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Nothing planned for Saturday? Take part in International Read Comics in Public Day – by reading a comic book out in public, where others can see you.

The founders of IRCP Day say, “take to the streets. Be proud. If someone asks what you’re reading, say, ‘a comic book’ (the phrase ‘graphic novel’ is also acceptable, but let’s face it, it sort of defeats the whole purpose). Heck, lend them a book, if you’ve got an extra–what better way to make a new friend and convert a new reader?”

Not sure where to get a comic book? We’ve got all sorts here at the Library, from the DC and Marvel Classics to recent releases, plus a large collection of graphic novels for adults and kids, spanning the gamut from Shakespeare to Zombies.

Here’s how to get yours (click on image to enlarge):

After a week of carpet replacement and furniture shifting, the Columbia Pike Branch Library reopened Sunday, August 22nd, and is now open on the regular schedule. 

Come on in and check out our fabulous carpet and new single-service desk. But please pardon the lingering dust – our 1st floor rearrangements aren’t quite complete. So we very much appreciate your patience as we continue to settle in, and try to remember where we put the staplers.

Do you like Sunflowers?

Even though the Columbia Pike Branch Library is closed through Saturday, August 21, you can still visit our beautiful Papillon Parc on the Pike and enjoy the sunflowers, butterflies, finches and other plants and creatures who live at or visit the garden.

The work of local photographer and Arlington resident Ken Brotherton is on display on the second floor at Central Library for the month of August. 

How did Ken start taking photos?

I am a long time resident of Arlington, VA, whose passion for photography started in 1981. While walking down a hallway in my college dorm, I passed a room where I heard two people talking, and smelled an odd odor wafting under door. For some reason, I knocked on the door, curious to know what was on the other side. When the door opened, I got a full breath of photographic chemicals, and met two students who’d been allowed to set up a small darkroom in an unused janitor’s closet. They invited me in to see what they were doing.

Twenty-nine years later, the excitement of my first experience with photography is still there. However, coming from a film generation, my adaptation to digital photography has been slow and gradual.

Botherton’s photo ‘Merridan Park, DC,’ was awarded the Grand Prize for B&W; photography at last year’s Arlington County Fair. About the series on display, Ken says:

The images shown here have all been shot within the last year and represent my first effort at producing a cohesive series of photographs of Washington, DC landmarks using digital photography. My approach was simple. Keep a camera with me. Be at the right place at the right time, and try to capture the image in the most honest and impactful way I can.

I limit software to basic exposure adjustments and dust removal. For me, the ideal image is straight forward and closest to the truth, or as I like to call it, “the beauty of reality.”

20% of all art sales go to the Friends of the Library. For pricing information, contact the artist. 

Visit our Art Exhibit page to find out more about showing art at the Arlington Public Library.

Did you know that Arlington County’s Department of Human Services has recently relocated to the Columbia Pike Branch Library neighborhood?

They are now located at 2100 Washington Blvd. – a 20 minute walk from the Library. They are also on the ART 77 bus line, which will take you from Shirlington, to Columbia Pike and the Department of Human Services, and then on to Courthouse.

We’re looking forward to the open house this fall, after they’ve settled in to their new digs.

Are you wondering how the carpet installation is going at the Columbia Pike Branch Library?

As of Tuesday, August 17th – 2 days into the installation process – the old circulation desk has been dismantled, most of the old carpeting has been removed, and some of the new carpet has been laid down.

You can check out more photos of the process on flickr – we’ll be updating it all week.

Learn more about the Columbia Pike carpet replacement and how it affects your Library useage.

Added 7-29: Columbia Pike Branch Library will not be accepting donations of books, magazines and media from Aug. 1 through Aug. 21.

The Columbia Pike Branch Library will be closed from Monday, Aug. 16 through Saturday, Aug. 21 to allow for interior improvements.

The old carpet is being removed from a large portion of the facility, and much-awaited new carpeting will be installed in its place. Due to health and safety concerns, the branch cannot be open to the public during this work.

The carpet replacement project has been in the planning stage since 2006, with funds budgeted for the current fiscal year. A new centralized service desk, to handle both circulation and reference needs, also will be installed during the closure.

Due Dates

• Books and compact disks checked out from Columbia Pike beginning Monday, July 26 will not be due back until Tuesday, Aug. 31.
• DVDs checked out from Columbia Pike beginning Monday, Aug. 9 will not be due back until Tuesday, Aug. 31.

Returns

• The Columbia Pike branch book drop will remain open during the interior improvement work.
• Regardless of its source location, Arlington Public Library materials can always be returned at any one of the system’s eight sites.

Holds

• Materials on the Columbia Pike branch hold shelf at the close of business on Aug. 15 will be transferred to the Shirlington branch.
• Library staff can assist in having materials sent from Shirlington to another location.
• Holds pending for Columbia Pike users can be designated for pick-up at another location, if switched before Aug. 16 – or the hold can be frozen until the branch reopens.

The seven other Arlington Public Library sites will operate on a regular schedule during the week of Aug. 16.

The Columbia Pike Branch Library is located at 816 S. Walter Reed Drive at the Arlington Public Schools Career Center. The branch is open every day of the week except Thursday.

Since our summer 2010 launch, we now have about 1800 titles in our collection of the EPUB format. Titles include popular fiction by James Patterson, John Irving and Dorothea Benton Frank, nonfiction by Andre Agassi, Michael Pollan, Sebastian Junger, and many other authors. We have thrillers, novels, romance, biography, and business, as well as titles for kids and teens

What makes EPUB eBooks Different?

• As of April 27, 2011 – They can be read on the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch plus Android  and BlackBerry phones. They are not compatible with the new Windows 7 phone.  
• Unfortunately, EPUBS cannot YET be downloaded to the Kindle, but this is expected later in 2011.  
• EPUBS can be read on a Nook, Sony Reader, Kobo eReader and other devices. Check to see if your eReader device is on the list of eBook devices that accept our EPUB eBooks.
• They are our only eBook format that can be read on a Mac.
• They are the only OverDrive format that can be returned early, before the lending period is up. 
• You can pre-set the loan period for titles in your eAccount, or for each book at checkout. Hint: if you do this in your eAccount, then your mobile downloads will always reflect this 7, 14 or 21 day period.
• You can share your EPUB habits via email, Facebook and Twitter, using the new sharing features now appearing on individual title records.

EPUB dowloading quickview:

• Make sure you’ve got all the right software downloaded to your computer. Be sure to activate the Adobe Digital Editions software!
• Choose an EPUB eBook from the Library’s collection and download it to your computer.Attach your eReader device to your computer with a USB cable. 
• Open Adobe Digital Editions and drag the .epub file from the computer to the eReader.
• To remove an expired title from your eReader, connect its USB cable to your computer. From within Adobe Digital Editions’ view of the eReader drive, click on title to delete it.

Previous related news: Can I read an eBook from the Library on my…

Is back-to-school time looming faster than you’re ready for? Have you been out of town, or so busy juggling your summer schedules that you haven’t been to the Library in months? Or are you a recent arrival to Arlington?

Don’t worry, you haven’t missed out – the deadline for kids and teens to sign up for Get Caught Reading isn’t until Saturday, Aug. 28. And prizes can be picked up until Saturday, Sept. 11.

What’s the value of summer reading for kids? Find out on our Tots to Tweens blog.

Know a teen looking for book recs and new hot titles? Send them over to our Teen blog.

And enjoy the rest of the summer!

Photographic images captured over the years, and around the county, will be on display at the Westover Branch Library during the month of August.

Living in Arlington for over 25 years, Ruth Crawley has witnessed many changes in the County’s landscape. New to digital photography, she has not fully embraced the wonders of digital enhancement techniques but prefers to capture and preserve images as witnessed. An example of this is capturing the golden light of late afternoon sun reflected on the dome of Clarendon’s main post office.

Ruth Crawley’s photographs will be on display at Westover through August, and are available for sale. All sales support the Friends of the Library.