This is Watson, with his human friend Tom, and Mia – a Westover Branch Library Paws-to-Read participant.
On Tuesday night Mia gave Watson a special Valentine that she made just for him: A drawing of them both standing in a field, surrounded by hearts.
Happy Valentines day to Mia, Watson and Tom!
Learn more about Paws-to-Read at the Arlington Public Library.
Ruth has been a volunteer at the Cherrydale Branch Library for almost a year. She says it’s a nice escape from her 9-5 job, because the staff is so friendly and supportive that her volunteer “work” never feels like work!
We asked her to tell us a little bit about herself, and why she enjoys spending her free time at the Library:
What’s your favorite thing about the library?
Seeing all the books that I enjoyed as a child and discovering books that I would never come across in a retail book store.
What do you do when you’re not volunteering?
On weekdays, I work for a political polling and consulting firm in Washington DC. In between working and volunteering, one can typically find me running outside. I like to participate in running races in the DC and Hampton Roads area across the year.
Are you a Metro DC native, or a transplant?
Transplant; I was born in Virginia Beach and hail from Chesapeake, Virginia.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I’d love to start and run my own PR firm, so essentially I’d like to be a CEO.
What is the best book you’ve read recently?
Life of Pi by Yann Martel was pretty interesting. I also really enjoyed Born To Run by Christopher McDougall (a great recommendation by Cherrydale’s own Julia Karell).
What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?
Although I’m months late, I finally watched The Dark Knight Rises. It had an incredible movie plot and was the perfect ending to the Batman movie series.
Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.
At Kids Club on Feb. 6, 2013 we had 51 kids and caregivers make Valentine’s Day Cards.
The kids were given an abundance of pink and red craft supplies and after some short instruction on how to fold cards and cut out hearts they were let loose to explore their Valentine’s Day creativity. The kids loved it when we brought the glitter out to glam up the cards.
Take a look at the fun:
Here are some of the cards the kid’s made:
Learn more about Kids Events at the Library.
On Jan. 30, 2013 the Encore Stage & Studio cast members came to Aurora Hills Branch Library to perform a wonderful play “Big Bad!” to an enthusiastic crowd of 45 children and parents.
We witnessed the Big Bad Wolf stand trial for his actions. After the play, cast members led the children in various games of Fairy, Fairy, Witch ( a variation of Duck, Duck , Goose) and Simon Says. Cast members also read stories of the Little Red Riding Hood to the children.
A great time was had by everyone. Thanks, Encore Stage & Studio Cast!
Find out more about Encore Stage & Studio at their website, including information about their play “Big Bad.”
Learn More about Kids Events at the Library.
The Cherrydale Branch Library’s bookdrop thinks they taste the best, after all.
Hands on Instruction
Short Presentations Followed by Q&A Discussion
Schedule a personal appointment with our tech-savvy staff
Learn more about Technology Training Classes at the Library.
Over the weekend, Arlingwoman sent us a garden note and photos of the lettuce and broccoli:
“Even temperatures in the twenties haven’t vanquished them, though freezing rain might. I think they’ve got a warm micro-climate there…”
Don’t the lettuces look good?
The broccoli has some nice florets coming on, too.
Updates are posted on the Garden Sign
“Arlingwoman” is a local gardener who volunteers with Plot Against Hunger. She blogs about AFAC, the Central Library vegetable garden and Garden Talks at arlingwords.wordpress.com.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/htIgBOttJv0[/youtube]
Recorded at Central Library, January 12, 2013
101-year-old Martha Ann Miller speaks to the Arlington Branch of the American Association of University Women, sharing her years as a teacher in Arlington and particularly the struggles over desegregation in the 1960′s.
The First Century, and Not Ready for the Rocking Chair Yet by Martha Ann Miller is available in the Virginia Room.
The Caldecott Award process is so secret that no one knows which books have been nominated until the awards are announced!
So which books did our student jurors choose?
Caldecott Medal – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Abe Lincoln’s Dream by Lane Smith
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett
Caldecott Honor – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Medal – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Honors:
Caldecott Medal – Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Homer by Elisha Cooper
Caldecott Honor –
Caldecott Medal – Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee
Caldecott Honor: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Caldecott Medal – Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
Caldecott Honors –
This is Not My Hat by John Klassen won the Caldecott Medal, and Caldecott Honors went to Creepy Carrots, Extra Yarn, Green, One Cool Friend and Sleep Like a Tiger.
The Caldecott Partnership Project was created through the efforts of two Arlington Public School elementary school librarians – Sandra Sterne (Long Branch) and Lois Derringer (Key-now retired) – to highlight the connection between visual literacy and reading proficiency. Recognizing a perfect opportunity for collaboration with the public library, Sterne and Derringer invited then Arlington Public Library Youth Services coordinator Kristi Jemtegaard (now retired), to participate as well. Kristi brought the insight she gained while serving on the official Caldecott selection committee in 1992 (Tuesday by David Wiesner won that year) to the Project.
Since its founding, the Caldecott Partnership Project has spread to several other Arlington elementary schools. Each year students study the art and stories of picture books – especially past Caldecott winners – to gain a greater understanding of the way words and illustrations work together to create a well-written and well-designed picture book.
Then our student jurors make their own predictions for which new books will win the Caldecott.
Learn more about the previous winners of the Caldecott Medal.