Massanutten Regional Library
🏢 Massanutten Regional Library · Harrisonburg, Virginia
Massanutten Regional Library
The Massanutten Regional Library at 174 South Main Street is the headquarters of a seven-branch system serving more than 160,000 residents across Harrisonburg, Rockingham County and Page County. Founded in 1928 and approaching its centennial, it stays open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and hosts the annual Rocktown Author Festival — one of the Shenandoah Valley's signature literary events.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–4pm |
| Saturday | 9am–4pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 174 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Phone: (540) 434-4475
Website: mrlib.org
Plus Code: 87C3C4WJ+XG (Harrisonburg, VA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Massanutten Regional Library
Massanutten Regional Library was founded in 1928 as a small reading room serving the Harrisonburg community, and over nearly a century it has grown into a seven-branch nonprofit (501c3) system reaching from Broadway and Bridgewater in Rockingham County to Luray in Page County. The Central Library at 174 South Main Street is the anchor branch: it offers the system's longest hours, the largest circulating and reference collection, and on-site access to in-library-only databases including Ancestry Library and ALLDATA. Cardholders can also tap into a robust suite of digital resources — Libby for eBooks and audiobooks, Kanopy for streaming video, Magzter for magazines, Heritage Quest for genealogy, Rosetta Stone and Transparent Language for language learning, and Consumer Reports for research. The library celebrates its centennial in 2028 and hosts the Rocktown Author Festival each year, bringing regional and national authors to Harrisonburg for readings, panels and community conversations. The system offers a Books-by-Mail program for patrons who cannot easily visit a branch, and a dedicated Library of Things collection for borrowing non-traditional items.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Flagship of a seven-branch system founded in 1928 — approaching its centennial in 2028 and serving 160,000+ residents in three jurisdictions
- Open until 8 p.m. Monday–Thursday, making it one of the latest-closing libraries in the Shenandoah Valley region
- Annual Rocktown Author Festival brings regional and national authors for readings, panels and community events in Harrisonburg
- Genealogy resources include Heritage Quest remote access and in-library Ancestry Library — strong for Shenandoah Valley family research
- Library of Things collection alongside Books-by-Mail service for patrons who cannot visit a branch in person
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Massanutten cardholders can borrow, stream and learn free with these digital resources:
📚 Services
- Books-by-Mail program for patrons unable to visit a branch
- Copying, faxing and scanning services
- Interlibrary Loan (ILL) for titles not in the MRL collection
- Public internet access and Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Meeting room rentals for community and nonprofit groups
- E-Card registration for digital-only cardholders
- Outreach services to schools and community organizations
- Library of Things non-traditional borrowing collection
- In-library Ancestry Library and ALLDATA database access
🎸 Programs
- Rocktown Author Festival — annual literary festival featuring regional and national authors
- Honored Teachers Essay Contest — annual community recognition program
- Summer Reading Challenge for children, teens and adults via Beanstack app
- Adult and youth reading challenges and book clubs throughout the year
- Virtual Author Talks — free online programs with authors
- Story times and after-school programs for children
- Teen Advisory Council
- Volunteer opportunities
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Shenandoah Valley
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Harrisonburg · Browse all Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was Massanutten Regional Library founded, and how many branches does it have?
The library was founded in 1928 as a small reading room in Harrisonburg, and will celebrate its centennial in 2028. Today it operates seven branches across three jurisdictions — the Central Library in Harrisonburg, plus Elkton, Grottoes, North River (Bridgewater), Page Public Library (Luray), Shenandoah Community Library and Village Library (Broadway) — serving more than 160,000 residents.
What is the Rocktown Author Festival?
The Rocktown Author Festival is an annual literary event hosted by Massanutten Regional Library in Harrisonburg. It brings together regional and national authors for readings, panel discussions and community conversations, celebrating books and local literary culture in the Shenandoah Valley.
Does Massanutten Regional Library offer eBooks and streaming video?
Yes. Cardholders can borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Libby (powered by OverDrive) and stream thousands of films, documentaries and educational titles through Kanopy — both free with a library card. Digital magazines are available via Magzter, and Heritage Quest provides remote genealogy research access.
Is the Harrisonburg Central Library open on Sunday?
No. The Central Library is open Monday–Thursday 9 a.m.–8 p.m. and Friday–Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m., but is closed on Sunday. The other six branch libraries also do not have Sunday hours.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🧰 This library lends a “Library of Things.” See what you can borrow besides books and find other libraries with a Library of Things Library of Things by state.
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