Established in 1945, the Roanoke County Public Library system [RCPL] consists of a Headquarters Library on Rte. 419; three major branches in Glenvar, Hollins, and Vinton; and two neighborhood branches in Mt. Pleasant and Bent Mountain. Conveniently located and service-oriented, County libraries have an extensive collection of books, magazines, videos, DVD's, audio books, CD's, CD-Rom's, and more. The system also provides a full spectrum of library services, from reference assistance, consumer information, and storytimes for children, to the latest in electronic information, Internet access, computer labs, and public instruction in software and databases.
With an annual circulation of more than 845,000, and the number of visits by its patrons exceeding 640,000, RCPL is the busiest library system in Southwest Virginia. It is also the recipient of multiple statewide awards for innovations in children's programming, special events for adults, and creative promotional efforts. County libraries are fully automated, with remote access to magazine indexes and other databases and an online catalog.
Roanoke College - Fintel Library
Adult residents of the area may apply for a Guest Borrower Card at Roanoke College's Fintel Library, or public library patrons may obtain the Library's circulating materials through the Interlibrary Loan program.
Fintel Library offers nearly 200,000 bound volumes, with a total holding of over 515,000.
Virginia Tech - multiple libraries
The libraries at Virginia Tech include holdings of more than 2,000,000 volumes. The University holds the distinction of being a selective depository for federal documents and is an invited member of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL).
Adult Virginia residents are extended privileges at Virginia Tech libraries with a Virginia Driver's License or Virginia Identification Card and in-state address and phone number.
Hollins University - Wyndham Robertson Library
The Wyndham Robertson Library at Hollins University opened in April 1999 as a state-of-the-art academic library designed to accommodate the full range of information formats, from manuscripts and incunabula to print, microforms, from CD-ROMs to videos, sound recordings, digital videodisks, and multimedia formats to Web-based research sources. At the opening the library was designated the first National Literary Landmark in Virginia by The Friends of Libraries, USA. All of this grew from a cornerstone, first laid in 1908 for the Charles L. Cocke Memorial Library.
The current collections of the Wyndham Robertson Library include over two hundred thousand titles, over eight hundred periodical subscriptions, about thirty-eight electronic database subscriptions, and access to netLibrary. In addition, Media Services provides different media formats and equipment, and Special Collections and Archives houses interesting collections and rare materials.
Other Libraries
Other local libraries accessible to residents of Virginia include Virginia Western Community College's Brown Library, and the Roanoke Higher Education Center Library.