Deaf
History Month Event & Exhibition
Explore the History of a Shared
Signing Community
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In honor of April as Deaf History Month, the
Library of Virginia will present a talk on
Saturday, April 22 at 10:00
a.m. and a panel exhibition in
our lobby running April
1–30 on the history of the
Lantz Mills deaf village and shared signing
community in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
ASL interpretation will be provided during
the talk.
Between 1740 and 1970, Lantz Mills,
Virginia, was home to many families with a
mix of hearing and deaf parents and at least
one or more deaf siblings. The village
became a shared signing community, the term
used to describe a locality where both the
hearing and deaf members use a shared visual
language to communicate. Deaf historian and
advocate Kathleen Brockway, who is also a
Lantz Mills deaf village descendant, will
discuss this intriguing story. A six-panel
traveling exhibition features the history of
prominent deaf villagers such as the Hollar
and Christian families, deaf members’
involvement in local businesses, and even a
budding romance within the community. Both
the talk and exhibition are free.
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Volunteer
with the Library of
Virginia!
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The Library is looking for volunteers to
help staff our information desk and conduct
tours of our exhibitions. Volunteers are
essential to the enhancement of day-to-day
operations and enrichment of Library
services and programs.
- Information Desk volunteers will provide
crucial information to patrons visiting
the Library.
- Tour Guide volunteers will lead in-depth
tours of the Library’s exhibitions.
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Brown
Teacher Research Fellowship
Applications Due May
12
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The Anne & Ryland Brown Teacher Research
Fellowship program enhances knowledge and
training in history and social science
instruction in Virginia by providing
educators the opportunity for in-depth study
and the development of teaching
materials.
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This year’s Brown Fellowships focus on local
stories and histories that have typically
been hidden or neglected from mainstream
narratives. The Library seeks one educator
each from four of the Virginia Department of
Education superintendent’s regions.
Applications are due by Friday, May
12, 2023.
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Artwork
and Open Mic Performers Sought for
First Fridays Events
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The Library is accepting artwork submissions
for “First Fridays Exhibitions – Virginia
Stories” for events on June 2, Aug. 4 and
Dec. 1. Works should explore Virginia
experiences, communities or culture and
submissions must include a paragraph
describing the Virginia story told by the
artwork. Virginia artists of all ages and
skill levels are eligible to enter.
Submissions for
the June 2 event are due by May 1,
2023.
We
are also seeking open mic performers for
First Fridays events. Poets, writers,
songwriters and other performers of all ages
and abilities may use 10 minutes at the mic.
Find the guidelines
here.
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Online
Poetry Reading Showcases Virginia
Authors
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Help us celebrate Poetry Month with a free
online event on Thursday, April 27
at 6 p.m. A group of poets from
throughout the state will read from their
work featured in The Southern Poetry
Anthology Volume IX: Virginia.
Poets Tara Bray and Lynda Fleet Perry will
introduce the speakers and lead a Q&A
session following the readings.
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Bill
Leighty Shares "Capitol Secrets" at
May 3 Book Event
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Join us at the Library on Wednesday,
May 3 at 6 p.m. for a talk on
Capitol Secrets: An Insider's View of a
Life of Public Leadership, a new
memoir by William H. "Bill" Leighty, senior
strategic advisor to the dean of the L.
Douglas Wilder School of Government and
Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth
University.
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Podcaster and journalist Zach Cooley will
lead Leighty in a conversation about the
complex workings of government at a very
high level — the Office of the Governor.
Leighty served as chief of staff to
Governors Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, among
other government positions. His book offers
behind-the-scenes stories of Capitol Square
personalities and happenings as well as
insights into the training and personal
commitment it takes to be a successful
public servant.
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DID
YOU KNOW?
The Library’s Outreach
Efforts Began in
1904
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The
Library of Virginia implemented a traveling
libraries program in 1904. Any group of 10
taxpayers could apply to have a collection
of books sent to their community free of
charge. These traveling libraries were often
set up in general stores, churches and
schools and overseen by women’s clubs and
community groups.
As
part of its efforts to increase offerings
statewide, that year the Library also began
an inter-library loan program, enabling any
library in Virginia to borrow books from our
collection and the Library to borrow books
from institutions worldwide. The Library
continues to fill thousands of inter-library
loan requests every year.
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