The Roanoke Public Library is a wonderful resource for the community. Located in the Downtown…read moreRoanoke area, in a building that went through renovation from the original, it maintains the classical relaxed look, yet at the same time, it has those modern touches that has kept it up with the times. It now has a Virginia Room where people can do research on the history of Roanoke, among other things. And around this area it has meeting rooms where one can reserve to do research or to meet. Besides the traditional bookcases with books, the library has an extensive computer area located in the Darryl G. & Young-Ja Howery Mezzanine, as well as a cellphone charging station. I tried charging my cellphone there with the cords provided and a notice came up on my phone that this cord was too slow to charge my phone and to try to use another one because with this one it would take 8 hours to do so. This is one of the reasons I only gave this library a 4 star rating. The intention to provide modern services was there but not the execution. I brought it to the attention of the librarian to see if it could be corrected for the future with better charger cords, or even better, with devices where you can rest the cellphone on them and they would automatically charge the phone. I'm sure that after the Library Director reads this review he will follow-up because he is a very knowledgeable individual and wonderful human being. The librarians here are all very friendly and helpful. In the basement of the library the Blue Ridge Literacy is located. This is a place where among other this they teach English for free to immigrants new to the area. A reality that I can not leave behind is that many of the homeless of our community frequent the library during the day as a refuge to keep cool in the Summer and Warm in the Winter. Something that the library could do is have a station with booklets and information to help these write a resume, and look for and apply for a job using the computers. It could also offer workshops in one of the meeting rooms to teach and develop the skills needed for them to overcome the adversities that lead them to be homeless. Throughout the years the library has played very important roles in the community, and through creative thinking and innovation, it can find new ways in the future to meet the community's need head on.

Great little library with really helpful librarians. The book selection isn't huge but you can…read moreorder from any of the libraries and get it sent to this one

I have an educational event here every October, and the space is wonderful for our needs. All…read moreclassrooms are equipped with the latest technology, furnishings are contemporary and new, bathrooms are clean and stocked, catering does a fantastic job, there's Wi-Fi, and parking is only $5-6/day. We love coming to this venue and will continue to come back as long as we're in Roanoke.

From the owner: The Roanoke Higher Education Center offers over 200 programs of study through partnerships with…read moremultiple colleges, universities, and community organizations. From GED preparation through doctoral studies, we're making education more accessible in Southwest Virginia.

This quaint independent bookstore is located at 112 Market Street in a small building right next to…read morethe Historic Roanoke City Market Building in Downtown Roanoke. I have always been fascinated by bookstores, especially ones of this size and nature. So today I decided to walk in to explore it first hand. One of the things that impressed me the most was how clean and well organized it was. From the shinny windows of its storefront to its clean floors and shelves. As I entered, I received a warm welcome by a young lady employee with a nice personality who you could tell she loved her job. She most enthusiastically explained what they had available and where everything was. They carried bestsellers, new fiction, and non-fiction, classic and local interest books, along with high-quality used books. BNF features books about the Roanoke and New River Valleys and the works of local authors along with a special selection of Appalachian fiction and non-fiction. They also provided special orders service, helping find hard-to-find books, and book club specials. Their collection also includes the works of more than 50 local and regional authors and the surrounding areas. Book No Further isn't just a bookstore; it's also a gathering place for the community. The shop regularly hosts book signings, author talks, and book clubs, featuring celebrated writers and spotlighting new talent from the Blue Ridge region. Before leaving I had the privprivilege of meeting Doloris Vest, one of the co-owners of Book No Further Bookstore. I thanked her for the great contribution she is providing to the Star City of Roanoke and its community with her engaging bookstore. Books open windows of knowledge and opportunities as well as provide value and entertainment to all of us. With her creative imagination by incorporating different book clubs, community members gatherings, and many other diverse events, she is contributing to the quality of life of this community and to making the City of Roanoke so special.

This fun little bookshop was in the heart of Roanoke's downtown area. There was a smaller upstairs…read morearea with (from what I recall) children's books, while the lower half held fiction and other genres. There were also fun trinkets such as stickers and bookmarks. The staff was helpful and friendly. Would definitely visit again when in town. While the downtown area itself is relatively small, there are tons of shops and restaurants to explore. So if you're interested in visiting this bookstore, consider coming with an appetite so you can make an evening of the adventure!

Wonderfully surprised with how in depth and formal the appointment was…read more Employee knew his stuff and had everything straightened out very quickly. I was utterly impressed. Thank you.

Located in a beautifully designed red brick modern building at 612 S Jefferson Street in Roanoke,…read moreVirginia, this Social Security office is right next to the Roanoke Public Library (Downtown Roanoke Branch) and in front of the Historic Patrick Henry Apartment Building, Its exterior landscaping is also an example of simple yet beautiful design. A red brick outdoor floor provides the base for an amazing bronze eagle sculpture in the center, surrounded by green areas and iron benches going around it, providing a resting area and an opportunity of enjoying the view. The inside design consists of an elegant entrance with lots of woodworks and simply.but lovely ceiling lamps. Behind a large wooden Security Desk, their are Security Officers who greet you when you arrive and always ask you a battery of questions and explain how to check-in, before they let you in to the offices area of the first floor where most business is done there. This Government office offers a range of programs including retirement, disability, survivor, and supplemental security income benefits. And other services such as issuing replacement Social Security cards. Appointments are recommended but not necessary. Make sure you bring your Social Security number with you if you have one, as well as a government photo ID. When you enter the first floor offices waiting area, you first have to sign in on one of two computer machines where you type the answers to several questions and these machine generate your appointment ticket with a special number code which you have to have to take a seat and wait until it's called together with the window number where you should go to once called over the speaker. All the employees there are very courteous, knowledgeable, efficient, and very helpful. As long as you bring the organized appropriate documentation, you will be able to finish in a reasonable time period.

Friendly and efficient. Just want I need from a post office. Nuff said!…read more Since yelp wants more... convenient location and easy to get in and out.

For a post office, this place is all right. I needed to buy some holiday stamps so I stopped by…read morethis place. There was a line but I didn't have to wait too long. The gentleman who helped me was very friendly and professional. The cool thing is that they had Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer stamps! I purchased the stamps, affixed them to my Christmas cards and dropped them in the mail. It was pretty easy. There is a parking lot beside the building that is a bit of a tight squeeze.

This is the best and most famous thing to do when visiting Roanoke. We went right before sunset and…read moreit ended up being the perfect time. You sit on the hill opposite the star and once the sun goes behind the tall trees, make your way over to the other side and see all of the city light up before you. Granted, it is a small place, but you get a whole view below you. The star is the biggest manmade star so take that as you will. It was nice that you could drive directly up to the parking lot and there were paved sidewalks so anyone could make the walk right up to the star. The parking lot is rather small so be prepared to either wait or have to go back down a little bit to find a place. We were there on a beautiful fall night so it seemed like the entire city was there. People were patient as you took pictures though so there was no trouble at all. Just a little crowded on the observation deck so be prepared.

A majestic object that looks down on the city from a small mountain. The mountain has a series of…read moretrails, with more planned, so there is plenty of opportunity to spend more time than just looking at the star and checking out the overlook. However, even if one is just going to do that, the views are nice.