Commemorate Juneteenth with Freedom on Paper

In celebration of Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States, visitors to the Library of Virginia will have the rare opportunity to view a selection of "Free Negro Registers” displayed in the lobby. Freedom on Paper: An Exhibition of “Free Negro Registers” from the Virginia Untold Project runs June 13–27, 2022.

These records demonstrate Virginia's efforts to control and regulate its growing free Black population from the late 18th century to the Civil War. The registers provide the names, ages, and physical descriptions of free Black and multiracial individuals who were required to register in their Virginia locality.

On Friday, June 17, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM, Lydia Neuroth, project manager for Virginia Untold, will be on hand to answer questions about the records and discuss the Library’s efforts to digitize, preserve, and make them more accessible.

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Explore Civic Season: Juneteenth to the 4th of July!

In partnership with Made by Us, a coalition of history museums and civic education organizations, the Library of Virginia presents Civic Season, an initiative to inspire and empower Virginians to become more engaged citizens. From Juneteenth (June 19) through July 4th, we encourage you to explore a series of Civic Challenges on thought-provoking topics from the Library’s resources and the Made by Us website.

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Warren Eugene Milteer Presents Beyond Slavery’s Shadow

Join us at the Library on Thursday, June 9, at 6:00 PM for a conversation with historian and author Warren Eugene Milteer Jr. on his new book, Beyond Slavery’s Shadow: Free People of Color in the South. On the eve of the Civil War, most people of color in the United States toiled in bondage. Yet nearly half a million of these individuals, including over 250,000 in the South, were free. In the face of attempts to deny them the most basic privileges and rights, free people of color defended their families and established organizations and businesses. A book signing will follow this free talk, which complements the Library’s exhibition Your Humble Petitioner.

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Library Sponsors Summer Reading Programs

Summer reading programs help children and teens retain and enhance their reading skills over the summer, provide a haven and a community for readers, and are a valuable outreach tool for libraries. The Library of Virginia supports public libraries’ summer learning programs with federal funds provided by the Institute of Museum of Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act. This summer’s theme is “Oceans of Possibilities,” and public libraries will receive a free subscription to Beanstack, an online tracking program, among other materials.

We’re Loving Summer in Virginia!

Celebrate summer in the commonwealth with “Virginia is for Lovers” gear from the Virginia Shop! From T-shirts and hats to tumblers and campfire mugs, we’ve got you covered. We even have bandanas for your furry friends! Shop in-store or online.