University of Virginia Library

Exterior view of a building with a red brick and concrete facade. Large windows line the structure. Text on the image reads, "SERVICE NOTICE Fine Arts Library closure."

The Fine Arts Library will be fully closed the week of spring recess (closing at 6 p.m. on Fri. Feb. 27 and reopening Mar. 8).

During this time, the building will be inaccessible.

Requests for FAL materials need to be in by Mon., Feb. 23, in order to give staff sufficient time to pull materials.

Still a few seats left! Register at the link!

The Automated Scholar: Research in the Age of Powerful AI Agents

Tues, Feb 17
11-noon
Shannon Library Seminar Room 330

The second talk in The Ethical Dimension of AI Literacy Series.

https://cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16231992

psst ... meet in the stacks later?

❤️ 📖 Happy Valentine's Day, Hoos. 📖 ❤️

#ValentinesDay #LibraryLove

Deep in UVA’s vault, romance survives Learn about these historic romances ahead of Valentine’s Day.

Romance in the stacks ... with Steinbeck, Whitman, Alexander Hamilton & Angelica Schuyler Church, and more.

p.s. Stop by any Library to pick up "vintage" Valentines from our collections for #ValentinesDay!

https://news.virginia.edu/content/deep-uvas-vault-romance-survives

A digital illustration of a human-like face with embedded circuit patterns, representing artificial intelligence. The background features rising bar graphs and binary code, symbolizing data and analysis. Text reads: "The Automated Scholar: Research in the Age of Powerful AI Agents."

The Automated Scholar: Research in the Age of Powerful AI Agents

Tues, Feb 17
11-noon
Shannon Library Seminar Room 330

Join us for the second talk in The Ethical Dimension of AI Literacy Series w/ UVA professor Anton Korinek.

Learn more & register at https://cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16231992

Interesting. No access for AI models “unless item-level provenance and meaningful attribution can be demonstrated in practice, and the archival organization retains contractually enforceable control to stop further use.”

A person stands at a podium in a room with several seated attendees. A large screen displays the title "The UVA Archival AI Protocol: A standard for control" with a tagline "No access without control" and a smaller image titled "UVA Archival AI Protocol, 1st Edition." The setting is the University of Virginia Library.

"Information without origin is a liability."

Introducing the UVA Archival AI Protocol, an AI training and access standard for archival organizations.

Read more: https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/protecting-what-remains-introducing-uva-archival-ai-protocol

#AI #Archives #EthicalAI

These are now by the zine rack in our entryway, if you're local to Cville area & want any (of this or other free zines). Taking, making, printing+sharing zines are great ways to meet your neighbors & build community:

Next week's free+public events at SLab: learn to add fancy features to online maps; join us for housebrewed coffee & @jeremyboggs.net sharing how he currently approaches CSS for web design; makerspace workshops on lasercutting wood Pokemon keychains, & crafting soda-can tab chains (or chainmail!) +

A collage features various Valentine-themed elements, including vintage-style illustrations of a squirrel with a heart-shaped pendant labeled "Welcome to the 'Cupid Club'," cherubs, and floral motifs with red and pink roses. In the background, there's a sepia-toned image of a tree-lined path labeled "Lovers Lane, Charlottesville, Va." A rectangular strip of floral patterns overlays part of the collage.

A vintage Valentine's Day card with a pink background features a chimpmunk sitting on a red stool, speaking into a classic telephone. A bear in a bow tie holds a heart-shaped plaque with a message. A sign reads "Welcome to the 'Cupid Club'." Positioned in the background is a heart with a keyhole design. Decorative flowers are also present.

A scenic postcard depicts a tree-lined path in Charlottesville, Virginia, labeled "Lovers Lane." Tall trees create a shaded pathway with dappled sunlight and lush greenery, evoking a tranquil and picturesque setting.

A vintage-style collage featuring large, colorful roses and other flowers. A figure appears on the left, surrounded by floral patterns. Faded text reads "Love indeed is light from Heaven, A spark of immortal..."

"Vintage" valentine's day cards (created using materials from our collections) are available at Library Service & Information Desks until we run out. Drop by!

Want to leave us a valentine (or any other feedback)? Drop us a note in this form: https://library.virginia.edu/site-feedback/note

Decorative book cover featuring intricate, ornate gold patterns and a central title that reads, "A Winter Wreath of Summer Flowers." A small illustration of a bottle with a skull and crossbones symbol is in the corner. A quote at the top says, "The colors are brilliant, and the poisons are real."

"In nature, bright colors are often indicative of danger—turns out, some books (are) the same."

The search for arsenical books in library collections—1 of 20+ stories in our 2025 annual report

https://library.virginia.edu/annual-report/2025/growth-change/colors-are-brilliant-and-poisons-are-real

2. Appreciation for libraries -- big shout out to @uvalibrary.bsky.social. Also 🤩

3. The push and pull of past and present in making sense of the world works differently for historically-minded journalists -- but is real & critical. Thinking about that.

And also...

Banner with the words "Love Data Week" in bold letters. The word "Love" is formed with a heart pattern. Below, a hashtag reads "#LoveData26."

Where did the data go?
Since 2025, federal data on health & climate has been disappearing from gov websites. For #LoveData26, librarian Laura Hjerpe explores the legal fight to restore access and how you can help rescue at-risk info:
https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/wheres-data
#DataRescue

A long aisle in a library storage area with shelves filled with colorful boxes, each labeled with barcodes. The text above reads, "Ivy Library delivery update."

Requests from Ivy may be delayed due to equipment malfunction.

A repair is in now place and we expect to be caught up to normal delivery by Tuesday, February 10. Thanks for your patience!

A person is working at a desk with an open laptop and a historical manuscript. The manuscript lies on a supportive cushion, showing handwritten notes. The image has a pixelated design.

A person holds a tablet over a document on a table, capturing an image of handwritten pages. The table also displays a paper with a red "15" and a "Please Do Not Touch" sign. The person's arm has tattoos, and there is a reflection of ceiling lights on the tablet.

A red high-heeled shoe featuring handwritten black text on the surface is placed on a clear display stand. The background includes a blurred table with papers and an open laptop.

Can #AI accurately transcribe tricky primary source documents—including shoes?

At the “AI Transcription Winter 2026 OLLMpics," Library staff tested four platforms, and the results are in:

https://library.virginia.edu/news/2026/gamechanger-can-ai-accurately-transcribe-primary-source-documents

Video Interview: A Conversation with Leo Lo, Dean of #Libraries and Advisor for #AI Literacy at the Univ. of Virginia (via @chashub.bsky.social) www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbv2... #ailiteracy #librarians #GenAI @uvalibrary.bsky.social

💜 seeing our space @uvalibrary.bsky.social full of folks learning to use tech (digital or not!) for good+community. Join us next Mon (2/9 2-4) too: @josefbeery.bsky.social shows you how to letterpress print your own Valentines Day cards ❤️ Free + open to the public cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16214282

Vintage-style illustration of a printing press with the phrases "The Tyrants Foe" and "Press On! Discover the Power of the Press." Event details below: "Sat. Jan 31. 1-4 pm, Scholars' Lab Shannon Library.

Join local artist and educator Josef Beery and print a paragraph from Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" on a replica period press — open to all in the UVA and Charlottesville community, registration is not required.

Details: https://cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16039119

The Humanities AI Research Showcase, originally scheduled for tomorrow at noon, is postponed due to ongoing weather/travel difficulties. We are planning to reschedule for mid-February & will post the new date soon — it will appear on the Library's event calendar: cal.lib.virginia.edu/calendar/eve...

On Thurs Jan 29, IATH is hosting an information session about the 2026 CFP for the DHC/IATH Resident Fellowship program, a 2-year Fellowship offered to a UVA faculty member using digital tools and methods for humanities projects.
Learn more:
cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16242428

Aerial view of a snow-covered university campus with text overlay stating "Modified Hours Wed, Jan 28."

Modified hours according to UVA's academic schedule for Wednesday, Jan 28: All libraries will open at 10 am.

Library hours can be checked at https://library.virginia.edu/hours

@rareuva.bsky.social

A vertically oriented rectangular graphic contains a photo of a black chalkboard in the upper right quadrant, on which are drawn arrows with the words “RARE BOOK SCHOOL Open House. Demos! Scholarship & course info! Snacks!” To the left of this image, red and black text against white and tan reads “You’re invited! Join the Rare Book School staff for our Winter Open House 2–4 p.m. Wed., 4 February. UVA’s Edgar Shannon Library, Room 230. Free & open to the public.” The lower part of the graphic contains three thumbnail images: a close-up photo of a dark-haired woman in a pink shirt with black dots leaning over a table as she stamps a piece of gold foil onto a piece of leather, a photo of a woman and a man in aprons operating a letterpress, and a photo of the Nuremberg Chronicle with a group of people gathered . Below these, black text reads, “Try your hand at gold foil stamping. Print a letterpress keepsake. View items from RBS’s world-class teaching collection.” At the bottom of the graphic, white text on a horizontal black bar reads “rarebookschool.org.”

You are cordially invited to join the Rare Book School staff for our winter Open House on 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟰 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝘁𝗼 𝟰:𝟬𝟬 𝗽.𝗺. 𝗘𝗧 in the RBS Suite (UVA’s Edgar Shannon Library, Room 230).

This free event is open to the public.

Promotional illustration for UVA Library 2026 'Adventures in Time and Space: Exploring SciFi.' Features a robot lying down while reading a book, surrounded by a clock, rocket, and books, with a light bulb illuminated above their head. A quote from Hawthorne's "Rappaccini's Daughter" is featured, which reads "There is something truer and more real, than what we can see with the eyes, and touch with the finger."

Illustration for "Rappaccini's Daughter" showing two characters in a garden, one gesturing towards a plant with large, vivid flowers, set within a decorative archway.

Happening tonight on Zoom at 4pm we'll chat about science fiction, Hawthorne, & Poe for the 2026 Reading Challenge!

Register at: https://cal.lib.virginia.edu/calendar/events/ReadSciFi

“Rappacinni’s Daughter” illustration: Valenti Angelo/Hawthorne’s Twice-Told Tales. Limited Editions Club, 1966

A snowy view of Clemons Library with text stating "Clemons Library will be open Tuesday, Jan 27."

**Tuesday Jan 27 Library hours**

ONLY Clemons Library will be open — from 10 am to 10 pm.

Stay safe, and come in and get warm.

Library hours can always be checked at library.virginia.edu/hours

@rareuva.bsky.social

With the University’s Academic Division operating on a modified schedule for Monday, January 26th, 2026, Library hours have changed accordingly:

ONLY Clemons Library will be open on Mon, Jan 26 — from 10 am to 10 pm.

Library hours can always be checked at https://library.virginia.edu/hours

The Homer statue on the University of Virginia Lawn, with the Rotunda in the distance, all blanketed with snow.

We've made changes to hours based on incoming weather:
Saturday
Shannon & Brown: 9 am–6 pm
Harrison/Small: noon-4 pm
Clemons: 9 am–8 pm

Sunday
Clemons: Noon–10 pm.
All other libraries closed

Operations for Monday and beyond will be reassessed daily. Check library.virginia.edu & hours page.

Although it is a University holiday in observance of MLK Jr. Day, Library spaces are open. However, Access Services (including LEO) is closed and services will resume on Tuesday, Jan 20.

There are events throughout the week for the Community MLK Celebration—check calendar: mlk.virginia.edu/events

Black-and-white photograph of Martin Luther King Jr. seated at a table, looking thoughtful.

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education. The complete education gives one not only power of concentration, but worthy objectives upon which to concentrate.”
- MLK, Jr.

Photo by Marion S. Trikosko, 1964. (Library of Congress)

Promotional graphic titled 'Memory Without Origin' featuring a digital illustration of a human head in profile interconnected with circuit patterns and data charts, highlighting themes of provenance, consent, and trust in generative AI.

Join us on Wed, Jan 21, from 1-2 pm in the Shannon Library Seminar Room 330 for a talk by Dean of Libraries Leo Lo: Memory Without Origin: Provenance, Consent, & Trust in the Age of Generative AI—the 1st in a series on ethical AI.

Learn more & register: https://cal.lib.virginia.edu/event/16115096

Person updating a library website on a laptop, with a notification about web updates scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 10.

SERVICE ALERT

We have planned updates to the UVA Library website between 9 a.m. and noon on Saturday, January 10.

Visitors may see service interruptions on EZproxy, GIS, and others. Virgo itself will largely be unaffected, although visitors may see brief search errors during the update.