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Arlington Public Library

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Last Rites for a Funeral Home

Central Library says goodbye to its original neighbor to the south.

Demolition of the Arlington Funeral Home, a landmark in Virginia Square since 1956 (5 years before Central opened), began last week in preparation for nine story mixed use commercial building. When completed, the new building will include a multi-use performance space known as a black box theater.

That’s probably a fitting legacy.

As theology professor Thomas Long explained in a 2009 New York Times essay, funerals are “a form of community theater in which we enact publicly the journey from here to there, thereby enabling both the dead and the living to process the reality and meaning of mortality.”

So long neighbor…

 

The history of the Arlington Funeral Home:

Intro to Yoga at Cherrydale

Try an intro yoga class, in the comfort of your own Library

Bring your friends and family for a simple, beginner yoga practice, led by Cherrydale Branch Library neighbors Sun & Moon Yoga Studio, who are donating their services. We will have a limited number of mats on hand for participants to borrow, but please bring your own if you have one.

Intro class July 7, from 3 – 4 p.m.

Register at Cherrydale, or by calling 703-228-6330.

For more information, please call 703-288-6330.

Your Branches: Now With More Hours

See you at the Library—more often.

With hours approved by the County Board for the Fiscal Year 2013 budget, the seven Arlington Public Library branches are now open every day of the workweek, as of the first week of July:

New hours appear in gray.  The schedules for Central Library and the Plaza branch did not change.

The Library greatly appreciates all the support it received from the Board and residents in making this new schedule possible.

 

 

New Look for Aurora Hills

New carpet, paint, and furniture add to a wonderful library experience!

The Aurora Hills Branch Library had an internal make-over this winter:

We have new carpet and comfortable seating, as well as tables, chairs, and computer furniture – all in a lovely blue and gray color scheme:

 

Stop in and tell us what you think!

 

 

Fun with Paper Folding at Kids Club

We learned to fold an origami elephant!

On Wednesday, June 6, Arlington resident Ms. Cho – who is originally from Korea- taught the Aurora Hills Branch Library Kids Club to make origami.

45 happy children, plus their parents and caretakers had a good time learning to fold an elephant, a fox and a pig:


Don’t miss our next Aurora Hills Kids Club on June 13 at 4:00 p.m., for a visit with real nocturnal animals from Long Branch Nature Center!

 

Learn more about Kids Events at the Library.

 

 

Bradbury Remembered

Master science fiction author Ray Bradbury has died at the age of 91.

Besides his impressive body of work, we remember him for his love of libraries, as reported by the New York Times in 2009:

“Libraries raised me,” Mr. Bradbury said. “I don’t believe in colleges and universities. I believe in libraries because most students don’t have any money. When I graduated from high school, it was  during the Depression and we had no money. I couldn’t go to college, so I went to the library three days a week for 10 years.”

Thank you Mr. Bradbury. Rest in peace.

 

Central Honored for Growing Partnership

Soil, sun and water lead to vegetables, herbs and flowers. But it’s partnership that sustains the Central Library Community Garden.

The Library has been named 2012 Community Partner of the Year by Arlington Food Assistance Center, which serves some 1,600 families in need. AFAC distributes the food grown at Central and helps maintain the plot with volunteers from other groups including the USDA People’s Garden initiative, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority and Girl Scout Troop 1431.

The Central garden was created during Arlington Reads 2010, which focused on locally grown food and sustainability.

The AFAC award includes the  donation of  “A Mangia,” a Southern Italian cookbook, and the “Random House Book of Vegetables.” Look for them soon in the Library collection.

Learn more about gardening resources at the Library, including free weekly talks and demonstrations.

 

 

Got Yarn?

Celebrate World Wide Knit in Public Day – Wednesday, June 13

Beginner and expert knitters / crocheters are invited to join us throughout the day at the Westover Branch Library. Drop by for just a minute, or work all day!

And for knitters in need of inspiration or new patterns, try these fun suggestions: 

Drunk, Divorced & Covered in Cat Hair

by Laurie Beasley Perry

“I was a thirty-something woman living alone with four cats. I was probably going to be divorced. I was on the short bus to crazy.” As only most knitters will understand, Crazy Aunt Purl (aka Laurie Perry) finds some sanity through knitting.

 

Knitting Beyond the Edge: Cuffs & Collars, Necklines, Corners & Edges, Closures

by Nicky Epstein

The essential collection of decorative finishes, by one of the most famous knitting designers. It’s amazing how much a more intricate edge adds to any garment. Get this book and learn how to add them to yours.

 

One More Skein: 30 Quick Projects to Knit

by Leigh Radford

A follow-up to One Skein, this book provides lots of choices for those among us who tend to buy a skein here and there without having a plan for what we’ll do with the yarn when we get home. If you have a crate full of one-skeins, this book is for you.

 

Seaside Knitters Mystery Series

by Sally Goldenbaum

Six books into this mystery series, it may, indeed, be time for the residents of this quaint seaside town to get over being shocked by local murders, but the characters are likeable and the stories move along. Added bonuses: you’ll be inspired to cook new things based on their Friday night gatherings, and each book includes a pattern.

 

Stitch ‘N Bitch: The Knitter’s Handbook

by Debbie Stoller

Stoller founded the first Stitch ‘N Bitch group in NYC and has since written several books using the term in the title. This, her first, is chocked-full of basics on needles, yarn, what to knit when, and lots more, all with a generous dose of wit. Read it, and then check out the others she’s written.

For Children:

Extra yarn

by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen

A box of yarn that seems to go on forever provides Annabelle with enough yarn to knit clothing for everyone who crosses her path. You’ll have to read it for yourself to see what happens when an ill-meaning archduke steals the box for himself.

For Teens:

Knitgrrl: Learn to Knit with 15 Fun and Funky Projects

by Shannon Okey

A great book for teens of all ages. Reviewers call the book “lively” and the patterns “enticing.” If you’re in the market for an iPod cover or other short projects to hone your knitting skills, you’ll have some fun with this book.

 

 



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