Throughout 2023, Central Rappahannock Regional Library added innovative collections and ways of delivering services to better meet the needs of the community.
All the while, the library has continued to provide access to reliable information and support for readers of all ages.
Initiatives & More
Going Fine Free
As of January 3, 2023, all fines on overdue materials were permanently eliminated, and any accrued fines on customer records were waived.
Privacy Pods
The Westmoreland branches received a grant for privacy pods that provide a quiet, private space for telemeetings, telehealth appointments, online interviews, and more.
COVID-19 Test Kits
When available, customers can pick up free, rapid at-home COVID-19 antigen test kits. Through curbside pickup at most library branches. From January to November 2023, the library gave out over 5,000 tests.
Strategic Plan
We updated our Strategic Plan to guide day-to-day operations and help to achieve the following goals:
- Community Outreach
- Customer Centricity & Inclusion
- Staff Training & Development
- Ingenuity & Innovation
- Meaningful Partnerships
Celebrating Library Services
Snow & Towne Centre Branch Birthdays
The C. Melvin Snow Branch turned 25, and the Spotsylvania Towne Centre Branch turned 5.
50 Years of Friendship
The Friends of the Library have been helping CRRL achieve its goals for half a century.
Programs & Events
Rappahannock Writers Conference
Our annual Writers' Conference took place Saturday, November 4. Over 200 attendees had a day of celebrating writers with informational workshops and panel discussions. Keynote addresses were presented by best-selling authors Kim B. Miller and S.A Cosby.
Local Author Visits
Authors residing in our service area held informal book signings and book sale events at tables in the library branch lobbies. See the current list of local author signings here.
Music on the Steps
Summer concerts are held on the front steps of CRRL's Fredericksburg Branch from June through August. We celebrated our 32nd year of holding the event in 2023!
Join Us for Lunch
Working with community partners, 3,985 lunches were provided at Fredericksburg, Salem Church, Howell, and Snow branches for children and teens in 2023.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Any child who has yet to start kindergarten can participate in our 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, which started in September. So far, participants have read more than 16,000 books!
Adult Winter Reading Challenge
From January through March, 1,473 adults signed up for the challenge, logging reading for 9,541 books were read. Join us again in January 2024 for a brand new challenge!
All-Ages Summer Reading Challenge
From May 15 to August 15, 2,723 readers signed up for the program. Children and teens logged 1,655,023 minutes of reading, and 18,969 books were recorded in total.
Library Collection Additions
hoopla digital
Download and stream up to 5 items a month from hoopla’s catalog of more than a million audiobooks, eBooks, videos, and music.
Library of Things
Now there's more to borrow with our Library of Things collection. We added six new Craft Kits to the collection this year!
The Best of 2023 Lists
