Cindy Church Receives Honorary Lifetime Membership to the Virginia Library Association

Cindy Church has received an Honorary Lifetime Membership in the Virginia Library Association.

From Past President Nan Carmack:

Cindy’s contribution to the profession has been profound. Cindy has had a 20 year career at the Library of Virginia as the Continuing Education Consultant. She has also worked part time for the Virginia Department of Corrections for 12 years a library coordinator, coaching and developing correctional librarians. She will continue in this role. Prior to LVA, she also worked as a librarian for NASA.

Her 26 year membership in VLA has been active. She has served as secretary and ex officio liaison to the Continuing Education Committee prior to its dissolution. She has served on numerous conference committees, coordinating the Bookmobile Rodeo in Richmond during the 2021 conference. Additionally, she has actively promoted libraries as a primary source of broadband in the Commonwealth, resulting in an invitation to the table of the Commonwealth Connect working group to improve broadband access across Virginia and to be the first applicants to the Virginia BEAD grant funds. Other innovations in Virginia include, but are not limited to, establishing a Niche Academy User Group, a Continuing Education Mentor Group, the Bookmobile and Outreach Services listserv and user group, and so much more.

On the regional level, Cindy birthed the Southeastern Collaborative Online Conference with her counterparts in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, now in its 6 th year with thousands of attendees from across the country. On the national level, Cindy has successfully expanded eRate funding to libraries and, most recently, earned an IMLS grant to plan and conduct an eRate training for coordinators across the county. Cindy’s national reputation has brought major speakers and trainers to Virginia, including David Lankes, David Lee King, and Audrey Barbakoff, most recently. Her connections have been invaluable.

Cindy has been a colleague, coach, and friend for so many during her career. I honestly don’t know what we will do without her. Perhaps her honorary lifetime membership will keep her active in VLA and continuing to have a positive impact on Virginia libraries for years to come.