Hello friends,
The Arlington County Board has approved a Fiscal Year 2013 budget that will restore branch hours throughout the Arlington Public Library system.
In short, this means beginning the week of July 1—the start of the new fiscal year—branches that have been closed Tuesdays will again be open on Tuesdays and branches that have been closed Thursdays will again be open on Thursdays.
Even during the worst of our recent serious economic downturn, Board members made it clear that public libraries were a priority in Arlington and hours would be restored as soon as County finances had stabilized. We are lucky to have experienced such resilience.
We are also lucky—and grateful—to live in a community that expresses such strong support for its libraries. While other jurisdictions in the region still struggle with budgets and services, Arlington residents have made it clear that libraries are essential here and must be maintained at a very high level of quality. That kind of support is not forgotten.
So while some may consider the number 13 unlucky, (FY) 2013 is already looking good for the Library. Very good.
And if you’ve appreciated Arlington Public Library in the past few years, we suspect you’ll like us even more with the restored hours on the doors.
Thank you for supporting your Library.
I am so happy about this! My family and I absolutely love the Arlington Library System. I don’t know what I would do without it!
I am so happy about this too! I love coming to the library, and I especially love the Arlington Library! I consider Arlington Central Library to be my favorite library, and visit Central the most frequently. I sometimes visit the Arlington branches too, most frequently Westover, and occasionally other branches. I appreciate that libraries are considered a priority in Arlington, and that the lost branch service days are being restored.
Again, this is great news! When you have a chance, could you please let us know the complete new hours (effective July 1) for all libraries? Thanks.
I am delighted that libraries are being supported in Arlington County. How appropriate that the announcement of the restored hours came during the week of National Libraries Legislative Day (April 24, 2012)!
Way to go, Arlington County! I go to the Shirlington Branch every week, and it’s usually packed with happy children, intent internet users, and browsers like me thumbing through the books and checking out the videos and books on tape. It’s fantastic that we’ll have another to spend some time at the library. Well done!
My ten-year-old daughter and I absolutely LOVE and LIVE ON the Arlington library system, one of the greatest reasons for us to adore living in Arlington. Our favorites are the gem Central, and the beautiful Shirlington- our neighborhood library. You are all so wonderful and dedicated. We are forever indebted to you. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Thank you for brightening our days, and lighting up our nights.
Hello Mehrnaz,
We’re honored by your words. Thank you.
That’s *wonderful* news! I’ve been surprised by how much I missed that one weekday of access. I’m thrilled to live in a community that is so supportive of our libraries and all they offer. Kudos to the Arlington library for its constantly improving services, web site and ever-helpful friendly staff. I have to say, one of the big draws of my current residence was that it’s walking distance from a branch library!
I am glad that the hours are going back. I really enjoy the Arlington library system.
This is terrific news! I use the Columbia Pike library quite frequently and I have missed the library not being open on Thursday. Although I live in Fairfax County, (used to live in Arlington) I use Fairfax, Alexandria, and the Arlington library systems. The Columbia Pike branch library is my favorite of all. The Arlington system, to me, is superior to the much larger Fairfax system. You have books that Fairfax does not have and your collection of domestic and foreign DVDs is not surpassed by any local system. I also never have to wait as long for best sellers from Arlington as I do from the other systems. I live right off of Columbia Pike just outside of Arlington so I’m glad I am not too far from my favorite branch. It’s great that the county is committed to supporting its library system!
Thank you, Arlington County! I missed the Shirlington library every single Thursday (including today!) and never failed to think of something I wanted to check out sometime between 9pm on Wednesday and 10am on Friday morning. It’s great to hear some good news about libraries and know that this is a priority for the County — one of the many reasons we love living here!
This is great news! I hope the Board continues to make the Arlington library system a priority. It is such a valuable resource, and the Aurora Hills branch is small but mighty! Thank you for everything that you do.