Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219-8000
United States
The Grants to States Program
The Grants to States Program is the largest grant program run by IMLS; it provides funds to State Library Administrative Agencies (SLAAs) using a population-based formula set by the law. SLAAs determine goals and objectives for the funds in their statutorily required five-year plan (see below). For more information, see the Grants to States program overview.
Allotments
| Year | Allotment Value |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $4,044,775.00 |
| 2021 | $4,083,012.00 |
| 2022 | $4,066,564.00 |
| 2023 | $4,316,228.00 |
| 2024 | $4,289,358.00 |
5 Year Plan
Each state creates a 5-year plan for its programs to strengthen the efficiency, reach, and effectiveness of library services. View all states' plans.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| virginia5yearplan.pdf | 866.6 KB |
5 Year Evaluation
At the end of a 5-year period, each state reports their results in achieving goals and objectives projected in their 5-Year Plan. View all states' evaluations.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| virginia5yearevaluation.pdf | 6.42 MB |
Project Examples
COVID CARES Subgrants
The Library of Virginia focused distribution of CARES Act funds to libraries in the neediest communities using a rubric of poverty, literacy levels, and limited internet connectivity. Ultimately, twenty library systems were selected to receive CARES funding to address pandemic response, digital inclusion, and educational support. These subawards represented 88 percent of the total CARES Act allocation for the Library of Virginia, and the remainder went to statewide resources that would benefit all public libraries and the general public, including disaster planning workbooks, eBooks/audiobooks, a license for tracking Wi-Fi usage at multiple library locations, and an early literacy program offered in partnership with the non-profit SOHO Foundation.
IMLS funds: $771,257
Genealogy Education
The goal of the Library of Virginia’s genealogical education project is to form an ongoing relationship with new and experienced researchers interested in tracing family and community history. To introduce specific genealogical resources from the Library of Virginia to adults, education staff provided over 30 tours of the reading rooms, assisted participants in getting library cards, and explained genealogical resources with participants during the project period. Library staff provided virtual genealogy workshops to over 400 people. A highlight of the project was the virtual genealogical book lecture by retired physician and geneticist Bettye Kearse, which was attended by over 300 people. A descendant of an enslaved cook and, according to oral tradition, President James Madison, Kearse shared her family story and explored the issues of legacy, race, and the powerful consequences of telling the whole truth.
IMLS Funds: $55,922.67
Cultural Heritage Access and Engagement
The Library of Virginia (LVA) developed new tools, services, and programs that fostered user engagement with and access to cultural heritage materials and government records. To encourage the public to explore collections in flexible ways, LVA continued and expanded virtual user engagement and crowdsourcing opportunities through transcription platforms. This allowed LVA the opportunity to provide even more content for transcription volunteers. As part of the project, the Library implemented a chat service for volunteers to facilitate conversations. LVA also participated in a collaborative effort with eight other state archives and a transcription platform provider to develop enhancements.
IMLS Funds: $133,643.65
Review recent Grants to States projects from this state library in the State Program Report database.
Search the Awarded Grants Database for additional details about awards in this state or view the State Details Dashboard.
Five-Year Plan Highlights
Goal 1: Foster the development of the evolving neighborhood/community library as a center for lifelong learning and civic engagement.
- Projects include:
- Youth services consulting
- Adult services consulting
Goal 2: Facilitate access to information and the discovery of knowledge and cultural heritage for the purpose of cultivating an informed and engaged community.
- Projects include:
- Find It Virginia databases
- Document Bank of Virginia digitized primary sources
- Cultural heritage access and engagement
- Access to state government records
- Information technology services
- Public library infrastructure, including hosted websites, an integrated library system, and a digital reading challenge platform
- E-Rate internet discount program for libraries
- Virginia digital newspaper project
- Interlibrary loan
- Lifelong learning program, including genealogy education and civic engagement
Goal 3: Support the training and development of proactive library leadership and skilled staff to meet the rapidly changing environment.
- Projects include:
- 21st Century skills for library staff
- Leadership and stakeholder development
- Public library data
IMLS Data Collection
State Library Administrative Agency Survey
The State Library Administrative Agency Survey (SLAA) provides descriptive data about state library agencies for all fifty states and the District of Columbia. To interact with the latest data, please visit the SLAA Survey Comparison Tool.
Public Libraries Survey
The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) provides national descriptive data on the status of public libraries in the United States and its territories. Explore state profiles representing more than 9,000 public library systems and over 17,000 public library outlets.