The Arlington Public Library’s 2010 Arlington Reads program has been selected to receive an Outstanding Achievement in Local Government Innovation Award for 2011, from the Alliance for Innovation!
Innovation Awards are bestowed annually to programs that successfully and creatively address important public service dilemmas and positively impact their communities. The awards recognize Alliance members who have shown extraordinary commitment to bringing innovative ideas to life.
Arlington Reads 2010 examined our relationship with where our food comes from.
Our featured author was literary legend and Kentucky farmer Wendell Berry – author of The Memory of Old Jack – who made a rare appearance at the Central Library. We also hosted urban farmer Novella Carpenter, author of Farm City.
Arlington Reads 2010 also created our first (and ongoing) Library Vegetable Garden.
With the help of volunteers from Arlington Food Assistance Center, the Northern Virginia Master Gardeners and other enthusiastic folks from the Arlington community, our garden was such a success that it was even named a USDA People’s Garden.
Of course I had to read this out loud to my family! We are all very pleased to see Arlington get this recognition.The thing is: it was a lot of fun! (as well as educational, relevant and useful.)Good job!