If you missed the Shirlington Branch Library’s From Page to Stage earlier this month with actor Aubrey Deeker, you can watch some of the highlights here:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHVUgC5KTbU?fs=1]
Hearing Loss Program Continues at Westover – 10/22, 10/29
The Westover Branch Library hosts a 3-part program on Aging and Hearing Loss this month, on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. – Oct. 15, 22 and 29.
Marla Dougherty, who started losing her hearing in her 20’s, will help participants understand the mechanics of our ears, and to recognize hearing loss in ourselves and others. Sucessive sessions will touch on what assistive devices are available, and what local resources are available to learn to live with hearing loss.
If you missed the first session on Oct. 15, do not despair! You are still welcome to attend parts 2 and 3.
All sessions are free and open to the public.
Book Returned 15 Years Overdue
Last weekend the Columbia Pike Branch Library welcomed home a well-traveled Spanish language Poetry Anthology.
The book, Libro de Oro de la Poesi en Lengua Castellana (Golden Book of Poetry in Spanish) was returned to the Columbia Pike circulation desk on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 – fifteen years and eight months after it was originally due (the due date stamp is faint, but it reads FEB 16 1995).
The book was recently found in Honduras, and mailed to the U.S. by the brother of the patron who returned it to us. Thank you!
Re-Elect the Library in 2010!
For the second year in a row, the Arlington Public Library has been nominated for an ABBIE Award, in the category of Best Place to Learn Something New. Thank you for nominating us!
The ABBIE (Arlington Best Business) Awards are earned by businesses that deliver exceptional quality of service to their customers, are industry leaders or offer a unique approach to delivery of its goods or services.
We were honored and delighted to win the award last year, and we hope that our users still think that we’re a great place to learn something new.
If you agree, cast your vote starting on October 18!
What is Teen Read Week?
Did you know that Oct. 17 – 23 is Teen Read Week? An initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association, Teen Read Week started in 1998 as a way to highlight the value of encouraging teens to read.
Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the workforce than their peers who don’t read for fun. And teens have so many options for entertainment these days that it’s especially important to remind them to spend time reading for pleasure: it’s free, fun, and can be done anywhere.
This year’s Teen Read Week theme is Books with Beat, and focuses on poetry, audiobooks, books about music, and more. To get great reading recommendations and to learn more about Library programs for teens, check out our Teen Blog.
What are You Reading? Let us know!
Have you found a good book lately at the Columbia Pike Branch Library?
This young fellow is enjoying Dodger and Me by Jordan Sonnenblick. In the book, Willy Ryan is trying to fix his life. But Dodger – a furry, blue chimpanzee that only he can see – keeps messing things up for him.
What have you read lately?
Fire Prevention Storytime with Arlington Firefighters!
Did you know that October is Fire Prevention Month?
Children ages 2-5, and their caregivers, are invited to come meet our local firefighters at a special Columbia Pike Branch Library Fire Prevention storytime, Saturday, Oct. 9th at 10:30 a.m.
For more information call 703-228-5710
The Arlington County Fire Department will also hold their annual Fire Prevention Week Open House on Oct. 9 from 10:00 a.m. – 4 :00 p.m., at all Arlington Fire Stations.
Haunted Arlington: Arlington’s X-files, Pt. 2
With Halloween lurking just around the corner, it seems only appropriate that we should rummage through some of Arlington’s own “X-Files” and blow the dust off of an incident alleged to have happened at Arlington Hall, a girls finishing school turned intelligence post. Though anecdotal in nature, this recollection from an anonymous military policeman has much more detail than is the norm and is a fascinating story.
One evening, while on patrol, the policeman overheard various discussions on his police radio about a number of odd occurrences in a certain building. In fact, the building was one in which the policeman himself had previously heard strange noises while on duty. During the course of the evening, MPs assigned to the first floor desk in the building were hearing footsteps from the floor above. The footsteps had the characteristics of a person walking on a hard, wooden floor, and then stepping onto a carpeted, softer surface. After a supervisor was summoned to the scene, this activity was heard again, causing the supervisor and additional personnel to investigate the second floor, to no avail. At the same time, a second patrol which was en route to the scene, noticed what appeared to be a female figure clad in a floral print dress who repeatedly entered and exited an upstairs ladies bathroom, pausing to regard her reflection in front of a mirror. After observing this behavior, the patrol notified the MPs at the downstairs service desk, who again investigated the area in which this activity is alleged to have taken place, with a similar lack of results.
One would think that all of this is mysterious enough, but, it was later learned that the building in which this incident occurred was rumored to have been haunted by the ghost of a young woman from the time when Arlington Hall was a girls finishing school. Supposedly, after becoming pregnant by a stable hand, the young woman took her life out of fear of the embarrassment and shame that it would have brought to her family.
What about you?
Do you have a spooky tale to tell? Tell us about any hauntings or mysterious occurrences that you have encountered in Arlington.
A Budget Year Check-in
We’re a few months into the new fiscal year and I thought it would be a good time to check in.
All Arlington County departments took budget cuts for FY 2011:
- Arlington County, like almost every local government in the nation, faced and still faces serious revenue shortfalls. The budget was presented publicly and carefully reviewed by the County Board at time of adoption.
- Arlington has been and must continue to be fiscally strong in order to keep the library system one of the best into the future.
- FY 2011 adopted expenditure budget for Department of Libraries is $11.4 million – 7% decrease from previous budget.
- 17.5 FTEs were eliminated (6.2 permanent and 11.05 temporary), saving $670,582.
- Central Library reduced service hours by one hour Monday-Saturday; each branch library reduced by 1 service day/week, except Plaza Library, Glencarlyn and Cherrydale (service cut in latter two branches, FY 2010). Detention Center library staff hours cut by half.
- These cuts on top of service cuts in FY 2009 (4 hours/week) at Central Library. Programming reduced for all ages; less access to all Library facilities, including computers and meeting spaces/Central Library Auditorium.
- Library materials budget reduced by $17,604 (1.5 %), resulting in fewer: adult collection; children’s picture books; electronic databases; music CDs purchases. Popular paperback purchases eliminated.
Arlington’s library system is highly regarded in both the region and the nation and the department is making significant efforts to balance the cuts.
- The system remains accessible. In FY 2011, the system is open 384 hours per week. System service reductions total 61 hours (13.7%). The online “branch” is the second largest in the system, next to Central and is open 24/7.
- Emphasis on core library services: public-access computing, system-wide coordinated children’s programs and adult programs/computer classes, ESL groups, Books by Mail, Talking Books, reference service (in person, by chat and email and telephone)
- Targeting collection reductions based on demand and use patterns.
- Expanded 24/7 access to online collection content, including reference databases, eBooks, eAudiobooks. Expanded use of donated materials for collection replacements.
- Strategically focusing support from Friends of the Library to provide cutting-edge library programs and services including life-long-learning support and downloadables.
- Expanded self-serve processes, e.g., self-service checkout and Holds. Library staff working at more than one location during the week.
- Partnering with Arlington Public Schools to upgrade library system infrastructure for enhanced user functionality and technology cost-control.
- Despite a 13.7% cut in hours, the Library system gained 2.5% increase in circulation (July 2010 compared to July 2009).
- Despite a 25% cut in program events, the “Get Caught Reading” summer reading program for public school students increased participation by 52% (2007-2010).
Context is important.
- Arlington’s cuts are less extreme than in other area systems.
- City of Alexandria’s Beatley (Central) Library cut 6 service hours/week. Alexandria’s three branches lost 15 hours each/week, and the City fully funded steps (merit increases) and added a new step to the top of the salary range.
- Fairfax County system lost 9% of hours/week from FY 2010. Comparing FY 2011 to FY 2009, service hours are down 19%. For FY 2011, the materials budget cut by $1 million. The system also ended its virtual reference service.
- City of Falls Church eliminated Sunday hours (4 weekly) and cut its materials budget 6.5%. Local history room lost 12 hours per week
- Prince William County cut its materials budget $50,000.
- Arlington County’s compensation plan is behind others in the region, leaving us at significant risk of retaining staff. See full discussion (pdf) in FY 2011 budget book.
Thanks for supporting Arlington Public Library,
– Diane
A Great Afternoon Learning about Herbs Superb!
The Glencarlyn Branch Library Community Garden’s afternoon of “Herbs Superb” last Saturday, Sept. 18. was a great success!
We had beautiful weather, lots of people, tasty food and much fun. As always, the sachet station was a big hit and lots of smiling people left with herbs and recipes in hand.
All of our photos are tiny because they were taken with a cell phone – do you have any great pics?