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The Library of Virginia e-Newsletter
February 2010


News

Click any excerpt below to read the full article.

Theroux to Discuss The Journal Keeper: A Memoir

On March 2 at 6 PM join news journalist and author Roger Mudd as he introduces fellow author Phyllis Theroux for a discussion of Theroux’s new book, The Journal Keeper. A born storyteller, Theroux slips her arm companionably into yours, as if taking you for a short stroll...

2010 African American Trailblazers in Virginia History Are Online

The eight individuals honored as 2010 African American Trailblazers in Virginia are now featured on the Library of Virginia’s Web site with a biography and primary sources on the lives and accomplishments of each Trailblazer...

The Craft of Writing: A Workshop with Steve Berry offered March 11 to raise funds for collections conservation

Stories with history, secrets, conspiracies, action, adventure, and international settings are the kinds of books Steve Berry likes to read, so when it came to writing novels, he gravitated toward writing what he loves as reader...

Library of Virginia to Offer "Black Belt Librarians" Workshop

The Library of Virginia's Library Development and Networking Division will offer a library security workshop entitled "Black Belt Librarians" in March at three locations around the state. Presenter Warren Graham, nationally renowned as an expert on day-to-day library security procedures, has been a security professional for 25 years and spent the last 17...

Emblidge Joins Library Board

Dr. Mark E. Emblidge of Richmond, an affiliate professor and director of the Literacy Institute at Virginia Commonwealth University, was appointed to the Library Board in December 2009 by outgoing Governor Timothy M. Kaine. Emblidge fills the seat previously held by Henry Wiencek...

Tangier Sound "Lay... as Thick as Stones": The Baylor Survey and Virginia's Oyster Industry

Oysters have been a significant part of Virginia's culture and industry for more than four centuries. Maintaining and cultivating the oyster population has been a struggle for more than a quarter of that time. From early accounts in Virginia, the oyster population has declined significantly in both number and size...

Where History Begins - A Workshop for Virginia's Local Historical Societies

Where History Begins, a workshop for local historical societies, will be held on Monday, May 3, 2010, at the Library of Virginia. This workshop is made possible by a generous State and National Archival Partnership (SNAP) grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission...

Traveling Exhibitions Available

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce two traveling exhibitions for 2010 available for six-week loan periods to local libraries, small museums, and historical societies...

One-Stop Shopping this Valentine's Day

Join us for the Virginia Shop's customer appreciation event, February 10. Find the perfect gift for Valentine's Day at the Virginia Shop, now offering...

Janis Martin 2010 Virginia Women in History Program Honors Eight Outstanding Women

A ground-breaking architect, a renowned folk artist, a patron of the arts, and a rockabilly singer known as the "female Elvis" are among eight Virginia women recognized by the Library of Virginia as part of its Virginia Women in History program...

"We Love Libraries!" Lottery Grants Available

The Kingstowne Library in Alexandria, Virginia, is the January winner of the Sisters in Crime’s first "We Love Libraries" lottery. Monthly grants of $1,000 will be awarded from January through December 2010. The Sisters in Crime organization has nearly 4,000 members in 48 chapters worldwide...

Contest Relays How Libraries Save You Money

What makes your library special to your community? How does it enrich your life and those of your neighbors? How does it help you save money? The editors at Woman’s Day are asking you to tell them about it in an essay of 700 words or less. As part of the annual Woman’s Day/American Library Association essay contest, up to four women’s stories will be...
Fun & Free at the library in February
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.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Curator-led Tour of The Land We Live In, the Land We Left: Virginia's People
Join curator Lisa Goff for an in-depth tour of the exhibition, which explores immigrants' varied stories and their contributions to the state's increasingly diverse cultural composition. RSVP by February 8 to 804-692-9301. Space is limited.

Richmond Noir Thursday, February 11, 2010

Richmond Noir
Join us for the launch of Richmond Noir, a collection of short stories by local authors, featuring editors Andrew Blossom, Brian Castleberry, and Tom De Haven, with contributors Laura Browder, Dennis Danvers, Dean King, and Meagan Saunders.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

George Washington Day Weekend
LOBBY, READING ROOMS, AND STACKS WILL BE OPEN ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15. Someone will be in the main administrative offices, but otherwise Library staff offices will be closed.

Transforming Scriptures Thursday, February 18, 2010

Transforming Scriptures: African American Women Writers and the Bible
Associate professor of English at Virginia Commonwealth University and ordained minister Dr. Katherine Clay Bassard will discuss and sign her book Transforming Scriptures, which examines the work of African American women writers to explore their profound intellectual, even theological engagements with the Bible—the book that has been referred to as the “great code” of Western civilization. As the title indicates, these encounters with the Bible were, indeed, transformational, as black women writers both reshaped and were shaped by the scriptures they appropriated for their own self-representation. Cosponsored by the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia, VMFA Community Affairs, and VMFA Friends of African and African American Art.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Four American Presidents (But What Did They Have to Do with the Civil War?)
FEE: $35 (includes box lunch) for members of the Museum of the Confederacy and Library of Virginia donors; $50 for all others.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and John Tyler confronted issues and situations that presaged the dissolution of the Union in 1860–1861. This all-day symposium, sponsored by the Museum of the Confederacy and the Library of Virginia, will show how the thoughts and actions of four antebellum presidents help us better understand the coming of the Civil War. Reservations and pre-payment required.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Eight Ways to Accelerate Your Leadership Odyssey
FREE EVENT for high school students, registration required.
Call 804-692-3719. Dr. Christopher Howard, Rhodes Scholar, recipient of Bronze Star, the first African American president of Hampden-Sydney College, and 2010 African American Trailblazer in Virginia History, will speak to high school students on leadership.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

2010 African American Trailblazers: Program and Reception
Eight honorees—five historical (deceased) figures from the 17th through the 20th centuries as well as three contemporary African Americans—who have had a significant impact on the history of Virginia will be honored at this celebration hosted by Cheryl Miller, anchor, WTVR CBS 6. A reception follows the program. FREE but reservations required. Seating is limited. Call 804-692-3900 by February 22 to RSVP.

Looking Ahead

Please join us on April 10 for the 2010 Alan M. & Nathalie P. Voorhees Lecture on the History of Cartography. Ralph Ehrenberg will be our guest lecturer. He is an author and former chief of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress. He will speak on "Mapping the Geology of Virginia, 1740s–1890s." This free event will run from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 804-692-3900. Massey Energy is the exclusive sponsor of this year's Voorhees Lecture.

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