First of all, some news about a lawsuit that involves the Main Street Library, which is Oregon Hill’s official City library (don’t forget that at one time, Grace Arents built the Free Library on S. Cherry)…
In brighter news…a lot of stuff happening as the weather turns cooler…
Events taking place at Richmond Public Library’s Main Library (101 E. Franklin St.) during the month of November 2026!
FIRST FRIDAY & FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK SALE
Friday, November 6th, all evening!
First Friday Gallery Opening event and the Book Sale will be happening at the same time! Join the Friends of Richmond Public Library for their Fall Book Sale. Bring a bag and pick up some great deals on books, CDs, DVDs, and more.
The Fall Book Sale Hours are as follows:
Friday, Nov. 6, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM (Members Only)
Friday, Nov. 6, 12:00-8:00 PM
Saturday, Nov. 7, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Sunday, Nov. 8, 1:00-4:00 PM
Proceeds from the Book Sale benefit Richmond Public Library programming. Visit https://rvalibraryfriends.org/ to learn more about the Friends or to sign up to become a member.
FALL CONCERT SERIES: ALAN BILLER X SARA BOUCHARD
Saturday, November 7th from 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Sara Bouchard is a multidisciplinary artist and composer who uses sound, installation, works on paper, performance and creative coding to interweave song, history and the landscape. She is currently based in Richmond, VA, where she teaches at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts.
Guitarist Alan Biller has lived and performed in NYC, Montreal, Washington DC, and Richmond, VA as part of their lively jazz scenes. He has performed worldwide with the Capital Focus Jazz Band, playing at the French Quarter Festival in New Orleans, the Old Sacramento Dixieland Jazz Jubilee, and the Ascona Jazz Festival in Ascona, Switzerland. He also spent several months performing on Carnival Cruise Lines and lived to tell about it. He has studied with such famous (and infamous) jazz greats as Bruce Arnold, Mordy Ferber, Ron McClure, Frank Kimbrough, and George Garzone. He received his BMus from NYU. With his solo project Wolf In Wool, he tries to make his guitar sound like anything but a guitar, with varying levels of success.
EXPLORING ADOPTION, IDENTITY & BELONGING DURING NATIONAL ADOPTION AWARENESS MONTH
Mondays in November at 1:00 PM
Educational sessions with experts from C2Adopt that helps the public understand the realities of foster care, waiting children, kinship care, and the need for permanent families for Virginia’s children. This session includes exploring myth vs. fact; how to become a foster or adoptive parent; spotlight on older youth and sibling groups; and other ways to support even if parenting is not for you.
Week 1 — Understanding Foster Care, Kinship Care & Adoption Today
Week 2 — “Whose Story Is It?” — Identity, Records & the Lifelong Impact of Adoption
Week 3 — Talking About Adoption with Children: Building Healthy Family Narratives
Week 4 — Adoption Through the Lifespan: Voices of Experience
DR. HILARY LEVINSON ON TRANSLATION
Sunday, November 8th, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Dr. Hilary Levinson will give a talk discussing scholarly and creative approaches to translation, including some specific strategies and methods. The talk will also offer a broad overview of the contemporary landscape of translated work, with reference to some important recent published books in the literary scene.
REPAIR CAFE RVA
Sunday, November 15th from 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Repair Cafe RVA is a place to bring your favorite broken thing. We’ll be repairing appliances, bikes, electronics, furniture, jewelry, textiles, toys, and more! Arrive early, as sign up is first-come, first-served. Repair Cafe volunteers will get you signed in and connect you with the right person for your repair! Repair Cafe RVA is a local chapter of an international non-profit organization based in the Netherlands.
YARN YIPPEE!
Wednesday, November 18th from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
For individuals working on personal projects to come together, socialize, and learn from each other. Some beginner supplies available, first come first serve.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD
Thursday, November 19th from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Please join us for a fraud protection presentation hosted by AARP. The presentation will be geared towards seniors (but all are welcome) and it will review commons scams and fraud attempts online and over the phone. Attendees will learn to spot scams as well as what resources they have if they have fallen victim to fraud. There will be time at the end of the lecture for a Q&A session.
ORAL HISTORY TRAINING WORKSHOP
Saturday, November 21st from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
This hands-on workshop introduces participants to the fundamentals of oral history collection and preservation. Attendees will learn interview techniques, ethical considerations, recording best practices, and strategies for preserving family and community stories using accessible tools and technology. Participants will leave with practical skills for documenting local history and preserving personal narratives for future generations.
RICHMOND FREE PRESS LEGACY CELEBRATION
Sunday, November 22nd from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
A multi-faceted celebration of the Richmond Free Press’s 34 year run as an independent, Black-owned newspaper focused on local issues and the African-American community in Richmond. The archives of the newspaper and papers of Raymond Boone Sr. (Editor, Co-Founder) were donated to the Richmond Public Library by the Boones in April 2026 to ensure that future generations have access to the valuable historical information they contain. This event will feature a conversation with Jean Patterson Boone, recognition of longtime RFP staff, exhibits/samples from the collection, and an opportunity for people to search for their stories in the RFP.