Oceanfront Area Library

I was here all the time as a kid and as a teen. I very, very rarely come now.
I was searching the catalogue from the comfort of my home for a 1940s movie, no specific title. I was having some difficulty, and put the only title that I was aware of on hold. This library was the only one open on a Sunday. Last Sunday I decided to just head over shortly after opening to see what i could find on the shelves. I thought I recalled movies being organized by type or genre back when I was young. I went straight to the help/​circulation desk. The lady here was BEYOND helpful. She explained that there was no way to identify just 1940s movies because they were arranged alphabetically. She tried to find them in the system with no luck at all, there was no way to search this category. Se went to Google and printed a list of films from 1940. She searched the catalogue for film names that stood out to her, that might be popular enough to be in the system. No luck at all. I took the list, perused the alphabetically organized aisles for about 20 titles from the list and found nada. Only the movie that I had on hold. Which actually made this trip a success.
I was very impressed that this worker went above and beyond with her service.
Other notes. There are several study areas on the floor. There are computers that can be reserved. Study rooms can be reserved on a first-​come first-​serve basis.

I go to use the bathroom and the stupid Fucken cop is going thru my bag! It seems that we live in a police state where the fucken cops can do whatever.

Shhh it’s the library?!
My main library is Princess Anne but I use the Oceanfront library as my location for holds so I can literally hop one block from my office and pick them up.
The layout is similar, if not exact to the Princess Anne location but there is a big difference.
1. Police have to patrol a library? Do I need say more…
2. Super noisy. Not sure this is the place to study for your big test.
3. The huge plumbers crack that I witnessed today as soon as I walked in the door.
4. Children’s area is more like a playground.
Again great for pick ups, just not up to my standards I guess.

Are you kidding me? I am in shock. I’m sitting at the library trying to get some work done and there is a gentleman a few tables away having a conversation on his cell phone. He is certainly not trying to whisper or talk in a low voice, however, just a normal conversation. There are other patrons having normal conversations between themselves as well. Am I missing something? Did they change the rules? Please let me know if they did.
It doesn’t seem to phase any of the employees or the uniformed police officer that is on duty. I thought going to the library meant that you could actually have some peace and quiet so you could read, write, homework, etc… I might as well be in Starbucks or Panera Bread.
Unbelievable!

Newly rebuilt and relocated, the Oceanfront Library is a new twist on a local classic.
Walking in the new location, I am struck by the same sentiment that I felt when visiting the old location: Homeless people really like to read. And that’s great!
A change in location didn’t change the library’s status as the homeless hangout, so when you go, try not to be too put off. Security is tight and the people although sometimes a little disheveled but are nice and harmless.
As far as the reading selection goes, this library is useful for the casual reader, but not a great place to do research. They do have internet and computers you can use for free, but as far as reference materials or a wide selection of materials, this library is not your best bet. But if you’re local, drop in and see what’s available and if you can’t find what you need, a friendly librarian is always just bored enough to help you track it down at another location.

Something about walking in to a building, and coming back out with loads of books, CDs and DVDs and not spending any money really appeals to me. That’s why I love Virginia Beach Public Libraries. I pretty much listen to an audiobook on CD each week in my car during my commutes and this would not be possible without the library supporting my habit.
As far as this Oceanfront branch, it’s small, recently updated (within the last 5 years) and is usually pretty busy. Like the other library branches, they have a meeting room you can reserve if you book far enough in advance (they book up fast). I’ve signed up to use their meeting room before for a work related event, and it was a great meeting spot. Sure you can meet in a Starbucks, but a room is more private and has fewer distractions.