Charles E Beatley Jr Central Library

This is a capacious library with plenty of seatings and room to move around. Came here because Fairfax County Library referred and found large selection of movies and TV series. No need to rent. I continuously came back to this particular branch for other search as well. Since Alexandria is somewhat inside Fairfax, the process to get a card was smooth. I love the fact that the Passport is here, which is better than going downtown.

Nice large library, a lot of seating to study, easy parking. They have a nice outdoor patio-​ish area you can walk around if you need some fresh air :)
Just wish they had more outlets near the tables, and allowed snacks in the libraries.

The Charles E Beatley Jr library was recently remodeled back in ’00 and is located in the West End of Alexandria. The hubs and I come here often, as they have a great selection of books, classics and current best-​sellers. Besides a great literary collection, they also have meeting rooms for groups and organizations, a Reading Garden (a smoke-​free environment for reading and for public programs), and in-​library events (readings, workshops, movies, etc.). Another great service that they offer are the U.S. Passport renewal/​application services (Tues-​Thurs, Sat & Sun). It is by walk-​in basis only, and no appointment necessary/​required. Just make sure you download/​print/​fill-​out all the required documents off the official Passport website and bring all the documentation/​identification. You go over to the information desk, and there is a clipboard with a sign-​in sheet that is laid out about 10 – 15 minutes before the service is offered. I went on a Sunday, and because the library doesn’t open until 1, and the services began at 1, there was already a huge queue out the door. Just be diligent in making your way over to the desk (walk, don’t run, or you’ll get chastised), and sign-​in. They will give you a buzzer to also let you know when it’s your turn. The process itself took about half an hour, but may take longer for some. Plenty of parking in the library lot.
+great literary selection
+U.S. Passport services (Tues-​Thurs, 3−7PM; Sat: 11AM-​3PM; Sun: 1−3PM); walk-​in basis, first-​come, first-​serve
+plenty of parking in library lot

This library is lovely for the most part. It’s a great place to study but I wouldn’t come to hang out and just read as there aren’t many places to do so. There’s an awesome reading garden outside which is really unique and a great addition to the library. I love that you can reserve all the books that you want to check out online and pick them up at the front. This saves a lot of time and if you don’t have the patience to browse. This branch offers language courses, craft and dance classes.

Big, roomy, relatively quiet. Awkward layout — when you go in you immediately hit the line for checkout. Good amount of seating that fills up during busy hours, but no where near as crowded as arlington central library. Overall, it’s good!

While Beatley does not have as much historic charm as some of the smaller neighborhood libraries, it makes up for that in other ways. This library always has the materials that I’m looking for! When I search online for a book, 9 times out of 10, it will be available here; sometimes multiple copies and forms (i.e. audiobook).
Beatley is bigger than the other Alexandria libraries. More interesting programs are here, due to more meeting areas being available. Plenty of computers, with a large teen section and separate young childrens’ section with a modern pretend play area with wooden furniture and play equipment. The periodicals section, all the way in the back, has an abundance of comfy chairs. Plenty of free parking in the lot, with longer hours than other locations.
Also, they now do passport processing here, near the reference desk. But please check hours because the schedule varies.

We love story time and the toddler area. The teen reading space is well setup too. Most books are available. Great experience with room rental. I’m pleased.

Nice library, huge compared to the ones I’ve been to. I like the events they have here, my favorite is story time with your child and followed by doing a craft project. They have a lot of seating.

A clean, organized, and wonderful library.

My favorite of the Alexandria public libraries! My favorite part is the local artwork on display right inside the first set of doors. This place definitely has a community feel to it.
So many computers, plus comps only for word processing. Be sure to bring a thumb drive or buy one there for only $ 7! There’s free wi-​fi too though the closer you are to the Reference Desk, the better reception you get.
The ladies at Reference are quite helpful. You can tell they actually enjoy their jobs and serving the public. I wish I could say the same thing about all the folks at Circulation… there are a couple who are not very personable and do not seem to know what customer service is. Use the self-​checkout stations and that later problem is solved! Plus, there’s ample parking and a decent periodicals section.
My only «needs improvement» to this library is that it seems very… public. It even smells like people who need a bath. Just sayin… air freshener and some anti-​bacterial wipes for the keyboards would certainly benefit the place. But still a gorgeous building, inside and out.

Nice, new library.
But, recently, I had a terrible experience with overdue fines. Every time I have checked out a book at the library (once every few months), they would send me an email saying that my books are going to be due soon, which prompted me to either renew them or return them. This worked best for me, because that chintzy little piece of paper (an inch-​by-​inch thin sheet that has my due date on it) doesn’t usually last until the due date due. This past time, I didn’t receive an email notification, and alas, my books were overdue. I called to discuss it to see if there was anything we could do about the fines seeing they didn’t send the email, and he said, «no, this happens often enough from power outages and software glitches that the Administration doesn’t care if you haven’t received an email — it’s the receipt that counts.» First, if it happens often enough, perhaps they should stop sending emails and eliminate the problem. Secondly, the receipt they print is on the chintziest piece of paper that’s maybe an inch by an inch wide. In my past experiences living in other cities, the library staff has always been helpful. This guy wasn’t not budging or offering any assistance when it was a problem with their system. I was very disappointed with this experience.
Apparently, the Alexandria Library is hurting for money. $ 4.55/book and they were ONLY 12 days overdue. That ends up being approximately 50 cents/​day — a bit ridiculous.
:EDIT: Since this situation, the library has been very accommodating and for that, I am thankful and appreciative.

Beatley Library is a really pretty library. It is bright and airy inside and fairly spacious. There is an area just for teens, which is great. I always look forward to perusing the recently released or best-​seller section. It is clean and quiet, and I can always easily find what I am looking for.
However, it is has not been my best library experience. First, there are not many places to sit and read a book, if you feel like it. Workstations are also limited. Some staff are friendly, others are not. For the most part, I «order» my books online. My main issue is that even if I request a book that library has «in-​stock» (not already checked-​out), it still takes weeks for me to receive it. Some books I have been waiting several months for. Also, the book selection is limited, and it appears they do not participate in a regional library-​share program (only a city-​wide one). Many of the books I have searched for are not available through the Alexandria libraries, which is disappointing, given the urban location and proximity to our nation’s capital.
Still, I love libraries and I am thankful that it continues to receive funding and serves the community.

I love this library. It has a great selection, super helpful staff, self checkout centers, and always seems to be very quiet, even when crowded.

Main Entry: library
Pronunciation: \l-​brer-​, –bre-​r; British usually & US sometimes –brr-​; US sometimes –br, –ber-​, –be-​r\
Function: noun
1 a: a place in which literary, musical, artistic, or reference materials (as books, manuscripts, recordings, or films) are kept for use but not for sale b: a collection of such materials
[That’s for you digital natives who have never set foot inside these edifices of erudition, do all your research on one wiki or other, or tote your e-​reader along on your beach vacay. Nothing wrong with that, I’m just sayin’…for old-​timers this is where we cut our literate teeth, sitting on carpet squares and hanging on the childrens librarian’s every word as she read «Harry the Dirty Dog.”]
As far as libraries go, Beatley Central is one of the best big «small-​town» libraries out there. From the outside it looks like a little Seuss-​ian village — and it’s supposed to. Architect Michael Graves designed it that way to create an inviting feeling of community.
Inside it’s spacious, bright, open, and blessedly quiet; well-​organized and well-​stocked. New releases are conveniently spotlighted as you walk through the doors. Children’s department is huge. Reference desk is centrally located. Huge selection of DVDs, music CDs, and books on CD for those who still have their players (digital natives disregard). Large number of computers for Internet access and word processing, as well as wifi. Friendly, helpful, knowledgeable staff. Self-​checkout machines. And near the circulation desk, several shelves of used books for sale at rock-​bottom prices.
I don’t work summers, so this is when I get my read on in order to make up for the lack of «me» time the rest of the year. Visiting Beatley I’m reminded again how great and useful this library really is, and how much libraries could really use our patronage in this economic climate.

I’ve really liked this library (from the outside) for a long time now. I’ve driven by many times. Its nestled on Duke Street, a stone’s throw up the road from Harris Teeter & Mango Mike’s; spitting distance from Landmark «Mall». Today, I stopped in to let rush-​hour traffic die down, cool off in the A/​C, and use up some of their free WiFi.
Well…2 outta 3 ain’t bad.
It *was* cool inside. They have a lot of nice books, a whole bunch of CDs, DVDs, and hard-​wired computers, They even have a garden. And plenty of clean bathrooms with fragrant hand soap and lots of paper towels. And I did stay there long enough for rush hour to die down. Too bad I spent the whole time trying to connect to the internet. Ugh.
Then, the daggone battery on my laptop started getting low. So I had to stretch my power cord across a busy aisle and plug it in under some microfiche table. I had to take my eyes off of that little spinning circle (you know, the icon that indicates Windows IE is ‘doing something’) to warn library patrons walking by not to trip over my power cord. Ugh. It took SO long, *I* nodded off.
I never did get connected to the web, eventhough the bars were green and it said ‘signal strength EXCELLENT’ (yeah, right).
Finally, I left that cool oasis with no WiFi, came home, and did the dam Unilocal on my crackberry.
p. s. — I’d go back again for some books, DVDs, and CDs. I just won’t wait for any WiFi.

At the risk of having 5 bajillion (ok, 2 or 3) people read this and flock to Beatley like lemmings, I will keep this review as negative as possible.
Except that I can’t. I like this library a lot. It has all the new books, a pretty decent movie collection to supplement my Netflix addiction, and even some college-​level textbooks for serious academic research. Every time I have come here on Sunday, it’s been crowded with students/​people trying to get work done, so I never go for more than just to pick up some books to read.
One of my favorite parts is the shelf by the door that sells used books for 50 and 25 cents. The building is nice and modern, and the selection great. I like it as my local library!