The UncommonWealth – Voices from The Library of Virginia

Black Lung Still Kills: Pneumoconiosis in the Commonwealth

When I clicked on a recent National Public Radio story about Black Lung disease in Appalachia, I expected the story…

Who Owns the Story of Lottie Moon?

In the early 1960s, the Girls Auxiliary at First Baptist Church in Virginia Beach was popular with the congregation's parents. A national program founded by…

Leila ChristenburySeptember 16, 2026

Public Libraries

Picturing Where Stories Live: A Look Inside

Founded in 1928, Massanutten Regional Library (MRL) is a seven-branch system that serves over 160,000 residents in the city of Harrisonburg, Page County, and Rockingham…

Your Local Public LibrarianSeptember 14, 2026

The Stacks

Transforming the Future of Libraries & Archives 2026

For college students, summertime is invaluable. This period away from school can take many forms. It’s perfect for catching up on sleep, scheduling those oft-ignored…

Rachel Murphy-WeastSeptember 9, 2026

Archives Digital Projects

Old School Tech

Many school librarians now-a-days take care of more than just books. Some have even been given the title “Media Specialist” (rather than the more traditional…

Jessi BennettSeptember 2, 2026

Archives Digital Projects Manuscripts & Special Collections

Six Bills of Sale, Seven Enslaved People

When I first listened to a voicemail from Boyd Greever back in March of this year, I assumed he just wanted to chat about his…

Lydia NeurothAugust 26, 2026

Archives Manuscripts & Special Collections

More Than a Policy: Enslaved Life Insurance and Virginia’s Industrial Economy

Many of us know what a life insurance policy looks like. Even if we have never owned one, we understand its basic purpose: a person…

Michelle Evans OliverAugust 24, 2026

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