946) — library renamed in her honor in 1977; her family donated the land for the 1958 building; library became fine-free in 2020
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Falls Church cardholders can borrow, research, and access resources free through the library's digital collections:
📚 Services
- Falls Church History Room with walk-in hours (Mon 1–5 PM, Wed 4–8 PM) and appointment access
- Memory Lab — flatbed + microfilm scanner for digitizing personal photos and documents (upper level, age 13+)
- Library to Your Door — homebound delivery service for patrons unable to visit in person
- 1-on-1 tech assistance for basic computer and device help
- 9 public computer workstations with internet, Microsoft Office, and printing
- Building-wide Wi-Fi and remote mobile printing
- Reservable conference and study rooms with A/V equipment
- Nature Backpacks — borrow packs with parking passes for free entry to most Virginia State Parks
- Book Club to Go Kits — 10-copy sets for discussion groups (8-week loan, up to 3 kits at once)
- Tax form distribution (seasonal)
🎸 Programs
- Summer Reading Program for all ages
- English Conversation Class — free drop-in ESOL sessions (Mondays)
- Armchair Travel — documentary and travel film screenings
- Author talks, literary events, and Virginia politics lecture series
- Children's storytimes and STEAM activities
- German Conversation Group (Mondays)
- Musical concerts, health and wellness talks, gardening instruction
📍 Nearby Libraries in the DC Metro Area
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Falls Church · Browse all Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mary Riley Styles, and why is the library named for her?
Mary Riley Styles (1869–1946) chaired the Woman's Club Library Committee from 1919 to 1945, keeping the library funded and operational for over two decades before the City of Falls Church took over support in 1928. After her death, her children donated land from the Riley family farm so Falls Church could build a purpose-built library — the first in Northern Virginia designed specifically for that purpose. The library was officially renamed in her honor in 1977.
Why does Falls Church have its own independent library rather than using Fairfax County's system?
Falls Church is an independent city under Virginia law, entirely surrounded by Fairfax County but legally separate from it. It operates its own municipal services — including this library — rather than being part of Fairfax County Public Library. The library is the city's sole branch and is funded directly by the Falls Church city government.
What is the Falls Church History Room, and can I access it remotely?
The Falls Church History Room collects and preserves local materials: 20,000+ historic photographs, 120+ oral histories recorded 1960s–1981, City Council minutes from 1875, approximately 500 maps spanning 1608 to present, family genealogies, cemetery records, and local newspaper runs. Walk-in hours are Mondays 1–5 PM and Wednesdays 4–8 PM. The publicly searchable Digital Archive is at archive.mrspl.org.
What did the 2021 renovation add, and is the building accessible?
The $10.3 million LEED Silver expansion (BKV Group) completed September 2021, adding a two-story 6,849-square-foot wing for a total of 25,727 sq ft. The project tripled the youth section, elevated the History Room to the primary level, fully updated mechanical and elevator systems, and created a new corner entrance linking the library to City Hall. The building is ADA accessible; the East Falls Church Metro station (Orange/Silver lines) is the closest transit option.
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