Alert

CLOSURE: All Arlington Public Library locations will be closed Tue., Nov. 5 for Election Day. More Info

Arlington Public Library

Library Communications Officer

Celebrate the New Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library With Us

Join Us for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Community Celebration on September 19.

Arlington Public Library will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of The Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library on Mon., Sept. 19, from 4:30-6 p.m.

The public is invited to attend the celebration and ribbon cutting ceremony. Columbia Pike’s Sunshine Gang band will provide entertainment. All are invited!

Join Christian Dorsey, Arlington County Board Member and Vice-Chair; Library Director Diane Kresh; representatives from the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (CPHD) and the Department of Technology Services (DTS); and our community partners to celebrate this new asset for the community at Columbia Pike.

The Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library is brought to you in partnership with the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (CPHD) and the Department of Technology Services (DTS). Community and local government partners include the Arlington Free Clinic, Arlington Employment Center, Arlington Peers Helping Peers in Recovery (APRC), OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church and the Columbia Pike Partnership.

Mon., September 19, 2022, 4:30–6 p.m., open to the public
Columbia Pike Library
816 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, Virginia 22204

Visit the Library calendar to RSVP for an event reminder

Schedule

  • 4:30 p.m. Enjoy light refreshments and the music of Arlington’s own The Sunshine Gang, a classic rock inspired band certain to get you moving!
  • 5:15 p.m. Join us for the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with Arlington County Board Member Christian Dorsey and Library Director Diane Kresh
RSVP

About The Teleconnect Space

The Teleconnect Space is a free, single meeting room at the library branch that is outfitted with a hardwired computer equipped with web access to Zoom, Skype, and other video conferencing software. It also has a ring light to create a professional setting. The space is reserved for virtual meetings for specific purposes including telehealth appointments, job interviews, social service appointments, health insurance sign up, and college interviews.

This new resource is part of the County’s digital equity initiative to ensure all Arlington residents have affordable, reliable access to high-speed internet and the technology to fully participate in the community and economy, with a focus on connectivity, access, education and training, and program sustainability. For more information on the new service, visit the link below.

The Teleconnect Space

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at the Library

September 15 - October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month, by celebrating the histories, cultures and achievements of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central and South America.

At Arlington Public Library, we celebrate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to American history and culture, through books and programs for all ages.

Come, join us — always free, always open!

Photo of Latin Grammy-winning music duo 123 Andrés.
Andrés and Christina are the Latin Grammy-winning music duo 123 Andrés.

Join Us!

123 Andrés

Monday, Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-12 p.m., Columbia Pike Library
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Central Library
Thursday, Sept. 29, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Shirlington Library

Join us for an energy-packed performance featuring 123 Andrés at Central, Columbia Pike and Shirlington Library. Families and children of all ages can dance and learn, both in Spanish and English, and listen to the instruments and stories through genres such as cumbia, salsa, merengue, bachata and more.

More

Latin Dance Lessons at Columbia Pike

Tuesdays, Sept. 13, 20, 27 and Oct. 4, 11, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Columbia Pike Library
Family-friendly, RSVP for an event reminder

Join the Encanto Salsa Team for beginner salsa and bachata lessons. No prior experience or partner required, and adults and children alike are encouraged to attend!

RSVP

Play Loteria!

Saturday, Oct. 1, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Shirlington Library Plaza
All ages, RSVP for an event reminder

Join us for an outdoor game of Loteria to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be prizes, along with traditional Latin American food from Pan American Bakery.

RSVP

Art And An Artist: "Tito Puente"

Thursday, Oct. 6, 4:00-5:00 p.m., Shirlington Library
Children Grades 1-5, RSVP for an event reminder

Come and learn through a story about Tito Puente, a percussionist of Puerto Rican descent, known as "King of the Timbales." Afterward, listen to his music and make your own drums to tap along to the beat.

RSVP

Book Lists

No matter what your literary taste is, there is something for you in this list of recent books by Hispanic-American authors, from V. Castro's dark horror story collection "Mestiza Blood" to Yamile Saied Méndez’s heartwarming romance, "Twice a Quinceañera."

Ana Castillo returns to poetry in "My Book of the Dead" and young adult author Erika Sánchez has a memoir for adults, "Crying in the Bathroom."

Be sure to check out our other lists of gems for young readers in our Latinx Voices Book Lists.

2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Book List
Latinx Voices Book Lists

Welcoming Week is September 9-18

Join Arlington Public Library for Welcoming Week. All are welcome!

Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol issued a proclamation to commemorate Welcoming Week at Arlington Public Library.

From September 9-18, 2022, libraries across America are partnering with the nonprofit organization Welcoming America to celebrate this year’s theme #WhereWeBelong.  

Coinciding with Welcoming Week, Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol issued a proclamation on “public libraries having a long history of providing free resources and education to immigrants and refugees; serving as the gateway for immigrants and refugees, introducing them to their new communities; and libraries being instrumental in building a global village.”  

At Arlington Public Library, we believe in creating opportunities to increase our understanding of our world — our community, and each other. We do this in a variety of ways: through books, English conversation and foreign language classes, voter registration drives, citizenship classes, and cultural programs for all ages. All free!

September is also National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Sign up or renew your library card and join our Welcoming Week activities. 

Come Celebrate Welcoming Week

  • Stop by any of our seven library locations, renew or sign up for a free Library Card. 
  • Join us for two exclusive film screenings featuring "Dear Refugee, Love Zarmina" (Sept. 13) and "Borderless" (Sept. 15) at Central Library. Each event is followed by a discussion with the filmmaker. 
  • Discover our Diverse Voices Book Lists. 
  • See you at voter registration drives at Central and Columbia Pike Library (Sept. 10) with the League of Women Voters. And Welcoming Week continues with a voter registration drive at Shirlington Library (Sept. 20).
  • Meet us for Storytime.

These are just some of the many ways you can celebrate Welcoming Week with us.

Come, join us — always free, always open! 

Pink graphic displaying text "always free, always open."

Welcoming Week is a nationwide event sponsored by Welcoming America that engages a broad network of nonprofits, local governments, and professional associations including the American Library Association (ALA). The mission of Welcoming America is to foster inclusion and build immigrant-friendly, equitable and supportive communities.  Its goals complement Arlington County’s conversations about race and equity.

Welcoming America is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that leads a movement of inclusive communities becoming more prosperous by ensuring everyone belongs. Libraries across America are partners in this work.

Stand Up for Books

Director’s Message

"Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” 

– Margaret Atwood, banned book author of "The Handmaid’s Tale."

Established in 1982 by the late Judith Krug, then director of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office of Intellectual Freedom, Banned Books Week (September 18-24, 2022) promotes free and open access to ideas and information.

Hardly a week goes by when there is not a news story about a book challenge happening somewhere: "The Bluest Eye," "Maus," "Gender Queer," "The Hate U Give." Frequent targets are fiction and nonfiction about people of color, LGBTQIA+ protagonists, and books dealing with Jewish and Muslim religious/ethnic themes.   

Several Arlington Reads authors have been banned book listed: Kiese Laymon, Jacqueline Woodson, Judy Blume, Alison Bechdel, Tim O’Brien. And this year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication in the US of James Joyce’s "Ulysses," the standard bearer for book censorship.   

Challenges are on the rise. 

According to an article in the Washington Post (March 22, 2022), "School book bans are soaring. Although the vast majority of challenges go unreported, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom counted 330 incidents of book censorship in just the three months from September to November 2021 — marking the highest rate since the association began tracking the issue in 1990.”

And the rhetoric is getting hotter. 

Earlier this year, one Oklahoma lawmaker compared librarians to cockroaches. Less comically, we have been called groomers and pedophiles for having LGBTQIA+ books on the shelves.  Closer to home, two members of the Spotsylvania County School Board in Virginia advocated for burning certain books, and a lawsuit filed against two authors and a book seller in Virginia Beach hopes to prohibit the sale of books deemed obscene. Not great.

Books are transformational.

They challenge our beliefs and biases, expose us to different experiences and cultures. They help us learn to think for ourselves and not follow the group think of public opinion. Yes, they can be dangerous and offensive.  And that is how it should be.  Indeed, there is a book in every library that offends someone somewhere.  And if there isn’t, librarians are not doing their jobs.   

How can you help celebrate Banned Books Week?

Here are a couple of ideas:

  1. Become informed on the topic.  These are resources we have found particularly useful: https://pen.org/banned-in-the-usa/ and https://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/oif.
  2. Commit to reading at least one challenged book.
  3. And if you have a child at home, ask your child to commit to reading one, too. The family that reads together, thrives together.

"Let the wild rumpus start.” 

– Maurice Sendak, banned book author of "Where the Wild Things Are."

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

New Teleconnect Space Available at Columbia Pike Library

The pilot project will launch with a ribbon cutting ceremony on September 19.

There is a new option for Arlington residents and visitors who need an internet connection and privacy for virtual meetings. Arlington Public Library has opened The Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library, in partnership with the Arlington County Department of Community Planning, Housing, and Development (CPHD) and the Department of Technology Services (DTS).

The Teleconnect Space is a single meeting room at the library branch that is outfitted with a hardwired computer equipped with web access to Zoom, Skype, and other video conferencing software. It also has a ring light to create a professional setting. The space is reserved for virtual meetings for specific purposes including telehealth appointments, job interviews, social service appointments, health insurance sign up and college interviews.

Arlington Public Library will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of The Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library on Monday, Sept. 19, from 4:30–6 p.m. The event is open to the public and Columbia Pike’s Sunshine Gang band will provide entertainment.

This new resource is part of the County’s digital equity initiative to ensure all Arlington residents have affordable, reliable access to high-speed internet and the technology to fully participate in the community and economy, with a focus on connectivity, access, education and training and program sustainability.  

“Anyone who needs a free, quiet, private space and who does not have equivalent access at home or anyone who needs extra tech assistance to get started taking a telehealth appointment is invited to use the Teleconnect Space,” said Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh. “The Library is at the center of the community, and we are glad to be working with our County partners CPHD and DTS to add this vital service.”

Community and local government partners include the Arlington Free Clinic, Arlington Employment Center, Arlington Peers Helping Peers in Recovery (APRC), OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church and the Columbia Pike Partnership.   

The Teleconnect Space may be booked online for two hours each day, up to two times per week. Anyone unable to make an online reservation may call Columbia Pike Library at 703-228-5710 for assistance.

Make a Reservation

Potential uses of the space include: a person in a virtual support group meeting who would ordinarily meet from their car for privacy; a person with a large family who has a virtual college interview; a job seeker who lives in group housing or with many family members and needs an uninterrupted interview; a LGBTQIA+ adult who needs a telehealth appointment but does not have a secure, private space at home to talk to a medical professional; and other possibilities.  

The Teleconnect Space has frosted glass covering most of the outside and a white noise machine helps provide audio privacy. Limited staff assistance is available for help with personal devices on the public Wi-Fi network. The Teleconnect Space may not be used for paid work, paid tutoring, business meetings, online class attendance, in-person meetings, social events, or by for-profit organizations.

Artistic Book Nooks Scavenger Hunt at Central Library

Detail photos of interior space.

Starting Sept. 1, you'll find something more than just books on our shelves. Go on an exciting scavenger hunt for 24 incredibly detailed art creations, crafted by Shop temporary staff Robin Renner.

The Book Nooks are hidden in the stacks and around the Central Library. To participate, pick up a checklist at any of the service desks at Central Library and start your hunt for the Book Nooks.

Pssst… Here’s a hint:  The themed Book Nooks tend to match their area of the collection or library and can be found in the kids, young adult and adult areas.

Once you have found and checked off all 24, please stop at one of the service desks or The Shop to claim a prize.  

Love one or more of the Book Nooks? Please snap a picture with your favorite(s) and tag us on Instagram @apl.theshop. 

If you have any questions about the Book Nooks or the artist, Robin Renner, please stop by or contact The Shop at 703-228-7718 or lib-makers@arlingtonva.us.

Shop Event: Artist Talk - Book Nooks

Wednesday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m., The Shop at Central Library
Learn about the creative process for the enchanting and detailed book nooks, displayed at Central Library in September.

Artist Robin Renner will discuss her themed Book Nooks. Robin will show off and discuss the different Book Nooks she has produced, the process of making these and how others can get involved with the fabrication tools needed to design their own.

Register

It’s not too late to register for Summer Reading

Have you enjoyed Summer Reading?

It’s not too late to register and complete the Summer Reading program. You can backdate your reading activity log if you sign up by Sept. 1

Dad and daughter reading a book in a park.

Two Ways to Register for Summer Reading

Register in the Arlington Public Library app or pick up a paper reading log at any library location to record your reading. It’s perfectly legit to backdate your reading log. You only need to read for any 30 days starting on June 1 to win prizes.

Win A Book And Two Nats Tickets

Once you log your 30 days of reading, stop by your library to pick up prizes: a free book and a voucher for two free tickets to a Nationals baseball game.

Become A Super Reader

Complete any three additional bonus challenges to become a Super Reader. Super Readers earn a free pass to the Long Bridge Aquatics and Fitness Center and are entered into a raffle to win a year-long family membership to the Baltimore National Aquarium.

Summer Reading

You’re Invited: Four Fall Author Events

Featuring Nikole Hannah-Jones, Marlon James, George Saunders and Andrea Elliott.

Arlington Reads is back with Part II of "Rebooting the Classics" which will feature award-winning authors Marlon James (Sept. 29) and George Saunders (Oct. 20).

This fall, we will also be joined by two Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and authors: Nikole Hannah-Jones (Sept. 20) and Andrea Elliott (Nov. 17).

We look forward to seeing you there!

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Tuesday, Sept. 20, 7 p.m., Washington-Liberty High School

Join us in person or online for a lecture by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of "The 1619 Project."

This event will take place at Washington-Liberty High School and will be livestreamed for those who cannot join us in person.

Books will be available for purchase during the event, courtesy of One More Page Books. The presentation will be followed by audience Q&A and a book signing.

RSVP

Marlon James

Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Central Library

Marlon James, winner of the Man Booker Prize for "A Brief History of Seven Killings," will talk with Library Division Chief Peter Petruski  about his new book, "Moon Witch, Spider King" as well as the introduction James wrote for "Pride and Prejudice" in support of the Freedom Reads initiative.

The conversation will be followed by audience Q&A and a book signing.

RSVP

Arlington Reads is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

RSVP for all fall author events and find out more information about our signature reading and community engagement program  Arlington Reads.

Arlington Reads

Commemorate Juneteenth at The Library

Arlington Public Library is commemorating Juneteenth with two local author talk events and its Black Voices booklists. Join us in person on June 22 for Amina Luqman-Dawson and on June 23 for Wilma Jones. All are welcome.

All events made possible thanks to the generous support of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

Amina Luqman-Dawson

Wed., June 22, 6:30 p.m - 7:30 p.m., Shirlington Library

Join us for a conversation between local author Amina Luqman-Dawson and Library Director Diane Kresh.

Luqman-Dawson's highly acclaimed middle grade historical novel "Freewater" is an exciting tale of escape from slavery and refuge in the Great Dismal Swamp, which is located in the Coastal Plain Region of southeastern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina.

This event is great for families and children, Grades 4 and up.

Free book raffle. Additional books from the author will be available for purchase during the event. Cookies will be served.

Special Promotion: Enjoy dinner at Stellina Pizzeria before or after the event and receive 20% off your total bill.

RSVP

Wilma Jones

Thu., June 23, 6:00 p.m - 7:30 p.m., Central Library

Join us for a book talk with local author Wilma Jones while she discusses her book, "My Halls Hill Family: More Than a Neighborhood."

The Halls Hill community is rooted in pre-Civil war plantation history. By the early 1900s the neighborhood became 100% African American. Many of the residents were descendants of enslaved people. The Black communities in Arlington were consistently fighting Jim Crow racism while working to raise their families with dignity and respect.

This event is suited for both adults and children, Grades 6 and up.

RSVP

Black Voices Booklists

Explore our Black Voices and Juneteenth booklists and learn about African American culture, history and issues facing us today.

Arlington Public Library maintains a variety of diverse booklists, titled “Books Like Us: Diverse Voices Booklists,” designed to create awareness, to entertain and to educate about people, history and timely topics.

Black Voices
Juneteenth Booklist

The Community Quilt Project

Calling All Makers

Whether you’re a beginner or an expert at sewing, Arlington Public Library invites you to take part in a Community Quilt Project. Use your imagination and creativity to contribute your distinct design and artwork to create a unique cloth quilt square. The theme is “Oceans of Possibilities."

Photo close-up of a sewing machine.

Design and sew a 6.5-inch x 6.5-inch cotton fabric piece. You can create the cloth quilt square at home or during Open Lab hours at The Shop, located at Central Library.

Drop off your finished quilt piece at any library location between June 1- October 1. The community quilt will be assembled at The Shop and put on display at the Library in the fall.

What You Need To Know

Need help with a design or have no sewing experience?  A variety of free equipment is available for public use during Open Lab at The Shop. Staff are always on hand to answer questions and offer help.

  • No sewing experience necessary 
  • Participation age limit: Grade 6 and older 
  • Completed size: 6.5-inch x 6.5-inch square 
  • Material: 100% cotton fabric 
  • Source: Use any cotton fabric you have at home or visit The Shop and use the materials supplied by the makerspace (limited supplies available, until they run out) 
  • The square design needs to reflect the Summer Reading theme “Oceans of Possibilities.” 

Resources

A community quilt is a collaborative sewing project where each block is created by a different member of the community. 

Learn More About The Community Quilt






















Download the Library App