Archives Month in Virginia celebrates those individuals and institutions that help preserve and make accessible the important records of our actions as citizens, as businesses, as religious groups, as governments, and as a society. The work of these institutions and individuals gives us a sense of being part of a larger picture and helps us begin to see ourselves connected to others—whether to family, community, or nation or to a group defined by ethnicity, religion, work, or play.

This year marks the first annual statewide celebration of Virginia Archives Month. The effort to promote the importance of archives and archivists from Archives Week to Archives Month has been spearheaded by the Society of American Archivists. Again, the Library of Virginia, in conjunction with the Virginia Caucus of the Mid–Atlantic Regional Archives Conference (MARAC) and the Library of Virginia Foundation, has produced a poster commemorating the Commonwealth's archival and special collections repositories and the rich cultural record they protect.

This year’s theme, "Exploring New Worlds: Virginia’s Archives in Our Lives," highlights the importance of archives in the documentation of all facets of our daily lives. Whether preserving family papers, the history of recreation, or the impact of World War II, Virginia’s archival institutions make it their goal to preserve and protect our historical records. Through their diligence, the records of the Commonwealth will be available for generations to come.

The poster would not have been complete without the contribution of images from institutions across the state, including Arlington County Public Library, James Madison University, Roanoke Public Libraries, University of Mary Washington, University of Virginia Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections and Archives, University of Virginia Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, University of Virginia Law Library, Virginia Commonwealth University Tompkins–McCaw Library, Veterans Health Administration, Virginia Historical Society, and Virginia Union University.

The Library of Virginia has organized a Richmond "Archives Fair," two free noontime talks focusing on the role of archives in archaeology and some of the most entertaining and bizarre types of records, and a free evening program on the role of archives in our lives. Detailed information about these programs may be found by going to our events page. Please join us at these events as we celebrate all Virginians—and the importance of archives in our lives.