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All County facilities including Arlington Public Library locations will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 26, because of the weather.

All Library afternoon storytimes have been canceled for Wednesday.

Have you noticed later-than-usual due dates on Library materials you recently checked out?

As we head toward the mid-February installation of our brand-new catalog and accounts system, we’ve set due dates later, so nothing has to be returned during the transition week of Feb. 13. And because the renewal system will not work during the transition (in-person or online), you also won’t have to renew your items until later.

You will still be able to check-out materials at all Library locations during the transition, which will operate on regular schedules.

Please keep checking the Library website, Twitter and Facebook for updates on our transition.

** Updated 1/27/11 – Due to the snow, this event has been moved to 1/31/11 **

Does your business have what it takes to survive the current economy? Have you taken steps to plan for potential growth opportunities or challenges that may exist in your industry? If so, the Ultimate Business Plan is designed for you.

Join us at the Central Library Monday, Jan. 31 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., as we uncover best practices for developing the ultimate business plan, and learn key strategies to design your winning business plan.

This seminar is FREE, but attendance is limited – register online.

This event is sponsored by BizLaunch, SCORE and the Library. For more information phone (703) 228-0808 or visit the BizLaunch Web site.

Would you like to know more quickly when your holds are on the hold shelf? Our new catalog system (coming in mid-February) will offer hold alerts via text message!

How will text alerts for holds work?

• Texts are an opt-in feature
• Text are supplemental to our current email / phone notification system
• Text alerts are set up through your online account and can be activated – or deactivated – at any time
• Texts will be sent throughout the day (emails are sent once a day)
• Each cell phone number can only be used once – family members can’t use the same number for text alerts on different card (unlike email)

Over the next few weeks, we’ll bring you more information about our new system, and how it will improve your Library experience. Watch for more updates on our homepage, Twitter and Facebook. 

The Library used to be the place to look up property assessments. Now property owners can look up their own assessments online, with the County Data Search.

In a January 14, 2011 press release, Arlington County reports:

Arlington’s 2011 real estate assessments are up 6.3% overall, nearly erasing last year’s decline of 7.2%. The commercial sector, including office and apartment properties, showed particular strength, gaining 12% and nearly recouping last year’s decline of almost 13%.

 
Looking for something to celebrate now that the holidays are over and the cold January wind and temperatures have set in?

Come meet David Rabin AND his cello on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 2 pm at the Columbia Pike Branch Library.

Celebrate the birthdays of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (b. Jan. 27, 1756) and Franz Schubert (b. Jan. 31, 1797) with a hands-on FUN experience for kids and parents alike – all ages are welcome.

Join librarian John Gall at the Columbia Pike Branch Library to discuss David von Drehle’s Triangle: The fire that changed America, on Wednesday, Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Copies of the book will be available for check out at the 1st floor desk. No registration is required.

Call 703-228-5710 for more information. For more about Library book groups, visit the Arlington Public Library Book Groups page.

Do you wish you could access more of the Library from your smart phone? Coming in February, our new catalog system will be mobile accessible! You’ll be able to search the catalog, place holds and renew your materials, all from your web enabled phone.

How will it work? There are two mobile-friendly versions of the new catalog – a simple one that works on any phone or small browser, and one specifically for Smartphones. And you won’t have to figure out which one to use – the catalog itself will detect your device and direct you to the right version.

Over the next month we’ll bring you more information about the new catalog, and how it will improve your Library experience. Watch for updates on our homepage, Twitter and Facebook.