VIVA is a consortium organized in 1994 to provide, in an equitable, cooperative and cost effective manner, enhanced access to library and information resources for Commonwealth of Virginia non-profit academic libraries serving the higher education community. VIVA facilitates its member libraries cooperative purchase of electronic databases and sharing of other resources such as their valuable print collections. The 39 State-assisted academic colleges and universities in Virginia are charter members of VIVA by legislative action. These include the 6 public doctoral institutions; 9 comprehensive institutions; and 24 community colleges and two-year branch campuses. In addition, private non-profit institutions of higher education comprising the Virginia Independent College and University Library Association (VICULA) have participated as charter members from the inception of VIVA. The Library of Virginia, as a State library agency with educational and research mission, also participates as a member of VIVA.

The VIVA Collection contains documents on the development and operations of the VIVA consortium from its founding onward. Boxes 1 through 3 contain agendas, minutes, and supporting documents from VIVA Steering Committee meetings from July 1994 through June 2002. The collection comprises 3 containers totalling 1 cubic foot (1.5 linear foot).

Browse the VIVA Collection

Special Collections & Archives (SC&A) preserves and makes available to all students, faculty, and researchers many kinds of original and scholarly materials. Subject areas in SC&A include Northern Virginiana, Planned Communities, Congressional Papers, Performing Arts, Maps, the Civil War, and George Mason University (GMU). Formats in SC&A include manuscripts, rare books, playbills, musical scores, audio and videotapes, architectural drawings, photographs, and slides.