In case you missed it, ArlNow.com recounts Bella the Chihuahua’s recent trek through Central and how Library staff helped reunite one curious pooch with her frantic owners.
Our Library buildings always welcome service animals including those who drop in regularly to volunteer.
As for household pets, we encourage continued visits through the Library’s great 24/7 website.
The American Civil War started on April 12, 1861 with the firing on Fort Sumter, and ranged across the states from Pennsylvania to New Orleans. You probably know about the many battles waged here, in Virginia and the DC area. But did you know that you can follow the events of the Civil War in real time?
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Washington Post developed a set of linked Twitter accounts that “tweet” events of the Civil War, 150 years after they happened.
To experience the Civil War as it would have been tweeted, subscribe to the Tweeting the Civil War list on twitter, or bookmark the page link on your computer.
Tweeting characters include:
While we often think of history as incidents centered on explosive battles or an inevitable tide of history, the “Tweeting the Civil War” project reminds us in 140 characters that history is the collective experience of many individuals living their day-to-day lives.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt9XWuGvGjw[/youtube]
Filmed Dec. 5, 2011 at Central Library
Artistic Director Christopher Henley of WSC Avant Bard discusses the theater’s new name and the move to the Artisphere, as well as their highly ambitious and well received production of “The Mistorical Hystery of Henry I(V).”
Guests also include members of the WSC Avant Bard company, including Sara Barker, Heather Haney, Frank Britton and Jay Hardee.
Learn more about Theater Events at the Library.
On Wednesday, Sept. 12, twenty children and their caregivers celebrated International Dot Day at the Aurora Hills Branch Library, by exploring how to “make their mark” in new and exciting ways.
We read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, then used watercolor paints and tissue paper to make dots paintings on coffee filters. The kids’ work is now on display at Aurora Hills.
Our next Kids Club event at Aurora Hills is on Wednesday, September 26 at 4:00 PM, and we will be joined by Ms. Cho to fold origami again! Will you join us?
Learn more about Kids Events at the Library.
The very funny and talented Cole made her Signature Theatre debut last year as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray – for which she received a Helen Hayes award.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2FQjBW4cFM[/youtube]
Learn more about Theater Events at the Library.
Presented March 12, 2011 by Virginia Room Archivist Heather Crocetto, at the GMU Arlington Campus Library’s Open House.
Click on maps to enlarge, or view them on flickr.
Part 1
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poQiGkGR7C8[/youtube]
Part 2
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CclQIW6F8A[/youtube]
Part 3
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72Il6XIgKnA[/youtube]
Learn more about Arlington on our Local History page.
During storytime today at the Columbia Pike Branch Library, we got to see these preschoolers in their theatrical debut of the classic tale of love, loss and knitted winterwear: The 3 Little Kittens.
Columbia Pike hosts a drop-in family storytime Saturday mornings at 10:30 a.m.
Find more Kids Events at the Library.
In November of 2011, Signature Theatre’s new Director of Education, David Zobell, sat down with their new Director of Marketing and Communications, Laurie Pomerson:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CWTBFPxX8o[/youtube]
Learn more about Theater Events at the Library.
The following profile was published Sept. 11, 2011 on the District Dispatch: News for Friends of Libraries blog, which is produced by the ALA Washington Office.
by Jazzy Wright
This summer, I had the opportunity to witness the latest in cutting-edge library services when I took a tour of Arlington Central Library (Va.), a thriving community center located a few miles outside of Washington, D.C. There, I spoke with Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh, a library veteran who has made significant strides to modernize the library system since she became lead director six years ago.
The library system, which is made up of seven local library branches and a central library that serve more than 212,000 library patrons, offers community members the latest ebook titles, online databases and audio files. The library hosts weekly technology training classes for patrons that cover topics ranging from computer hardware concepts to digital photos to online job searching. The library is also working to teach library patrons how to effectively use e-readers, tablets and smartphones to access information.
One of Kresh’s main achievements has been the creation of the library’s Digital Projects Lab, a pop-up, tech-filled space that provides the technology resources for community members to create digital projects. The lab offers patrons scanners, tablets, printers, as well as visual and audio editing software.
Additionally, Arlington Public Library staff are always looking at ways to change the spacing layout at each of the system’s branch libraries as libraries become technology centers, and more and more library patrons turn to libraries for free Internet access and public meeting spaces. Kresh says that the steps taken to modernize the library are necessary if the library wants to continue to serve the public’s evolving needs.
“The future of libraries is changing, and soon you’ll see less of the divisions of areas, and more seamlessness in libraries,” said Kresh, who worked at the Library of Congress for more than 32 years on special collections issues, veterans history and virtual reference projects before coming to Arlington Public Library. “Spaces will need to be changed to accommodate libraries as both community centers and work spaces. People will come to Skype and meet with others.”
The Arlington Public Library team invests heavily in the library system’s website—the library uses the website to ensure that Arlington community members are informed about new resources, library events, book talks and digital tools. As a result of their efforts, the Arlington Public Library website is now the most visited website in the county, according to Peter Golkin, public information officer for the Arlington Public Library.
“Our website is going to where the user is,” said Kresh. Library staff use the interactive website to blog about the library’s community-based work, notifying local library patrons about upcoming college-and-career events, the progress of its community garden (which provides food year-round for the needy), and the success of the library’s summer reading program.
Kresh says that her library staff don’t do it alone—they rely on the work of volunteers and friends of the library (officially called the Friends of Arlington Public Library) to support the library community.
“The friends of the library are our chief vehicle of supporters,” said Kresh, adding that they are helping to transform libraries into community spaces. “All social adult and children programs are supported by the Friends.” Most notably, the Friends of Arlington Public Library organize the library’s twice-annual book sale, a four-day event that draws large crowds to the library branches.
Ultimately, Kresh says that her libraries rely on volunteers and supporters to advocate for funding for her libraries.
“Our funding comes from a local municipality, and we make sure that the friends of the library understand when our library budget have been cut,” she said, adding that local funding support allows her libraries to provide community members with ebooks and Internet access. “We need support to continue to be a resource for the community.”
Learn more about Library Advocay at District Dispatch.
Last weekend, the Cherrydale Reading and Running group competed in the 9-11 memorial 5K, and Julia (Branch Manager at the Cherrydale Branch Library and driving force behind Reading and Running) reports that, “Everybody did an awesome job.”
Unfortunately the race was so chaotic (and rainy!) that we couldn’t get a picture of the whole team. But we do have some pre- and post-race shots:
If you participated in the race and have photos you’d like to share, email to Julia at jkarell@arlingtonva.us.
On Tuesday, Sept. 11, the group also held their final celebration, with a book discussion centered around Born to Run.
