Alexandria Library Timeline -- 1794 - Present
| 1794- 1937 | 1937 | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
July 24, 1794
Alexandria Library established as subscription institution by Alexandria Library Company. They charge an annual fee of $5. Edward Stabler voted first secretary and librarian and James Muir elected president.
Books probably were housed in the back room of Stabler’s Apothecary Shop
1796
James Kennedy appointed librarian
1797
Library is incorporated. First catalog published, which listed the holdings in the hundreds.
1818
Collection moved to the New Market House, adjacent to City Hall
William G. Cranch apppointed librarian
1830
George Drinker appointed librarian. John Leadbeater appointed assistant librarian and “Guardian of the Reading Room.”
1840
Library housed in The Lyceum
1850
Norval E. Foard named librarian
1852
The “Young Men of the Town” Society takes over management of the Library Company
1856
Circulation: 3,000
Volumes: 4,481
1861
The City of Alexandria occupied during the Civil War and the Lyceum used as Federal hospital. Books housed in homes of Alexandria Library Company members.
1868
Library housed at the Alexandria Christian Association
1870
August Hening appointed librarian
1873
Emma J. Young appointed librarian
1870-1879
Books moved several different times to various locations along King Street
1897
Alexandria Library Association forms and collection relocated to the Peabody Building
1900
August Hening appointed librarian
1902
Alice Green appointed librarian
1903
Library moved to Robert E. Lee Camp Hall at 806 Prince Street
1931
City Manager sets aside $1,000 for the establishment of a free public library
January 28, 1937
President of the Board Mary Powell Scott and Secretary Mary B. Smoot authorized to sign contract agreement between Dr. and Mrs. Robert Barrett, The Society of Friends, the Alexandria Library Association, and the City Council of the City of Alexandria for a library building.
February 22, 1937
Corner stone laid for the new library building
August 20, 1937
The first Alexandria Free Public Library opens at 717 Queen Street. Dr.
Robert S
outh Barrett donates funds to erect the library in memory of his mother, Dr. Kate
Waller Barrett, a humanitarian, social crusader, and political reformer. The Society of Friends grants a 99-year
lease for use of its old Quaker Burial Ground on Queen Street as the site for the new building.
The Library Company signs an agreement with the Alexandria City Council, turning over its collections to the city. In turn, the city agrees to include operating expenses for the public library in its budget. First year’s budget is $5,000.
A Library Board is established, including three members of the Association (“The Company”), two members appointed by the Mayor, and two members of the City Council
Beatrice Workman appointed transitional librarian
1938
Catherine Scoggins appointed librarian
Circulation: 71,953; Cardholders: 3,781; Volumes: 5,535
1939
August 21, 1939
Sit-in at segregated Alexandria Library leads to the arrest of five African American men
April 22, 1940
Robert Robinson Library, named for a grandson of one of George Washington’s slaves, opens for black residents at 638 N. Alfred Street (now the Alexandria Black History Museum)
Evelyn Roper Beam appointed librarian
1943
Hazel Miller appointed librarian of Robert Robinson Library
1944
Sara Murphy Carr appointed librarian of Robert Robinson Library
1945
Circulation: 110,371
1946
An amendment to the charter states that the Library Board is required to present its annual budget to the City Council
1948
Ellen Coolidge Burke appointed Director of Alexandria Library
Minnie Fuller appointed Librarian of Robert Robinson Library
Circulation: 156,700
1954
Addition built on Barrett Library: Floor space: 12,200 sq. ft.
Cardholders: 21,875; Volumes: 52,708
1955
Circulation: 267,115
1958
Jeanne G. Plitt appointed librarian
Library gifted 800 volume book collection on Virginia history and the Lee family by Cazenove G. Lee, Jr.
The Library begins bookmobile service
May 11, 1962
Robert Robinson Library closes
1964 
Addition built on Barrett Library: Floor space: 14,600 sq. ft.
1965
Circulation: 367,583
1968
Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library opens on Seminary Road: Floor space: 17,874
Bookmobile discontinues service
1969
James M. Duncan, Jr. Branch Library opens on Commonwealth Avenue: Floor space: 9,600 sq. ft.
Jeanne G. Plitt appointed Director.
An amendment to the charter states that three members of Board are citizens-at-large and one member from City Council
1973
Cardholders: 75,565
Volumes: 222,979
1976
Library leases the Lloyd House for its local history and rare books, manuscripts, and archives. Floor space: 7,500 sq. ft.
Needs Assessment Study by King Research Company calls for “a new community library in the western end of the city,” as well as the remodeling of Barrett Library and additions to the branches.
1982
In October, the Library automates its catalog with GEAC. All library books are barcoded in a project that took a year to complete
1984-1985
Friends of the Library groups established for each branch
1986
Bookmobile service reinstated
Young Adult services added for ages 12-16
Library catalog is automated
A new advocacy group, the Friends of the Alexandria Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, is formed
1992
Patrick O’Brien appointed Director
1993
Two free internet computers available at Burke Branch.
In May, Barrett Library closes for renovation. Mini library is established in South front room of Llyod House.
End of the 16mm film service and VHS are relocated to the branches.
1995
September 10, 1995
Barrett Library reopens, with four free internet computers available for patrons. The addition included the preservation and reinterment of original graves on the grounds of the Library.
1996
March, 14, 1996
The Library’s first website goes live
1997
A new web-based catalog system, GeoWeb was released.
1998
Alexandria Library Foundation chartered
1999
November 15, 1999
250th anniversary of the founding of Alexandria
Time capsule buried behind Beatley Branch, including the following items: letters from Jefferson-Houston Elementary School Students, City officials, and state and federal representatives; photographs of Alexandria buildings and streets; local artwork; brochures from City departments; statistics from Alexandria City schools; programs from local churches and synagogues; print-outs of City website home pages; and various pop culture artifacts.
Cardholders: 101,951; Volumes: 389,260
Bookmobile service ended in September
January - Barrett closes for renovation to add Local History department. It reopens on March 20, 2000
On January 31, 2000 Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Central Library opens on Duke Street
November - Burke closes for renovations
CDs and DVDs are added to the system for circulation
2002
March 4, 2002
Burke reopens
2003
James M. Duncan, Jr. Library Foundation incorporated on July 30
2004
Duncan closes in mid-August 2004 for renovation, then moves to a storefront at 3809 Mt. Vernon Avenue
Beatley began providing free WiFi internet access
September 22, 2005
Duncan Library reopens, the first City of Alexandria government building to have a green roof
Alexandria Library begins offering downloadable audiobooks through the online catalog via Overdrive
WiFi internet access is expanded to all branches
2006
Beatley Central Library receives City Beautification Award
In coorperation with the Burke Friends of the Library and the art students from the Hammond Middle School, a six panel mural of famous citizens of Alexandria was unveiled and dedicated on the back wall of the branch's parking lot. The six celebrated were George Washington, Francis C. Hammond, Mayor Bill Euille, State Senator Patsy Ticer, former T. C. Williams High School football coach, Herman Boone, and former Director and community leader, Ellen Coolidge Burke.
2007
Library circulates one million items in April 2007 (1,041,589)
Alexandria Library collaborates with The Foundation Center as a Regional Cooperating Collection: a large collection of Foundation Center print and online resources, including online training, are located at the Barrett. Foundation and Grant classes, arranged by Barrett staff, are offered to patrons.
2008
Rose T. Dawson is appointed the first African-American Director of Alexandria Library. (Pictured right)
“All Alexandria Reads” program starts with the book “Marley and Me” by John Grogan
Through an ongoing partnership with Hammond Elementary School, Burke Library hung 4 more murals of famous Alexandrians.
2009
70th Anniversary of
Alexandria Library Civil Rights Sit-In. During the 70th
Anniversary Celebration, students from Samuel Tucker re-enacted the sit-in, Vice Mayor Kerry Donley read a
Proclamation, and members of the media took pictures of the student re-enacting the photograph of the original
young men being escorted from the library by police.
Beatley Central installs two self-check out machines to help eliminate the long check out lines
In January 2010 the National Park Service (NPS) announced that the Special Collections Branch had been selected to join the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. This national program includes vetted places, resources and repositories for people studying the Underground Railroad. The Alexandria Library, Special Collections Division is one of three sites in Alexandria to be accepted by NPS and one of a handful of libraries to make the list.
Kate Waller Barrett Day is celebrated on May 20, 2010. (Pictured right)
Alexandria Library begins offering downloadable ebooks through the online catalog via Overdrive
2011
The Alexandria Library chosen to be Technology Zookeepers for Library of Virginia Region 5
In June 2011 Duncan Branch installs a self-check out machine
2012
In March 2012, the Virginia General Assembly legislated Senate Joint Resolution No. 231, which commends the Alexandria Library on the occasion of its 75th anniversary.
In April 2012 Barrett Branch and Burke Branch installs self-check out machines
Special Collections staff authors the book Alexandria (Images of America) , a pictorial history of the City of Alexandria, using vintage photographs and original documents to show how a small colonial town grew into a modern city. Set for release on July 2, 2012. (Left photo below)
Solar panels are installed at Beatley Central Library. (Right photo below)
Alexandria Library celebrates its 75th anniversary as a public library on August 20, 2012
2013
The Beatley Library redesigned its children’s area with new flooring, furniture, and beautiful mural paintings depicting the seasons of the year.
A needs assessment was conducted which would become the basis of the 2015-2020 Five Year Plan.
2014
On August 21, 2014 Alexandria Library commemorated the 75th
anniversary of the sit-in which took place on this date in 1939 at the Barrett Library. The celebration
included a festival in front of the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, complete with music and guest speakers.
An historical marker was unveiled at 717 Queen Street as a permanent reminder of the sit-in.
2015 The Library was asked by the City to take over management of an
additional branch, the Alexandria Law Library, located in
the Courthouse at 501 King Street. Expanded Sunday service for the first time, to include Sunday hours at the
Barrett, Burke, and Duncan Branches. The Library became a United States Passport Acceptance Facility, the only site in
Alexandria to provide the service. The service began at the Beatley Library in July 2015.
2016 Introduction of first logo and new branding scheme. Despite the fact that
the Library had became a separate public entity in 1937, separate from its parent organization, the Alexandria
Library Company, the Library continued to use the Company seal as its own until the design of the new
logo. Expanded the Passport Acceptance service to the Barrett Library in
October 2016. Alexandria Library joined the White House iniative ConnectED which
focused on getting a library card in the hands of every child. The Library began to work with Alexandria City
Public Schools to begin to accomplish this goal. 2017 Created a marketing plan and began to redesign written materials, and
placed the logo on its podiums and Outreach vehicle . Promotional materials were purchased, including polo
shirts and t-shirts, buttons and lanyards, as well as items for sale to the public including earbuds, tote bags, and
USBs. In addition, the domain name of the Library’s web address was shortened from alexandria.lib.va.us to
alexlibraryva.org to replace an outdated format. Began to allow credit card payments for copying and more self-service
options for customers. An online chat service was added to the Library website. The Thomas Jefferson Traveling Fellowship allowed 2 library staff to
travel to Europe to visit several libraries and learn from colleagues overseas and create a shared
experience. Alexandria Library was awarded PLA’s Inclusive Internship Initiative .
Alexandria was one of just 39 libraries across the country to offer two paid summer internships to teens. The
program introduced the interns to career possibilities in librarianship through special projects and
mentoring. 2018 Introduced the 1,000
Books Before Kindergarten program, to encourage parents and caregivers to read to their children and
ensure their school readiness. Began to utilize RFID tagging to improve efficiency of
service. The Library, in partnership with the Alexandria Sheriff’s Office, was
selected as one of 25 libraries nationwide to participate in The Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT )
Great Stories Club, a reading and discussion program series that engages underserved teens through reading
and racial healing work. The TRHT Great Stories Club, a program of the American Library Association (ALA),
is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Library and Sheriff’s Office will work with a
small group of incarcerated young adults in a book club format to explore the coming-of-age experience for
youth from historically marginalized groups. The Library was awarded a grant to continue PLA’s Inclusive Internship
Initiative program.
