History of the Norfolk Public Library

Researched and written by Peggy Haile McPhillips, City Historian; edited by NPL staff.

Learn about the start and growth of NPL over two centuries.

  1. 1800-1899
  2. 1900-1999
  3. 2000 - Now

Early 19th Century

There were many private libraries in Norfolk during this period, notably those of Gen. Robert Taylor, Hon. Littleton W. Tazewell, Hon. William Wirt, Hon. William B. Lamb and others. As early as 1805, advertisements appear in the Norfolk Gazette and Public Ledger announcing meetings for persons wishing to contribute to the development of a public library.

March 22, 1827

The Lyceum, a one story brick building on the northwest corner of Wolf and Chapel Streets, opens. Named for the place where Aristotle taught philosophy in Athens, the building houses a circulating library and is also used for public lectures and literary association meetings. The Lyceum opened through the efforts of Norfolk attorney William Maxwell, who later left Norfolk for Richmond to become editor of the Virginia Historical Register and manager of the Virginia Historical Society. The Lyceum lasts for over a decade.

1839

The Lyceum building is sold to the Odd Fellows Society for $2,000; and is destroyed by fire February 1, 1859.

1847-1850

A library is established around this time by the Washington Institute. It is broken up during the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1855.

1870

Norfolk's population was 19,229. The Norfolk Library Association is organized at City Hall on August 18th that year, with Samuel Selden as the first president.

Norfolk Academy Movie Building Image

October 1872

The Norfolk Library Association (NLA) is chartered by the Circuit Court. Officers were Samuel Selden*, president; F. Welborne, vice-president; T.R. Ballard, corresponding secretary; George Chamberlain, treasurer; T.B West, librarian. The membership fee was $5 per year for all except stockholders. Members might check out 1 book at a time for no more than 10 days. The fine for taking a book without checking it out was $1.

Norfolk's first library opens in a large rent-free room in the Norfolk Academy building. Built in 1840, the Norfolk Academy (Bank Street) is a copy of the Grecian-Doric temple of Theseus at Athens and is designed by Thomas U. Walter of Philadelphia. C. Hall, a prominent book merchant of this city, directed the building. The Norfolk Chamber of Commerce is now housed here. 

*Samuel Selden resigned October 1, 1870 and William Selden was elected president on November 9, 1870.

1883

The library moves into the YMCA building on Main Street.

YMCA Building on Main Street Image

1893

The library moves to the former Newtown House on the corner of Granby and College Place. The house was built in 1793 and used by the Branch Bank of the U.S. and the Farmers Bank of Virginia. It was sold to George Newtown in 1828.

Newtown House on Granby and College Place Image

1894

The move from the Norfolk Academy building is opposed as disadvantageous by many and proves to be financially unwise. Even after all subscriptions are paid, funds are still insufficient to increase the book stock. Without new books, there will be no new subscribers, hence no future income for NLA. As the library is about to be sold for debt, the stockholders consent to transfer the books to a few individuals, who agree to pay the debts of the NLA and organize a public library.

February 12, 1894

The Norfolk Public Library is incorporated by the Virginia General Assembly. Its affairs are vested in a self-continuing Board of 15 directors, from and by whom officers are elected: Col. William Lamb, president; John L. Roper, vice president; William Henry Sargeant, librarian. Mr. Sargeant came to Norfolk from Baltimore, where he served as librarian of the Mercantile Library.

Membership dues to the library were payable to the treasurer in advance:

  • $3 per year -- for the use of the Reading Room and 1 book at a time.
  • $50 -- for a 3rd rate lifetime membership, with the same privileges as above.
  • $75 -- for a 2nd rate lifetime membership, giving the use of the reading room and two books at a time.
  • $100 -- for a 1st rate lifetime membership, with the use of the Reading Room and three books at a time
  • $500 -- for a perpetual and transferable membership, with reading room privileges, 3 books at a time and admission to all lectures and entertainments sponsored by the Norfolk Public Library.

1895

The first appropriation is made to the library by the City of Norfolk -- $750 for the last 6 months of the year.

1896

The first steps are taken towards the creation of a free public library. To the three types of paying memberships (life, annual and monthly) are added free memberships for scholars, teachers, ministers and editors.

1897

Mr. Sargeant begins to advertise in Norfolk newspapers for donations to supplement the library's collection of Virginiana.

"If I am over zealous in bringing the public library continually before the people, it is certainly a zealousness in good cause -- that of the people themselves. A little while ago I wanted complete files of newspapers, just because the library is the very place for them -- the place where they will do the most good. Now I am asking for copies of old city directories. A complete set ought to be somewhere easy of access, and where better than in the library?"