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Books
Libraries:
Jefferson-Madison
Regional Library
Albemarle
County Historical Society
UVA's
Alderman
UVA's
Special Collections
UVA's
Fine Arts
UVA
Law Library
UVA
Medical Library
Other cool book stuff:
Bookstores
Rare
Book Dealers
Virginia
Festival of the Book
Literacy
Programs
Presses
Bookish
Education
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Book bonanza:
Take a ride on
the reading
BY MARY ESSELMAN WORDS@READTHEHOOK.COM
Something about the Central Library downtown transports me back to my
childhood, or to some weird fictional version of my childhood. I see
that big columned entrance, walk up those grand steps, and suddenly
I’m Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird; Jem and Dill are
right around the corner at Lee Park, dreaming up some Boo Radley dare,
while Atticus is up the street at the court house, fighting for
justice. I loved that book as a kid and always wanted to be a sassy
little firecracker like Scout (“Pass the damn ham,
please”), growing up in a small town full of neighbors and
eccentrics (uh, but minus the ingrained, sentimentalized racism).
I don’t think it’s
just the library, I think it’s Charlottesville itself that evokes
this feeling of bookish nostalgia. If ever there was an Atticus kind of
town, Charlottesville is it: teeming with highly educated,
well-meaning, left-leaning folks, yet still oddly segregated in some
ways, and crackling with small-town Southern idiosyncrasies.
Charlottesville just feels literary, like a fictional setting. Happily
for romantic English majors like me, it’s a town of readers,
thinkers, writers, and activists who seem to agree with
Jefferson’s Scout-like declaration, “I cannot live without
books.”
Books and bookish
events abound. The public libraries are charming (I’m partial to
the Central and Gordon Avenue branches, but they’re all inviting)
and offer wonderful reading/discussion programs for adults and children
(Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, jmrl.org). The University’s
libraries have any and all of the books you could possibly want, and
the staff are exceptionally helpful. Bookstores range from the
atmospheric and cozy (Daedalus and New Dominion downtown, Heartwood
Books on the Corner), to the bright and shiny (Barnes & Noble at
Barracks Road) to the artsy (Blue Whale Books downtown) and new agey
(Quest Bookshop on West Main Street).
Then
there’s “the” literary event of the year for
Charlottesville, the Virginia Festival of the Book, a multi-day
celebration featuring readings and discussions with big-time writers,
illustrators, and publishers (next year’s festival happens March
21-25).
If you wanted to, you
could attend a free reading/discussion nearly every evening during the
school year, thanks largely to the University. The Miller Center of
Public Affairs offers a free Forum program, which has hosted guest
speakers like Jimmy Carter and Jim Lehrer. UVA’s Creative Writing
Program (home to legends like Ann Beattie and Rita Dove) regularly
holds readings featuring well-known writers and poets. The
University’s Center for Humanism in Medicine presents “The
Medical Center Hour: Medicine & Society in Conversation,” a
weekly lunch-time speaker series. Many other departments sponsor
readings and talks throughout the year; check UVA’s
“Things to Do” page online (virginia.edu/news.html) for
updated offerings.
For those itching to write,
the Charlottesville Writing Center offers classes and programs for
children and adults; or try something like screenwriting or writing for
children through UVA’s School of Continuing and Professional
Studies. And of course there's always the Hook’s very own annual
fiction contest-- many try, but only the special few get the thrill of
having their work published in these pages! Or simply head to the Free
Speech Monument downtown-- a huge chalkboard designed for public
dialogue-- and express yourself.
Speaking of the Hook--
even with the disclaimer that this is coming from someone writing for
the paper-- I have to say I couldn’t get by without my weekly
local news fix courtesy of the Hook. I love reading the Washington Post and Daily Progress
every morning. (Some locals call it the "Daily Regress" and don’t
bother with it, but I still find it endearing and often even
informative.) And I can’t miss the New York Times
online. But oh, how I look forward to Thursday, when I can get the real
scoop on what’s happening in this town. You can’t miss a
week of the Hook or you’re out of the local loop.
Phew. That about covers it,
though I’m sure I’ve missed a lot. Settle in and enjoy the
largess: welcome to the word-fest that is Charlottesville.
LIBRARIES
Jefferson-Madison
Regional Library- The local public library
system, it comprises the main library downtown as
well as seven additional outposts to push back ignorance.
Central branch is located 201 E. Market St. by Lee Park,
Gordon Avenue just where you'd expect, Northside at
Albemarle Square Shopping Center. Other branches are in
outlying communities (Crozet, Scottsville, Louisa, Greene,
Nelson). Descendant of the Albemarle Library Society founded
in 1823 by Thomas Jefferson and others, today the JMRL
maintains an impressive inventory not only of books, but
also of videos and books on tape as well as a thorough roster of
reading programs for kids and adults. Central Library Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat
9am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm, but closed Sundays from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
979-7151
Albemarle
Charlottesville Historical Society- The
small spot (in a swanky building) for local history and
geneology. You're asked to sign in. 200 Second St. NE
(downtown by Lee Park). Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, library and exhibit hall open Sat 10am-1pm. 296-1492
PVCC
Library-
The Jessup Library serves the local community college located on Route
20 South near the I-64 interchange. During the school year: Mon-Thurs
8am-9:30pm, Fri 9am-4pm, Sat 9am-12pm. Summer: Mon-Thurs 8:30am-8pm,
Fri 8am-11:30pm. 961-5308
University of
Virginia Libraries- Any Virginia resident
and other
folks at least 16 years of age can borrow books and
other materials from UVA's 14 libraries for up to 30 days.
UVA's online catalogue is called Virgo,
and it's pretty sweet.
- Alderman-
The stately brick library at the corner of University Avenue and
McCormick Road houses most of the humanities collection. School year
hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-Midnight, Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 9am-8pm, Sun
10am-Midnight. Summer hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-10pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat
1pm-5pm, Sun Noon-10pm. 924-3021
- Business-
The Camp library at the Darden School is home to the business
collections of the university and is located in the Darden complex off
Massie Road. School year hours: Mon-Thurs 7:30am-11pm, Fri 7:30am-6pm,
Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 11am-11pm. Summer hours: 7:30am-5pm on weekdays,
closed on weekends and holidays. 924-7321
- Clemons-
Named for the man who served as university librarian from 1927 to 1950,
this multi-story brick building catty-corner to Alderman features ample
study space and large multimedia collections. School year hours: Open
24 hours/day Monday-Thursday, closes at Midnight Friday, open
9am-Midnight Saturday, and opens 10am Sunday. Summer hours: Mon-Fri
8am-10pm, Sat 1pm-5pm, Sun Noon-10pm. 924-3684
- Education-
located across the Emmet Street pedestrian bridge from the Brown
College and accessible by car through McCormick Road, the Education
library serves all the learning information needs of the Currey
School. School year hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-11pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat
10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-11pm. Varying hours throughout the summer, genrally
open morning to evening, seven days a week. 924-7040
- Fine
Arts-
The Fiske Kimbal Fine Arts Library is named for the architect who
rescued Thomas Jefferson from architectural obscurity in the early 20th
century. It's located in the art/architecture complex on Carr's Hill.
School year hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-Midnight, Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 10am-6pm,
Sun 1pm-Midhight. Summer Hours: Mon-Thur 8am-8pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sun
1pm-5pm. 924-6938
- Law Library- The Arthur J. Morris Law Library boasts 800,000+
volumes on North Grounds. During the school year: 8am-Midnight daily. Summer: Mon-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-5pm. 924-3384
- Medical Library-
The Claude Moore Health Sciences Library houses UVA's medical
collections. Mon-Thurs 7:30am-Midnight, Fri 7:30am-7pm, Sat 9am-7pm,
Sun Noon-Midnight. Located at 1300 Jefferson Park Ave next to the
university hospital. 924-5591
- Music Library-
all the melodius records (in all senses of the word) at UVA live in the
Music Library on the bottom two levels of Old Cabell Hall. School year
hours: Mon-Thurs 8am-11pm, Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1pm-11pm.
Summer hours: open 8am-6pm weekdays, closed weekends and holidays.
924-7021
- Science and Engineering-
The Brown Science and Engineering Library has got it all: astronomy,
biology, chemistry, engineering, environmental science, mathematics,
physics, psychology and statistics.
- Special
Collections- Researchers go giddy at the
thought of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections
Library both below and above
McCormick Road. School year hours: Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm, Fri-Sat 9am-5pm. Summer hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm. 243-1776
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