From Card Catalogs to Clicks: How Patrick O’Brien Modernized Alexandria Libraries
By Susan Laume
Alexandria, VA – In the 1990s, libraries faced a new and existential challenge — the rapid rise of digital computer technology. Household computer ownership was doubling, placing information directly in homes and reducing the need to visit local libraries. Considering libraries’ origins in the Fertile Crescent around 2500 BCE and their long evolution, the struggle to adapt in the internet age might be compared to Sisyphus’ endless task.
It was at this pivotal moment, in 1992, that Patrick O’Brien arrived as director of Alexandria’s library system. Born in Rhode Island, O’Brien had built a career working in major libraries across the country, including in Chicago and Dallas. After the Texas oil bust reduced library funding, he accepted the Alexandria position. Though it was a smaller system, he found what he described as a “welcoming community with total support of library services.”
Rethinking the Library System
That support included plans already underway to expand the Queen Street central library. Under O’Brien’s leadership, those plans were reexamined. Identifying missing design elements, he advocated for a professional community needs assessment. The result was a major shift: instead of expanding the existing site, the city built the larger Charles E. Beatley Jr. Library on Duke Street.
Opened in 2000, Beatley became the new central library and reflected O’Brien’s vision. The design incorporated a community meeting room, parking, and amenities that extended beyond traditional stack space. The building became a model for how modern libraries could better serve diverse community needs.
At the same time, the system’s other branches also evolved. The Kate Waller Barrett and Ellen Coolidge Burke branches — built in 1937 and 1968 — underwent significant changes. Collections were reorganized across locations: Beatley became the central hub; Barrett expanded to house historic and genealogical materials; and Burke temporarily closed, with its collection relocated, before reopening on a smaller scale. O’Brien described managing these transitions simply as “A matter of good planning to move the collections and reorient the staffs.”
Bringing the Internet to the Library
O’Brien’s leadership coincided with another critical turning point: the introduction of public internet access. Recognizing the importance of technology, he secured positions on the city’s Cable Television Commission and Task Force on Information Technology.
As he recalled, by “hitting it off” with the cable company president and recognizing the CEO’s enthusiasm for emerging technology, he secured a donation of two internet-capable computers for the Burke Branch. This allowed Alexandria Library to become the first in the area to offer public access to the World Wide Web.
That step marked the beginning of a broader digital transformation. O’Brien designed the library’s first website — the first for any Alexandria city department — and later oversaw the rollout of 24/7 remote access to library resources.
These advances dramatically expanded access. Students could complete homework and research regardless of whether they had computers at home. Adults gained access to essential services, from job applications to bill paying. The initiative also delivered long-term financial benefits: the city’s cable provider continues to supply free internet service to libraries, saving approximately $35,000 annually.
Funding Innovation and Sustainability
Even with strong city support, the library system faced periodic budget constraints. In response, O’Brien established private funding streams through the Alexandria Library Foundation and the James M. Duncan Foundation. The first foundation set an initial fundraising goal of $50,000 — a target it met in its first year — and continued to support programs such as e-books, children’s story times, and adult classes.
The Duncan Foundation focused on sustainability, helping fund an expansion of the Del Ray branch that included a green “living” roof. Completed in 2005, it became the city’s first government building to adopt this environmentally friendly approach, reducing stormwater runoff and pollution.
A Life of Service
Beyond his professional achievements, O’Brien has remained deeply engaged in the Alexandria community. A member of the Alexandria Rotary Club, he served as president, was named Rotarian of the Year in 2001, and received Rotary International’s Avenues of Service Award in 2016.
He also volunteered with Senior Services of Alexandria’s ALIVE! program and Meals on Wheels. In recognition of their service, he and his wife were named Meals on Wheels Volunteers of the Year in 2016.
In retirement, O’Brien has continued to give back in creative ways. A skilled woodworking artist, he donates pieces for fundraising auctions, including the Rotary Club’s annual Taste for Giving event, supporting scholarships and local nonprofits.
A Lasting Legacy
Reflecting on his career, O’Brien said, “My goal was always to elevate the public library to the most used of all public services of the city of Alexandria. That goal was achieved by the time I retired, and it has been expanded to even greater use by my successor. The Alexandria Library had over 1.5 million visitors and web users last year. The public library serves kids before schools get them and provides all users with services by professionals, without appointment or question, or regard to their means or station in life.”
That legacy continues today — a testament to O’Brien’s vision, leadership, and enduring commitment to serving the community.
