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Lego Creations Inspired by the Library

Has the summer heat dried up your imagination? Looking for some inspiration?

Two young Columbia Pike Branch Library patrons – Spencer (aged 9) and Forrest (aged 10) – were inspired by the step-by-step instructions for the Shuttle Construction Details they found on page 187 of The Unofficial Lego Builder’s Guide. They also made many of their own modifications.

Allan’s Bedford’s book is located in the kids section (J 688.725), but adult Lego fans will really enjoy it too. Bedford includes instructions for building a sphinx, mosaics, and many other projects. The book also contains a very detailed appendix, which includes detailed notes on specific Lego pieces along with the part numbers needed to complete the models.

Yummy Cobbler From the Stacks

Do you love cobbler, but hate standing over the hot stove in the summer?

Try out a great slow cooker cobbler recipe from Fresh from the Vegetarian Slow Cooker. We tried one which substituted fresh in-season peaches for the traditional blueberries. It was easy to make, and the resulting cobbler was fantastic – and it didn’t last long!

Robin Robertson’s cook book offers 200 recipes in a variety of categories, such as appetizers and snacks, beans and grains, potpies, pastas and other main dishes, and of course – desserts.

You can find this book – as well as other vegetarian cook books – in the 641.5636 section. And more slow cooker recipe books are located at 641.5884.

"Library's Future" Focus Group Results

Hello Arlington neighbors,

As promised, we’re sharing with you the results of the focus group held in June to discuss what our patrons envision for the Library system in coming years. Many thanks to all who took time out of a busy Saturday morning to participate. And to those who couldn’t make it, be assured that this is just the beginning of an effort to collect impressions and suggestions from the community. Please keep checking the Library website and other County sources for updates.

You can download and printout a pdf of “Re-envisioning the Future of Libraries: Beta Focus Group Findings”, or view the focus group presentation slides here:

Focus Group Presentation from June 5, 2010http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=attachmentdfairlingtonslides-100630143335-phpapp02&stripped_title=attachment-d-fairlington-slides

As next year’s budget deliberations begin later this fall, the comments and suggestions received at this focus group will be of great importance to us, especially as we begin a new fiscal year with ever limited resources.

But despite current conditions, the Library staff’s dedication and professionalism remains as strong as ever – thank you for supporting Arlington Public Library.

With all good wishes,
Diane

Benny and Penny snuck into Columbia Pike….

 
Have you heard of Toon Books? They’re great early-reader comic books, and they’re really popular with our beginning readers.

Miss Desiree, the Columbia Pike Branch Library’s Children’s Librarian, likes Benny and Penny in the Big No No so much that she made this video teaser of the book:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uvOUTYeoJw]

Want to find out what happens next? Come in and check out a copy! And find more early literacy information on our Tots To Tweens blog.

Discovery in the Stacks – Audiobooks

This week Discoveries In The Stacks highlights audiobooks, and in particular the narrartors / readers of audiobooks.

Perhaps you really enjoyed the last book you heard on CD, or playaway, because you really enjoyed the reader’s voice. Did you know that if you search the reader’s name in our catalog, you will find other books he or she has read? And in the process you might discover great books you wouldn’t ordinarily try.

Simon Vance is a favorite reader around here. He reads books as diverse as:

Or, how about Jim Dale:

Who are your favorite audiobook readers?

Discoveries in the Stacks is the Westover Branch Library’s occasional exploration of our collection, delving into areas that you may not have visited yet. See you next time in another part of the stacks!

Lady Beetles move into the Vegetable Garden

Reading "Living Sunlight"
Reading “Living Sunlight”

On Wednesday, June 30, we were delighted to host Mrs. Christie Vilsack, the wife of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, at an event for our AFAC vegetable garden at Central Library.

Mrs Vilsack, who announced that our garden has been named one of 450 USDA People’s Gardens across the United States, also brought us a book from her own collection: Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life.

County Board member Walter Tejada was on hand, to introduce Mrs. Vilsack to the watching audience, and to help harvest the broccoli and basil:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrg-HryeQR8]

USDA’s Don Weber, along with Puwen Lee from AFAC, has been instrumental in the planting and cultivating of our garden. So on Wednesday Don brought us Spotted Pink Lady Beetles to release into the garden, as a form of organic pest control:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk3lq_RTT14]

Before she went inside for storytime, we had time to ask Mrs. Vilsack and USDA’s Doug McKalip about their favorite things to read (Duck for President was mentioned):
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXzPSRR7nV4]

You can see more photos of the garden and the beetles on our flickr page.

"An Arlington Entrepreneur"

 

According to an article in the American Business Review in December 1929, Ruby Lee Minar was the “most successful woman in realty development in the country”: high praise at a time when there were few women in the workforce, much less in a profession dominated by men.

Ruby Lee was born in Montana in 1883 to a Baptist clergyman and his wife. They moved several times during her childhood and it is said that when her father was unable to officiate at Sunday morning services, Ruby Lee preached the sermon for him. She received her B.A. from Kalamazoo College and also received a Master’s Degree from the University of Chicago. She taught public speaking for a time and was chosen as Chair of the Women’s College Section of the Women’s Suffrage Party for the state of New Jersey. After marrying John Milton Minar, the couple settled in Washington, D.C. and it was there that her profession changed from teacher to real estate developer and entrepreneur.

At the close of WWI, Mrs. Minar had a savings account of only $200 in Liberty Bonds.  However, she invested the bonds in lots in Chevy Chase, MD, and four years later purchased a 400 acre tract in the County Club section of Arlington, naming it Lee Heights. She then successfully developed a three million dollar subdivision project and later went on to develop a number of other subdivisions. She accurately foresaw the time when Arlington would become a bedroom community of DC, and at one time her real estate office was the largest in the area.

Ruby Lee was elected the first president of the National Soroptimist Club in 1928. Soroptimist International is a worldwide organization for women in management and professions, working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. Today the Ruby Award, which honors women who are making extraordinary differences in the lives of other women, is named in her honor.

The Virginia Room holds the papers of the local Soroptimist Club, which is no longer active. The photograph above is of a parade in Lee Heights, circa 1950.

What about you?
Do you have memories of Lee Heights? We want to hear from you!

Papillon Parc on the Pike

The butterfly garden at Columbia Pike Branch Library finally has a name! 

Thanks to all of you who made suggestions and helped us plant the garden. And special thanks to volunteer Hemant Patel, who spearheaded the whole effort. Let us know if you spot a butterfly!

Enjoy more fabulous pictures on flickr, and come visit to watch the new “Papillon Parc” garden as it grows.

World Cup at the Library

Quite a group gathered Wednesday at Central Library…

They started out as patrons browsing the new books, or staff helping patrons. But when the welcome desk tv screen turned to today’s World Cup soccer game, they transformed into an excited (but relatively quiet) crowd, watching anxiously as the US team just barely defeated Algeria with a last second goal.


 
View more photos of Library patrons/soccer fans on our flickr page, or find books and DVDs about World Cup Soccer in our catalog.

We’ll see you at the next game!

Discoveries in the Stacks – Crafts for Children


Discoveries in the Stacks is the Westover Branch Library’s bi-weekly exploration of our collection, delving into areas that you may not have visited yet.

This week we highlight the 740’s section of the JRoom. Long summer days are great times to get crafty!

  • Want an alternative to video games? Build your own wooden toys and games, like a penny shooter or a gumball catapult, with some basic wood-working tools and Zany Wooden Toys That Whiz, Spin, Pop and Fly by Bob Gilsdorf. J745.592 GILSD
  • Todd Oldham’s Kid Made Modern is a 21st century craft book. Learn about influential Modernist designers and the materials and art techniques they used while making cool jewelry, clothing and furnishings for your room. You’ll be able to make many of these crafts with materials you already have on hand. Make a necklace from Mardi Gras beads and bobbi pins, a set of origami-covered twinkle lights, or even a kaleidoscope-style movie following the instructions in this book. You won’t be bored! J745.5 OLDHA
  • Want to try out a needlecraft? Jane Bull’s, Made By Me, teaches the basic techniques of sewing, knitting and embroidery with simple patterns and charming projects, like button and embroidery embellished T-shirts, pixelated needle point pictures and fancy felt enhanced headbands. These projects are irresistible. J746.4 BULL
  • If you decide you want to learn more about a specific needlecraft, check out a title from the “Start To” craft series. Make a present or something new for yourself. Check out Start to Bead – J 745.0582 THOMA or Start to Knit – J746.42 DUPER These books are filled with projects you’ll be proud to share.
  • The Unofficial Lego Builder’s Guide, by Allan Bedford, is a great way to be creative with all those Lego bricks you probably have stored in boxes at home. It is an entry into an entire Lego universe. Written for the older child, adults will find it an equally fascinating place to begin building unique models. Find it at J688.725 BEDFO

These are just a new few titles in our children’s craft section. Take a look at the shelves, you are sure find something to keep you busy when it’s too hot to go outside.

See you next time in another part of the stacks!



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