Beatley Central Library

Charles E. Beatley, Jr.
Central Library
5005 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22304-2903
Phone:   703-519-5900
Fax:       703-519-5915
Directions, maps & public transit

Monday -Thursday: 9am-9pm
Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 9am-5pm
Sundays: 1pm-5pm

The Beatley Central Library offers the largest selection of adult and children's materials in the system. In addition, the library provides 24 Internet stations, six word processing stations for free public use, and wireless Internet access. Please call 703-519-5900 ext. 3 to book library tours for adult groups.

The 60,200 square foot building was designed by Pierce Goodwin Alexander & Linville in association with Michael Graves, Architect. The library opened on January 31, 2000 and was named for Charles E. Beatley, Jr., Mayor of Alexandria from 1967 to 1976 and 1979 to 1985. Floor plan (.pdf file).

Beatley's landscaping received a 2006 City's Beautification Award.

Children's Program and Outreach Services
The library offers story times for ages one through six. Check the Library Events Calendar for a list of current programs. Summer Quest is our annual reading program for ages 6-12. Call the children's room for information about these programs or for library tours for children's groups: 703-519-5900 ext. 4. Click here for the latest printable Children's Calendar (PDF file).

>> Outreach Services provides Homebound Visits and On-Site Collections to adults and children who are unable to visit the library. Call 703-519-5900 ext. 5.
>> The Ready, Set, Grow Program provides story times and activities to registered family child care homes, child care centers and homeless shelters in the City. Call 703-519-5910.
>> Talking Books for Blind and Physically Handicapped is located on the second floor. Call 703-519-5911.

Meeting Rooms and Reading Garden
Library meeting rooms are available to individuals and organizations for meetings of an educational, cultural or civic nature. The community meeting room seats up to 150 and the conference room seats 10. The meeting and conference rooms require advance reservation. Call 703-519-5900x216.

The Frank and Betty Wright Reading Garden is made possible by a donation to the City by the Frank and Betty Wright Foundation. The garden provides a smoke-free environment for reading pleasure and public programs.

Latin American Book Discussion Group
This program features short stories written by Latin American authors and translated into English. The discussions are conducted in English. This program is usually held on the second Thursday of each month at 7pm. See the library's events calendar for program dates and times. Call 703-519-3498.

Friends of the Beatley Central Library
The Friends help strengthen ties between the library and the community. They provide funds to enhance library services through book sales and fund raising projects.