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.

2026 Graphic Novel Diversity Award Committee Seeking Members

Judge the 2026 Graphic Novel Diversity Award! Submit your application below and see current award winners here.

A judge for the VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award Committee agrees to commit to two years (2025 and 2026) on the committee. Judges must maintain VLA membership for the entirety of their time on the committee. Committee members should have no affiliations with publishers of graphics novels, are not to contact publishers, and agree to keep all committee deliberations private outside of the committee. Judges should be able to read English and have an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Ten judges (Five in the Youth Category and five in the Adult Category) will be selected for the 2026 award season.

Submit your application by April 13, 2025. It is recommended to type out answers in a word processing program and paste them into the application to make sure progress is not lost.

Virginia Library Association Announces Departure of Executive Director Lisa Varga, Named Associate Executive Director of ALA’s Public Policy and Advocacy Office

VIRGINIA BEACH - The American Library Association (ALA) announced the departure of Virginia Library Association's (VLA) Executive Director Lisa Varga, who has accepted a new position as the Associate Executive Director of ALA's Public Policy and Advocacy Office in Washington, D.C. Varga will begin her new role on April 21, 2025, after nearly 15 years of outstanding leadership at VLA.

Her last day with the Virginia Library Association is April 15, 2025.

Lisa Varga has been a tireless advocate for Virginia’s libraries. Known for her courageous defense of intellectual freedom, Varga spearheaded efforts to defeat legislation that threatened First Amendment rights. In 2024, she played a pivotal role in defeating four bills in the Virginia General Assembly, and in 2023, she helped defeat 11 bills that could have restricted access to library materials for students across the Commonwealth.

While no task was ever too small, Varga’s leadership extended far beyond day-to-day operations of VLA. She brought a personal touch to advocacy, empowering library workers and communities across Virginia to stand up for their rights and defend access to information. Varga’s dedication earned her national recognition as the 2024 Librarian of the Year, an honor bestowed by Library Journal.

As Lisa Varga prepares to assume her new role with the ALA, the VLA will continue to thrive during this time of transition through the VLA Executive Committee. The organization will build on Varga's legacy in continuing her commitment to advocating for libraries and all library professionals.

VLA is grateful for Lisa Varga's years of service and leadership. We will miss her guidance and leadership, but look forward to her continued success with the American Library Association.

News about next steps for the Virginia Library Association will be available shortly.

Now Accepting Session Proposals for the 2025 VLA/VLACRL Annual Conference

The Virginia Library Association's 2025 Annual Conference will be held from Wednesday, October 1 - Friday, October 3 in Richmond, Virginia at the Richmond Marriott.

We are now accepting session proposals through three submission forms; a general VLA session form, VLA's Chapter of the Association of College & Research Libraries (VLACRL) form, and the Virginia Association of Law Libraries (VALL) form. General VLA sessions are selected by the 2025 VLA Conference Committee. The VLACRL hosts a "conference-within-a-conference"; their session proposals will be peer reviewed by their chapter. Please note that all VALL sessions will run on Thursday, October 2 only.

This year, we celebrate the transformative role of libraries in education, technology, advocacy, and access, with the conference theme of “With Libraries, All Rise.”  We welcome engaging, innovative, and thought-provoking proposals that highlight how libraries uplift and support patrons, staff, and their broader communities. Proposal topics may include expanding equitable access to resources, libraries as community advocates and change makers, and emerging technologies or innovative programs that foster a sense of belonging. Whether you are a first-time presenter or a seasoned expert, proposals are welcome from all library professionals, partners, and subject matter experts. The deadline to submit a proposal is Sunday, April 6, 2025.

 

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Know Your Session Type Before You Submit

• Presentation – A 30-minute presentation on a particular issue, program or service followed by a 15-minute casual discussion and/or Q & A session with audience. Usually features 1-3 speakers.
• Panel Discussion – A moderated session featuring multiple speakers focused on a particular issue, program, or service. Panel discussions allow panelists to share thoughts, opinions, and experiences about a particular issue, program, or service followed by discussion driven by audience participation. May feature 3-5 speakers including a moderator.
• Poster Session – Create a poster to showcase your program or research. This combined event on Wednesday evening will incorporate public, academic, special libraries and library partnerships and coalitions. The maximum size of a poster is 4 feet by 4 feet.

FAQs

How are proposals selected?
The 2025 Conference Committee reviews and selects the conference proposals. VLACRL proposals will be peer reviewed by the chapter. Please see the VLACRL submission form for their guidelines.

Are speakers required to register for the conference?
Yes, all speakers must register. Up to two presenters per session receive $75 off the conference registration fee.

When will I know if my proposal is accepted?
All submissions will be reviewed and applicants will be notified of decisions by May 2025. 

Can I select the date and time I present?
Please rank your preferred times in the proposal form. Requested session times and dates will be honored wherever possible.

What is provided for presenters?
Please bring your own technology, such as a laptop, adapters, and charger. We will provide AV equipment, such as microphones. Presenters are required to use microphones - we appreciate that many presenters feel comfortable speaking loudly, but this is not accommodating to our members with hearing differences. Wi-Fi is available throughout the conference center. However, if you are using visual aids, we recommended downloading something like your slide deck beforehand.

I am an author/vendor who would like to speak at the conference. Do I submit a proposal?
We recommend submitting a proposal outlining what you would like to cover in your presentation.

I'm having technical difficulties submitting a proposal - who do I contact?
Please email the VLA administrator at [email protected]