Honorary Patron of Letters Degree

The Library of Virginia's Patron of Letters degree is the agency's highest honor. The ability to grant this honorary degree is given by the Commonwealth of Virginia to the Library Board in order to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions in the realm of history, or library or archival science.

The Library of Virginia has announced that poet and lawyer Reginald Dwayne Betts, founder and CEO of Freedom Reads, and Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author, filmmaker and co-founder of The Origin Project, will be honored with the Library's honorary Patron of Letters degree in 2024. Both honorees have distinguished themselves through their efforts to promote libraries and literacy.

The Library presented the degrees during the 27th Annual Virginia Literary Awards Celebration on Sept. 21, 2024.

In 2023 the honorary Patron of Letters degree was presented to best-selling author David Baldacci and his wife, Michelle, a passionate literacy advocate; renowned poet and educator Nikki Giovanni; and award-winning children's author Meg. These honorees have distinguished themselves through their efforts to promote libraries through literature, literacy advocacy and poetry. Carole Weinstein received the honor in 2016 in recognition of her commitment — through both service and philanthropy — to the Library and the literary community in Virginia.