Libraries
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Botetourt County Libraries
The Botetourt County Libraries serve the residents of Botetourt County and the Roanoke Valley. The library system has collections of over 100,000 items including books, DVDs, videos, audio tapes and magazines.
Blue Ridge Library28 Avery Row Mon - Thur 9 - 9 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES |
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Buchanan Library
Mon & Thur 9 - 7 |
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Fincastle Library11 Academy Street Mon & Thur 9 - 9 |
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Services
On-line Resources
Programs & Activities
- Book Club
- "Bookmarks"
quarterly newsletter - Children's Programs
- Summer Reading Program
Library Partners
Library Cards
Any resident of the Roanoke Valley who is at least 5 years old may apply for a free borrower's card. Children under the age of 13 need a parent or guardian's signature. Proof of permanent address, such as a driver's license, bill, check, or a letter addressed to the applicant, is required.
Loan periods vary by type of material. Most books and audio tapes may be borrowed for a period of four weeks but some new and high-demand items may be borrowed for only two weeks. Magazines and CD-ROMs may be borrowed for two weeks. and most videos and DVDs circulate for four days.
Most books may be renewed twice, and videos and DVDs may be renewed once. Renewals may be done via the library's online catalog (www.rvl.info), by calling, or by coming to the library in person. Any item that has a hold on it may not be renewed.
Library Card Application Form rev. Feb. 2006
*these resources require usernames and passwords; contact your library for assistance
Search for materials (includes books, periodicals, recordings, films);
also: *request titles from area libraries; *renew materials How to Use the Electronic Catalog
* eBooks
Electronic books; also: search and browse reference resources including encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, handbooks, thesauri and more. How to use NetLibrary
Search for articles and email or print articles found in full-text magazines, newspapers, television and radio transcripts, health information databases, business and company resources, and literary criticism. How to use Find It Virginia
Provides the complete full-text content of local and regional news, including community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, and people in the community in an easy-to-search database.
How to use: click on the HELP link at the top of the NewsBank page
Bookmobile
The bookmobile travels throughout Botetourt County and usually serves
each stop once every two weeks. The bookmobile does not operate on days
which happen to be the fifth Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday of the month.
A library card from any of the Roanoke Valley Libraries
(Botetourt County, Roanoke City, Roanoke County and Salem) may be used
on the bookmobile. For additional information, call the Fincastle Library
at 473-8339.
Bookmobile Schedule rev. 02/04/05
Genealogy
Botetourt County Library's recently renovated Fincastle
Branch now includes a room dedicated to genealogical research. The
collections include family history books, Virginia County books, cemetery
information and books on Virginia history. Files of loose materials are
included in addition to the book collections.
A computer with family tree software is availabile on which persons may add information about their families for viewing by other researchers. A microfilm scanner is also available to view the old newspaper from the town of Buchanan, Virginia as well as other microfilms. Classes about genealogical research are periodically offered at the Fincastle Library.
Contributions of family history materials are welcome.
Genealogical Databases
- Ancestry (can only be used inside the Library)
- Heritage
Quest
only use this link from within the Library: Library access
Meeting Rooms
The Botetourt County Public Library meeting rooms serve the public by allowing organizations and groups of an educational, cultural, or civic nature to use the meeting rooms free of charge when the rooms are not needed for activities sponsored in whole or in part by the library. Room use is on a first-come, first served basis.
Book Club
Join the library’s Online Book Club and every day we’ll send you a five-minute portion of a book in your e-mail. Pick the types of books you like and start reading with us every morning. There are nine different categories of books from which to choose. The service is free and no library card is required.
Children's Programs
Special programs for children are scheduled throughout the year. Preschool story hour is held on Mondays and Thursdays at Blue Ridge, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at Fincastle and Fridays in Buchanan. Registration is required.
- Library Story Hour information (2006)
- Story Hour Registration Form
Pre-School Story Hour
Children must be able to sit quietly for short periods of time during the stories, then they will participate in crafts, songs, games and other activities geared to their abilities. Parents must remain in the library building while their children participate in Story Hour.
- Blue Ridge: Monday 10:30 am (2 yrs +); Thursday 10:30 am (4-5 yrs)
- Buchanan: Friday 11:00 (2 yrs +)
- Fincastle: Tuesday 10:00 am (4-5 yrs); Wednesday 10:00 am (2 yrs +)
The library also conducts an annual Summer Reading Program for children of all ages. The program usually spans six weeks during the summer and provides many interesting and entertaining programs for children while providing incentives for them to read.
Summer Reading Program 2007
Registrations accepted beginning June 1, 2007. Programs begin June
20-22(see brochure for details).
- 2007 Program Brochure
- 2007 Program Calendar
- 2007 Registration Form
Internet Access
Internet access is available at all three library locations. The internet is available at no charge but printed pages from the internet are priced at the rate of 10 cents per page. Patrons may use the internet for up to thirty minutes at a time and longer if no one is waiting.
Other Library Services
Other library services include:
- answering reference questions
- providing photocopy machines and fax service. The charge for photocopies is 10 cents per page and the charge for sending a fax is $1.00 per page
Roanoke Valley Libraries
The Botetourt library system is part of the Roanoke Area Libraries group which shares a common borrower's card and computer catalog. Botetourt patrons may also obtain books and other materials from the collections of the Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Salem libraries at no charge.
Friends of the Library
The Botetourt County Friends of the Library is an organization that helps to support the programs of the library. Members are citizens of the community who have a special interest in the library and its mission. Anyone is welcome to join. The Friends raise money through book sales and help to pay the cost of the library's summer reading programs. The Friends have also contributed toward the purchase of books and videos, sponsored author presentations and sponsored the library's annual poetry contest. Anyone who is interested in joining the Friends should contact Steve Vest at 977-3433.
