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The Library of Virginia e-Newsletter
March 2010


News

Click any excerpt below to read the full article.

Award-winning Journalist's Papers Available at LVA

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the donation of the papers of journalist and author Charlie McDowell. The papers cover the years 1944 to 2004 and document his career as a reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, panelist on the PBS program Washington Week in Review, and his other journalistic activities. The collection includes his columns, correspondence and subject files, books, and videotapes....

LVA Volunteer Chosen for Leadership Academy

The Leadership Development Forum has announced the members of the first cohort of the Virginia Library Leadership Academy, the first-ever statewide leadership development training program for professionals and paraprofessionals from all types of libraries in Virginia. The cohort will provide opportunities for participants to develop as leaders, prepare a project to benefit Virginia libraries, and network with peers and mentors throughout the process...

Library Creates Exhibitions for Visitor Center at the Capitol

The next time you visit the State Capitol in historic downtown Richmond, be sure to visit the exhibitions in the Visitor Center. Working with the General Assembly of Virginia, the Library of Virginia created two exhibitions to help visitors learn more about our history. Virginia's Capitol is a long-term installation that explores Thomas Jefferson's role in designing the Capitol and how the building has changed over time to meet the needs of the General Assembly...

"First Fridays East": Spring Feature of First Fridays Art Walk

Richmond's popular arts and cultural program First Fridays Art Walk makes a special expansion east this spring with "First Fridays East" to connect with the Library of Virginia, Richmond CenterStage, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and the University of Richmond Downtown on March 5, April 2, and May 7 between 5:00 and 8:00 PM...

Spring FVSA Set for March 26

The Friends of the Virginia State Archives will hold their annual spring conference, Straight to the Source, at the Library of Virginia on Friday,March 26, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The conference offers an introduction to genealogical research and features presentations by Library of Virginia archivists. Sessions will include using school record resources; finding and using church records; researching West Virginia ancestors; and using topologic and other related maps for genealogical research...

Virginia Authors Circle Raises Needed Funds for New Titles

Last month the Library of Virginia Foundation began a new initiative to help preserve and expand the Library’s vital collection of works by Virginia authors. In response to cuts in the Library's budget, especially in the area of book acquisition, the Foundation has created the Virginia Authors Circle to ensure that the Library can maintain its commitment to collecting these works during challenging times...

Mark Your Calendars for the 2010 Voorhees Lecture on the History of Cartography

Join us on April 10 at the Library of Virginia for the 2010 Alan M. and Nathalie P. Voorhees Lecture on the History of Cartography featuring Ralph Ehrenberg, author and internationally recognized authority on the history of cartography. The talk will be held in the Lecture Hall at 1:00 PM. Rarely seen maps from the Library’s collections will be on display beginning at 11:00 AM...

Apply for NEH Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions

National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants help small and mid-sized institutions—such as libraries, museums, historical societies, archival repositories, cultural organizations, town and county records offices, and colleges and universities—improve their ability to preserve and care for their humanities collections...

Library Offers Records Training for School Personnel

The Library of Virginia, in collaboration with the Public Schools Records Consortium (PSRC), hosted a day of training for public school personnel on Friday, February 26. The workshop covered several aspects of records management including compliance with the Virginia Public Records Act, electronic records management, procedures for transferring archival records to the Library, and use of the General Schedule 21 for Public School Records...

Festival Celebrates Books and Authors

The 16th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book will be held in Charlottesville, March 17–21, 2010. The Virginia Festival for the Book is an annual public celebration featuring readings, panels, and discussions with authors, illustrators, and publishing professionals. This year’s 206 events feature 353 participants, including 175 nonfiction writers, 78 fiction writers, and 38 poetry authors...

Paterson Named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

Katherine Paterson, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal (Bridge to Terabithia and Jacob Have I Loved) and the National Book Award (The Master Puppeteer and The Great Gilly Hopkins),was recently appointed the second National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by Librarian of Congress James H. Billington...
Fun & Free at the library in March
Most events are free and are open to the public. For specific locations, times, and details on the events listed below please visit our calendar of events.

Please note that the members of the General Assembly use the Library’s underground parking deck during the session.

Scientific Jefferson: Revealed Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Scientific Jefferson: Revealed
Martin Clagett, Omohundro Scholar in Residence at the College of William and Mary, will discuss and sign his new book on Thomas Jefferson's contributions to science.

The Craft of Writing: A Workshop with Steve Berry Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Craft of Writing: A Workshop with Steve Berry
New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry will be at the Library of Virginia to host a workshop entitled "The Craft of Writing," a five-hour interactive learning session for writers. The event is sponsored by Steve and Liz Berry and the Library of Virginia Foundation, with all proceeds going directly to the Foundation for conservation and preservation of the Library's collections.

Trustbuilding Monday, March 15, 2010

Trustbuilding: An Honest Conversation on Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility
Rob Corcoran, national director of Initiatives of Change and founder of Hope in the Cities, will discuss and sign Trustbuilding: An Honest Conversation on Race, Reconciliation, and Responsibility, his visionary and compelling book. At its center is the story of how Richmond, Virginia, a former slave market and capital of the Confederacy, has become a seedbed for interracial dialogue and trustbuilding with national and international implications. Now in its second decade of work, an endeavor known as Hope in the Cities saw city and county residents of all backgrounds launch an unprecedented and sustained effort to address the “toxic issue of race.” Trustbuilding is unflinchingly honest about the difficulties of mobilizing communities around racial reconciliation. Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine will speak at this national book-launch event. Music will be provided by One Voice Chorus. A book signing and reception will follow the talk.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Curator's Talk and Gallery Walk on The Land We Live In, the Land We Left: Virginia's People
Exhibition curator Lisa Goff will relate the history of immigration to current national and state debates about the status of immigration. Goff will lead an in-depth tour of the exhibition following the talk. RSVP by March 12 to 804-692-3901. Space is limited.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

2010 Virginia Women in History: Program and Reception
Join the Library of Virginia as it recognizes eight outstanding Virginia women—past and present—who have made important contributions to Virginia, the nation, and the world. A reception follows the program. The signature sponsor for the 2010 Virginia Women in History program is Dominion. Media sponsor is the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Minds Wide Open: Women in the Arts also sponsors this program. FREE but reservations required. Seating is limited. Call 804-692-3900 by March 22 to RSVP.

Unbound Thursday, April 1, 2010

Unbound: A True Story of War, Love, and Survival
Dean King, author of the national best seller Skeletons on the Zahara, will discuss and sign his new book, Unbound, the story of the 30 remarkable women who endured the Red Army's legendary Long March. In October 1934, the Chinese Communist Army found itself facing annihilation, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Nationalist soldiers. Rather than surrender, 86,000 Communists embarked on an epic flight to safety. Their trek would eventually cover 4,000 miles over 370 days. Fewer than 10,000 of them would survive, but remarkably all of the women would live to tell the tale.

Looking Ahead

Please join us on Friday, May 21 from 6:00 to 7:30 PM when three musicians—Mary Dailey and Jimmy Costa from Appalachia and Patrick O'Flaherty, a native Gaelic speaker from the west coast of Ireland—discuss and demonstrate through songs and tunes the common threads that run through the vocal and instrumental music of Ireland and Appalachia. The speakers will explore how the traditions evolved and the similarities and differences they found when they began performing together. O'Flaherty will also discuss his immigration experience and involvement with Appalachian musical culture. This free panel discussion and music program complements the Library’s exhibition The Land We Live In, the Land We Left: Virginia’s People.

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