Correspondence and subject files of the Assistant State Librarian of the Virginia State Library, 1979-1989

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Virginia State Library
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains files created and used by the Assistant State Librarian of the Library of Virginia, when it was referred to as the Virginia State Library, or the Virginia State Library and Archives. Nolan Yelich held the position of Assistant State Librarian for several years before becoming the State Librarian in 1995. The material is arranged according to subject, with the most notable being Library Board meeting minutes and correspondence, information on the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) and Advisory Council, the Cooperative Programs Committee, the Richmond Area Library Cooperative, and the State Networking Users Advisory Council. Various networking studies and folders of general correspondence are included as well.

Biographical / historical:

The Virginia State Library was created by an act passed by the General Assembly on January 23, 1823, to establish a public library with funds derived from the sale of William W. Hening's The Statutes at Large. From 1823 to 1828, the Library was under the control of the governor and council. In 1828, the General Assembly created a joint committee on the library (located in a room in the southeastern corner of the Capitol) to oversee its administration. Use of the State Library was restricted to members of the state government in a policy that continued until at least 1856. The Secretary of the Commonwealth served ex officio as state librarian from 1832 to 1903.

On May 15, 1903, the General Assembly passed an act that created a library board to administer the library, authorized the deposit of public records in the library, provided for the publication of historical records by the library, and established a library fund for the purchase of books and private papers. The Library Board, which was responsible for naming the State Librarian, was itself appointed by the Board of Education. The General Assembly passed an act on March 29, 1944, transferring the power to appoint the Library Board to the governor. The Virginia State Library adopted the name, the Virginia State Library and Archives, in early 1987 to more adequately reflect its mission and purpose today. In July 1, 1994 the name was changed to The Library of Virginia.

Acquisition information:
Accession 34555 was transferred by the Virginia State Library, 17 May 1993.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into the original order.

Physical description:
10 cu. ft. (10 boxes)