Arlington County Government offices, courts, libraries & facilities will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, for Independence Day.
Learn more about Independence Day closings and celebrations in Arlington on the Arlington County website.
Win a Book Wednesday: “Jell-O Girls: a Family History”
Win a Copy of "Jello-Girls" by Allie Rowbottom
About "Jell-O Girls: a Family History"
"Jell-O Girls" reveals the intimate lives of three members of the family behind the rise of Jell-O, their struggles with finding their voices in life, and their experiences with the family’s curse of illnesses, both mental and physical.
The memoir interweaves the story of the history of one of America’s most beloved desserts with the stories of those who cannot seem to escape from beneath the weight of the images of perfect housewives as depicted in Jell-O marketing campaigns for decades.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoyed "Bettyville" and "The Glass Castle."
Reviewed for you here by librarian Sarah D. Publication date is set as July 24.
Want to Win this Book?
- Leave a comment below on Wednesday, June 13, and share the name of your favorite book in which food plays an important role.
- Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook, Twitter OR Instagram will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
- The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday morning, June 14.
- The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.
Win a Book Wednesdays takes place twice a month. Prize books are Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."
ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.
New Library App Feature: Your Digital Library Card
Scan Your Library App to Check Out
Now you can use your Library App at self-checkout stations, just like a regular library card!
You can find your Digital Library Card by going to your user account screen in the app, and tapping the "My Digital Library Card" button at the bottom of the menu list.
This brings up a virtual library card with your library card number, and a scannable barcode that can be used at all self-checkout stations.
The Library App is available for iOs and Android devices. Download the app by searching "Arlington Public Library" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Director’s Blog: Vital Signs
A number of years ago, I was invited to mount a photo exhibit in Zagreb, Croatia.
“Vital Signs” was a collection of photographs that chronicled several years in the LGBT Movement in the United States. The show’s narrative arc began with images of quilts from the AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed on the National Mall in Washington, DC during July 2012, and ended with images of New York City’s Pride Parade of 2013, the victory “lap” following the U.S. Supreme Court’s findings on June 26 that both California’s Proposition 8 and Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) were unconstitutional.
Photo from "Vital Signs" exhibit by Diane Kresh, 2013.
The final image in the show was of a plaque commemorating the Stonewall Inn, a bar in New York City frequented by gays, which was the site of riots following a raid there by police the night of June 28, 1969.
After Stonewall, the gay rights movement came “out of the closet and into the streets” and into the public consciousness where it has remained since.
The first Pride Parade was held in New York City on Sunday, June 28, 1970, one year after the riot. More than 45 years after Stonewall, Pride events are now held nationwide in cities large and small, in red states and in blue states, from San Francisco to Omaha and New York to Sioux Falls.
Every June, Arlington Public Library (APL) celebrates Pride, to honor LGBTQIA+ Americans and their allies who have fought for and continue to fight for the right to be treated fairly, to be granted equal protection under the law and afforded the inalienable right to be happy.
Gay rights are human rights, and libraries have a unique role in supporting the LGBTQIA+ community: through our safe spaces where we foster inclusion, our collections which reflect diverse points of view, and our programs that educate and celebrate the differences among us that make Arlington a thriving community.
More than a year ago, we signaled our embrace of inclusion with the addition of rainbow welcome signs posted on the entrances to each of our buildings.
And last year we added a banner at Central Library acknowledging that June is Pride month at APL.
And this year, for the first time, we joined Arlington County Government and are proudly flying the Pride Flag at Central Library.
Throughout the month, we will be offering a range of Pride public events.
And in keeping with our mission to educate, we have created a Pride booklist.
Watch Diane's Keynote speech from Arlington County's 2017 Pride Celebration.
June is Pride month, but in reality, every month is Pride month at APL.
For we are always:
Open to accepting others for who they are
Open to embracing diverse points of view
Open to protecting and nurturing those who are most vulnerable
Open to fulfilling hopes and dreams
Open to making Arlington the best it can be.
Our commitment to you.
Happy Pride
Diane
On This Day in LGBTQIA+ History
Pride Month is celebrated each year in June, to recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on our history - locally, nationally, and internationally.
Each day this month, we will share a new person or event that happened on that date in history, related to LGBTQIA+ history.
June 2
On this day in 1951, Gilbert Baker, designer of the rainbow pride flag, was born. The original rainbow flag was unveiled at San Francisco Pride in 1978, with colors intended to reflect the diversity of the LGBT community. In 2015, the Museum of Modern Art ranked the rainbow flag as an internationally recognized symbol as important as the recycling symbol.
Learn more in "Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag."
Central Library Upgrade: June Update
Transition to Phase Two
We are preparing to move the bulk of construction work to the second floor, while continuing to put finishing touches on the first floor.
Architect's Rendering: 1st Floor Meeting Rooms
1st floor meeting room near completion
Public Computers
- On June 5-6, the public computers will be temporarily unavailable.
- As of June 7, we will have a reduced number of computers available for use at Central Library until Phase Two is completed in the fall.
During this time, we recommend visiting other Library locations if you need to use a computer for an extended period of time.
Meeting Rooms
Once Phase Two construction begins:
- The two small meeting rooms on the second floor will be unavailable.
- The new meeting spaces on the first floor will open for public use.
Holds, Bookstore and New Books
During Phase Two, the Friends of the Arlington Public Library retail space, the New Books area, and the Holds Shelves will all be relocated.
Phase Two Includes
- New multi-purpose technology and maker lab equipped with a tool and storage room, work benches, design areas and computer stations on the 2nd floor
- Redesigned public PC stations
- More
Architect's rendering: 2nd Floor Maker Lab
The completion of Phase Two is currently set for early August 2018. Dates are subject to change based on construction schedules. We will update this information as soon as possible if there are any changes.
Please continue to check the Library website and app for more information.
Win a Book Wednesday: “Ayiti”
Win a Copy of "Ayiti" by Roxane Gay
About "Ayiti"
In this seductive collection of stories first published in 2011, Roxane Gay delves into the Haitian diasporic experience through visceral tales that both invite you in and set you reeling.
“In the Manner of Water,” Gay explores the choices of three generations: the mother who stayed to fulfill a promise: “I want to be remembered;” the daughter who fled the scent of blood: “there are some things no medicine can fix;” and the granddaughter straddling two worlds: “I cried to wash us all clean.”
As a collection, these stories ask the reader to examine the brutal realities of abuse and violation, the realities of having one foot in two distinct worlds, and the struggle to unit those separate identities. Despite the grim underpinnings, ultimately, the collection reveals hope and rebirth.
Reviewed for you by librarian Karen S. Publication date is June 12.
Want to Win this Book?
- Leave a comment below on Wednesday, May 23, and include the name of a book you've read twice.
- Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook, Twitter OR Instagram will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
- The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday morning, May 24.
- The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.
Win a Book Wednesdays will take place twice a month. Prize books are Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."
ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.
Nguyen Ngoc Bich: Vietnamese Community Leader
Library User Survey: What Do You Value?
The Library has limited resources. In the upcoming budget year, Arlington Public Library is facing a 17 percent decrease in the collections budget and must make tough decisions.
We do need your feedback about what other collections we will provide and maintain. The results of this survey will be considered as part of future decision making.
Take the Library Collections Survey
The survey will remain open until June 8, 2018.
Win a Book Wednesday: “There There”
Win a Copy of "There There" by Tommy Orange
About "There There: a Novel"
"There There" dips into the lives of various Native Americans living in Oakland, CA. It reads like a collection of very interconnected short stories about each of these characters. Tenses change (first person, third person, and even second person), we step back in time for key events, and everything leads inexorably to everyone converging at the Big Oakland Powwow.
Pick up this excellent debut if you are in the mood for a sprawling cast of characters, great writing, and some unforgettable stories.
Reviewed for you by Michelle M., Materials Management librarian. Publication date: June 5.
Want to Win this Book?
- Leave a comment below on Wednesday, May 9, and include the name of the last book you picked up because the cover caught your eye.
- Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook, Twitter OR Instagram will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
- The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday morning, May 10.
- The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.
Win a Book Wednesdays will take place twice a month. Prize books are Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."
ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.