The Library of Virginia Newsletter
June 2013


Charles Wright to Receive 2013 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award

This year the Library of Virginia will honor Charles Wright with the 2013 Literary Lifetime Achievement Award, presented at the Library’s annual gala celebration on October 19, 2013. Past recipients of this prestigious award include Lee Smith, William Styron, Earl Hamner, Rita Dove, Louis Rubin Jr., Tom Wolfe, and Edgar Allan Poe. Wright received one of the Library of Virginia’s inaugural literary awards in 1998 for Black Zodiac and won again in 2003 for A Short History of the Shadow. He was a finalist in 2005 with Buffalo Yoga and in 2008 with Littlefoot.

Charles Wright was born in Pickwick Dam, Tennessee, in 1935 and was educated at Davidson College and the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop. The author of more than 21 books, his many honors include the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award in Poetry, the PEN Translation Prize, the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Lenore Marshall Prize from the Academy of American Poets, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Griffin Poetry Prize, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A professor emeritus at the University of Virginia, Wright retired in 2010 after serving as the Souder Family Professor of English there since 1983.

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Civil War Legacy 150 Project Receives an AASLH Award of Merit

The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) has named the Civil War Legacy 150 Project a recipient of a 2013 Leadership in History Award of Merit. The Library of Virginia and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission are partnering in the Civil War 150 Legacy Project to identify and locate original source materials in Virginia that are related to the Civil War and emancipation. Materials included in the project are letters, memoirs, pension materials, military passes, discharge papers, diaries, hand-drawn maps, and selected memorabilia and other Civil War–era manuscripts.

The Library of Virginia has been sending teams of archivists across the state to scan privately held manuscript material for inclusion on the websites of both the Library of Virginia and the Virginia Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission. The teams coordinate visits with local sesquicentennial committees to ensure coverage of the whole state. So far, 1,065 collections (more than 5,000 images) have been scanned and are available online.

The images include a carte de visite from John Wilkes Boothe; a sketchbook, 1864–1865, of Henry Vander Weyde while imprisoned in Danville, Virginia; John Torrance's letters from 1862 describing the Battle of Hampton Roads; the 1861 diary of Reynold M. Kirby describing the Battle of Big Bethel; Edgar Ashton letters, 1861–1865, mentioning African American troops in Portsmouth; a June 18, 1861, letter from Benjamin F. Butler concerning observation of a house in Hampton; and the 1862 diary of Camilla Frances Loyall detailing the capture of Norfolk.

The AASLH Leadership in History Award, now in its sixty-eighth year, is the most prestigious recognition for achievement in the preservation and interpretation of state and local history.

The awards will be presented at a special banquet during the 2013 AASLH Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, on Friday, September 20, 2013. The AASLH awards program was initiated in 1945 to establish and encourage standards of excellence in the collection, preservation, and interpretation of state and local history throughout the United States. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards not only honor significant achievement in the field of state and local history, but also increase public awareness of the opportunities for small and large organizations, institutions, and programs to make contributions in this arena.

The American Association for State and Local History is a not-for-profit professional organization of individuals and institutions working to preserve and promote history. From its headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, AASLH provides leadership, service, and support for its members, who preserve and interpret state and local history in order to make the past more meaningful in American society. AASLH publishes books, technical publications, a quarterly magazine, and a monthly newsletter. The association also sponsors regional and national training workshops and an annual meeting.

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The NEW Library of Virginia

Library users today rely on digital information that can be retrieved quickly. They dream of a future when most library holdings will be accessible electronically. They increasingly locate information using smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices that bring the library to them wherever they are. When they do visit a library building, they are looking for something they can’t find elsewhere, whether that be specialized content not yet in digital form, a quiet space in which to work, or a stimulating learning experience.

Although the Library of Virginia’s current building is relatively new, it was designed in the mid-1990s when information was primarily stored and accessed on paper. Only a small number of books and documents were available digitally when the building opened in 1997. Google had just been created, and the World Wide Web was in its infancy. The trend toward an electronic world was evident, but few anticipated the rapid pace of change.

With this in mind, the Library is taking a fresh look at how we use our public space and how we might better use it in the future. Our focus is on the evolving needs of our users and on the impact that we can have on the community around us. Our goal is to develop a more attractive and customer-focused research and learning environment that can adapt quickly to changing needs and be a dynamic presence that attracts people of different ages and backgrounds to downtown.

To facilitate this process, the Library of Virginia Foundation has engaged HMA2, an architectural firm located in New York, to assist us in reimagining our space. We’ll keep you apprised of our progress in future newsletters, but in the meantime, if you have thoughts or ideas about how we might better prepare ourselves for the twenty-first century, we would love to hear them.

–submitted by Sandra G. Treadway, Librarian of Virginia

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Brown Teacher Institute Set for July 22–23, 2013

The Library of Virginia is gearing up for its fourth annual Anne and Ryland Brown Teacher Institute, to be held July 22–23. Titled Picturing the Old Dominion, this year's institute will introduce educators to the vast collection of images housed at the Library of Virginia and demonstrate how images can engage learners. Focusing on several photography exhibitions at the Library, educators will learn about the value of images as historic documents, as well as how they were created and how to engage a classroom of students with a thoughtful analysis of them.

Several guest speakers are on board to lead interesting sessions:

  • Award-winning editorial cartoonist Steve Artley will present samples of his work and show the progression of his creative progress as he wittily lampoons lawmakers and society.
  • Dr. Anne Canning from the Library of Congress’s Teaching with Primary Sources program will guide educators on the use of primary sources, the “building blocks” of history.
  • Jason Spellman from Richmond National Battlefield Park will demonstrate his artistry in a rare antique medium: 19th-century wet-plate photography, the method used by Civil War–era photographers.
  • Twyla Kitts, teacher programs educator with the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, will offer a session on visual literacy.

In addition, several Library staff members will highlight collections in the Library’s holdings of more 350,000 photographs. Sessions will explore unexpected places to find images—such as State Records, for example—and show how images from the Library’s collections can be used across academic disciplines.

The sessions are carefully crafted to help Virginia educators fulfill their Standards of Learning teaching goals and will count toward recertification points. The Brown Institute also provides an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded educators from across the state and learn new ways to inspire young learners to dig a little deeper into Virginia’s rich history.

We urge educators to register quickly, as the Brown Institute is already half full! Virginia educators can register for free and reserve a box lunch for purchase from our Discovery Café. Registration required before July 1, 2013.

–submitted by Adrienne Robertson, Education and Outreach Services

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Database Spotlight: Mergent Online

Mergent Online provides access to business and financial information for thousands of U.S. and international companies. The U.S. Company Data module includes 15,000 U.S. public companies listed on the NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ exchanges with SEC filings (real-time and archived) back to 1993 and a collection of over 40,000 annual reports. The International Company Data module contains information on 20,000 non-U.S. companies including more than 75,000 annual reports.

Mergent FactSheets (available for 1,500 U.S. companies) provide critical investment information, including summaries of recent quarterly results, analyses of future prospects, income statement and balance sheet information, key operating statistics, and ratios. The database also provides access to insider trading records of all share buys and sells by U.S. corporate officers and directors for the past six months, as well as corporate histories, which show changes in ownership structure.

The U.S. Company Archives Data and International Company Archives Data modules contain detailed information for U.S. companies (1996 forward) and non-U.S. companies (1995 forward) that were acquired, went bankrupt, were liquidated, or merged out of existence. The firms' final balance sheets, income statements, capital structures, business histories, and the names of their officers and directors are provided.

Searches can be done by company name or ticker symbol in the basic search mode. The advanced search mode allows users to locate information by entering specific criteria such as SIC code(s), geographical area(s), revenues, profits, and keywords. Users can export company reports and financials into software applications such as Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Your Library of Virginia library card is your key to exploring this wonderful resource. Stop by the Library to get a card today and visit the Library’s Using the Collections page to begin your research!

–submitted by Lisa Wehrmann, Public Services and Outreach

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Public Libraries to Receive New Electronic Resources from the Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the availability of two exciting, free electronic resources for public libraries across the Commonwealth of Virginia:

  • Zinio for Libraries was named Best New Database of 2012 by Library Journal. It is the world’s largest newsstand, offering multi-user access to popular publications.
  • OneClickdigital is an online service that allows patrons to download a wide range of audiobooks, including best sellers, Recorded Books exclusives, classics, selections for children and young adults, and much more.

These two resources are made possible by the Library of Virginia with funding from the Library Services and Technology Act administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, in partnership with RBdigital from Recorded Books, of Prince Frederick, Maryland.

Through public library websites, library users will have unlimited simultaneous access to complete digital magazines, which can be viewed on most Internet-enabled devices inside or outside of the library. Zinio’s technology digitally recreates a magazine page for page, including full-color pictures, using intuitive navigation, key-word article search, and interactive elements such as audio and video. Good Housekeeping; National Geographic; O, The Oprah Magazine; and Readers Digest are just a few of the popular titles available.

Patrons will have free access to downloadable audio books at home, in the library, or on the go through OneClickdigital. Many titles offer multi-access, so multiple users can check out a given title at the same time, eliminating holds. OneClickdigital is compatible with all popular listening devices and mobile apps available for the iPhone®, Android™, and Kindle Fire. OneClickdigital features an easy-to-use interface with streamlined navigation, fast downloads, and automatic software updates. Live, toll-free technical support is available at 1-877-77AUDIO.

“The introduction of these exciting electronic resources allows us to better reach and serve the patrons of Virginia today as we embrace the digital age.” said Carol Adams, library development assistant director at the Library of Virginia

Please see a library staff member at your local public library for more information on how to access this service, or go to your library’s website.

—submitted by Carol Adams, Library Development and Networking Services

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Shaunna Hunter Wins Modern Archives Institute Scholarship

The Virginia State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) is pleased to announce that Shaunna E. Hunter of Hampden-Sydney College is the winner of its 2013 Modern Archives Institute scholarship. Hunter serves as a public services librarian at the college and oversees the care of its manuscript collections.

The Modern Archives Institute is a two-week course of study offered by the National Archives and Records Administration, in cooperation with the Library of Congress, and is designed to introduce participants to archival theory and practice and the responsibilities of archival work. Hunter will attend the June 3–14 Institute in Washington, DC, and the scholarship will cover the full cost of her tuition. Funding for this opportunity was provided by a generous grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

SHRAB serves as the central advisory body for historical records planning and related projects developed and carried out in Virginia and seeks to promote and support the preservation of and access to the commonwealth's public and private historical records. SHRAB is committed to promoting archival education throughout the state and education is a key component of the Board’s strategic plan. The Board has thirteen members appointed by the governor’s office and is led by state archivist and state coordinator Sandra G. Treadway. For more information about the Virginia State Historical Records Advisory Board, please visit: www.lva.virginia.gov/about/staff/shra_board.asp.

–submitted by Carl Childs, Archives, Records and Collections Services

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The Great Big Teacher Thank You Campaign Launched to Support Virginia's Summer Reading Program

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce a month-long statewide campaign aimed at honoring teachers through gifts to Virginia's Summer Reading Program.

The Great Big Teacher Thank You campaign lasts through June 21. The campaign offers a streamlined opportunity for students to make a gift to fund Virginia's public library summer reading program with a donation in honor of their teachers.

"It's well documented that reading books over the summer can enhance the reading achievements of students and reduce skill loss over the summer break if the books closely match student's reading levels and interest," said Mary Beth McIntire, executive director of the Library of Virginia Foundation. "The summer reading program is carried out enthusiastically by public libraries throughout the commonwealth, but funding is always needed to continue to support and promote the program effectively."

The Great Big Teacher Thank You is administered through PlanG, an online platform that provides a safe and convenient way to make charitable giving easy for everyone.

To make a gift, simply click on www.myplang.com.

Once a gift is made, the giver has the option to create a "thank you" note that can easily be e-mailed to the teacher.

–submitted by Betsy Moss, Library of Virginia Foundation

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Support the Library of Virginia at the Arts and Cultural Xpo!

Join the Library of Virginia at the Arts and Cultural Xpo on June 29 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, located at 403 North Third Street in downtown Richmond. We will be at Booth 98, highlighting the Library and our photography exhibitions, from 10 AM until 5 PM. You can park for free at the Third and Marshall deck.

The Arts and Culture Xpo (formerly known as the Cultsha Xpo) is an annual event presented by CultureWorks spotlighting the Richmond region’s nonprofit arts and culture organizations. It is a gathering for anyone who values arts and culture in our community!

The Arts and Culture Xpo is an explosion of the arts, history, science, and family fun for the Richmond Region—all under one roof on one day. The day features:

  • FREE admission.
  • FREE performances on two stages from local arts and culture organizations, including music, visual art, theater, history, dance, and more!
  • Opportunities to learn about memberships, classes, tickets, subscriptions, performances, education programs, and so much more from more than 100 local participating arts and culture organizations.
  • FREE money—XpoBucks—for registered Cultural Shareholders to use at the event with any of the participating nonprofit organizations. Any preregistered Shareholder is guaranteed at least $10 in XpoBucks.

A Cultural Shareholder is anyone of voting age who recognizes the value of arts and culture in helping to build great communities. There is no fee to be a Shareholder, but registration is required. Shareholders receive benefits including a weekly list of unadvertised arts and culture weekend bargains and are asked to share their opinions on issues confronting the Richmond region through a monthly survey. Currently there are more than 4,600 Cultural Shareholders registered.

At the Xpo, a mystery amount of XpoBucks ($5–$100 in dollar amounts) will be provided to every registered Cultural Shareholder. XpoBucks can be used just like real cash at the Xpo to purchase subscriptions, renew memberships, buy tickets, make general donations, register for classes, etc. Participating nonprofit arts and culture organizations receive .90˘ from CultureWorks for every remitted XpoBuck. At the 2012 Xpo, $75,000 was distributed.

To see a list of the 2013 participating organizations, visit www.richmondcultureworks.org.

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