The Library of Virginia was created by the General Assembly in 1823 to organize, care for, and manage the state’s growing collection of books and official records — many of which date back to the early colonial period. The Library occupied rooms on the third floor of the Capitol in Richmond until 1895, when Virginia erected a new Library and office building on the eastern side of Capitol Square. Outgrowing this location, the Library in 1940 moved to a handsome, new art-deco building on Capitol Street, adjacent to City Hall and the Executive Mansion. In 1997, the Library opened to the public at 800 East Broad Street, its fourth home since its founding.
The Library houses the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia government, history, and culture available anywhere. The collections illustrate the rich and varied past of the commonwealth, documenting the lives of Virginians whose deeds are known to all, as well as those of ordinary citizens whose accomplishments are the foundation of our heritage.The Library’s printed, manuscript, map, and photographic collections attract researchers from across the country and the world, while the Library’s Web sites provide collection-based content and access to our digital collections to those at great distances who are not able to travel to Richmond. In addition to managing and preserving its collections, the Library supplies research and reference assistance to state officials, provides consulting services to state and local government agencies and to Virginia’s public libraries, administers numerous federal, state, and local grant programs, publishes award-winning books on Virginia history, provides educational programs and resources on Virginia history and culture for students and teachers, and offers the public a wide array of exhibitions, lectures, book-signings, and other programs.
In addition to the main Library building, the Library manages the State Records Center in Henrico County where inactive, non-permanent records of state agencies and local governments are housed.
About the Library
VISION
The Library of Virginia will inspire learning, ignite imagination, create possibilities, encourage understanding, and engage Virginia’s past to empower its future.
MISSION
As the Commonwealth’s library and archives, the Library of Virginia is a trusted educational institution. We acquire, preserve, and promote access to unique collections of Virginia’s history and culture and advance the development of library and records management services statewide.
The Library of Virginia’s 2024 summer teacher research fellowships are now open! Stipends are $3,000 and we are looking for four fellows from regions 1, 4, 6, and 8. This year the Brown Fellowship will focus on research and projects that explore Virginia’s Indigenous history in support of the Library’s current exhibition, Indigenous Perspectives (Through Aug. 17, 2024). Indigenous Perspectives highlights the commonwealth’s Indigenous history and how the tribes remain a vital part of Virginia today. The exhibition explores the voices and experiences of Virginia’s tribal communities. It features excerpts from video interviews with citizens of Virginia’s 11 federally and state-recognized tribes, archival records from the Library’s collection that were collaboratively selected by the tribes and Library staff members, and objects contributed by the tribes that reflect their traditions and culture.For more information and to apply, please visit the Library of Virginia at: ... See MoreSee Less
2024 Anne and Ryland Brown Teacher Research Fellowship Fellowship Applications Due by May 10, 2024 Open to Virginia 4th–12th Grade History and Social Science Educators The Library of Virginia is ple...
The Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy are pleased to announce the 2024 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honorees: Dr. Erma L. Freeman, dentist, Mecklenburg County; R. Tyrone Foster, sheriff, Bristol; Gregory L. Robinson, NASA project director, Manassas; and Captain Janet H. Days, Navy commanding officer, Norfolk. The group was celebrated at a gala event on Feb. 22.Shown left to right are Dominion Energy CEO Robert. M. Blue, Foster, Days, Freeman, Robinson and Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark.This annual program recognizes notable African American business and community leaders who have overcome obstacles to make significant impacts across the state. The Library will host a traveling exhibition featuring the honorees to be displayed at community, business and educational institutions across Virginia throughout year.Learn more about the Strong Men & Women in Virginia History program at edu.lva.virginia.gov/strong-men-women-in.../.The Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy are pleased to announce the 2024 Strong Men & Women in Virginia History honorees: Dr. Erma L. Freeman, dentist, Mecklenburg County; R. Tyrone Foster, sheriff, Bristol; Gregory L. Robinson, NASA project director, Manassas; and Captain Janet H. Days, Navy commanding officer, Norfolk. The group was celebrated at a gala event on Feb. 22.Shown left to right are Dominion Energy CEO Robert. M. Blue, Foster, Days, Freeman, Robinson and Librarian of Virginia Dennis T. Clark. This annual program recognizes notable African American business and community leaders who have overcome obstacles to make significant impacts across the state. The Library will host a traveling exhibition featuring the honorees to be displayed at community, business and educational institutions across Virginia throughout year.Learn more about the Strong Men & Women in Virginia History program at edu.lva.virginia.gov/strong-men-women-in-virginia-history/.#BlackHistoryMonth #VirginiaHistory ... See MoreSee Less
This "Map of Virginia with a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Government and Religion" was created by John Smith and published in 1612. It is one of the earliest maps that locate indigenous peoples and their Chesapeake Bay area settlements and is one of the oldest items in the Library of Virginia's collections. This video discusses how members of Virginia's recognized tribes view the John Smith map today. Get more information about the Indigenous Perspective exhibition at edu.lva.virginia.gov/indigenous-perspectives/#IndigenousPerspectivesLVA ... See MoreSee Less
Join us on Friday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 p.m. for a Black History Month preview screening of the documentary film "Current: A Descendant's Journey for Truth" followed by a discussion with producer Pam Smith, director Loria King and other members of the film’s team. 🎥Smith is a historian and genealogist who did research for the film at the Library of Virginia. The film explores the legacies of enslavement and what it will take for our country to repair and heal.This screening features the Virginia portion of the film, shot in Richmond, Charlottesville and Arlington. It includes commentary from Jenna Owens with the Getting Word African American Oral History Project at Monticello, genealogist Dr. Shelley Viola Murphy and historian and author Edward Ayers, among many others. For more information, contact Anne McCrery at anne.mccrery@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3568. This talk is free and open to the public. Registration is required at lva-virginia.libcal.com/event/11899342. Limited free parking is available underneath the Library at 800 East Broad Street.#BlackHistory #BlackHistoryMonth #VirginiaHistory #thisisLVA #socialjustice ... See MoreSee Less