Thomas Balch Library reports nearly 10,000 summer visits, new exhibits and storage plans

The Thomas Balch Library reported a busy summer to the advisory commission at its September meeting, including nearly 10,000 in-person visits, multiple bicentennial events tied to the Lafayette anniversary, new donations and a conservation grant for original furnishings.

Laura (last name not specified), the library director, told commissioners the library logged "almost 10,000 visitors through the summer," a larger-than-usual figure that the director said reflected additional outreach and festival participation. She said the library marched in the town parade, staffed a presence at Lafayette-related events and provided equipment such as microphones to partner organizations.

The library staged and moved exhibits tied to the town's Lafayette anniversary; the director said the collaboration across historical organizations was a highlight. Staff also added a Lafayette walking tour to the town's walking-tour app and plans to mark sites tied to Lafayette’s visit with small decals.

Collections and donations were a second focus. The director said the library received a set of older materials including a Loudoun County tax book from April 19 (ownership and public-record status under review with courthouse staff) and a large donation of photographs by Ashburn photographer Stuart Wortsmith documenting mid-20th-century local life. She described volunteers and interns working through those collections.

On conservation, the library sought professional restoration for a desk and five Windsor chairs from the library’s original 1922 furnishings. The conservator bid was approximately $7,000; the library received $2,500 from the Preservation Society and the Thomas Balch Foundation board agreed to fund the remaining balance so work can proceed this year. "We got a conservator who was willing to do it for around $7,000," the director said, and added that the Foundation would cover the remainder after the Preservation Society award.

Staff described an operational effort to move nonprocessed and infrequently used material to off-site storage on Miller Drive. The library has purchased shelving and plans to use the site for processing and, later, limited preservation work (book repair and scanning), but staff cautioned the move will be gradual and must account for secure handling and retrieval logistics. The director said one lower-level room on the Miller Drive site includes an HVAC system that the library thinks can serve as cold storage in the future.

Volunteers and interns featured prominently: the library relaunched a more flexible volunteer program with short-term “kickoff projects,” continues regular volunteer scheduling, and hosted multiple interns who helped prepare exhibits and process materials. A new genealogy club formed in August and plans to meet with library cataloging staff support.

Programming planned for fall and winter includes a literary festival (authors panels and exhibits, linked Friends of the Library fundraiser the weekend of Sept. 21), the Shenandoah Valley Archives Fair (Wednesday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the library), and a ticketed symposium on Black patriots and Black loyalists planned for Saturday, Nov. 10. The director also said Betsy Burnett’s recent program and other talks are being posted to the library’s YouTube channel.

The Endowment Foundation reported governance changes and a legal funding update: board president Steve Chapin resigned after a July meeting that adopted a new investment policy and bylaws changes. The director said the foundation’s petition to the Philadelphia Orphans’ Court over the Thomas Walsh family endowment was approved and that the foundation should receive about $204,000 after transfer paperwork is completed with the bank. "They decided that the Thomas Walsh family endowment shouldn't be out to the library. So we'll get around $204,000 for that," the director said.

Commission business also covered routine items: the commission approved the June meeting minutes by voice vote at the start of the meeting and later moved to adjourn by voice vote at the end of the session.

The director warned that use of the Miller Drive facility and any new preservation work will require budget requests in the town’s shifted budget cycle; she said the town has moved its budget calendar forward and the library will seek one-time funding in the 2026 cycle for infrastructure and ongoing funding in 2027 for staffing or recurring costs if the off-site site becomes a regularly used location.

Commissioners asked and discussed logistics for the history awards and selection process; the director said one complete application had been received so far and that the selection panel will follow past practice that generally favors nonprofessional, community submissions. A library survey that ran through the summer will close mid-September and results will be presented to the commission at a future meeting.

The meeting closed after limited commissioner comments and a formal voice vote to adjourn.