Hey, y’all. It’s Amie.

Need a fun place to go spend a few hours completely free of charge? That’s when my son and I head straight to our local library. We became fixtures there for a few days while the “tree people” were chopping down the huge oak in our front yard. 

They had age-appropriate books for Colton, toys and computer games to enjoy, and even a reading program where he got to practice with a dog. The library also had the Wi-Fi I needed to send your newsletters during those few days.

Today, we’re shining a well-deserved light on local libraries—and I’m so glad you’re here to read it. 

Funding for the Institute of Museum and Library Services increased by more than a million dollars this fiscal year. (Adobe Stock)

By Zamone Perez

Here’s what you need to know: Federal library funding has been locked in for another year following uncertainty, but future support remains uncertain; library officials say folks across the commonwealth should find ways to support their local branch this February, which is Library Lovers Month.

Top facts: 

• An executive order by President Donald Trump last year attempted to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a government agency responsible for providing grants to local libraries. But the new budget, passed by Congress and signed by Trump earlier this month, provides a small increase to the agency’s budget. 

• “The idea that they’re quiet places or places for books alone has long since not been the case,” said Librarian of Virginia Dennis Clark. “Libraries are really heartbeat places in communities. They’re not just places to borrow books. They’re safe, welcoming spaces, where everyone, of any age, can come and learn, or read, or be entertained.”
• Library usage data greatly impacts funding and perceived support, Clark said. He explained that using a service a library offers, such as attending a class or reading a book, can help to keep that library around.

Did you know there are 94 public library systems in Virginia? Read more about their impact at the link below. 

The House of Delegates Chamber in Virginia’s General Assembly building. (Michael O’Connor/Dogwood)

By Michael O’Connor

Both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly passed a bill to lift the state ban on collective bargaining for state employees, but whether higher education workers and home care workers ultimately get included remains to be seen.

The Virginia House of Delegates passed House Bill 1263 in a vote of 61 to 35, which would repeal the state ban on collective bargaining for thousands of state employees, but not for higher education workers at public universities. 

The Senate version of the bill, which passed in a 21-19 vote, includes campus workers but excludes home care workers. 

United Campus Workers of Virginia is planning a series of events around the state to raise awareness about its fight for collective bargaining rights. 

Virginia’s own Earl F. Lloyd was the first African American to play in an NBA game. (Afro American Newspapers/Gado/Getty Images)

By Aila Boyd

In 1950, Alexandria’s Earl F. Lloyd became the first African American to play in an NBA game. Before making NBA history, he played for West Virginia State. His career included stints with the Capitols, Syracuse Nationals, and Detroit Pistons. 

The power forward was instrumental in helping the Syracuse Nationals clinch the NBA Championship in 1955. He later became the first African American bench coach in the league with the Detroit Pistons. 

Born in 1928, Lloyd died in 2015. He’s remembered for setting a model that others followed during segregation by comporting himself with professionalism.

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