Director’s Message: Still Reading What You Want

Still Reading What You Want—Whenever. However. Forever.

The data is in: Arlington residents love to read.

Arlington Public Library completed one of our most successful Summer Reading Programs ever with 9,617 registered readers and an 80% completion rate (a 21% increase from 2023). Thank you to all who participated.

A library poster with text "Join Summer Reading. Read books, win prizes." and a child reading in the background.

And that's not all:

Circulation topped 1.5 million in Overdrive/Libby in FY24, a significant 39% increase over the previous year.

Patrons placed more than 1.2 million holds, a 20% increase over the previous year.

Arlington Public Library purchased 7,200+ additional print copies of items because of high patron print holds.

We had a 110% increase in form-based book recommendation requests.

Our librarians received 4,826 patron suggestions for purchase, a 33% increase over the previous year.

The Library did a refresh project for the Detention Center collection, during which we purchased 1,200+ new items for their collection.

Our board games and puzzles collection, a great way to encourage fun and social interaction, circulated 7,500+ times.

In recognition of Banned Books Week, Sept. 22–28, the Library hosted a bookmark contest. The theme? What freedom to read and libraries mean to you.

Not surprisingly, imaginative submissions flowed from all age groups. We received hundreds of submissions, and 30 winners were selected.

Composite of four bookmark designs for the 2024 Freedom to Read competition.

Winning entries are being professionally printed and distributed at all library locations during Banned Books Week. Stop by a library and collect your favorites. And congratulations to all participants.

For many, it was a chance to link creativity with personal values and our community ideal of an informed citizenry. One teen said, “This [bookmark contest] gave me the confidence to start competing in other art competitions!"

Let's think about that for a second. "Gave me the confidence..." Isn't that what libraries do each day?

Audience applauds a guitar-playing teen at Columbia Pike Library's Open Mic Night

Columbia Pike Library's recent Open Mic Night event.

Through free diverse collections, programs, on-site experts, empathetic staff and inviting third spaces, each day we encourage Arlington residents to learn new things, face personal and professional challenges, find outlets for their creative interests and grow both as individuals and as members of our community. It is a labor of love and never gets old.

Thank you for reading, growing and for supporting us at Arlington Public Library.