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March 2026 | |
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Adult Services Notes |
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AI tools can be useful, but only if you are able to clearly tell them what you want. Creating a useful prompt is a skill that will improve your own use of AI as well as help you explain to library patrons how they can most effectively use AI tools on their own.
This self-paced training from Niche Academy will help you identify what makes a prompt useful and to then create your own prompts to get the information that you want. |
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Niche Academy is open to all Virginia library staff members and library associates such as trustees and Friends board members. If you do not have a Niche Academy account, please use your library email address to sign up. If you do not have a library work email, you may register with a personal email, and we will contact you to confirm that you are affiliated with a Virginia library.
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News from Library Development
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LVA Launches Virginia Writes |
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LVA's Library Development division is excited to announce the addition of Lyrasis’s Indie Author Project to the Library of Virginia’s set of resources for Virginia public libraries.
Virginia Writes is a great opportunity for public libraries to connect with and support local authors and writing groups. |
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Virginia Writes includes three tools that allow users to create, share, and discover eBook content:
- Pressbooks Public– A digital self-publishing tool that allows authors to format, design, and create professional-quality print-ready and eBook files. It integrates easily into writing programs and requires no design or technical experience.
- Indie Author Project (IAP)– Allows anyone in Virginia to share their writing across the region, with the opportunity to be selected for Indie Author Select, a curated collection chosen by Library Journal and library editorial boards across the U.S. and Canada.
- BiblioBoard Library– A discovery platform featuring self-published eBooks from Virginia authors, available on the web or through the BiblioBoard app with unlimited simultaneous use.
Libraries can link to the Virginia Writes page on the LVA website to get users started.
Information and training and marketing resources for library staff about the Indie Virginia Project is available on the Library Development Info Center’s Indie Virginia page. |
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Getting Started with Virginia Writes
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With the addition of Lyrasis’s Indie Author Project to Library of Virginia’s set of resources, Virginia public libraries now have a great new opportunity to connect with local authors and writing groups, as well as offering readers access to a wide range of new eBook content.
Roy Serrao from BiblioBoard walked librarians through the resources in the Virginia Writes program. This introduction will get you all the information you need to share and promote the Virginia Writes collection with your local authors and readers. |
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Transparent Language English for Newcomers |
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Does your library serve non-English speaking communities? Transparent Language is now offering a new course American English for Newcomers "designed to help immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers to the U.S. quickly gain the English they need to navigate their new daily lives."
In 25 units, the course covers everyday situations that someone new to English might encounter, including:
Shopping for groceries & essentials Looking for work & interviewing Securing housing & utilities Getting medical & dental care And lots more |
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The course is taught in 23 different languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Unkranian, and Vietnamese, making it easier for learners to quickly pick up needed vocabulary terms.
You can read more about English for Newcomers in the Transparent Language blog, or for a comprehensive look at this great new resource, register for the English for Newcomers Course Deep Dive on Mar 17, 2026 1:00 PM EDT. |
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In March, we celebrate Women’s History Month. The Library of Virginia has a variety of resources for teachers and students related to women’s history, including Document Bank of Virginia, which is filled with images of primary historical sources.
Document Bank is a great resource to share with students working on Women's History Month projects as well as with teachers looking for primary sources materials to share in the classroom.
Each item in the collection includes historical background information and is keyed to Virginia Standards of Learning.
Explore the collection using the Women’s History theme |
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Readers' Advisory Tips and Tricks
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Connecting Readers with Themes |
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Most readers' advisors are comfortable thinking in terms of genres. We know the basic patterns that make a mystery or romance or fantasy appealing to readers, and we are able to use that knowledge to make suggestions, build displays, and creating reading lists.
But there are other concepts that are equally important to readers and that can help us to guide readers to new titles that might be outside their normal genre interests, or in an area of a genre they might not have considered.
Part of our work as readers' advisors involves helping readers better undestand their reading habits. |
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Helping them develop their vocabulary of reading is key here, and themes can be a great way to do that.
NoveList descripes themes as "familiar story setups -- like Chosen one, Opposites attract, or Fish out of water -- that help describe what a story is about." They go on to note that "These "you know it when you see it" concepts are easy to recognize, but not always simple to search for."
Fortunately, the folks at NoveList have developed an index of theme terms arranged by genre and that linked to lists of titles tagged with that theme. For instance, you can see over 1,000 titles in the Workplace Romance theme and then use the filter tool at the top of the list to narrow your list down by things like audience, genre, mood, style, and more.
Reviewing the index of theme terms is a great way to build your RA knowledge and better understand some of the major categories of particular genres. It is also a new way to connect with readers beyond genre.
So check out the Themes Index under the Discover NoveList heading at teh top left of the NoveList Plus home page. |
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Virginia Library Projects
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From the editor: This feature in the newsletter is an opportunity to share interesting projects that Virginia libraries 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. This month features a piece from the Central Rappahannock Regional Library on developing community grant skills. For further information, contact Erin Creighton, Adult Services Department Head, erin.creighton@crrl.org.
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Building Community Grant Skills
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The Central Rappahannock Regional Library has seen a marked surge in community interest around grant seeking, prompting Adult Services staff to expand and strengthen its programming. The core classes—Grant Seeking Basics and Introduction to Grant Writing Proposals —introduce customers to essential research skills using Candid and Foundation Directory Online (FDO), while highlighting how libraries can leverage these tools to support local nonprofits, educators, and individuals pursuing funding.
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Because Candid and FDO can be cost-prohibitive for many organizations, the grant writing class focuses instead on universal skills: navigating common application questions, drafting a standard proposal, and adapting it to fit each unique funding opportunity.
As demand for these programs has grown, Adult Services staff are developing a new workshop dedicated to creating effective grant proposal budgets. This offering stems directly from participant feedback and represents a natural next step in guiding customers through the full lifecycle of grant development. The workshop will cover budget structure, aligning financials with narrative goals, and common funder expectations—content that other libraries can easily incorporate into their own program suites.
To enhance the learning experience, the Adult Services staff have integrated AI-assisted prompts, guided peer discussion, and built-in networking time across sessions. These elements have helped attendees refine their proposals more efficiently, exchange ideas, and form connections that strengthen the local nonprofit and community support ecosystem.
For libraries looking to expand their grant-seeker offerings, Central Rappahannock has found that combining strong research tools, practical skill-building, and collaborative learning creates tangible value for the community. With an average attendance of 15–20 participants per class, Adult Services staff are energized by the momentum and eager to see how this work continues to grow. |
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Featured Virginia Programs
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Nottoway County Public Library
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In 2024, the local food pantry in Crewe, VA petitioned the Town, asking for space in which a Community Garden could be created. They received approval to put the garden on the property adjoining the Crewe library, and in 2025, ten beds were prepped and offered to the public.
Kathy Oliver, Literacy Program Director for teh Nottoway County Public Library, was an early adopter of one of the beds, and she used it to create a tea garden. Throughout the summer, Kathy posted on the Program's Facebook page, sharing information about what she was growing and what potential uses it has. In early June, Kathy harvested and dried rose petals and shared a recipe for rose tea. |
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Later in the month, she talked about the stevia plant, a natural sweetener, and in July, she discussed lemongrass, also known as citronella grass.
At the end of the season, Kathy's efforts in the garden concluded with a program that invited participants to sample teas flavored with the ingredients painstakingly harvested and preserved over the summer months and to create blends of their choosing. |
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For more info, contact Jackie Zataweski, jzataweski@nottlib.org
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Galax-Carroll Regional Library
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Holiday Gift Wrapping Party |
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In December, Galax Public Library replaced its traditional Adult DIY craft workshop with a Gift Wrapping Party designed to reduce holiday stress, encourage connections between individuals, and support patrons during the busy holiday season. What began as a lighthearted seasonal idea quickly revealed itself as a small but meaningful service innovation.
Participants were invited to bring their holiday gifts and use the library’s selection of wrapping paper, gift bags, tape, ribbon, tags, and other embellishments—all provided at no cost. Staff offered simple wrapping demonstrations for patrons who felt less confident with craft-based tasks, while more experienced wrappers shared tips and techniques.
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The casual, communal atmosphere transformed what is often a solitary or stressful chore into a relaxed, creative activity.
The Gift Wrapping Party drew strong attendance and positive feedback, demonstrating that even modest, low-cost programming can have a meaningful impact. It served as a reminder that libraries can strengthen community ties not only through informational services, but also through shared experiences that make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. The Galax Public Library plans to continue exploring seasonal, needs-based adult programs that combine creativity, access, and community engagement.
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For more info, contact Melissa Payne, mpayne@galaxcarroll.lib.va.us
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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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