📚 Gainsboro Branch Library

The Gainsboro Branch Library is a historic library building located in the Gainsboro neighborhood of Roanoke, Virginia, United States. It was built in 1941–1942 and is a one-story, seven-bay brick building built with an L-plan and gabled roof, and designed in the Tudor Revival style. The library's history dates to 1921 as the fourth library for African Americans in the Southern United States. It is home to a significant black history collection that was gradually amassed by longtime librarian Virginia Lee. After being told by city officials to remove the items, Lee moved them into request-only storage. The collection is now on display in a room dedicated for and named after Lee, and the library has seen recognition for its role in preserving the area's African American heritage.