June 2019 Newsletter

New Online Catalog: Improved Searching Starts June 5

The Library of Virginia will begin using a new online catalog and collection discovery system on June 5, 2019, that will improve the user experience, including:

• A more modern, intuitive, and user-friendly design, similar to other library catalogs and major online platforms
• Search results ranked by relevance and the ability to refine your search as you would on Amazon or other shopping sites
• Stronger security for account holder information
• Coming soon! Search integration with the Library’s digital collections and databases

The Library's current catalog, implemented in 2003, was beginning to show its age. The new online catalog system was made possible through a special appropriation passed during the 2018 session of the Virginia General Assembly.

The new system will require some changes to our registration and library card processes. All accounts must be renewed starting June 5, 2019. Thank you for your patience as we bring all of our resources into the new system and make adjustments as needed.

For more details, visit our Introduction & FAQs page. If you still have questions, contact the Library Reference Desk at refdesk@lva.virginia.gov or 804.692.3777.

Voting Runs Through June 30 for the People’s Choice Awards

Cast your vote for the Library of Virginia's 16th Annual People's Choice Awards, part of our annual Literary Awards Celebration. Selected by input from Virginia librarians and independent booksellers, the finalists represent the most-requested titles by Virginia authors in fiction and nonfiction published in the past year. For nonfiction, books on a Virginia subject are also eligible. Winners will be announced at the Literary Awards Celebration on Saturday, October 19, 2019. Tickets are now on sale!

If you prefer to vote by paper ballot, you may print a copy and mail it to:
Library of Virginia Foundation
Attn: 2019 People's Choice Voting
800 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

This year's fiction finalists for the People's Choice Awards are:

This year's nonfiction finalists for the People's Choice Awards are:

The Library Launches a New Meetup Group: Sharing the Table with #NewVirginians

Foodways link us to culture, history, and tradition—and they’re more delicious when shared! In conjunction with our exhibition New Virginians: 1619–2019 & Beyond, which examines the state's increasing diversity, the Library is hosting a new Meetup group around culinary and cultural exploration. We will gather at local immigrant-owned restaurants to build community and hear the owners’ personal stories about sharing their cuisine with the commonwealth. Join us to enjoy fabulous food and learn about the culture and experiences of our newer neighbors.

Meetup is a national online organization that helps facilitate in-person social occasions. To attend any of our events, you'll need to join Meetup as well as our specific “Sharing the Table with #NewVirginians" group. Attendees pay for their own food and drinks at our partner restaurants. Many events have limited seating and will fill up quickly. Watch for future events to be added soon. Each event is filled on a first-come, first-served basis and there is an automated waiting list. For more information, contact Cindy Marks at exhibits.lva@gmail.com or 804.692.3805.

Summer Reading Program: It’s Showtime at Your Library!

Summer reading equals summer learning. Research shows that children who read for pleasure in the summer do better and forget less when they go back to school. And it’s not just in reading. Kids who don't read over the summer can slide backward in all subject areas. This means the summer months and other breaks from school offer great opportunities for families and caregivers to help improve reading and writing. Children and teens who participate in summer library programs benefit from activities and opportunities that promote literacy development and help to counter summer slide.

The Library of Virginia supports libraries in these endeavors by encouraging children and teens to improve their skills over the summer through reading and using their public libraries. This summer’s theme, “It’s Showtime at Your Library!,” features images of all types of performance—from movies and theater to puppetry, dance, poetry, videos, and more. The Library supports public libraries’ summer learning programs with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum of Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. Visit your local Virginia public library to see what’s planned in your neighborhood.

Plan for Street Closures Near the Library in June

The Virginia Department of General Services is beginning work on a pedestrian tunnel under 9th Street as part of the General Assembly Building project. The work will impact travel on a section of the street through part of the summer. All lanes of 9th Street between Grace and Broad Streets will be closed to traffic through at least the end of June. A pedestrian walkway will remain accessible. The closure will include the following changes to nearby streets:

• All northbound traffic on 9th Street will be redirected at Grace Street.
• The eastbound lanes of Grace Street will end at 8th Street; northbound traffic should use 7th Street and southbound traffic will be diverted on 8th Street.
• No public street parking will be allowed from 8th to 9th Streets on Grace Street.

For more information, visit the DGS Alerts page.

Support the Library of Virginia Foundation's Fiscal Year Wrap-Up

Help the Library of Virginia Foundation finish the fiscal year strong on June 30, 2019! Your gift provides vital support for the Library and its programs.

Donations starting at $50 provide all the benefits that come with membership, including an annual print subscription to Broadside, our quarterly magazine; 10 percent off all purchases at the Virginia Shops; and invitations to special members-only events and programs.

Whether it’s time for you to renew or you want to join us for the first time, it’s easy to donate. You can print and mail the form located on the Library's website, visit us online at www.thevirginiashop.org/foundation-membership.aspx, or call Dawn Greggs at 804.692.3813.

Thank you to all our annual patrons and supporters. We appreciate your generosity.