Yes! All existing overdue fines have been waived. Some patrons may still see charges for lost or damaged items. Please get in touch with us if you have questions about your account.

Yes, please do! There won’t be any overdue fines, but you may still be responsible for a processing fee depending on how long it’s been lost.

We regularly run reports to let us know what the most popular titles are so that we can purchase additional copies of hot items. Patrons will be receiving additional and more frequent notifications about overdue items to encourage them to return materials. Research has shown that overdue fines are not effective in encouraging the return of library material. Plus, items with holds may not be renewed.

In January 2019, the American Library Association (ALA) passed a resolution that asserted overdue fines are a barrier to equitable access and encouraged libraries to eliminate them. The ALA is our largest professional organization and we give serious consideration to their resolutions.

In going fine-free, we are joining the ranks of many other public libraries across the nation. In the lead up to this decision, we carefully reviewed studies and articles about eliminating fines. Some examples of these include: 

• https://libguides.bgsu.edu/fine-research
• https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/2019/10/30/20940677/chicago-public-library-no-fines-book-returns-increase-lightfoot
• https://www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/removingbarrierstoaccess
• https://qz.com/1158839/the-case-against-library-fines-according-to-the-head-of-the-new-york-public-library/

Clarifications to impervious areas, and/or credits given, can be found by contacting the Environmental Programs Division at 540.332.3858. After discussing site specific issues, we will be happy to meet with you at your site to determine your impervious area, what credits you currently qualify for as well as what steps you may take to obtain credits.

Clarifications to impervious areas, and/or credits given, can be found by contacting the Environmental Division at 540.332.3858. Generally crushed stone surfaces are considered impervious due to compaction of soil under the gravel and the fine material (rock dust) that is usually mixed in with the larger stone. After discussing these issues, we will be happy to meet with you at your site to determine your impervious area, what credits you currently qualify for as well as what steps you may take to reduce runoff/impervious area.

Clarifications to impervious areas, and/or credits given, can be found by contacting the Environmental Division at 540.332.3858.  After discussing site specific issues, we will be happy to meet with you at your site to determine your impervious area, what credits you currently qualify for as well as what steps you may take to obtain credits.

After checking the eligibility guidelines, qualified individuals can fill out the on-line application forms.  Print it out for certification with an original signature by an appropriate person, as identified on the application. You can obtain print copies by calling 540-885-6215. In all cases, certification is necessary. You will receive confirmation of the registration within three to five business days.

In cases of blindness, visual impairment, or physical limitations, eligibility can be certified by doctors of medicine; doctors of osteopathy; ophthalmologists; optometrists; registered nurses; therapists; and professional staff of hospitals, organizations, and public or private welfare agencies (e.g., social workers, caseworkers, counselors, rehabilitation teachers, and superintendents). In the absence of any of these, certification may be made by professional librarians or by any person whose competence under specific circumstances is acceptable to the Library of Congress. In the case of reading disability from organic dysfunction, eligibility must be certified by doctors of medicine or doctors of osteopathy, who may consult with colleagues in associated disciplines.

All equipment and services, including the mailing of materials, are free to eligible users, due to support from many sources.  The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) supplies materials and equipment.  The City of Staunton provides the location free of charge, and basic operation costs are provided by the localities served, as well as the United Way of Rockbridge, the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ride, area Friends of the Libraries, and other supporters.

The center processes applications as soon as they arrive. This involves verifying the certification, entering the patron information into the Library's database, and preparing the welcome packet for mailing. Three business days are usually needed to complete this process. The digital book player will be sent in a separate package with instructions for using the player. As soon as registration is complete, we will start sending digital books to patrons who opted to let the center staff choose books by subject when their requests are not available. You must borrow at least one book or magazine annually in order to keep the NLS-provided player.

You will receive a monthly large-print newsletter which includes book titles and local information.  You may also request books by calling the center, faxing, e-mailing, or writing a separate letter to the center. Be sure to include your name, address, and telephone number with the order.

The full National Library Service catalog can be viewed online. Local Reader Advisors are available Monday through Friday,  from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, to answer questions and provide patrons with assistance in locating titles that meet their reading needs.

The best way is to call the center and speak to a Reader Advisor who can check on the availability of a particular book, or books by a particular author. People with access to the internet can check the NLS online catalog for an individual book. You may also write, call or email your request to our office. 

At the start of service, patrons will either receive only the books requested or, if requested titles are not currently available, staff will send books from the list of subjects that you chose on the application. After that point, books will be mailed to you as your returned books come in. You may request as many books as you would like to read. The more titles you ask for, the easier it will be for us to find something available to send you when you need something to read. If you feel that you are getting too many (or too few) books, contact the center and we’ll make adjustments to the number of books sent each time and the maximum you receive. These adjustments can be made at any time. On occasion, it takes a few tries to get a satisfactory schedule arranged.

You may keep the books for as long as you need to read them. The suggested time is four to six weeks. The center does not charge for overdue or lost books, but in fairness to other patrons, books should be returned in a reasonable length of time.

Please return each title as you finish it to ensure a steady flow of books to you. If you wait until you’ve finished all the books, we won’t know that you need new books since it can take several days for the books to reach us through the mail.

Contact the center, and we’ll adjust the subjects or make other changes to your file as needed until you are happy with your service.

Yes, they may receive direct individual service in care of the facility, or if the establishment has a deposit collection, individuals may use these materials without going through the process of signing up to receive individual service. Direct service is always available, and this option can ensure that readers receive materials that they specifically want to read.

Yes, an amplifier/headphone combination that will produce sounds up to 130 decibels is available for adults with severe hearing loss. A special application form is necessary and must be signed by a physician or licensed audiologist. The application has details about the possible need for a doctor's permission and what special precautions are necessary to prevent injury. This device is not intended for people with mild or moderate hearing loss; the use of standard headphones may sometimes help these people. Contact the reader-advisors at 540-885-6215  for information about the application for the amplifier/headphone device.

A specially formatted audio book player from the National Library service is needed because all NLS-produced books are encrypted due to a requirement under the U.S. copyright law that permits NLS the free use of copyrighted material for its print impaired patrons.

The digital audio book player looks and works just like the older cassette players many of us used when we were younger, but provides clearer playback sound, ease of use (as only one cartridge is needed to hold an entire book), and freedom to navigate through the book. The player has a built-in audio instruction manual. When no book cartridge is inserted into the player and the player is turned on, all of the player buttons function as tutorial buttons. Each button tells what it does and how to use it. The buttons on the digital player include play, stop, fast-forward, rewind, volume, tone, speed, power and sleep.

There are two ways to replace a lost or damaged EBT card:

1. Call the 1-800 number on the back of your card to have one mailed to you.
2. Call your worker and leave a voicemail with your name, your SNAP case number, and a message that you need a new EBT card. Specify if you want to pick it up at the agency or have it mailed to you. If you choose to have it mailed, please provide your current mailing address. Your worker will call you back within two business days to confirm when you can come pick up the card. Remember to bring your ID when you pick up your card.

*There is a $2.00 fee to replace an EBT card. This fee will be taken from your EBT balance.

There could be several reasons why you did not get SNAP this month, including:

• Failure to recertify your case. If you did not recertify your case promptly, your benefits might have ended because your certification period ended.
• Missing Interim Report. If you did not return an Interim Report that was mailed to you, your case might have closed. Contact your worker to find out if you can still return the Interim Report, or if you need a replacement Interim Report.
• Failure to meet a work requirement exemption. Pursuant to the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents policy, your case may have closed due to failure to meet a work requirement exemption.
• Missing verifications. Did you provide all required verifications? Your case may have closed because you did not provide verifications that were required at intake. If you submitted all required verifications and your case still closed, call your worker.

• Have you moved recently but didn't report it? Sometimes Medicaid will close if mail is returned by the Post Office.
• When were you due for renewal? Your Medicaid might have closed due to failure to complete renewal.
• Which card did you present: The Managed Care Organization (MCO) card (such as VA Premier, Anthem, Optima) or the Blue and White Medicaid card? If you were using the MCO card, you might need to have the pharmacy submit the charge under "straight Medicaid" using the Blue and White Medicaid card. If neither works, contact your DSS worker.

If you need a new MCO card, you should call your MCO. If you need a new blue and white Medicaid card, contact your worker.

• Anthem: 1.800.901.0020
• Optima: 1.800.881.2166
• VA Premier: 1.800.338.4579
• Amerigroup: 1.800.600.4441
• CareNet: 1.800.279.1878

Call the MCO Helpline at 1.800.643.2273.

• Failure to recertify your case. If you did not recertify your case promptly, your benefits might have ended because your certification period ended.
• Other factors. If you are a VIEW participant, has your case been sanctioned for not participating? Have you been following your required activity and service plan? Have you been cooperating with the Division of Child Support Enforcement (DCSE)? Perhaps the amount of child support collected by DCSE has been higher than your TANF grant amount.

• In state: Call your worker and let them know you are moving to another locality in Virginia. Provide your new address and the county or city. Typically, cases can be transferred between localities in Virginia with no change or gap in benefits or coverage. Some exceptions apply. Your worker will follow up with you.
• Out of state: Call your worker before you move or within 30 days of moving, and let them know you are moving out of state. Give them your new mailing address. SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid will be closed, and you will have to apply for benefits in your new state. Your worker will follow up with you and mail you a notice verifying the effective date of your case closure.

*Childcare cases do not transfer. Please call your childcare worker to discuss before moving. 

• For SNAP and TANF: Initial interviews will be scheduled within seven days of application. In most cases, a decision on your SNAP application will be made in 30 days; in no case will it take longer than 60 days. You can shorten the length of time it takes by providing required verifications and documents as soon as possible. A decision on your TANF application must be made in 30 days.
• For Medicaid: An interview is not required. Most applications will be acted upon within 45 days. If you have a pending disability determination, it may take longer. Medicaid applications may stay valid for up to 180 days with a pending disability determination.

The federal government sets the income limits for each program each year. Income limits vary based on household composition. Visit CommonHelp and use the “Am I Eligible?” tool to see if you qualify.

• Fuel Assistance (heating cost assistance): Applications are only accepted the 2nd Tuesday in October through the 2nd Friday in November. The program runs from mid-December through the end of March each year.
• Crisis Assistance (emergency heating needs): This is a two-phase program. Phase 1 helps with the cost of repairing or replacing heating equipment and utility deposits. It runs November 1 - March 15. Phase 2 includes Phase 1 and also helps with heating utility bill disconnects or low heating fuel and runs January 1 - March 15. You can apply for Phase 1 and Phase 2 during the program dates as stated above.
• Cooling Assistance (cooling cost assistance): Applications are accepted June 15 - August 15. Applicants must have a vulnerable household member, such as a child under six years of age, an adult 60 years or older or a disabled individual to be eligible.

Exact dates to apply can vary slightly from year to year. Applications can be picked up in the agency or mailed to you. You can also apply online. To have an application mailed to you, call the agency, ask for the Energy Worker, and leave a voicemail with your name, address, and request for an application.

No. Applications can be picked up at our agency or mailed to your during the program dates. You can also apply online. To have an application mailed to you, call the agency, ask for the Energy Worker, and leave a voicemail with your name, address, and request for an application.

Child Protective Services: 1.800.552.7096
Adult Protective Services: 1.888.832.3858

For local housing information, including HUD and subsidized housing, contact:

• Staunton Redevelopment Housing Authority: 540.886.3414
• Waynesboro Redevelopment Housing Authority: 540.946.9230

If you are homeless or in imminent danger of becoming homeless, contact the Valley Mission at 540.886.4673.

Typically, plowing begins when snowfall accumulates three inches or more. Main thoroughfares are given top priority and plowed before residential streets for emergency vehicle access.

It is helpful to recognize that every street cannot be cleared at the same time. Under ideal circumstances, the City would predict fairly accurately when we each street in various parts of the City would be plowed. However, it’s not that simple. As weather conditions change, we often must alter our snow-fighting strategy in the midst of snow removal operations to control drifting snow, ice or other unique problems. We cannot estimate when each street will be cleared due to ever-changing weather conditions.

Because of normal snow plowing operations, snow may be placed in your driveway unavoidably. Plows are angled to the right for plowing from the center line of the street to the curb.  For this reason, a certain amount of snow will be deposited in driveways. Snow deposited in driveways or on sidewalks by the City snow plows is the residents and owners responsibility to remove.

We apologize for the inconvenience this causes you. There are more than 10,000 driveways in the City. If we used our entire fleet of snow plows and spent just 60 seconds per driveway, it would take several days to clean driveways alone.

If your schedule permits, we suggest you wait to clear your driveway after City plows have passed through your street. If we experience significant snowfall, snow plows will likely make multiple passes on your street to achieve as much clearing as possible for on-street parking where applicable and to allow melting snow to drain in catch basins. Watch these shoveling tips to help keep your driveway clear during multiple passes by City plows.

Some areas of the city have narrow public rights of way. When plowing, the snow may end up on the sidewalk you just shoveled. We apologize for the inconvenience this causes you. If your schedule permits, you may want to wait to clear your sidewalk after City plows have passed through your street. If we experience significant snowfall, snow plows will likely make multiple passes on your street to achieve as much clearing as possible for on-street parking where applicable and to allow melting snow to drain in catch basins.

Snow plows are emergency vehicles, but typically do not exceed the posted speed limit.  Snow plows are large, noisy pieces of equipment.  It may appear at times that the snow plow operator is driving too fast for road conditions. Many times the engine sound and noise of the plow scraping the pavement give the perception that the truck is flying down the street, when in actuality, they are only moving at 15 to 20 miles per hour.  The plows do move faster on open stretches of road to push the snow farther off of the road. Please remember: Do not follow snow plows too closely and give them plenty of room.

Snow may not be pushed into or across the street from private property, according to City Code.  Please keep this in mind when clearing your driveway. If you hire a private contractor to clear your driveway, confirm that they are aware of City regulations.

According to City Code, residents and property owners should remove snow from sidewalks within 24 hours of snowfall and use salt or another abrasive on sidewalk ice within 12 hours after ice forms.

The City opens sidewalks in some higher volume pedestrian traffic areas including downtown and areas around schools. Even if the City clears a sidewalk, residents and property owners remain responsible for making sure adjacent sidewalks are maintained and clear enough for everyone to use, including those in wheelchairs.

If your mailbox is struck by a City snow plow during operations, please contact the Public Works Department at 540.332.3892 during business hours. A Public Works staff member will review the incident with you.

If the damage was caused by the City, the box will be replaced with a standard unit. The city uses a 4”x 4” wood post and a standard design metal mailbox for replacements. The City will not repair or replace decorative mailboxes and decorative posts. Non-standard mailboxes and enclosures placed in the public right of way are at the owner’s risk and responsibility.

Remember not to landscape with rocks, bricks, timbers, shrubs and other items in the public right-of-way. Snow plows and sidewalk plows could cause damage, and the City does not repair or replace landscape materials.

Some residents have irrigation in the right-of-way. This is done at the owner’s risk and responsibility. Keep any irrigation heads away from the edges of the sidewalk. Sidewalk snow plow blades are a little wider than the sidewalk in some areas.

If a City snow plow or sidewalk plow causes lawn damage, please contact Public Works at 540.332.3892. You will be placed on a list for spring clean-up once all the snow is melted.  Sod and grass damage are restored by City crews with top soil and grass seed.

The Public Works Department works closely with the Staunton Police Department, Staunton Fire Department, and Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad. Anytime an emergency requires snow removal assistance, one of the plowing crews is pulled from their regular route to respond as quickly as possible.

Snow plow operators take pride in clearing the streets on their routes as quickly and thoroughly as possible. Driving a snowplow is demanding, tiring work. Common sense and good safety practices dictate that each driver should take a 30-minute break every six hours. It is dangerous, both for the snowplow driver and the public, if a fatigued driver is behind the wheel of a snowplow. It is in the best interest of all concerned for the drivers to take occasional breaks.

We wish we had enough snow plows and drivers to take care of every street right away, but our resources are limited, and so we must adhere to a carefully crafted system for clearing the streets.

If we allowed our plows to be diverted each time a special request was made, our system would be destroyed, and it would take far longer to get all 275 lane miles in the City cleared.

To keep our snow removal operations as effective and efficient as possible, plows do not deviate from their assigned routes except in emergency situations. Main arterial streets have priority for snow plowing, followed by connector streets, collector streets, and then residential streets.

Under ideal circumstances, we would predict fairly accurately when we would have streets plowed across each section of the City.  However, as weather conditions change, we often must alter our snow-fighting strategy in the midst of the snow removal operations in order to control drifting snow, ice or other unique problems. We cannot give you an estimate of when your street will be cleared due to ever-changing weather conditions.

Each snow plow has an assigned route in a carefully crafted system for clearing the streets. If the plow operator spread salt on their way to their destination, they wouldn't have enough to spread along their assigned route, thereby delaying the time it should arrive at its route and disrupting a proven and effective system for clearing City streets.

Call the Staunton Police Department at 540.332.3842 and speak with a dispatcher. For complaints and requests for service that are not an emergency, you will be transferred to the animal control officer’s voicemail to leave a message. The next available officer will call you back as soon as possible. You may also send a detailed message via email.

Animal control officers pick up stray, roaming, sick, or injured animals and take them to the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center (SVASC). You can search the animal shelter’s stray search directory for the newest arrivals. If you identify your pet in the directory, it will be released in accordance with City policy.

Animals are held for five days, not including the date of pick up. Those with collars or other identification will be held for 10 days. After the holding period, any animal not claimed by the owner may be offered for adoption or euthanized (put to sleep), although euthanasia is a last resort. The SVASC has a 95 percent save rate and tries to find a forever home for all of its animals. A critically ill or injured animal may be euthanized at any time to prevent its suffering. All animals will be scanned for microchips, so be sure to have current registration information. Please contact an officer if you need assistance in registering your animal.

• Only the rightful owner can reclaim a lost or impounded animal.

• Come to the Staunton Police Department and bring identification and proof of ownership, such as a photograph or rabies or license receipt. Any animal that does not have proof of current rabies and a City license will pay an additional penalty.

• The shelter operates on the City of Waynesboro’s schedule. Animals will not be released by patrol after hours unless the shelter will be closed for more than one day, i.e. Sundays and holidays. Typically, when dispatch collects fees after hours, they will advise the owner to go to the shelter on the next business next day. If an owner refuses to pay fees or provide documentation, they will be referred to an animal control officer.

Impounding fees are set by City ordinance and are as follows:

• $25 for any dog that is found running at large, not on the owner’s property
• $15 for any dog or cat over the age of 4 months without a current rabies vaccination
• $15 for any dog over the age of 4 months which does not have a current city dog license
• $25 for any dog or cat over the age of 4 months whose vaccination tag is not fastened to a substantial collar and worn by the animal
• $15 per day for the boarding of each animal, including partial days that the animal is impounded

Yes. Officers trace the information on the tags to notify the owner that their pet has been impounded. Owners should always make sure tag information is current and up to date. Dogs are required by law to be licensed and to wear identification when outside of the presence of their owners. All cats are required to wear a rabies tag on their collar.

Animal control does not pick up dead animals.  Owners must dispose of them or call the Public Works Department at 540.332.3892 to report dead animals found along City roads.

Listed below are a few of the laws most commonly asked by citizens:

• Animals must stay in their own yards unless under the direct control of an owner or caretaker.
  (City Code 6.10.190)

• Dogs and cats, four months and older, must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian, and dogs must be license by the City Treasurer.
  (City Code 6.10.010) and (City Code 6.10.190)

• No more than four dogs over the age of four months can be kept on at any dwelling unless authorized by permit.
  (City Code 6.20.241)

• Owners must clean up after pets which defecate on private or public property.
  (City Code 6.10.060)

• It is unlawful to harbor stray animals longer than 48 hours without having reported the animal to the Shenandoah Valley Animal Services Center.
  (City Code 6.10.191)

Owners are subject to summonses and possible fines for the above violations up to $250 each.

• Dogs which attack animals or humans may be impounded until a court hearing. If found to be vicious or dangerous, the dog may be destroyed, removed, or otherwise confined.
  (State Code 3.2-6540)

• No dogs are permitted on any property of any cemetery in the city.
  (City Code 6.10.040)

• Dogs are required to be on a leash at any school property, public park or playground, or any place where ten or more people may be present.
  (City Code 6.10.200)

• Animals under the age of four months are prohibited from being tethered, and no animal can be tethered between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. All tethers must be a minimum of ten feet and allow the animal to reach shelter and water without becoming entangled on surrounding objects.
  (City Code 6.05.090, 6.05.010)

• Owners must provide their pets with the following: Adequate food, fresh water, shelter and exercise space, veterinary care and treatment and humane care and treatment. Failure to adequately provide for a pet constitutes cruelty and can result in confiscation of the animal by Animal Control Officers, as well as criminal prosecution.Convictions are punishable by any or all of the following: Fine, jail sentence, and loss of the animal.
  (State Code 3.2-6570. City code 6.05.080)

Call 540.332.3842. Barking dogs and cats running at large are handled within our nuisance animal code. No owner shall allow an animal to be a nuisance. A court may order these animals removed, destroyed or otherwise confined. (City Code 6.10.240)

A nuisance animal is defined as:

• repeatedly found at large;
• damages the property of anyone other than its owner;
• molests or intimidates pedestrians or passersby;
• chases vehicles;
• excessively makes disturbing noises, including, but not limited to, continued and repeated howling, barking, whining, or other utterances causing unreasonable annoyance, disturbance, or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;
• causes fouling of the air by body odor and thereby creates unreasonable annoyance or discomfort to neighbors or others in close proximity to the premises where the animal is kept or harbored;
• causes unsanitary conditions in enclosures or surroundings where the animal is kept or harbored;
• attacks other domestic animals; or
• has been found, after notice to its owner and a hearing by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be a public nuisance animal by virtue of being a menace to the public health, welfare, or safety.

Animal control officers are only mandated to deal with wildlife in the event the animal poses a direct or immediate threat to public safety. However, officers can provide information about who to contact as well as a list of certified trappers in Virginia.  Wildlife information can be found at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. You may also call the Wildlife Center of Virginia at 540.942.9453 or Wildlife Services at 1.855.571.9003.

For information about hunting in the City, please contact Animal Control directly at 540.332.3842.

Backyard hens are only permitted in the City of Staunton with a permit from the Planning & Zoning Division of Community Development. Hens must be provided with adequate care and must be contained within an approved structure. Please contact Planning & Zoning for more information at 540.332.3862.

• Library services specifically for people who are unable to read standard print books
• Friendly, knowledgeable staff who provide personal assistance and are just a phone call away
• Free access to thousands of audiobooks and magazines and the loan of specially designed equipment to use them
• Free door to door mail delivery

Blind and vision impaired people who are unable to read standard print, physically disabled people who can’t hold a book, and people who struggle with a reading disability.

According to Talking Book Center patrons:

“It’s my Lifeline to the world.”

“Has made a huge difference in my life!”

“Makes my life worthwhile.”

• Make a tax-exempt donation online. Or send checks or money orders payable to Talking Book Center, Inc. and send to the address above.
• Arrange for a TBC representative to make a presentation about talking book services to your club, church or association.
• If you are a Talking Book Center patron, tell everyone what the talking book service means to you, how important it is to your life. Tell city council and county boards members and thank them for their annual grants to the service. Tell your family and friends about the difference talking books have made in your life and encourage them to make a donation.
• Make TBC the beneficiary of a bequest or memorial in your will. Many patrons use talking books for years, up to the end of life. Giving bequests and memorials to TBC gives the same gift of reading to those who come after you. Let people know what you want to happen with your resources.
• If you would like more information about ways to support the Talking Book Center or how to arrange a bequest or memorial, please call 540-885-6215.

Census records can be found through the U.S. Census Bureau, and blank census forms can be found at Ancestry.com.

Census information has been collected by the federal government every 10 years since 1790, the year of the first census.  For privacy reasons, census records are kept private for 72 years.  The National Archives has more information about census records. Census records may be accessed online through the Library's subscriptions to Heritage Quest or Ancestry Library Edition.

The 1860 and 1870 Censuses for Augusta County are also searchable online through the Valley of the Shadow. The Staunton Public Library has census records for Augusta County covering 1810-1930 on microfilm. These are located in the Reference area, which includes two microfilm readers and printers.  The Augusta County Clerk’s Office has the original Augusta County census books for 1850, 1860 and 1870. The earliest Census of Virginia is 1787, which was created from the personal property lists of the 1780s.

The Staunton Public Library has microfilm copies of Staunton newspapers from the late 1700s to the present. Because there is no index, it is helpful to have the date of death for the individual you are researching.  For people who have died in the last 50 years, and who received any Social Security benefits, you may be able to pinpoint their date of death using the Social Security Death Index. The Augusta County Genealogical Society has obituaries on file as well.

The Library tries to honor patron requests for the purchase of items in print. Patrons may request items by filling out a Request for Reserve Form available at either circulation desk, or submit their request through our online form.

The Interlibrary Loan program is designed to let patrons check out materials not available at any Library that is part of the Valley Libraries Catalog. To make an Interlibrary Loan request, Staunton Public Library patrons must fill out an Interlibrary Loan Request Form with information about the materials wanted. The patron is responsible for the return postage cost for the materials (generally between $4 and $6 per title) and patrons are limited to 3 requests at a time.

The copy machine is located on the first floor of the Library in between the Circulation and Reference desks.  The copier has three sizes of paper and can be used to reduce or enlarge originals.  It is coin operated, and each black & white copy costs $0.10 per side. Color copies can be made for $0.25 per side. The machine accepts a maximum of $5.00 at one time and can take $5 and $1 bills, quarters, dimes and nickels.

Library staff can send faxes from the first floor Circulation Desk. Faxes cost $1 per page. The Library does not receive faxes.

Our public photocopier can scan documents to a USB and scan to email. There is also flatbed scanner located in the Digital Media Lab. There is no charge to scan items into a .pdf document.

From a public computer, you may save your items to a USB flash drive or email them to yourself/others. In order to email, you must be able to access your email from the web (i.e. gmail.com, yahoo.com, hotmail.com, outlook.com, etc).

A typewriter for public use is located in the Digital Media Lab on the first floor of the Library. Patrons must bring their own paper.

Yes. Review our proctor policies and contact the librarian to schedule a proctored exam.

The Library encourages people with disabilities to use the Library and to attend our programs. Please alert us at least five business days in advance if there is a need for accommodation. Relay calls are accepted. Handicapped parking and a wheelchair accessible entrance to the Library are on the Oakenwold Street side of the building. The elevator is located to the left as you enter.  Wheelchair accessible bathrooms are on each floor. For information or assistance, please call 540.332.3902. 

The Staunton Public Library’s subscription to Ancestry can only be accessed in the Library. The Library of Virginia has a number of research resources that can be accessed remotely. For a complete list of online resources, see here https://www.ci.staunton.va.us/departments/library/online-resources 

See collections at the Library of Virginia.

Click here to get a library card at the Library of Virginia.

Free remote access to select Ancestry.com materials from the Library of Virginia collections is available to Virginia residents via Ancestry for Virginians, a Find It Virginia (finditva.com) resource.

Library cards are free for anyone who lives in the cities of Staunton, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, and Waynesboro; or the following counties: Albemarle, Augusta, Bath, Greene, Highland, Louisa, Nelson, Rockbridge, and Rockingham. Employees of the City of Staunton and the Staunton City Schools may have a card regardless of where they live. Augusta County and Waynesboro Library cards may be used at the Staunton Public Library, and current cardholders do not need to re-register.

To register, you must have picture ID showing your current address. If you are under 12, you must also have your parent or guardian present. Valid ID includes:

• Driver's License or DMV address card
• Printed check with current address in one of the above cities or counties
• Deed, bill of sale, rental contract, or lease with address
• College picture ID if student
• ID with current address + picture ID without address
• Utility bill with address + picture ID
  
  

Those without acceptable ID may register as a Temporary borrower (2 item limit) until address can be verified.

Borrowing Policy

You may sign up on our Online Borrower Registration page. Card is not fully functional until a permanent number is assigned.

1. Visit www.ValleyLibraries.org (see picture above).
2. Click the "Create Account" option in upper right corner, fill out all of the required info, and submit the online form.
3. Come to the Staunton Public Library with your ID to get your new card. Minors under age 18 without ID will need to be ready to confirm all personal details.

Most materials can be checked out for 3 weeks and will automatically renew up to 3 times unless there is a hold for the item. Exceptions to the 3 weeks are:

• Adult Basic Education Materials - 3 months
• Art Prints - 6 months, limit of 3
• DVDs  - 1 week, limit 20
• Blu-ray Discs – 1 week, limit 20
• Music Equipment, Nature Backpacks, and Playaway Launchpads – 2 weeks, limit of 1
  
  

After Library hours, you may return materials in the outdoor book returns. The following must be returned inside the library: Art prints, music equipment, puppets, Nature Backpacks, Playaway Launchpads and Rosetta Stone materials.

Effective July 1, 2020, borrowers are no longer charged overdue fines for Valley Libraries locations in Augusta County, Staunton, and Waynesboro, and existing overdue fines have been waived. The three Valley Libraries are thrilled to remove this barrier to our resources and to provide more equitable library access to everyone in our communities.  

Visit our Fine Free FAQ page for more information.

You are responsible for all items checked out on your card and any fees incurred no matter who uses your card.

If you lose a Library item, you are responsible for reimbursing the Library for the cost of that item. The cost of items 60 days overdue will be automatically placed on your Library account. No refunds will be given.

If an item is damaged (torn, chewed, water damaged, etc.) while it is checked out to you, you are responsible for reimbursing the Library for that item. Please return damaged items to the circulation desk in person and identify the damage for the staff. Only new, exact editions of damaged items may be considered instead of paying the replacement cost.

The Library accepts cash, check, and credit/debit card payments. We are not able to accept credit card payments over the phone.

The center is open 5 days per week (closed on holidays):

Monday: 9am - 3pm

Tuesday: 9am - 3pm

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: 9am - 7pm 

Friday: 9am – 3pm

Saturday: 8am –2pm

Sunday: Closed

Only personal memories may be converted. Copyright protected material may not be recorded using library equipment.

• VHS to digital video.
• Cassette tape to mp3 audio.
• 35 mm, 127, 126, 110, APS, 8mm film to digital picture
• 8mm and Super 8 to digital video

By using this equipment, you agree that the Library will not be held liable for any damage that arise or result in any way from its use. The Library retains the right to refuse service for any reason.

The West End Opportunity Zone, which consists of two census tracts, is a portion of the City where new investments, under certain conditions, may be eligible for preferential tax treatment.

The program, which is the result of legislation passed by Congress in December 2017, is designed to incentivize patient capital investments in the area, thereby encouraging revitalization. The underlying incentives relate to the tax treatment of capital gains, and all are tied to the longevity of an investor’s stake in a qualified Opportunity Fund, providing the most upside to those who hold their investment for 10 years or more.

The Recycling Center is located at the Public Works Compound, 1911 Craigmont Road. 
Bear right at the entrance to Public Works and then make the immediate right into the Recycling Center parking lot.

For all formats:

• Source material (VHS, audio cassette, etc.) that belongs to you or your family that is NOT protected by copyright.
• At minimum, an 8 GB USB drive on which to store your digital files. This is the most stable format for storing your videos, mp3, or photos.
• NOTE: CD and DVD discs are slowly becoming obsolete and many new computers do not include disc drives. The media lab computer does not have a disc drive, but if needed, the library can provide use of a disc adapter.

For audio cassettes & VHS:

• Bring headphones if you want to listen to the video as it is being recorded. Ear buds can be purchased from the circulation desk for $1.00.
• NOTE: The library does not own an adapter to fit smaller video cartridges into the VCR player. If you have tapes from a camcorder, the camcorder must be used during the conversion process.

For reel to reel converting film to digital, you need an SD card (up to 32 GB maximum) to store your files.

An Opportunity Fund is an investment fund, organized as a corporation or partnership, which invests in property in the Opportunity Zone. Some Opportunity Funds may be created for a specific project, such as a large apartment building, while other Opportunity Funds may be more like mutual funds, where there is a large range of investments that evolve over time.

An investor can realize substantial tax savings through the program. An investor who has triggered a capital gain by selling an asset like stocks or real estate can receive special tax benefits if they roll that gain into an Opportunity Fund within 180 days.

 A qualified Opportunity Fund is a partnership or corporation designed to invest at least 90% of capital held into Opportunity Zone projects. Individual investors can start their own fund or join an existing one to support OZ projects. Additional information funds and investors can be found at the following links:

• Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development
•  Information from the Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA) 
• National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) Opportunity Zone Fund Directory
  

You must schedule time in advance and go through equipment orientation with a Librarian. The conversion process happens in real-time, so a 2-hour home video will take at minimum 2 hours to convert. You can book an appointment by calling the Library (540.332.3902) and asking for the Reference Desk.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service are finalizing regulations for this new program. Additional information on the tax benefits for investing in the West End Opportunity Zone can be found at the following links:

• IRS Proposed Regulations
• IRS FAQ’s
• Richmond Federal Reserve
• CDFI Fund
  
  

Library staff will not convert your materials. After your equipment orientation, you will be able to schedule appointments to convert materials using the equipment yourself.

Use of the equipment is free and you do not need to have a Staunton Public Library card. Donations to the Friends of the Staunton Library are welcome. This equipment has been provided by a grant from the Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge.

There has been an overall drop in the weight of recyclables collected. However, the Recycling Center has increased the types of materials that citizens can recycle and the quality of the materials collected is much higher. 

This past year, July 2023 to June 2024, nearly 307 tons of recyclables were collected at the Recycling Center.  In that same timeframe there were more than 31,000 visitors.

The City of Staunton’s land-use policies encourage neighborhood development and redevelopment, making the city a national model of growth balanced with preservation.

• Vision 2030 and 3-Year Priorities
• Comprehensive Plan 2018-2040
•  Capital Investment Plan FY 2019-2023