Portsmouth Community Library

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Portsmouth Community Library

| nrhp_type =

| designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register

| designated_other1_date = December 17, 2009{{cite web|title=Virginia Landmarks Register|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|accessdate=19 March 2013}}

| designated_other1_number = 124-5130

| designated_other1_num_position = bottom

| image = Portsmouth Community Library 13SEP2014.jpg

| caption =

| location = 906 Elm St., Portsmouth, Virginia

| coordinates = {{coord|36|49|54|N|76|18|46|W|display=inline,title}}

| locmapin = Virginia#USA

| built = less than one acre

| architecture =

| added = August 12, 2010

| area = {{convert|3|acre}}

| refnum = 10000544{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20100820.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=2010-08-20|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/09/10 through 8/13/10|publisher=National Park Service}}

}}

Portsmouth Community Library, also known as the Portsmouth Colored Community Library, is a historic library building located at Portsmouth, Virginia. It was built in 1945 at 804 South Street. It is a one-story, three-bay, brick building with a hipped roof. It was built to provide for the reading needs of Portsmouth's African Americans. Bertha Edwards was the first librarian, and was a key to its success as she raised funds for the library.{{Cite news |last=McCall |first=Nathan J. |date=27 April 1979 |title=Black libraries had rough beginning |pages=14 |website=Spartan Echo |url=https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SPTE19790427&dliv=userclipping&cliparea=1.14,331,374,4260,5416&factor=9&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-%22Bertha+Edwards%22------- |access-date=2023-12-09 |archive-date=}}

In 1959, two local dentists, Dr. James Holley and Dr. Hugo A. Owens, successfully sued the City of Portsmouth and the Portsmouth Public Library to integrate the public library, which resulted in the closure of the Portsmouth Community Library. The building has been relocated twice since it was closed in 1962 after integration of the public library system; first in 1967 to the parking lot of Ebenezer Baptist Church, 730 Effingham Street, then since August 2007, it has been located at the present location, 904 Elm Avenue.{{cite web|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Portsmouth/124-5130_Portsmouth_Colored_Comm_Library_2009_NR_FINAL.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Portsmouth Community Library |author1=Kimble David |author2=Mae Breckenridge-Haywood |author3=Margaret Windley |date=September 2009|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources}} and [http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Portsmouth/124-5130_PortsmouthCommLib.photos.html Accompanying four photos] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

The library is now operated as a museum of local African-American history by the City of Portsmouth. Displays include photographs and memorabilia, as well as African-American books and journals from the former library.

The African American Historical Society of Portsmouth led efforts to dedicate the historic library as a museum,{{cite web|title=2014 BCALA "Library of the Year" Award!|url=http://www.blackhistoryportsmouth.org/localhistory.htm|publisher=African American Historical Society of Portsmouth|accessdate=6 October 2015}} which opened in 2013.{{cite web|title=Portsmouth library-turned-museum gives life to history|url=http://hamptonroads.com/2013/11/portsmouth-libraryturnedmuseum-gives-life-history|publisher=Virginian-Pilot|accessdate=6 October 2015|date=November 20, 2013}}