WHISK
at the Library of Virginia Now Open
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WHISK, a popular Shockoe Bottom bakery known for its inventive takes on French and
American pastries, now has a location in our lobby. Open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, WHISK at the Library of Virginia offers indoor and outdoor
seating. The menu includes handcrafted sandwiches, salads and soups made with
locally sourced ingredients as well as a full-service coffee, espresso and
smoothie bar. Online ordering is available at whiskrva.com/library.
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Learn About the Creation
of the First Official
Map of the Commonwealth
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Join us on Jan. 22 at noon for a virtual presentation on the
ambitious 19th-century mapping project that resulted in the publication of the
first official map of the Commonwealth — one of the first official state maps in
the nation. The Library of Virginia’s senior map archivist, Cassandra Farrell,
will discuss the efforts and surveying teams involved in producing the detailed
manuscript maps for each county that were required to create the Virginia state
map — often called “the general map” in correspondence from the time.
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This event complements the Library’s exhibition “Mapping the
Commonwealth, 1816–1826,” on view through June 7, 2025, which presents
examples from 40 manuscript maps that attest to the dedication, skill and stamina
of surveying teams who worked without the benefit of GPS and today's technology.
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2025
First Fridays at LVA Series Begins in February
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Quarterly First Fridays events at the Library of Virginia return on Feb. 7
at 5 p.m. with the theme Virginia Stories: Children. View works from
local artists as well as related items from our collections. Engage with the theme
by creating paper dolls in our makerspace. And don’t miss special performances by
SPARC, Richmond’s youth performing arts education program. You can also explore
our current exhibition and visit the Virginia Shop for books and gifts.
The series continues on April 4, Sept. 5 and Nov. 7. To submit artwork for the
Library’s First Fridays events, please complete this
application.
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Book
Talk With Linwood Norman Explores Doug Wilder’s Term as Richmond’s
Mayor
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Join us on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at noon for a free talk by author
Linwood Norman on his new book, “When Mayor Doug Wilder Ruled Richmond: Strong-Arm
Politics in Virginia’s Capital City.” Our nation’s first elected Black governor,
L. Douglas Wilder, returned to public service in 2005 as the first popularly
elected mayor of Richmond in 60 years. Despite his landslide election, voters may
have had little idea what they were getting themselves into, as many were
ill-prepared for Wilder’s strong style of leadership. Norman, a former press
secretary to the mayor, skillfully recounts the turmoil of Richmond’s transition
to the “strong mayor” model of local government.
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Read &
Discuss the Best of Today’s Virginia Literature in a Monthly Book
Group
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Did you know that the Library has a virtual book group that meets monthly? On the
second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m., the Literary Virginia Book Group
discusses works by finalists and winners of the Virginia Literary Awards. It’s
easy to join the online book discussions. February’s book is “Against
Technoableism: Rethinking Who Needs Improvement” by Ashley Shew (a 2024 Virginia
Literary Award for Nonfiction finalist).
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Don’t
Miss the Virginia Shop’s January Book Sale
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Save 40% on all books! Curl up with some great reads, including Virginia history,
memoir, politics and travel, as well as historical and literary fiction, mystery
and poetry by Virginia authors. Browse the book selection in-store or online at thevirginiashop.org. Shop early for the widest selection!
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