The UncommonWealth – Voices from The Library of Virginia

By Guest Contributor In Public Libraries

Infinite Possibilities for Math and Art at the Library

In November 2025, the J. Robert Jamerson Memorial Library received an email that stopped us in our tracks: “Congratulations! The…

Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

Ambition: To Be A Success

Ambition: To Be Successful In the 1950s and 1960s it was fashionable to ask high school seniors what their life's ambition was and to place…

Jessi BennettFebruary 4, 2026

Archives Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

25 Years of Connecting Users with Archival Collections

The Library of Virginia’s archival collections can be discovered online at the Archival Resources of the Virginias (ARVAS). ARVAS is a finding aid aggregator. Virginia…

Karen KingFebruary 2, 2026

Archives Newspapers

There’s Blood in the Salad

I was sitting in my office indexing coroners’ inquisitions as I do most days. My badge hung heavily around my neck. I could feel the…

Mary Ann Mason, They/ThemJanuary 28, 2026

The Stacks Virginia Authors

New Books – January 2026

The Library of Virginia's first-floor lobby and Exhibition Gallery are open Monday-Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The second-floor Reading Rooms are open Tuesday-Friday, 9:00…

Annie HattonJanuary 26, 2026

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections Public Libraries

Virginia’s Coal Towns

In his diary on July 18, 1709, William Byrd of Westover remarked, "Tom returned from Falling Creek and brought me word all was well there…

Vince BrooksJanuary 21, 2026

Archives Education & Programming Manuscripts & Special Collections

Taking Office: Gubernatorial Inaugurations in Virginia

Editor’s Note: This blog post contains information from the Library of Virginia's 2001–2002 exhibition, "Taking Office: Inaugurations of Virginia's Governors," curated by Barbara Batson and…

Library of VirginiaJanuary 14, 2026

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