The Johnston Memorial Library advances the academic success of students, faculty, staff, and research professionals at Virginia State University. In 1883-84, the University had one building and a 200-book library. Currently, the University Library contains 211,819 books and 223,462 microform and non-print items.

Constructed in 1958 and completely renovated in 2004, the James Hugo Johnston Memorial Library contains materials that support the mission of the University and provides a full complement of research and information services to the University community. Offering an extensive print collection, full-text digital periodicals and newspapers, microforms, government publications and other digital materials, the Library supports the academic work of the University community. Johnston Memorial Library is a selective depository for United States government publications and receives selected Virginia government publications.

The facility includes exhibit areas, conference room, multimedia group study rooms, a family-friendly study room, and individual and group study rooms and individual carrels. A computer lab is located on the basement level of the facility. Wireless access and dedicated computer access are available throughout the building.

The Special Collections and University Archives Department contains historical documents, memorabilia, and artifacts that are available to both the campus community and other researchers.

Johnston Memorial Library participates in a statewide electronic resource-sharing consortium, the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA). The Library provides local and remote access to numerous databases, full- text journals and newspapers, full-text works of poetry and verse, drama, and additional full-text materials, including statistical reports and pamphlets. The collection is supplemented through interlibrary borrowing and lending in the Richmond Academic Library Consortium (RALC) and through other resource sharing activities such as interlibrary loan and direct borrowing by patrons.

Johnston Memorial Library is ADA compliant and fully handicapped accessible.