Spring is springing and signs are everywhere. The cherry blossom trees outside my office windows bloomed pink, turned brown and now are on their way to green.
The Central Library tennis courts are packed each afternoon with student players, the gardens have been mulched (like old books, a smell I love), and daffodils, from Lady Bird Johnson Park off the George Washington Parkway to my backyard, are standing tall, trumpeting renewal and rebirth.
April is one of the Library’s busiest months. The Friends of the Arlington Public Library's Spring Book Sale starts today through April 6.
We celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month with books sharing the rich heritage and culture of many of our Arlington coworkers, neighbors and friends. A favorite author of mine is Moroccan American novelist Laila Lalami whose latest book “Dream Hotel” I am in the middle of reading. I interviewed Lalami a few years ago about her mystery/thriller “The Other Americans,” a National Book Award finalist.
April is National Poetry Month, and we are taking a moment to salute outgoing poet laureate Courtney LeBlanc who has been a faithful and inspiring friend of the library during her tenure. Courtney’s latest book, “Her Dark Everything’ comes out this month.
Earth Day turns 55 on April 22 and we will host a series of programs including “Fix Nearly Anything,” making mini terrariums and garden talks. And The Truck will be on the road again joining Langston Boulevard Alliance's Earth Day Every Day celebration.
National Library Week is April 6-12 and we cap off the week with the Human Library. Check out a human book and learn what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes. This is our third time hosting this event and our book collection offers varied and compelling “reads.”
The FY26 Budget for Arlington County is adopted this month. Thank you to the many patrons of the Library who contacted the County Board during the budget process.
We are humbled by the many kind comments we received and by the love you give us each day by checking out books, attending one or more of the 5000+ programs we offer annually, booking rooms for scout meetings, tax assistance, and book clubs, transferring family photographs to digital media in the Shop, volunteering and helping us make Arlington the community we are proud to call home.
There is a lot happening in our community and in our world and much of it is stressful. With wellness programs, resume writing and budgeting workshops and many others, we have devoted space, time and resources to assist federal employees who either have lost, or are concerned about losing, their jobs. For however long we are needed, we will be there to support federal workers and their families.
You can count on us to present facts and multiple perspectives, preserve your stories, be an active third place where everyone is welcome and can be in community with one another. And stand tall.
Like the daffodils.
Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library
*In celebration of National Poetry Month, enjoy my inspiration for this message: Robert Herrick’s poem “To Daffodils.”