The Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) is a consortium of nonprofit academic libraries within the Commonwealth of Virginia. Members include all of the 39 state-assisted colleges and universities (the six doctoral degree-granting universities, nine four-year institutions, and 24 community and two-year branch colleges), as well as 34 of the independent (private, nonprofit) institutions and the Library of Virginia.

VIVA is an active member of the International Coalition of Library Consortia.

The Virtual Library of Virginia was established in July 1994. In September 2003, VIVA received the Governor's Technology Gold Award for Government Service in Higher Education.

A Guide to the Virtual Library of Virginia (VIVA) Records, 1994-2004 [1] is hosted on the George Mason University web site.

VIVA operates under a memorandum of understanding (MOU). VIVA is headed by a steering committee with 15 members elected from the member institutions, supported by various committees drawn from the constituent organizations. The three standing VIVA Committees are the Outreach Committee, Resources for Users Committee, and the Resource Sharing Committee. Operational responsibility for VIVA is managed by the VIVA staff, consisting of the Director, Associate Director, and Executive Assistant. More information on the VIVA Organizational Plan [2] is available on the VIVA web site.

In fiscal year 2012, funding from the General Assembly accounted for 44% of VIVA's total budget, down from 77% in fiscal year 2006. Meanwhile, VIVA member institutions increased their contributions to 56% of the total budget. This demonstrates the extraordinary commitment of VIVA institutions to acquiring and providing essential resources to the Virginia higher education community, highlighting the power of the VIVA cooperative. Previous biennial budgets allocated to VIVA by the General Assembly can be found on the VIVA site [3].

• VIVA Home Page
• VIVA Member Libraries

• Guide to VIVA Records