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Our Annual “Too Cool for Yule” Blog

AKA“Don’t Touch that Dial” Mix

 The National Day of Listening has now gone past.
But we’re just getting started with tunes to broadcast.black and white photo of snow covered trees
There’s something for everyone, simply click our mix and see.
You won’t be disappointed. And the best thing: it’s free.

Some songs are grassy and some songs are sassy.
A few we’ll call jazzy while others are classy.
There are songs for the hip.
And songs for the flip. Even songs that will help you give winter the slip.

You can listen for pleasure.  You can listen for fun.black and white photograph of two children with a sled
You can listen with family while errands are run.
The point is to listen the whole year through.
A good thing to practice.  For me and for you.

From our “house” to your house,
we wish you our best.

And thank you for being oursleigh
Most Honored Guests.

 

The “Don’t Touch That Dial” Playlist 2015

Find the Complete 2015 list in Spotify

santa lawn ornament with sign saying "do not touch"Wexford Carol — The London Fox Woodwind Quintet

I Wonder as I Wander/The Gravel — John Jacob Niles, The Traditional

Hallelu! — Stephen Paulus, Magnum Choral

To Shorten Winter’s Sadness — Thomas Weelkes, Passamezzo

Philov-Volte-Philov from Terpsichore — Michael Praetorius, Waverly Consortholiday window display

Wassail Song — Jean Ritchie

Hespanoleta — The Traditional, Galliarda

Winter Wonderland — Willie Nelson

My Favorite Things — Dave Brubeck Quartet

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! — Ella Fitzgerald

Baby, It’s Cold Outside — Rod Stewart and Dolly Parton

Swingin’ Them Jingle Bells — Fats Waller

Boogie Woogie Santa Claus — Deana Carter

Hark the Herald Angel Sing — Folk Angel

Light of the Stable — Ricky Skaggs

Zat You, Santa Claus? — Ingrid Lucida

Cool Yule — Navidad!

Merry Christmas Baby — The Gumbo Brothers

Sleigh Ride — New York Jazz Trio

Do You Hear What I Hear? — Glen Valley Boyz

This Christmas — Mary J. Blige

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) — Darlene Love

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas — Luther Vandross

Silver Bells — Renée Fleming and Kelli O’Hara

Auld Lang Syne — Warner Chappell Productions

Got your own list or song suggestion? Please share with a comment below.

Have your own photos to share from holiday’s past and present? Please post them on the Library Facebook page.

Yule Blogs past: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

All photos by or of Diane Kresh

 

Give the Gift of Lit Up Ball Tix

Looking for a Unique Holiday Gift?

Buy your favorite book lover a ticket (or two) to the best literary themed party in town!

The 2016 Lit Up Ball will be Saturday, March 12, at the Clarendon Ballroom.

Tickets are $35 each, from the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

New Ball poster no text

 

This years theme is Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland,” and will feature:

  • Entertainment provided by DC based Bumper Jacksons
  • Hors d’oevres and dessert will be served
  • Gift basket raffle to benefit 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
  • Prizes awarded for the best Wonderland themed attire
  • Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase with cash or credit card

 

 

 

 

The Force Was With You!

Thanks for Making Our Star Wars Celebration Great

Star Wars Celebration 2015

Kids and families had a fantastic time last Saturday, Nov. 21, at Central Library’s Star Wars Celebration. 

Light sabers were assembled, puzzles were put together, trivia was answered, and many fun photos were taken with members of the 501st Legion’s Garrison Tyranus.

Winners of the costume contest were Estella (as Amidala), Adam (as R2-D2), Kat (as Han Solo), Benji (as Rylo Ken), and his mom Jen (as Rey).

 

Check out even more photos from the party on our flickr account.

 

 

Remembering Arlington History Preservationist Sara Collins

Delegate Alfonso Lopez joined Library Director Diane Kresh on Nov. 20 to honor former County history preservationist Sara Collins.

Sara Collins Resolution

Collins died last year after a remarkable career with the Library and what is now the Center for Local History at Central.

Her work was remembered this year with a resolution in the General Assembly.

Delegate Lopez made his presentation at the final meeting of the County’s History Task Force.

The group of County staff and residents is working on a 5-year plan for the future preservation and study of Arlington historic documents and records, both official and those generated by private citizens, businesses and organizations.

A final task force report will be presented to the County Board next month.

Puzzle Fest 2015 Results

Thanks to All the Players!

Puzzle Fest 2015

View the Results of the 2015 Friends of the Library’s Arlington Puzzle Festival:

 

 

 

Meet Aurora Hills' 2015 Summer Reading Winner

Congratulations Micah!

Micah Odoom cropped
2nd grader Micah Odoom, age 7, is the 2015 Aurora Hills Branch Library’s Summer Reading prize winner.

 

Keep up the good reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrating 170 Years of Service

It’s not every day that we get to celebrate our own…

2015 service honorees 2

On Thursday, Nov. 5, Arlington County celebrated six Library employees for extraordinary terms of service. These are some of the remarkable people who have made and kept Arlington Public Library a renowned community institution.

From left to right: David Beach (30 years), Frances Coles (25 years), Anne Brooks (30 Years), Susan McCarthy (30 years), M. Ann Morgan (30 years) and Sally Dewey (25 years).

We thank these MVPs for their dedication to our team and if you see them at work in the libraries, feel free to do the same. We couldn’t do what we do without them.

 

 

Halloween 2015 at the Library

Spooky Fun for Kids in October

halloween lights banner

 

All Ages Events

  • Wednesday, Oct. 21: Halloween Family Craft – Make a special craft for your spooky home this Halloween. Age 3 and Up.  Aurora Hills Branch Library, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29: Haunted Poe Garden – Kenmore Middle School’s Drama Club takes you for a walk in our haunted garden! There will be readings of Poe, festive decorations, a craft and refreshments in the library! 5th grade and up. Glencarlyn Branch Library Community Garden, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30: Halloween Crafts for Kids and Teens – Make fun spooky crafts. All ages. Westover Branch Library, 2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Family Halloween Storytime – A special storytime for little ghosts and goblins, and their adults. First come, first served until capacity reached. All ages. Shirlington Branch Library, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Trick or Treat at Cherrydale – Stop by in costume and receive a Halloween treat. All ages. Cherrydale Branch Library, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 

Preschool Events

  • Friday, Oct. 30: Preschool Halloween Party – Drop-in program with Halloween crafts, songs, dancing, stories, trick-or-treating (for stickers) and a costume parade through parts of the library. 0-5 years. Central Library, 10:30  – 11:30 a.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 30: Baby Steps / Wobbly Walkers Storytime and Halloween Parade – Wear your costume to storytime, then join in a Halloween parade for the little ones in front of the library. 0-24 months. Westover Branch Library, 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Preschool Halloween Storytime – Come for the Halloween storytime, stay for the costume parade and trick-or-treating! 0-5 years. Columbia Pike Branch Library, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

 

Elementary School Events

  • Saturday, Oct. 31: Learn to Fingerprint – Someone stole the Headless Horseman’s pumpkin! Learn how to dust for fingerprints and see if you can solve the crime. Registration required. Grades 2 – 5. Cherrydale Branch Library, 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 27: Paper Plate Monsters – Get ready for Halloween at Kids Club by making you own  puppet. You can make it as fun or scary as you want! Kindergarten – grade 5. Shirlington Branch Library, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

Middle and High School Events

  • Thursday, Oct. 29: Halloween Crafternoon – Make a scary craft to spook your friends and family. Grades 6 – 12. Central Library, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Director's Blog: Take a Stand for Books

An email from Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore. arrived in my inbox yesterday reminding me that Sept. 28 – Oct. 3 is Banned Books Week.  

DK bannedEstablished in 1982 by the late Judith Krug, then director of the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom and a tireless champion of freedom of speech, the annual Banned Books Week promotes free and open access to ideas and information. And it’s a great time for libraries to celebrate the joy of reading, shown in countless studies to be a key factor in determining one’s success in life.

A quick scan of ALA’s list of frequently challenged books reads like a Who’s Who of literary giants. Next month Arlington Public Library presents in person the legendary Judy Blume, a frequent “contributor” to the list, appearing five times over a ten-year period with such titles as “Forever” (7), “Blubber” (30), “Deenie” (42), “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” (60), and “Tiger Eyes” (89).

Tiger_EyesBooks are change agents. They challenge our beliefs and biases. They expose us to different experiences and cultures. They help us learn to think for ourselves and not follow the crowd or cult of public opinion. They can threaten us and they can charm us.  They can enliven our spirits and they can cause despair. They honor equally the quotidian and the profound. They can please, they can polarize. Paper or “e,” quarto or quartz: Reading inspires, inflames, evokes and elevates.

Want to know how you can help celebrate Banned Books Week? Commit to reading at least one challenged book. And if you have a child at home, ask him or her to commit to one, too.

We promise it might hurt. And that’s a good thing.



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