Description
Weeks of Welcome 2026 - - Your Stage Awaits!
VCU Library events for Weeks of Welcome
VCU Libraries welcomes new Rams to VCU. Your journey to become the star of your own life begins here, so visit our festival-style events to find your community and pick up tools as well as swag to enjoy the experience.
Between Set Reads
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Monday, Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- Need something to help you kill time before the next big act goes on at the main stage? Stop by the lobby table to pick up your next five-star read of the summer and get other reading recommendations from our Humanities Research Librarian John Glover.
The General Admission Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Monday, Aug. 17, 2 - 3 p.m.
- Get the lay of the library land with this guided Cabell Library tour, hosted by a member of our Access Services team. You’ll go through the basics of the Cabell layout, learn where the best study spots are, and more in 30 minutes.
Meet Your Librarian
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Tuesday, Aug. 18, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- You're a VIP, and your librarian is here to assist you. Includes access to almost any information you need, and your librarian's expert guidance, whenever you want.
Launch Party with The Workshop
Park Plaza Amphitheater
Tuesday, Aug. 18, noon - 2 p.m.
- Kick off VCU Weeks of Welcome with some live music that you get to help create. The Workshop at VCU Libraries will be providing a variety of beginner-friendly electronic instruments set up at different stations to get hands-on with. Stop by to enjoy a live DJ set and explore the process of making your own music. No experience? No problem. Come make some noise with us and see what you can create.
Backstage Help for the Big Stage with IT Support
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 10 a.m. - noon
- Get guidance on all of the free software VCU offers, help with your Canvas account, and assistance with any other tech questions you may have for the library’s IT crew.
The VIP Backstage Pass Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2 - 3 p.m.
- This isn’t the basics, baby. Space is limited for this VIP tour that will take you through the exclusive areas of the library that are usually off limits to nearly everyone. Including the Cabell Room, the mid-Victorian era recreation of Cabell’s own library, complete with his personal collection of books and various ephemera, plus other behind the scenes spaces. Attendees will also receive their own Cabell Library backstage pass and lanyard to take home. Registration is required in advance through this Google form.
First Time Here? Quick and Easy Library How-To’s
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
- Never spent time in an academic library before? No worries, stop by our table and choose a demonstration (or more than one.) of any of our most popular services: reserving a library study room, installing the print driver to your personal laptop, signing up for your free New York Times or Washington Post accounts, or finding a book in our collections.
Cabell Library Ask Me Anything Tent
Compass
Thursday, Aug. 20, 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
- Welcome to VCU, Rams. We’re ready to answer all your library questions -- stop by and connect with a friendly library staffer at our “Ask Me Anything” tent. Whether you're curious about our collections -- we’ve got videogames, DVDs, and magazines as well as books, databases, and online streaming music -- or have questions about printers, study rooms, lost and found, or fun events, this is your chance to ask, no shame. No question is too small, too big, or too weird -- we’ve probably heard it already. Pick up some swag, get a Cabell hand stamp, and get answers that’ll set you up for college success.
Music Fest Memories: Get Sprouted
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Thursday, Aug. 20, noon - 2 p.m.
- Stop by the lobby table in Cabell Library to make some “sprouts” (small, clip-able trinkets commonly exchanged at festivals and raves) that you can exchange with other VCU students. Host: Kelsey Sidwell
Richmond Public Library In the Spotlight
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Thursday, Aug. 20, 2 - 4 p.m.
- Richmond Public Library takes the main stage with library card signups and books available for checkout right here in the Cabell Library lobby. Be sure to ask about their free streaming services as well.
The General Admission Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Monday, Aug. 24, 2 - 3 p.m.
- Get the lay of the library land with this guided Cabell library tour, hosted by a member of our Access Services team. You’ll go through the basics of the Cabell layout, learn where the best study spots are, and more, in 30 minutes.
Health Sciences Library Fall Open House
Health Sciences Library Lobby
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- The Health Sciences Library welcomes new and returning students and new faculty to explore its study spaces, collaborative areas, and library resources during the Open House. Meet the librarians and staff who support your school or program, take a self-guided tour or request a guided tour, and discover services available both in the library and online.
Be sure to visit the Makerspace to see free creative tools, including 3D printers, a laser cutter, a Cricut, and a sewing machine, and learn how beginners can get started with hands-on training. You can also explore Special Collections and Archives, home to one of the South's largest collections of rare medical books and artifacts, and experience a unique look at the history of medicine and VCU.
First Time Here? Quick and Easy Library How-To’s
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2 - 3 p.m.
- Never spent time in an academic library before? No worries, stop by our table and choose a demonstration (or more than one.) of any of our most popular services: reserving a library study room, installing the print driver to your personal laptop, signing up for your free New York Times or Washington Post accounts, or finding a book in our collections.
The VIP Backstage Pass Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Tuesday, Aug. 25, 3 - 4 p.m.
- This isn’t the basics, baby. Space is limited for this VIP tour that will take you through the exclusive areas of the library that are usually off limits to nearly everyone. Including the Cabell Room, the mid-Victorian era recreation of Cabell’s own library, complete with his personal collection of books and various ephemera, plus many other behind-the-scenes spaces in the library. Attendees will also receive their own Cabell Library backstage pass and lanyard to take home. Registration is required in advance through this Google form.
Meet Your Librarian
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
You're a VIP, and your librarian is here to assist you. Includes access to almost any information you need, and your librarian's expert guidance, whenever you want.
Between Set Reads: Music Fest Edition
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- Prefer your casual reads to be a little more on theme? We’ve got you covered. Stop by and see our Humanities Research Librarian John Glover, to grab books centering around music, bands, fests of years past, and more.
Backstage Help for the Big Stage with IT Support
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Thursday, Aug. 27, 10 a.m. - noon
- Get guidance on all of the free software VCU offers, help with your Canvas account, and assistance with any other tech questions you may have for the library’s IT crew.
Richmond Public Library In the Spotlight
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Friday, Aug. 28, 2 - 4 p.m.
- Richmond Public Library takes the main stage with library card signups and books available for checkout right here in the Cabell Library lobby. Be sure to ask about their free streaming services as well.
Music Fest Memories: Kandi Bracelets
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Monday, Aug. 31, noon - 2 p.m.
- Stop by the lobby table in Cabell Library to make kandi bracelets (beaded friendship bracelets with deep roots in the electronica music scene) and learn about the PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect) bracelet exchange tradition.
The VIP Backstage Pass Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Monday, Aug. 31, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
- This isn’t the basics, baby. Space is limited for this VIP tour that will take you through the exclusive areas of the library that are usually off limits to nearly everyone. Including the Cabell Room, the mid-Victorian era recreation of Cabell’s own library, complete with his personal collection of books and various ephemera, plus other behind the scenes spaces. Attendees will also receive their own Cabell Library backstage pass and lanyard to take home. Registration is required in advance through this Google form.
Karaoke and Festival Photo Ops with The Workshop and VCU Adobe Club
Park Plaza Amphitheater
Tuesday, Sept. 1, noon - 2 p.m.
- We’ll have karaoke up and running outside of Cabell Library, and the VCU Adobe Club will be staffing the green screen photobooth for all of your festival selfie needs. Stop by and give us your best Whitney Houston impression or grab a snapshot of you and your friends at that music fest in another state that you had to miss this year using the power of Adobe.
First Time Here? Quick and Easy Library How-To’s
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Wednesday, Sept. 2, noon - 1 p.m.
- Never spent time in an academic library before? No worries, stop by our table and choose a demonstration (or more than one.) of any of our most popular services: reserving a library study room, installing the print driver to your personal laptop, signing up for your free New York Times or Washington Post accounts, or finding a book in our collections.
The General Admission Tour
James Branch Cabell Library Lobby
Thursday, Sept. 3, 4 - 5 p.m.
- Get the lay of the library land with this guided Cabell library tour, hosted by a member of our Access Services team. You’ll go through the basics of the Cabell layout, learn where the best study spots are, and more.