Appomattox Regional Library — Hopewell Branch
🏢 Appomattox Regional Library System · Hopewell, Virginia
Appomattox Regional Library — Hopewell Branch
Library service in Hopewell traces to 1930, when Thomas B. Robertson founded a Library Association and the city took formal control under its first librarian, Maude Langhorne Nelson. Named for her in 1957, the branch has served the Appomattox Regional Library System since 1974 — and today at 209 E Cawson Street it is the system's flagship location, open Monday through Thursday until 8 pm with a free notary, a seed lending library, Library of Things, and the Weston Lecture series.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 9am–6pm |
| Saturday | 9am–6pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 209 East Cawson Street, Hopewell, VA 23860
Phone: (804) 458-6329
Website: arls.org
Plus Code: 87948P47+58 (Hopewell, VA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Appomattox Regional Library — Hopewell Branch
The Appomattox Regional Library Hopewell Branch at 209 East Cawson Street is the main branch of the Appomattox Regional Library System (ARLS), a multi-branch network serving the City of Hopewell and Dinwiddie and Prince George Counties in Virginia's Tri-Cities region. Library service in Hopewell began in 1930, when a Library Association established by Thomas B. Robertson handed operations to the city in 1931 under its first librarian, Maude Langhorne Nelson. Originally housed in the State Planters Bank Building as the John Randolph Library, the branch was relocated to the Municipal Building annex in 1957 and renamed in Nelson's honor. In 1974, Prince George and Dinwiddie Counties joined Hopewell to form the Appomattox Regional Library System. Today the Hopewell Branch offers free notary services (appointment required), a seed lending library for community gardeners, a Library of Things collection including blood pressure kits, Nintendo Switch games and art supplies, and the annual Weston Lecture series. Digital access through Libby and hoopla rounds out its services for patrons across the region.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Library service in Hopewell since 1930 — named the Maude Langhorne Nelson Library in 1957 to honor the city's first librarian
- Flagship branch of the 8-location Appomattox Regional Library System (ARLS), formed 1974 when Prince George & Dinwiddie joined Hopewell
- Free notary service at the Hopewell location (appointment required, call 804-458-6329 x1001)
- Seed Lending Library, Library of Things (blood pressure kits, Nintendo Switch games, art supply kits, nature backpacks), and exam proctoring
- Weston Lecture series plus genealogy, legal resources, and career development collections
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Hopewell cardholders can borrow digital titles and stream content free through ARLS's digital offerings:
📚 Services
- Free notary service (Hopewell location; appointment required, call 804-458-6329 x1001)
- Seed Lending Library for community gardeners
- Library of Things: blood pressure kits, Nintendo Switch games, art supply kits, nature backpacks with Virginia State Parks passes
- Exam proctoring and Book-A-Librarian consultations
- Meeting room reservations and mobile printing
- Genealogy, local history, and legal resource collections
🎸 Programs
- Storytime for children and 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
- Summer reading program
- Weston Lecture series for adults
- Southside From the Heart community engagement program
- Career and lifelong learning workshops
- Volunteer and Friends of the Library opportunities
📍 Nearby Libraries in the Tri-Cities Region, VA
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Hopewell Branch offer notary services, and how do I make an appointment?
Yes — the Hopewell location offers free notary services for the public. You must bring a current photo ID, and an appointment is required. Call (804) 458-6329 x1001 to schedule. Note that notaries may decline to notarize certain document types.
What is the Appomattox Regional Library System and which branch serves Hopewell?
ARLS is a public library system formed in 1974 when Hopewell, Prince George County, and Dinwiddie County joined together. It now has eight branches. The Hopewell Branch at 209 E Cawson Street is the system's flagship location and has its roots in the city's 1930 Library Association — the building was renamed the Maude Langhorne Nelson Library in 1957 for the city's first librarian.
What can I borrow from the Hopewell Library of Things?
The Library of Things at the Hopewell Branch includes blood pressure monitoring kits, Nintendo Switch video games (up to 3 per patron), watercolor and art supply kits, and Virginia State Parks nature backpacks that include a free parking pass to any Virginia State Park. Most items check out for three weeks.
How late is the Hopewell Branch open, and is it open on weekends?
The library is open Monday through Thursday 9 am–8 pm and Friday–Saturday 9 am–6 pm. It is closed on Sunday. Computers shut down 15 minutes before closing.
📋 This library offers notary services. See what a library notary can do — what to bring, fees and appointments — and find other libraries with a notary notary services by state.
📜 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.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.