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The Library of Virginia e-Newsletter
May 2010


News

Click any excerpt below to read the full article.

Virginia Military Dead - 45,000 Stories to Tell

This month’s update of the Virginia Military Dead database (www.lva.virginia.gov/public/guides/vmd) marks its eighth-and-one-half year of existence. Although work on the database has always been done on an as-time-permits basis...

Cast Your Vote for the 7th Annual People's Choice Awards

The Library of Virginia is pleased to announce the finalists for the 7th Annual People’s Choice Awards. Finalists in fiction and nonfiction were selected by an independent panel of judges from the books nominated for the 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards...

Spring Sale in the Virginia Shop

Just in time for Mother's Day—the Virginia Shop holds a spring sale on Friday, May 7, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM. Celebrate spring with a 25 percent discount on all note cards, cookbooks, journals, and Virginia-made food products. From 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM the shop will feature samples of Virginia's Finest food and beverages including...

Virginia Libraries Receive American Dream Grants

Two Virginia libraries are among 70 public libraries in 21 states that have been selected by the American Library Association to receive $5,000 grants as part of “The American Dream Starts @ your library®” literacy initiative...

Brownstone Book Fund Enriches Lives of Children through Gift of Books

Forty Virginia public libraries received an unexpected but very welcome gift of 100 new children’s books from the Brownstone Family Foundation, a nonprofit private foundation headquartered in New York City. Diane Brownstone, director of the Brownstone Book Fund, contacted Librarian of Virginia Sandra G. Treadway and asked her...

Image FXCO-LIB-011. Fairfax County Public Library Photograph Archive, Fairfax County Public Library. LVA Hosts Fairfax County Library Historical Photographs

When staff members at the Fairfax County Public Library learned that their new integrated library system could not deliver digital images from their historical photograph collection, they asked the Library of Virginia for help...

Library of Virginia Offers "Friends of the Library" Workshops in May

The Library of Virginia’s Library Development and Networking Division will offer a series of workshops for Friends of Libraries members, library trustees, and library staff in May at six locations around the state. Friends groups are enthusiastic library supporters who believe in the importance of libraries as the social and intellectual centers of communities...

Transfer of Outgoing Governor's Papers

The Library of Virginia houses the official records of all Virginia’s governors from Patrick Henry to the last sitting governor. Events in Virginia history and government ranging from the momentous to the mundane are chronicled in letters, reports, lists, legal documents, petitions, proclamations, appointments, applications, messages, and other types of documents...

Photographs of 2010 Women in History Event Available on Shutterfly

If you have ever attended a Library of Virginia event, the chances are you saw one of the Library’s photographers (either Pierre Courtois or Paige Buchbinder) taking photographs of speakers, panelists, honorees, or the audience. Now the Library has a way for you to see these photographs...

Library Is on the Road to Revolution

The Road to Revolution Heritage Trail, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 2007, links historic sites in Virginia that interpret the life of Patrick Henry, orator of the American Revolution. The Library of Virginia holds numerous executive papers from the five-term governor of Virginia as well as...

Snapshot: A Day in the Life of Virginia's Libraries

Libraries all over Virginia held a “Snapshot Day” between April 19 and 30 to collect information and photos illustrating the impact that Virginia libraries make in their communities on a typical day...

Women in History Honoree's Papers Available for Researchers at LVA

The Library maintains an active program to acquire the papers of members of the Virginia General Assembly. Legislative collections document the work of government and shed light on issues that were important to the citizens of the commonwealth at a particular time...
Fun & Free at the library in May
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.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Where History Begins-A Workshop for Virginia’s Local Historical Societies at the Library of Virginia
The Where History Begins workshop will provide an opportunity for networking and cooperation among societies across the commonwealth. Society members, staff, and volunteers are encouraged to register for this exciting day of presentations, discussion, and behind-the-scenes tours of the Library of Virginia. For more information, please call 804-692-3648.

May 7—mid-October 2010

The Art of Liberty
This year marks the 65th anniversary of both V-E Day (Victory in Europe, May 8) and V-J Day (Victory over Japan, August 15). To commemorate the occasions and to honor those who fought oversees and on the home front, The Art of Liberty exhibition highlights a few of the World War II posters sent to the Library of Virginia as part of the Federal Depository Library program.

Friday, May 7, 2010

First Fridays East
Richmond's popular arts and cultural program First Fridays Art Walk makes a special expansion east this spring to connect with the Library of Virginia, Richmond CenterStage, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and University of Richmond Downtown. In celebration of the Library of Virginia’s exhibition The Land We Live In, the Land We Left: Virginia’s People, Mary Smith and Gregg Kimball will take you on a musical journey through America’s traditional music landscape, from ballads to blues. Enjoy demonstrations by local area artists in the main lobby.

The Horse in Virginia Friday, May 11, 2010

The Horse in Virginia
Julia Campbell, associate director of communications and public affairs at Washington & Lee University, will discus and sign her beautifully illustrated new book covering the complete history of the horse in the Old Dominion. The Horse in Virginia celebrates the unique and enduring equine tradition in the commonwealth.

May 17—June 30, 2010

Voting for the People's Choice Awards
Visit the Library of Virginia’s Web site http://www.lva.virginia.gov/vote to vote for your choice for the People’s Choice Awards for fiction and nonfiction. Winners will be announced at the Library of Virginia Literary Awards Celebration on October 16, 2010. Dominion is the sponsor of the 2010 Literary Awards.

The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors Thursday, May 20, 2010

"Books on Broad" Book Club Meeting Featuring Michele Young-Stone
Join us for an informal gathering where Michele Young-Stone will speak about and read from her debut novel, The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Ireland Meets Appalachia: A Conversation in Music
Please join us 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.

When Janey Comes Marching Home Wednesday, June 2, 2010

When Janey Comes Marching Home
Laura Browder, author of Her Best Shot: Women and Guns in America and an English professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, will speak about her book When Janey Comes Marching Home. The book, which grew out of an exhibition created by Browder that combined interviews and photographs to tell the story of women in modern combat, explores the myths and cultural ideas surrounding the military, motherhood, and femininity. Photographer Sascha Pflaeging also will be present to answer questions and sign books.

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