Library of Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia at its current location
Country	United States of America
Type	Government of Virginia
Established	1823
Location	Richmond, Virginia
Other information
Director	Sandra Gioia Treadway
Website	http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

The Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, is the main library for the Commonwealth of Virginia. It acts as the official place to keep old records and as a research library for Virginia's government. The Library moved into a new building in 1997. It is located at 800 East Broad Street, just two blocks from the Virginia State Capitol building. It used to be known as the Virginia State Library and later as the Virginia State Library and Archives.

The Library of Virginia was officially started by the Virginia General Assembly in 1823. It organizes and takes care of the state's collection of books and official records. Many of these records go all the way back to the early colonial period. The Library has what is thought to be the most complete collection of materials about Virginia's government, history, and culture. Its research collections include over 808,500 books and 678,790 public documents. There are also 410,330 microforms, including 45,684 reels of old newspapers on film. You can also find 308,900 photos and other pictures. Plus, there are 101.8 million handwritten items and records.

A Look at the Library's History

Even though the Library of Virginia officially began in 1823, its story started much earlier. It began with materials collected for official use by the colonial government. The first permanent home for the Library was a small room. It was on the top floor of the State Capitol building.

Over time, the state's books and records grew too big for this space. Extra books and documents had to be stored in different rented places around Richmond. In 1851, a survey by the Smithsonian showed the library had 14,000 books.

Where Has the Library Been Located?

In 1892, the Virginia General Assembly decided to build a new Virginia State Library. This new building was on Capitol Square. Today, it is known as the Oliver Hill Building. Over the next forty years, the Library once again outgrew this building.

So, in 1940, it moved to its third location. This was also near Capitol Square. It shared this space with other important state offices. These included the State Law Library and the Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals.

The Library moved to its current home at 800 East Broad Street in 1997. The old library buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

What Can You Find at the Library?

The state library holds one of the most complete collections about Virginia. This collection covers Virginia's government, history, and culture. It focuses on the varied past of the state. It documents the lives of both important and everyday Virginians. The collections include printed materials, handwritten documents, and many photographs.

The Library also helps state officials with research. It offers advice to state and local government groups. It also helps other public libraries in Virginia. The Library manages many grant programs. It publishes award-winning books and offers educational programs. These programs teach about Virginia history. They also host exhibitions, lectures, and book-signing events.

Exciting Programs and Publications

Since 1998, the Library of Virginia has hosted annual Literary Awards. These awards honor great Virginia authors. They also celebrate books about Virginia. Awards are given for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They also give a special award for lifetime achievement. Many famous authors have received this award.

The Library of Virginia also sponsors two important yearly projects. The Virginia Women in History project honors eight Virginia women. These women, living or passed, have made amazing contributions to the state. The African American Trailblazers in Virginia project does the same for African American leaders.

Virginia Literary Festival

The Library of Virginia hosts the Virginia Literary Festival each year. This event brings together authors, publishers, and people from Virginia. Attendees can meet new authors and well-known writers. The library gives out seven different literary awards at this yearly event.

Archives Month and Book Talks

Archives Month focuses on groups and people who have worked to save historical records. During this month, the Library of Virginia creates posters. These posters celebrate places that keep archives and special collections. Many archives hold events to celebrate.

The Library of Virginia also has a series of Book Talk events. These talks feature authors from Virginia. They also highlight books about the state of Virginia. These talks happen almost every week. They cover many different topics. These include Virginia's role in the founding of the United States. They also cover the Civil War and the civil rights struggle in Virginia. People can listen and talk with many different experts and authors.

Workshops and Online Resources

The Library's Virginia Heritage Resource Center offers lectures. Researchers and experts share information about the library's collections. They show how these collections can be used for research.

The Library of Virginia also offers many workshops each year. These are for anyone who works in library services. These workshops help people improve their skills. They also help them learn new ways to do things. Topics include helping people with special needs. They also cover how to organize databases and provide reference help.

In 2007 and 2008, work began on the Virginia Memory project. This project helps the Library of Virginia share its resources online. The project started in 2009. It has four main parts. These include the Library's digital collections. There are also online versions of the Library's exhibits. It has an online classroom and a "reading room." This reading room offers a timeline of Virginia events. It also has articles by Library experts. Plus, it features "This Day in Virginia History." The Transcribe program is a way for people to help the Library write down old documents. In August 2015, the project grew to include the Document Bank of Virginia. This part has special documents with historical information for learning.

State Librarians of Virginia

During the 1800s, the Secretaries of the Commonwealth often managed the state library. This was part of their official duties.

• John Pendleton Kennedy, 1903–1907
• Henry Read McIlwaine, 1907–1934
• Wilmer L. Hall, 1934–1946
• Randolph Warner Church, 1947–1972
• Donald Rucker Haynes, 1972–1986
• Ella Gaines Yates, 1986–1990
• John C. Tyson, 1990–1994
• Nolan T. Yelitch, 1995–2007
• Sandra Gioia Treadway, 2007–present