RICHMOND, VIRGINIA – The Library of Virginia Foundation has been awarded a $349,888 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to fund a critical storage and preservation upgrade at the Library of Virginia designed to support collections growth and maintain the highest standards in safeguarding historic materials. The award is part of $34.79 million in NEH grants for 97 humanities projects across the country announced earlier this month.

“The National Endowment for the Humanities is proud to support research, exhibitions, teacher training and preservation projects that examine and illuminate our history, literature and culture,” said NEH Acting Chairman Michael McDonald. “These NEH grants will produce new resources and media that will help Americans meaningfully engage with the nation’s founding principles as we approach the U.S. Semiquincentennial and ensure that educators, students and the public have access to accurate, informative materials that deepen our understanding of the American story.” 

Awarded through NEH’s Sustaining Cultural Heritage Collections program, the grant will support new equipment and furniture to reconfigure a portion of the Library’s fourth-floor storage area, which houses archival records, the state art collection, and large-format and oversized materials. The storage upgrade is expected to improve staff and researcher access to collections, relieve overcrowding and enhance long-term preservation outcomes.

“We’re truly grateful for the National Endowment for the Humanities’ support of our efforts to maintain best-in-class stewardship of our historical materials,” said Dennis T. Clark, Librarian of Virginia. “This funding helps to enhance our protection of these important collections that hold the stories of Virginia and our nation. Updating part of the Library’s fourth-floor storage area means we can optimize preservation of these materials without increasing our carbon footprint or needing more space and costly environmental controls.” 

This initiative is Phase 1 of a four-phase plan to reconfigure 10,752 square feet of the 59,000-square-foot fourth-floor storage area. The total project cost is more than $500,000. The Library of Virginia Foundation plans to raise the remaining funds.

“We are incredibly grateful to the NEH for continuing to support the Library in service to Virginia and the stories of those that built the Commonwealth we know today,” said Scott Dodson, Executive Director of the Library of Virginia Foundation. “The NEH is an invaluable partner to so many institutions that preserve and share our collective experiences, ensuring that future generations can learn from and be inspired by the rich tapestry of our nation’s history, literature and people.” 

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ABOUT THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA AND FOUNDATION
The Library of Virginia is the leading source of information on Virginia’s history, government and people. The Library’s collections, containing more than 134 million items, document and illustrate the lives of both famous Virginians and ordinary citizens. Our online resources draw nearly 2 million website visits per year, and our on-site records, exhibitions and events bring in thousands of visitors annually. The Library is located in downtown Richmond near Capitol Square at 800 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. Learn more at www.lva.virginia.gov. 

The Library of Virginia Foundation supports the Library of Virginia and its mission by raising private financial support, managing its endowment, and helping to bring Virginia’s history and culture to life. Learn more at www.lvafoundation.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES (NEH)  

Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at neh.gov.