Northside Library

Northside LibraryHours:
Monday - Tuesday: 12 - 9pm
Wed: 10am-9pm | Thurs: 10am-6pm
Friday - Saturday: 10am - 5pm
Sunday: 1pm - 5pm
(Closed Sundays Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Phone: 434. 973.7893
Fax: 434.973.5876
northside@jmrl.org

Jump to: Adult Programs | Teen Programs | Kids Programs | Volunteer!

Programs for Adults

Connecting @ Your Library

Learn how to use computers and navigate the Internet. Library staff will give FREE tutorials. more info

@ Your Library

A program consisting of a variety of craft and informational programs. Funded by the Friends of the Library. Program listings are below.

Wednesday Night Book Group

This group meets the third Wednesday of each month, 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Program listings are below.

Want to see what has already been read? Try Searching the calendar.

Books Sandwiched In

Third Fridays (lunchtime 12-1 pm) Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, this is a series of presentations of books reviewed by noted local people. Why not bring a sandwich and join us? All programs are free and open to the public. For more information about the books and their reviewers, call 973-7893. Program listings are below.

Meets January-May and September-November. Want to see what has already been read? Try Searching the calendar.

Yoga Mondays

February 06, 2012
1:30 pm

Kris Onuf, a certified yoga instructor, offers free yoga instruction on Mondays, 1:30-3:00pm. No experience necessary. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and don't eat a heavy meal before class. You can bring your own mat, but that's not required.

Wednesday Night Book Group

last days of ptolemy greyTHE LAST DAYS OF PTOLEMY GREY by Walter Mosley

February 15, 2012
7:00 pm

At 91 years old, Ptolemy Grey is one of the world's forgotten. Marooned in a cluttered Los Angeles apartment, he sinks deeper into dementia and the past. Then he meets seventeen-year-old Robyn and they form a bond that reinvigorates his world, but as he recaptures his clarity of mind, he also unlocks the secrets he has carried for decades. Check the Catalog arrow

Books Sandwiched In

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS by Erik Larson

February 17, 2012
12:00 pm

Documents the efforts of the first American ambassador to Hitler's Germany, William E. Dodd, to acclimate to a residence in an increasingly violent city where he is forced to associate with the Nazis while his daughter pursues a relationship with Gestapo chief Rudolf Diels. Reviewed by Fred Schmidt, retired PVCC History Professor. Check the Catalog arrow

Downloading eBooks and audiobooks

February 21, 2012
6:30 pm

Do you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad or iPhone or other type of electronic reader? Learn how to download free eBooks and audiobooks using JMRL's Overdrive. Registration required: 973-7893

Family Night at the Movies

February 29, 2012
6:30 pm

Bring a blanket and pillows and join us for family friendly movies. Popcorn and drinks provided. Because of licensing issues, titles cannot be put on the webpage. Contact the library for specific info.
Feb 29, Apr 25

@ Your Library

How to Retire in an Insecure Economic Environment

March 07, 2012
6:30 pm

Registration begins Feb 15.
How much money do you actually need to retire with? Should annuities be your primary retirement investment? Can stocks still bring you the income you're looking for in retirement? John Fitchett, Financial Consultant with Capitol One, will present strategies to allow you to retire with confidence.

Hobby Farming

part of THE BIG READ

March 10, 2012
12:00 pm

Farming nourishes and sustains characters in Bless Me, Ultima. Hobby farmer Audrey Levatino will show you how to incorporate farming into your life without overwhelming your economic or physical resources, and discuss the importance of hobby farms to local communities and economies. Her 23-acre farm, Ted's Last Stand, is located outside of Gordonsville. more info

Wednesday Night Book Group

BLESS ME, ULTIMABLESS ME, ULTIMA by Rudolfo Anaya
THE BIG READ

March 21, 2012
7:00 pm

Antonio Marez is six years old when Ultima comes to stay with his family in New Mexico. She is a curandera, one who cures with herbs and magic. Under her wise wing, Tony will test the bonds that tie him to his people, and discover himself in the pagan past, in his father's wisdom, and in his mother's Catholicism. And at each life turn there is Ultima, who delivered Tony into the world-and will nurture the birth of his soul. Check the Catalog arrow

@ Your Library

Huichol Yarn Painting
part of THE BIG READ

March 24, 2012
10:30 am

Registration begins March 10. Class size is limited.
A workshop for teens and adults exploring this Mexican craft, which the Huichol people created for their gods. For ages 12 to adult.

@ Your Library

Fairy Houses

April 04, 2012
6:30 pm

Registration begins Mar 14. Class size is limited.
Using mosses, sticks, acorns, and other natural materials, you will create a little dwelling for the fairy living in your house or garden. A child may sign up with an adult to build one house together.

Wednesday Night Book Group

Books for next year's reading.

April 18, 2012
7:00 pm

Come to the meeting with ideas for choosing the books to read in the coming year.

@ Your Library

Climbing Your Family Tree

May 02, 2012
6:30 pm

Registration begins April 11.
Are you thinking about climbing your family tree but don't know where to start? Susan Emert, President of the Central Virginia Genealogical Association will provide some tips on how to use Ancestry.com, available at all JMRL branches. You will look at a variety of information, such as vital and census records, church, court and military records, and local histories.

Wednesday Night Book Group

HENRIETTA LACKSTHE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS by Rebecca Skloot

May 16, 2012
7:00 pm

Documents the story of how scientists took cells from an unsuspecting descendant of freed slaves and created a human cell line that has been kept alive indefinitely, enabling discoveries in such areas as cancer research, in vitro fertilization and gene mapping. Check the Catalog arrow

History of Northside Library

A New Branch for Northern Albemarle

Northside Library
Northside Library

It cost a cool million to renovate and equip the 15,500-square-foot space that once housed a Drug Fair discount pharmacy in the heart of the Albemarle Square Shopping Center. The renovation itself came to a mere $210,000. It was the computer system, the subscriptions to 130 magazines and newspapers, the innovative yet comfortable chairs and furnishings and, oh yes, the books that made the difference. When Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s largest and busiest branch first opened its doors to the public on December 14, 1991, the opening day collection was half a million dollars worth of 24,722 volumes, 14,000 of them children’s books. Nearly all the books were new, in pristine condition. The Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library had donated 1,400 items. An additional 6,000 volumes followed over the next six months. Despite these numbers, there was no escaping the obvious: the shelves looked bare. It would take a long time to reach Northside's capacity, intended to hold close to 100,000 volumes. Of course, of no small contribution to the bareness of the shelves was the curious phenomenon observed by the ever alert library staff. From day one, people kept coming in to check out books. A lot of books. 1,319 volumes in five hours went out the first day, with 57 new patrons registered. By the end of the month, 9,421 books had circulated and a record 400 new registrations had been added. The following month 21,299 volumes went on loan.

Northside had arrived

The plans had long been in the making for establishing a branch in northern Albemarle to meet the needs of the county’s fastest growing communities. The County Board of Supervisors awarded both capital and operating funds to open the new branch, but first someone would have to design and build it. In February 1991, the library board and Albemarle County secured local architect Peter L. Sheeran. He oversaw the development of the building program, from the renovations and modifications to the selections of interior furnishings. Working closely with the contractor, Aerowood Construction of Remington, Virginia, and with senior library staff, Mr. Sheeran created Northside’s open design, an arrangement that heightened public accessibility to the collection while allowing for easy supervision and maintenance. The design also allowed for flexibility, anticipating the many changes in Northside’s services that have occurred and will continue to occur in future years. Among many special features were Northside’s area for young adults (with chairs that rock back—chairs that are supposed to rock back), the sunny reading area for current periodicals and newspapers, and the large meeting room curved toward a dais, easily converted to a lecture hall.

Renovation costs eventually totaled $210,000. Albemarle Square, recognizing a good investment, contributed over $100,000. Grants from the Charlottesville/Albemarle Foundation and the Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library augmented the furnishings’ budget of another $100,000. The strong economy and generous gifts from several donor organizations and individuals afforded the library’s dollars the ability to extend much further than anticipated at the onset of the project. In addition, the Northside Boosters formed that year to support the development of the branch in affiliation with the Friends of the Library. Many volunteers helped raise money, increased interest in the branch, and contributed time to open the library...time spent right up to midnight December 13, shelving books and arranging furniture.

Opening Day, No Hitch

Opening Day
Opening Day

Opening day went off without a hitch, beginning with a dedication ceremony starting at 11:00 a.m. and lasting about 25 minutes. Gary O’Connell, representing the library board, and Frederick R. Bowie, then Chairman of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, spoke before the ribbon was cut, but unfortunately, not before patrons were already lining up to have their books checked out!! Nevertheless, everything went smoothly—if you don’t count the plumbing in the Women’s Restroom that suddenly broke down two hours after the library opened. Ah, but the reception was elegant, and in the afternoon there were programs of music and dance. Folk musicians Pete and Ellen Vigour entertained children and adults alike, as did a local troupe, Chihamba of Dancescape, who performed West African drumming and dance. Then at 5:00 p.m., the door to the delivery dock in the back of the building refused to close, much to the entertainment of no one, least of all library staff who had to stay behind long after closing, waiting for a repairmen. Still you can’t have an Opening without breaking eggs, or something like that. Yes, it all came off without a hitch.

Today Northside Library remains a vital part of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Almost a third of the branch’s patrons are city residents, and the popularity of the branch has attracted many other businesses to Albemarle Square to serve a burgeoning population. As the library system as a whole gears up for more Internet-based services, Northside stands ready and able to meet the exciting challenges of the future.