Radford Public Library
🏢 City of Radford · Radford, Virginia
Radford Public Library
Serving 'The New River City' since the original library board was established in 1941, Radford Public Library at 30 West Main Street holds more than 84,000 volumes and is home to the Ann H. Fisher New River Room — a dedicated local-history collection covering Radford and the New River Valley.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 9am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am–8pm |
| Thursday | 9am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 30 West Main St., Radford, VA 24141
Phone: (540) 731-3621
Website: radfordva.gov
Plus Code: 869X4CPJ+X8 (Radford, VA)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Radford Public Library
The Radford Public Library is a municipal library operated by the City of Radford, Virginia, a New River Valley city nestled between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains. The original library board — then serving both Radford and Montgomery County — was established on April 13, 1941. By the early 1970s the longtime location had become severely overcrowded; in December 1978 ground was broken at the city-designated library site on West Main Street, and the current building has been the library's home ever since. The library holds approximately 84,280 volumes and serves a resident population of about 15,000. Its signature feature is the Ann H. Fisher New River Room, a dedicated local-history and special-collections space where Local Historian Scott Gardner is on hand Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m. and can assist with New River Valley genealogy and regional history. The library also offers Find It Virginia — the Library of Virginia's statewide database suite — alongside Libby for eBooks and a full calendar of community programs ranging from Chess Club and Lego nights to two active book clubs.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Ann H. Fisher New River Room — dedicated local history and special collections including Radford family letters, high school yearbooks, and historic newspaper archives
- On-site Local Historian (Scott Gardner) available Mondays and Thursdays noon–8 p.m. to assist with genealogy and New River Valley research
- Founded 1941 — one of the longest-serving public library boards in southwest Virginia, now holding 84,000+ volumes
- Open until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday — the only library in the immediate Radford area with consistent evening access four nights a week
- Active teen programs including Chess Club, Pokemon Club, Lego builds, and Family Nights led by in-house youth staff
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Radford Public Library cardholders can research, read, and stream for free through Virginia's statewide and local digital resources:
📚 Services
- Ann H. Fisher New River Room — local history, genealogy, and special collections
- Local Historian on site Mon & Thu noon–8 p.m. (Scott Gardner, 540-731-3621)
- Large-print books and adult low-reading-level collection
- Public computers with free internet access
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building
- Scanning and document access
- Children's Department (540-731-5527)
- Meeting room for community events
- Reference and reader's advisory assistance
- Interlibrary loan
🎸 Programs
- Chess Club for teens and tweens
- Pokemon Club and Build! Legos! for youth
- Books & Brews book club — first Sunday monthly at Long Way Brewing
- Brown Bag Book Club — second Wednesday monthly at the library at 12:30 p.m.
- Family Nights and community events
- Storytimes for young children
- Summer reading for all ages
- Virtual author talks
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southwest Virginia
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ann H. Fisher New River Room, and what can I find there?
The Ann H. Fisher New River Room is the library's dedicated local history and special collections area. It holds materials related to the history of Radford and the surrounding New River Valley, including Radford family letters, local newspaper archives, Radford High School yearbooks, the Radford Record Album, and the 'Radford Then and Now' collection. Digitized Radford Family Letters are also keyword searchable online in collaboration with Radford University's archives.
Is there a local historian on staff who can help with genealogy research?
Yes. Local Historian Scott Gardner is available at the library on Mondays and Thursdays from noon to 8 p.m. and occasionally on weekends. He can assist with New River Valley genealogy, Radford city history, and regional research. You can also reach him in advance at Scott.Gardner@radfordva.gov or (540) 731-3621.
Does Radford Public Library have book clubs, and how do I join?
The library hosts two book clubs. Books & Brews meets on the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. at Long Way Brewing in Radford — a relaxed, off-site discussion group. The Brown Bag Book Club meets the second Wednesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. in the library's meeting room. Both are free and open to the community; ask at the library or call (540) 731-3621 for current titles.
What free online resources come with a Radford library card?
Cardholders get access to Find It Virginia — the Library of Virginia's statewide suite of authoritative databases covering newspapers, academic journals, genealogy records, language learning, consumer research, and more. The library's eLibrary also includes downloadable eBooks, audiobooks, streaming music, academic databases, and job-search tools, all free with a valid card.
📜 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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