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Arlington Public Library

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eReader Buying Guide: Winter 2016-17

eReaders in a row

The Choices Can Be Overwhelming…

Are you looking for a dedicated eReading device, or a multi-use tablet?

Choosing a device really comes down to how you plan to use it, so we recommend starting with eBook Friendly’s “Tablet or eReader?” questionnaire.

 

Then use the latest reviews to decide which eReader is right for you – or your special someone:

 

When is an eReader not an eReader? When it’s a tablet with an eBook reading app installed:

  • CNET’s Best Tablets – Covers the iPad Pro and Mini 4, Google Pixel C, Microsoft Surface Pro 4, Google Nexus 9  and more.

 

And visit ConsumerReports.org [free with your Library card] for more reviews:

  • Search “E-book readers” or “Tablets” to view and compare ratings.
  • View results by price range, recommended status, or overall score.

 

Learn more about eBooks, the Library and You. 

 

Raquel's Storytime Friendship Tree

Friends at the Library are Big and Small

The Library offers all storytime participants a sense of community and most importantly gives families a chance to have fun. 

Raquel's Stroytime Friendship tree 2016

From the desk of Raquel Quintero, children’s librarian at Central:

This fall for my storytimes, I made a “Friendship Tree,” which serves as a fun reminder that while we are unique individuals with different needs, we also come together to enjoy stories in a cheerful, social environment and participate together as a united community.

To introduce the activity, I talked about the importance of friends joined together at storytime. I explained how they would be the Leaves on the Tree of our storytimes, and we would work together and grow as friends.

Children, parents, and caregivers took turns to represent themselves on our Friendship Tree by putting their names and positive thoughts on the leaves. Grandparents put their names and their children’s names on apples.

Now we have a beautiful reminder in our storytime room of how we are connected to each other, and of how fortunate we are to come together each week.

If you are a parent or grandparent of one of my kids from the storytime, I welcome you to come in and take a look at our Storytime Fall Friendship Tree.

 

Director’s Blog: The Right to Vote

It was in Miss Barbara Nelson’s first grade class at Stewart-Tuckahoe that I first learned that the choices I made could affect the world.

polling place sign

It was November of 1960, and Miss Nelson asked the class to put our heads on our desks and, by a show of hands, vote for President.

She called John Kennedy’s name first and being new to this form of civic engagement, I peeked and saw one of my friends raise her hand – I followed her lead. A moment later, Miss Nelson asked how many were voting for Richard Nixon. Again, I peeked, saw how a second friend was voting, and promptly committed voter fraud. Miss Nelson shared the results, acknowledged that there had been an error but decided against a recount. I was spared.

I can’t say that was the beginning of my social consciousness but I was very interested in politics and government throughout my years in public school and at age 18, voted for the first time in November, 1972. It was a thrill and a sign (along with getting a driver’s license) that I had reached adulthood.

I’ve never missed an election since and when my two sons were little, I took them with me to help me cast my ballot, their reward: red, white and blue “I Voted” stickers. Years later, one of those boys stood in line with me to help me cast my vote for the first African-American President. The enormity of that moment was not lost on either one of us.

 

It’s a point of pride that Central Library is one of many polling locations.

Not because we’re a big facility with a large auditorium and a lot of free parking, but because our very existence as the public library is predicated on a belief that people have a right to know.

Free and unfettered access to information makes our democracy work by giving people the tools they need to pursue the lives they imagined. 

That is a sacred covenant that we, as librarians, never take for granted.

This election season has seemed exceptionally long and it’s no surprise that many (all?) of us are counting the days until it is over. To hasten its end (and it will end), however, is to pay insufficient attention to what voting is all about: taking a stand, making a commitment to oneself and others, being an active participant in the wider community.

Turn on the TV, open the newspaper, listen to the radio – we’re told that this election is more important than ever.

Not so. Every election is important and every vote counts. And it’s a privilege that for people in many parts of the world is not enjoyed.

On Tuesday, vote as if your life depends on it; it does.

 

Voter Organization Focused on Local Issues for 93 Years

black and white photograph of Organized Women Voters

The Organized Women Voters of Arlington was founded in 1923, just three years after the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution extended the right to vote to women.

A decidedly non-partisan organization, the OWV was unique in its distinct attention to matters facing the County. In an interview with the Northern Virginia Sun in 1958, then-president Ms. Woolley stated she believed “that the Organized Women Voters of Arlington is the only women voters’ group in the United States that is concerned solely with matters of local interest.”

While the OWV’s objective was to “collect and disseminate political and civic information,” it also served an important role as a space for the improvement of women’s social position within the county. Many prominent female leaders from Arlington, including county board members and former state senator Mary Margaret Whipple, have been a part of this significant organization.

In an oral history recorded in 1983, former OWV President Mrs. Sue Renfro remembered a time early on in the organization’s history when the two functions of education and political support intersected:

“At the first meeting there was a Sheriff Fields that came to speak to the ladies since they were having the vote. And he promised them that he would do something for them, so they asked him would he be willing to make an appointment [appoint a woman, and he replied] “Well, yes, under the circumstances.”

So then they had the election. Sheriff Fields won, and he just seemed to forget about appointing a lady. And the ladies decided that they should go and inspect the jail.

So they made several trips to inspect the jail, and finally it was reported that the sheriff looked up one day and saw the committee coming again to inspect the jail and decided that he might just appoint one of them, and he appointed Mrs. Pauline Duncan.

… She was the first deputy woman sheriff in the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

In the photo above, attendees gather at the OWV’s 31st birthday luncheon in 1954.

These were high-profile events for the organization, and every year the group named a “Woman of the Year” from Arlington County. In 1938, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was an honored guest. Today, the Organized Women Voters still meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month from September through May at Essy’s Carriage House, to hear from candidates and county representatives.

Thank you to current president Nancy Renfro for the information regarding the organization’s current activities.

 

Learn More from the Center for Local History at the Central Library.

You can request to view materials in person from Record Group 17 – Records of The Organized Women Voters of Arlington County – or read the full interview excerpted above with Sue Renfro and Lillian Simms, cataloged as VA 975.5295 A7243oh ser.3 no.215.

 

Muggles Get Serious About Harry Potter

3 Ways to Explore the Magic at Westover

Harry Potter books

The Book Club

Westover Branch Library staff were so excited about the release of the book/script for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” that they decided to encourage everyone to read the Harry Potter series together.

Gale, book club leader and Westover Branch Manager – who has not read the series before now – encourages both newcomers and Potter die-hards to join her in reading the books and sharing their thoughts.

The Muggle Huddle book club meets on the second Monday of each month, from 7 – 8 p.m. in Westover’s Large Meeting Room.

The Films

On the following day, Westover shows the Harry Potter film based on the same book at 3 p.m.

 

The Table Reading

Westover will host a table reading of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on Saturday, Oct, 29.

The reading will start at 11 a.m., and end when the entire play has been read. Participants can choose to take a turn at reading a character, or just listen.

For more information about any of these programs, call 703-228-5260.

 

Library Open During Aurora Hills Refurbishment

On Sept. 24, the County Board approved contracts to upgrade the Aurora Hills Complex.

Aurora Hills

The Aurora Hills Branch Library will remain open, and operate on our regular schedule.

During the construction, Aurora Hills will not be able to accept donations for the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Donations can still be taken to all other Library locations.

The Community & Senior Center will be closed during construction, and senior programs will move to the Gunston Community Center.

 

Improvements to the Library will include:

  • ADA compliant circulation desk
  • New flooring
  • New staff Kitchen and appliances
  • Replace HVAC cabinets with dry wall

 

Work is expected to begin later this fall.

 

A New Way To Log Onto Public Computers

“MyPC” Brings New Features

Girl with laptop in the hand in comic style

Staring Monday, Oct. 24, the Library will be switching to a new public computer management system.

There will be planned down-time at each library location as the change is rolled out. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

What does the change mean for you?

Phase 1 – As Soon as MyPC is installed:

  • Log in to a public computer with your library card number and PIN.
  • If you don’t have a PIN, you can set one from the Library Account login page, or see a staff member for help.
  • Black and white printing and scanner stations will be available as usual.

Phase 2 – Coming soon:

  • Reserve public computers online, before you get to the Library.
  • Mobile printing
  • Color printing
  • Credit card and mobile payments for printing

 

MyPC Transition Schedule

Public computers may be unavailable at each location on the following days:

  • Monday, Oct. 24 –  Central Library
  • Tuesday, Oct. 25 – Shirlington Branch Library
  • Wednesday, Oct. 26 – Columbia Pike Branch Library
  • Tuesday, Nov. 1 – Aurora Hills Branch Library
  • Wednesday, Nov. 2 – Cherrydale Branch Library and Glencarlyn Branch Library
  • Thursday, Nov. 3 – Plaza Branch Library
  • Friday, Nov. 4 – Westover Branch Library

The Connection: Crystal City is already using My PC for public computer reservations, but does not offer printing.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by this transition, and we hope you enjoy the new features coming soon!

 

Find NYTimes Best Sellers In the Catalog

Place Your Next Hold Now!

NYTimes Best sellers

The most popular print Best Sellers lists from the New York Times, including hardcover fiction, nonfiction and young adult, can now be found on the Library catalog start page. 

All of the published lists can also be found in the catalog by searching for the keyword “NYT” and limiting to Format: List.

Please note – the Library does not purchase every book that becomes a best seller on the New York Times lists, so if we don’t own a title, it won’t appear on a list.

 

Happy Browsing and Reading!

 



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