Gloucester County Public Library
🏢 Gloucester County Public Library · Gloucester, Virginia
Gloucester County Public Library
Gloucester County Public Library traces its roots to 1914, when Mrs. Elinor Cochran Stewart donated 125 books to establish a lending collection on Virginia's Middle Peninsula; it became automated in 1999 and moved in 2004 to its current 24,000-square-foot facility at 6920 Main Street, where it now serves the entire county with a Virginia Room genealogy collection, notary service and free statewide digital databases.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 6920 Main Street, Gloucester, VA 23061
Phone: 804-693-2998
Website: gloucesterva.gov
Plus Code: 8795CF5J+JG (Gloucester, VA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Gloucester County Public Library
Gloucester County Public Library has served the residents of Gloucester County, Virginia since 1914, when community benefactor Mrs. Elinor Cochran Stewart donated 125 books and established the county's first public lending collection. The library became fully automated in 1999 and in 2004 moved into a purpose-built 24,000-square-foot building at 6920 Main Street on the Middle Peninsula, roughly 20 miles north of the James River Bridge. The main library is complemented by the Point Branch at 2354 York Crossing Drive in Hayes, which serves the southern part of the county. The Virginia Room houses local historical materials — including microfilm, census records, tax lists and church records — alongside in-library access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest for genealogical research. Notary Public services are available by appointment Monday through Friday. The library is a department of Gloucester County government.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1914 by benefactor Mrs. Elinor Cochran Stewart, who donated 125 books to start the county's lending collection
- 24,000-square-foot main library at 6920 Main Street, opened 2004, plus a Point Branch in Hayes
- Virginia Room with local historical materials: microfilm, census records, tax lists, church records, Ancestry.com (in-library)
- Notary Public available by appointment Monday through Friday at no charge
- Open seven days a week, including Sunday afternoons 1–5 p.m.
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Gloucester County Library cardholders can research, read and learn free through Virginia's statewide and local digital collections:
📚 Services
- Virginia Room genealogy collection with microfilm reader-printer-scanner
- In-library access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest
- Notary Public service Monday–Friday by appointment
- Public computers (up to 3 hours/day with library card), printing and free Wi-Fi
- Scanners and fax service
- Meeting room reservations
- Interlibrary loan (books, magazines; $4 first item, $1 each additional)
- Video game and media lending
- Downloadable eBooks and audiobooks via Libby
🎸 Programs
- Children's storytimes and youth programming
- Teen programs and homework help (Homework HelpNow tutoring, 2–11 p.m. daily)
- Adult programs and book discussions
- Summer reading program
- Community meeting events
- Friends of the Library activities
📍 Nearby Libraries on the Virginia Peninsula
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Gloucester · Browse all Virginia libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Gloucester County Public Library, and who founded it?
The library dates to 1914, when Mrs. Elinor Cochran Stewart donated 125 books to establish a public lending collection in Gloucester County. That founding gift made it one of the earliest public libraries on Virginia's Middle Peninsula. The library became automated in 1999 and moved into its current 24,000-square-foot building at 6920 Main Street in 2004.
Does the library offer notary services?
Yes. Notary Public services are available at the main library Monday through Friday by appointment. Call 804-693-2998 to schedule.
What genealogy resources does the library have?
The Virginia Room houses Gloucester County and regional historical materials including microfilm, census records, tax lists, church records and local newspapers. The library also provides in-library access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest. The genealogy microfilm and Virginia Room materials are non-circulating but can be copied on-site with the microfilm reader-printer-scanner.
Is there a second library location in Gloucester County?
Yes. The Point Branch is located at 2354 York Crossing Drive in Hayes, VA 23072 (phone 804-642-9790). Its seasonal hours (October 1 – March 31) are Monday–Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Both locations share the same catalog and card.
📋 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.
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