Library of Virginia Archives and Records Management

History and Founding

The Library of Virginia was created by the Commonwealth's General Assembly in 1823 to organize, care for, and manage the state's growing collection of books and official records, many of which date back to the early colonial period. It is one of the oldest agencies of Virginia government. Known for much of its history as the Virginia State Library, and later the Virginia State Library and Archives, it was renamed the Library of Virginia in 1994. The Library occupied rooms on the third floor of the Capitol building until 1895, then moved to a new building on Capitol Square, then to an art-deco building on Capitol Street in 1940. The current facility at 800 East Broad Street in Richmond opened in 1997.

Collections and Holdings

The Library of Virginia houses what is considered the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia government, history, and culture available anywhere. As of 2024, collections contain more than 134 million items, including over 121 million state, local, and federal government records; more than 9 million personal papers; rare books, maps, photographs, and digital records. The Archives and Records Management division handles the preservation of permanent government records and oversees state and local government records management programs across the Commonwealth.

Notable Materials Related to Journalism and Media

The Library's Virginia Memory digital portal provides online access to digitized newspaper collections through Virginia Chronicle, which contains thousands of historic Virginia newspapers dating from the 18th century onward. The Library also holds extensive photograph collections and ephemera documenting Virginia history and public life, including materials relevant to the history of journalism and media in Virginia.

Access and Usage

The main Library is open Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for reading room access. The State Records Center in Henrico County stores inactive, non-permanent government records. Many collections are available through the Virginia Memory digital portal. Research and reference assistance is available to the public, state officials, and government agencies.