About

History of the Library

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.

1 month ago

Education at LVA
Congratulations to Craig Blackman of Indian River High School in Chesapeake Public Schools who has been named the 2023 Virginia History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.Congratulations to Craig Blackman of Indian River High School in Chesapeake Public Schools who has been named the 2023 Virginia History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. #ElevateEducatorsVA ... See MoreSee Less
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1 month ago

Education at LVA
The Library of Virginia will be closed on Saturday, Sept. 2 through Monday, Sept. 4 for the Labor Day holiday. Can Can Cafe at the LIbrary will be closed Friday, Sept. 1 through Monday, Sept. 4 The Library's usual first-floor Lobby and Exhibition Gallery hours are Monday–Saturday, 8:30 AM–5:00 PM.Our Reading Rooms are open to researchers Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM, as well as the Special Saturday Reading Room Hours on Sept. 9, 23 & 30, 10:00 AM–4:00 PMSee our Visitor's Guide for more information: www.lva.virginia.gov/about/visit.asp#holidayclosingThis photo is from the collection Hopewell, Virginia Locals of United Mine Workers of America, found on the Library's Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_virginia/albums/72157627493561276. Spanning nearly three decades, this collection includes candid images documenting the growth of an industrial city. ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

Education at LVA
The Anne & Ryland Brown Teacher Institute wraps up the year at Hampton, Virginia's Main Library with activities including a tour of Special Collections. It's been a great year for Brown! Learn more about the program at edu.lva.virginia.gov/brown/brown-institute/ 📚📰✏️ #educators #lifelonglearning ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

Education at LVA
The Anne & Ryland Brown Teacher Institute met at Virginia Humanities in Charlottesville, Virginia early this week. On Monday, we took a tour of the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at UVa with Cauline Yates, a descendent of Sally Hemings and founding member of the Descendants of Enslaved Communities at UVA. We also hosted guest speaker, Kaleigh Pollak, a citizen of the Monacan Indian Nation to discuss “A Brief History of the Monacan People.” ... See MoreSee Less
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2 months ago

Education at LVA
The Anne & Ryland Brown Teacher Institute is meeting at the Patawomeck Museum & Cultural Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia for July 27 and 28. They've been excellent hosts—we encourage you to plan a visit to this new museum! ... See MoreSee Less
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