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September 2025 | |
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Adult Services Notes |
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State Agencies and Public Libraries
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The state of Virginia has a wealth of resources that librarians should be aware of, as they offer useful content and support when working with library patrons.
From financial information to small business to health and wellness to the arts, state agencies are there to help residents of the Commonwealth. Many state agencies are also interested in collaborating with public libraries to better serve Virginians, offering programming opportunities and more. |
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This new online training series will feature guest speakers from the State Corporation Commission, the Commission for the Arts, the Virginia Open Data Portal, and the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services to talk about how they and their colleagues provide resources, programming ideas, and assistance to public libraries and their users. All the programs will be recorded and shared in the LVA Niche Academy.
The series begins in October, and registration links will go out later this month. |
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News from Library Development
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Refresh Your Find It VA Skills
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The Library of Virginia provides a core set of digital resources to all public libraries in the state through the Find It VA collection.
From research tools and homework help for students to resources for job seekers and entrepreneurs to self-paced classes for lifelong learners, Find It VA has tools to support your users' needs and interests. |
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Since we last offered a series like this, many of the Find It VA resources have new user interfaces and refreshed tools to better connect your users with what they need. This series of webinars will introduce library staff to these updates and features. Whether you are a long-time user of Find It VA or new to these resources, you will find these programs valuable.
Here are the descriptions, dates, and registration links for this fall series: |
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Homework HelpNow
Help students connect with a live tutor, get writing assistance, find practice tests for SAT, AP, and more, and explore study guides and learning tools based on their grade and subject.
When: Wednesday, 9/10, 1 PM ET
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Transparent Language Online
Language learning resources for 140+ foreign languages including over 20 indigenous languages, American Sign Language, and Citizenship Prep, and also includes ESL/ELL materials for speakers of 34 different languages. Transparent Language is perfect for business travelers or tourists, as well as supplementing classroom lessons for students.
When: Wednesday 9/17, 1 pm ET
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Gale in Context Elementary
Gale In Context Elementary provides age-appropriate, curriculum-aligned articles, videos, and more. It’s perfect for supporting classroom learning, research projects, and curious minds at every grade level.
When: Wednesday 9/24, 1 PM ET
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JobNow/VetNow
Support your job seekers with live career coaching, résumé writing, and job skill development needs, as well as live unemployment assistance, career assessments, and test prep resources and practice tests and career credentialing information for over 140 specific careers.
When: Thursday 10/9, 1 pm ET
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Introducing the new NoveList Plus
NoveList Plus has been redesigned for everyone - from patrons to pros. Join us for an introduction to the new NoveList and learn how easy it is to discover fresh content and find the perfect read.
When: Thursday 10/16, 1 PM ET
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| Register |
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Universal Class
Help your users access more than 600 self-paced, online courses in 35 subject areas, many of which offer accredited CEUs. Real human instructors grade assignments and provide feedback to build deeper understanding and mastery of subject matter. The wide range of subject areas serves both professionals looking to upskill and lifelong learners exploring new topics for fun.
When: Thursday 10/23, 1 pm ET
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EBSCO Explora
EBSCO’s Explora is a user-friendly search tool that supports both student research and lifelong learners, providing access to a comprehensive collection of full-text general interest articles from periodicals, newspapers, and books. This authoritative general information database is the best place to start your research project.
When: Wednesday 11/12, 1 PM ET
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Gale Legal Forms
Find downloadable, fillable forms for basic legal transactions, current to Virginia code covering basic legal needs--wills, power of attorney, landlord/tenant, and lots more. Includes a comprehensive section of templates for small businesses including: invoices, leases, sales agreements, contracts, and more.
When: Wednesday 11/19, 1 pm ET
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Access Video Just for Kids
Help your users find and enjoy TV shows like Arthur, Sesame Street, Odd Squad, SciGirls, and much more, including: read-along storybooks and learning videos to explore topics like reading, writing, math, arts and science.
When: Thursday 12/4, 1 PM ET
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Adult Services Jam Session
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Document Bank of Virginia |
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Do you have users looking for primary source materials on Virginia history?
The Library of Virginia has a variety of resources available for teachers and students, including Document Bank of Virginia, which is filled with images of primary historical sources.
Each item includes historical background information and is keyed to Virginia Standards of Learning. Content from the LVA collections is always being added to Document Bank, so be sure to check back regularly to see what is new |
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Readers' Advisory Tips and Tricks
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Reading and Popular Culture |
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One great way to engage your community of readers is to connect book ideas and their pop culture interests. Movies, streaming shows, music, and theater all offer connections with books that readers might enjoy.
But how to keep up with what is hot?
Fortunately, NoveList Plus, part of the Find It Virginia collection, is a great place to get started. Login to NoveList from your library's website and go to the Curated Lists menu in the lefthand column of the page. From there, choose the "For Fans of ..." list. You can use the filter tool at the top of the search results to limit your search by audience and see only lists pertaining to adult readers.
Here you will find curated reading lists for readers who enjoy everything from K-Pop, to The Bear to The Chit Show. |
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These curated lists also are a great opportunity to develop some new book displays and other RA tools like bookmarks and shelftalkers, and can be a valuable tool in attracting new readers.
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Virginia Library Projects
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From the editor: This feature in the newsletter is an opportunity for libraries to share interesting projects that they are implementing to improve access to resources or improve services. If you are interested in sharing a project your library is doing, please reach out to Barry Trott, barry.trott@lva.virginia.gov, to discuss writing it up.
In this month's installment, Dylan Padilla (dpadilla@jmrl.org) and Marien Ruiz-Villam (mruiz@jmrl.org), present the Jefferson Madison Regional Library's collaboration with Meals on Wheels project. |
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JMRL first partnered with Meals on Wheels in 2016 to launch a program that delivers library books directly to Meals on Wheels clients, expanding access to library services for homebound community members.
Thanks in part to a strong established network of Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers, the library was able to integrate its outreach efforts into the existing Meals delivery system. New application forms on the back of standard Meals delivery sheets helped these patrons share their reading preferences, while volunteers facilitated the exchange of materials alongside meal deliveries.
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Together, JMRL and Meals on Wheels developed an efficient routine for processing returns, placing holds, and distributing new items, ensuring patrons receive fresh reading materials each month without the need to visit their local branch. Through this collaboration, JMRL and Meals on Wheels created a sustainable service that brings reading and connection across the service area.
Bookmobile delivery service takes place twice a month on the 1st and 3rd Fridays; where library items to be delivered are processed in the Library’s Outreach Services office, packaged and labeled for the patron. These items are checked out for one month, in consideration of transportation access to Meals on Wheels clients.
Meals on Wheels clients that are already library cardholders can request service immediately through their meal delivery volunteer. MoW clients interested in library service can request library card applications from MoW; this is provided along with a Reading Interest form, where patrons can indicate preferred genres, authors, and formats (large print, audio book, etc).
To request library services through Meals on Wheels, clients contact Meals on Wheels of Charlottesville/Albemarle.
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2026 Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Grant
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The Association of Small and Rural Libraries (ARSL) is partnering with the Simons Foundation and SciStarter to offer the Infinite Sums Rural & Small Libraries Cohort Grant Program to "to host math inspired community-wide events for patrons of all ages on Pi Day, Infinity Day, and Fibonacci Day in 2026."
Applying libraries must serve small and/or rural communities. |
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The $10,000 grants will be awarded to fifteen libraries, and seek "to inspire a collective of math ‘ambassadors,’ challenging existing ideas of who can and should lead math engagement efforts. The initiative will cast a spotlight on people from both rural and urban communities, parents and caregivers, artists and cultural influencers, and more."
Applications close on 9/30/2025. |
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Autumn is coming and birds are starting to migrate, and people are putting up their bird feeders.
If you are looking for a fall adult/intergenerational craft project that educates users about local birds and bird feeding, you might want to use the Montauk (NY) Library's Bird Feeder Crafternoon project as a jumping off point.
It is a great opportunity to connect with your local birding community and also to seek out presenters from that community or your local Master Naturalist chapter. |
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Montauk Library staff had three goals for the program, that could be of interest in any library:
Educate library patrons about backyard birds and what foods they eat. Spark curiosity and appreciation for the natural world. Encourage continued engagement with backyard birds by creating something participants could take home with them, refill and reuse. |
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Featured Virginia Programs
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For this art project, we used 10-inch diameter metal hoops, 5mm and 1mm cotton thread plus assorted yarns and weaving materials such as roving and silk sari strips. Prior to the class I wrapped the hoops in 5mm cotton thread to create a 'frame' for the work and to help hold the 1mm cotton thread and then wrapped the covered hoops in 1mm cotton thread as the warp threads to hold the weaving.
Attendees were then encouraged to create a geometric design for their beginner project to keep the project simple, easy and fairly quick. They then used various colors/thicknesses of yarn plus roving and silk sari strips to weave their designs. |
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Artists could use their fingers to do the weaving with the thicker materials and a craft needle for thinner materials. They were instructed to 'comb' their weaving as they went so that the woven materials would fill the spaces between the warp threads and to tie off their weaving materials on the back of the hoop when changing colors or materials. Some artists chose to leave some areas blank either to add more materials later or as intentional negative space in their design.
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For more info, contact Theresa Baga, tabaga@salemva.gov
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Alexandria Library Cat Contest |
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Looking for a passive program in the summer that engages the animal lovers in your community? The 2nd Annual Alexandria Library Cat Contest was a purrfect solution to put smiles on the faces of our patrons and keep them engaged with our library social media posts throughout June and July. We drew interest in the contest by prominently placing life size foam cutouts of the 2024 winner (including a pettable tail) in the library.
We received 174 entries into the contest, which was featured on the website DC City Cast as a weekend pick. The competition was tough, but the Cat Committee selected 12 finalists, which were displayed both in the library and on the library website. |
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During the voting period, we received over 1800 votes, both in person and online. It was great to see grins at the Information Desk when people spotted our cute candidates. We partnered with a local non-profit cat cafe, Mt. Purrnon, who were a big help in amplifying our message. After the tally was in, patrons had the option to complete a cat themed scavenger hunt in the library. Those who completed the hunt learned more about our library collections and were awarded a upcycled magnet that revealed the winner a week before the official announcement in the library and on social media.
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For more info, contact Sara Severn, ssevern@alexlibraryva.org
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Recent articles on topics of interest to Adult Services |
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This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is published by the Library of Virginia Library Development Division.
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