{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/42.1-1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/42.1-1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/42.1-1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/42.1-1.html"}],"law_id":67423,"edition_id":1,"section_id":67423,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-1","catch_line":"The Library of Virginia","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 42-33; 1970, c. 606; 1984, cc. 389, 734; 1986, c. 565; 1987, c. 458; 1994, c. 64; 1998, c. 427.","full_text":"The Library of Virginia is hereby declared an educational institution and an institution of learning. The Library of Virginia shall be the library agency of the Commonwealth, the archival agency of the Commonwealth, and the reference library at the seat of government. It shall have the following powers and duties:\n\n1\n\n[Repealed.]2\n\nTo accept gifts, bequests and endowments for the purposes which fall within the general legal powers and duties of The Library of Virginia. Unless otherwise specified by the donor or legator, the Library may either expend both the principal and interest of any gift or bequest or may invest such sums as the Board deems advisable, with the consent of the State Treasurer, in securities in which sinking funds may be invested. The Library shall be deemed to be an institution of higher education within the meaning of § 23.1-101;3\n\nTo purchase and maintain a general collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, films, audiovisual materials and other materials for the use of the people of the Commonwealth as a means for the promotion of knowledge within the Commonwealth. The scope of the Library’s collections shall be determined by the Library Board on recommendation of the Librarian of Virginia, and, in making these decisions, the Board and Librarian of Virginia shall take into account the book collections of public libraries and libraries at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and the availability of such collections to the general public. The Board shall make available for circulation to libraries or to the public such of its materials as it deems advisable;4\n\nTo give assistance, advice and counsel to other agencies of the Commonwealth maintaining libraries and special reference collections as to the best means of establishing and administering such libraries and collections. It may establish in The Library of Virginia a union catalogue of all books, pamphlets and other materials owned and used for reference purposes by all other agencies of the Commonwealth and of all books, pamphlets and other materials maintained by libraries in the Commonwealth which are of interest to the people of the whole Commonwealth;5\n\nTo fix reasonable penalties for damage to or failure to return any book, periodical or other material owned by the Library, or for violation of any rule or regulation concerning the use of books, periodicals, and other materials in custody of the Library;6\n\nTo give direction, assistance and counsel to all libraries in the Commonwealth, to all communities which may propose to establish libraries, and to all persons interested in public libraries, as to means of establishment and administration of such libraries, selection of books, retrieval systems, cataloguing, maintenance, and other details of library management, and to conduct such inspections as are necessary;7\n\nTo engage in such activities in aid of city, county, town, regional and other public libraries as will serve to develop the library system of the Commonwealth;8\n\nTo administer and distribute state and federal library funds in accordance with law and its own regulations to the city, county, town and regional libraries of the Commonwealth; and9\n\nTo enter into contracts with other states or regions or districts for the purpose of providing cooperative library services.\n\t\t\tWherever in this title and the Code of Virginia the terms “State Library” or “Library” appear, they shall mean The Library of Virginia.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":244283,"text":"The Library of Virginia is hereby declared an educational institution and an institution of learning. The Library of Virginia shall be the library agency of the Commonwealth, the archival agency of the Commonwealth, and the reference library at the seat of government. It shall have the following powers and duties:","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":"1"},"1":{"id":244284,"text":"[Repealed.]","type":"section","prefixes":["1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"1","prefix_anchor":"1","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":"2"},"2":{"id":244285,"text":"To accept gifts, bequests and endowments for the purposes which fall within the general legal powers and duties of The Library of Virginia. Unless otherwise specified by the donor or legator, the Library may either expend both the principal and interest of any gift or bequest or may invest such sums as the Board deems advisable, with the consent of the State Treasurer, in securities in which sinking funds may be invested. The Library shall be deemed to be an institution of higher education within the meaning of § 23.1-101;","type":"section","prefixes":["2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"2","prefix_anchor":"2","level":1,"prior_prefix":"1","next_prefix":"3"},"3":{"id":244286,"text":"To purchase and maintain a general collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, films, audiovisual materials and other materials for the use of the people of the Commonwealth as a means for the promotion of knowledge within the Commonwealth. The scope of the Library’s collections shall be determined by the Library Board on recommendation of the Librarian of Virginia, and, in making these decisions, the Board and Librarian of Virginia shall take into account the book collections of public libraries and libraries at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and the availability of such collections to the general public. The Board shall make available for circulation to libraries or to the public such of its materials as it deems advisable;","type":"section","prefixes":["3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"3","prefix_anchor":"3","level":1,"prior_prefix":"2","next_prefix":"4"},"4":{"id":244287,"text":"To give assistance, advice and counsel to other agencies of the Commonwealth maintaining libraries and special reference collections as to the best means of establishing and administering such libraries and collections. It may establish in The Library of Virginia a union catalogue of all books, pamphlets and other materials owned and used for reference purposes by all other agencies of the Commonwealth and of all books, pamphlets and other materials maintained by libraries in the Commonwealth which are of interest to the people of the whole Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"4","prefix_anchor":"4","level":1,"prior_prefix":"3","next_prefix":"5"},"5":{"id":244288,"text":"To fix reasonable penalties for damage to or failure to return any book, periodical or other material owned by the Library, or for violation of any rule or regulation concerning the use of books, periodicals, and other materials in custody of the Library;","type":"section","prefixes":["5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"5","prefix_anchor":"5","level":1,"prior_prefix":"4","next_prefix":"6"},"6":{"id":244289,"text":"To give direction, assistance and counsel to all libraries in the Commonwealth, to all communities which may propose to establish libraries, and to all persons interested in public libraries, as to means of establishment and administration of such libraries, selection of books, retrieval systems, cataloguing, maintenance, and other details of library management, and to conduct such inspections as are necessary;","type":"section","prefixes":["6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"6","prefix_anchor":"6","level":1,"prior_prefix":"5","next_prefix":"7"},"7":{"id":244290,"text":"To engage in such activities in aid of city, county, town, regional and other public libraries as will serve to develop the library system of the Commonwealth;","type":"section","prefixes":["7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"7","prefix_anchor":"7","level":1,"prior_prefix":"6","next_prefix":"8"},"8":{"id":244291,"text":"To administer and distribute state and federal library funds in accordance with law and its own regulations to the city, county, town and regional libraries of the Commonwealth; and","type":"section","prefixes":["8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"8","prefix_anchor":"8","level":1,"prior_prefix":"7","next_prefix":"9"},"9":{"id":244292,"text":"To enter into contracts with other states or regions or districts for the purpose of providing cooperative library services.\n\t\t\tWherever in this title and the Code of Virginia the terms “State Library” or “Library” appear, they shall mean The Library of Virginia.","type":"section","prefixes":["9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"9","prefix_anchor":"9","level":1,"prior_prefix":"8"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15463,"edition_id":1,"name":"In General","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14694,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:55:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:55:12","permalink":{"id":220819,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15463,"identifier":"1","token":"42.1\/1\/1","url":"\/42.1\/1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14694,"edition_id":1,"name":"State Library and Library Board","identifier":"1","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12939,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:23","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:23","permalink":{"id":220817,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14694,"identifier":"1","token":"42.1\/1","url":"\/42.1\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12939,"edition_id":1,"name":"Libraries","identifier":"42.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":220815,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12939,"identifier":"42.1","token":"42.1","url":"\/42.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67423,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-1","catch_line":"The Library of Virginia","url":"\/42.1-1\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-1","metadata":false},{"id":69955,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-10","catch_line":"Acquisition of books and other library matter","url":"\/42.1-10\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-10","metadata":false},{"id":65256,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-11","catch_line":"Editing and publishing state records and other special matter; list of publications","url":"\/42.1-11\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-11","metadata":false},{"id":58894,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-12","catch_line":"Fees for copies made by Library staff","url":"\/42.1-12\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-12","metadata":false},{"id":78763,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-2","catch_line":"The Library of Virginia under direction of Library Board; membership; chairman and vice-chairman; committees and advisory bodies","url":"\/42.1-2\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-2","metadata":false},{"id":59282,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-2.1","catch_line":"Executive committee","url":"\/42.1-2.1\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-2.1","metadata":false},{"id":66277,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-3","catch_line":"Terms of office of members of Board; vacancies","url":"\/42.1-3\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-3","metadata":false},{"id":66569,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-3.1","catch_line":"Authority of Board generally","url":"\/42.1-3.1\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-3.1","metadata":false},{"id":72051,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-4","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/42.1-4\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-4","metadata":false},{"id":83842,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-5","catch_line":"Expenses of members of Board","url":"\/42.1-5\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-5","metadata":false},{"id":87206,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-6","catch_line":"Minutes and records of Board","url":"\/42.1-6\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-6","metadata":false},{"id":72637,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-7","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/42.1-7\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-7","metadata":false},{"id":82718,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-8","catch_line":"Rules and regulations","url":"\/42.1-8\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-8","metadata":false},{"id":87292,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-9","catch_line":"When Library to be kept open","url":"\/42.1-9\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-9","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":69955,"structure_id":15463,"section_number":"42.1-10","catch_line":"Acquisition of books and other library matter","url":"\/42.1-10\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-10","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/42.1-1\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1970, chapter 606; in 1984, chapters 389 and 734; in 1986, chapter 565; in 1987, chapter 458; in 1994, chapter 64<\/a>; in 1998, chapter 427<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":84777,"section_number":"23.1-101","catch_line":"Endowment funds of public institutions of higher education","order_by":null,"url":"\/23.1-101\/"}],"permalink":{"id":220821,"object_type":"law","relational_id":67423,"identifier":"42.1-1","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-1","url":"\/42.1-1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/42.1-1\/","token":"42.1\/1\/1\/42.1-1","dublin_core":{"Title":"The Library of Virginia","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 42.1-1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The Library<\/span> of Virginia is hereby declared an educational institution and an institution of learning. The Library<\/span> of Virginia shall be the library<\/span> agency of the Commonwealth, the archival agency of the Commonwealth, and the reference library<\/span> at the seat of government. It shall have the following powers and duties:<\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> [Repealed.] <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To accept gifts, bequests and endowments for the purposes which fall within the general legal powers and duties of The Library<\/span> of Virginia. Unless otherwise specified by the donor or legator, the Library<\/span> may either expend both the principal and interest of any gift or bequest or may invest such sums as the Board deems advisable, with the consent of the State Treasurer, in securities in which sinking funds may be invested. The Library<\/span> shall be deemed to be an institution of higher education within the meaning of § 23.1-101<\/a>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To purchase and maintain a general collection of books, periodicals, newspapers, maps, films, audiovisual materials<\/span> and other materials<\/span> for the use of the people of the Commonwealth as a means for the promotion of knowledge within the Commonwealth. The scope of the Library<\/span>’s collections shall be determined by the Library<\/span> Board on recommendation of the Librarian of Virginia, and, in making these decisions, the Board and Librarian of Virginia shall take into account the book collections of public libraries and libraries at institutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and the availability of such collections to the general public. The Board shall make available for circulation to libraries or to the public such of its materials<\/span> as it deems advisable; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To give assistance, advice and counsel<\/span> to other agencies of the Commonwealth maintaining libraries and special reference collections as to the best means of establishing and administering such libraries and collections. It may establish in The Library<\/span> of Virginia a union catalogue of all books, pamphlets and other materials<\/span> owned and used for reference purposes by all other agencies of the Commonwealth and of all books, pamphlets and other materials<\/span> maintained by libraries in the Commonwealth which are of interest to the people of the whole Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> To fix reasonable penalties for damage to or failure to return any book, periodical or other material<\/span> owned by the Library<\/span>, or for violation of any rule or regulation concerning the use of books, periodicals, and other materials<\/span> in custody<\/span> of the Library<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> To give direction, assistance and counsel<\/span> to all libraries in the Commonwealth, to all communities which may propose to establish libraries, and to all persons interested in public libraries, as to means of establishment and administration of such libraries, selection of books, retrieval systems, cataloguing, maintenance, and other details of library<\/span> management, and to conduct such inspections as are necessary; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> To engage in such activities in aid of city, county, town, regional and other public libraries as will serve to develop the library<\/span> system of the Commonwealth; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> To administer and distribute state and federal library<\/span> funds in accordance with law<\/span> and its own regulations to the city, county, town and regional libraries of the Commonwealth; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> To enter into contracts<\/span> with other states or regions or districts for the purpose of providing cooperative library services.\n\t\t\tWherever in this title and the Code of Virginia the terms “State Library<\/span>” or “Library” appear, they shall mean The Library of Virginia. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nTHE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA (\u00a7 42.1-1)\n\nThe Library of Virginia is hereby declared an educational institution and an\ninstitution of learning. The Library of Virginia shall be the library agency of\nthe Commonwealth, the archival agency of the Commonwealth, and the reference\nlibrary at the seat of government. It shall have the following powers and\nduties:\n\n1. [Repealed.]\n\n2. To accept gifts, bequests and endowments for the purposes which fall within\nthe general legal powers and duties of The Library of Virginia. Unless otherwise\nspecified by the donor or legator, the Library may either expend both the\nprincipal and interest of any gift or bequest or may invest such sums as the\nBoard deems advisable, with the consent of the State Treasurer, in securities in\nwhich sinking funds may be invested. The Library shall be deemed to be an\ninstitution of higher education within the meaning of § 23.1-101;\n\n3. To purchase and maintain a general collection of books, periodicals,\nnewspapers, maps, films, audiovisual materials and other materials for the use\nof the people of the Commonwealth as a means for the promotion of knowledge\nwithin the Commonwealth. The scope of the Library’s collections shall be\ndetermined by the Library Board on recommendation of the Librarian of Virginia,\nand, in making these decisions, the Board and Librarian of Virginia shall take\ninto account the book collections of public libraries and libraries at\ninstitutions of higher education in the Commonwealth and the availability of\nsuch collections to the general public. The Board shall make available for\ncirculation to libraries or to the public such of its materials as it deems\nadvisable;\n\n4. To give assistance, advice and counsel to other agencies of the Commonwealth\nmaintaining libraries and special reference collections as to the best means of\nestablishing and administering such libraries and collections. It may establish\nin The Library of Virginia a union catalogue of all books, pamphlets and other\nmaterials owned and used for reference purposes by all other agencies of the\nCommonwealth and of all books, pamphlets and other materials maintained by\nlibraries in the Commonwealth which are of interest to the people of the whole\nCommonwealth;\n\n5. To fix reasonable penalties for damage to or failure to return any book,\nperiodical or other material owned by the Library, or for violation of any rule\nor regulation concerning the use of books, periodicals, and other materials in\ncustody of the Library;\n\n6. To give direction, assistance and counsel to all libraries in the\nCommonwealth, to all communities which may propose to establish libraries, and\nto all persons interested in public libraries, as to means of establishment and\nadministration of such libraries, selection of books, retrieval systems,\ncataloguing, maintenance, and other details of library management, and to\nconduct such inspections as are necessary;\n\n7. To engage in such activities in aid of city, county, town, regional and other\npublic libraries as will serve to develop the library system of the\nCommonwealth;\n\n8. To administer and distribute state and federal library funds in accordance\nwith law and its own regulations to the city, county, town and regional\nlibraries of the Commonwealth; and\n\n9. To enter into contracts with other states or regions or districts for the\npurpose of providing cooperative library services.\n\t\t\tWherever in this title and the Code of Virginia the terms “State\nLibrary” or “Library” appear, they shall mean The Library of\nVirginia.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 42-33; 1970, c. 606; 1984, cc. 389, 734; 1986, c. 565;\n1987, c. 458; 1994, c. 64; 1998, c. 427.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}