It’s February – Read (and then Return) a Good Romance!
The Cherrydale Branch Library’s bookdrop thinks they taste the best, after all.
Hands on Instruction
Short Presentations Followed by Q&A Discussion
Schedule a personal appointment with our tech-savvy staff
Learn more about Technology Training Classes at the Library.
Over the weekend, Arlingwoman sent us a garden note and photos of the lettuce and broccoli:
“Even temperatures in the twenties haven’t vanquished them, though freezing rain might. I think they’ve got a warm micro-climate there…”
“Arlingwoman” is a local gardener who volunteers with Plot Against Hunger. She blogs about AFAC, the Central Library vegetable garden and Garden Talks at arlingwords.wordpress.com.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/htIgBOttJv0[/youtube]
Recorded at Central Library, January 12, 2013
101-year-old Martha Ann Miller speaks to the Arlington Branch of the American Association of University Women, sharing her years as a teacher in Arlington and particularly the struggles over desegregation in the 1960′s.
The First Century, and Not Ready for the Rocking Chair Yet by Martha Ann Miller is available in the Virginia Room.
The Caldecott Award process is so secret that no one knows which books have been nominated until the awards are announced!
So which books did our student jurors choose?
Caldecott Medal – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Abe Lincoln’s Dream by Lane Smith
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett
Caldecott Honor – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Medal – Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger **
Caldecott Honors:
Caldecott Medal – Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Caldecott Honors –
Caldecott Medal – Homer by Elisha Cooper
Caldecott Honor –
Caldecott Medal – Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee
Caldecott Honor: Z is for Moose by Kelly Bingham
Caldecott Medal – Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
Caldecott Honors –
This is Not My Hat by John Klassen won the Caldecott Medal, and Caldecott Honors went to Creepy Carrots, Extra Yarn, Green, One Cool Friend and Sleep Like a Tiger.
The Caldecott Partnership Project was created through the efforts of two Arlington Public School elementary school librarians – Sandra Sterne (Long Branch) and Lois Derringer (Key-now retired) – to highlight the connection between visual literacy and reading proficiency. Recognizing a perfect opportunity for collaboration with the public library, Sterne and Derringer invited then Arlington Public Library Youth Services coordinator Kristi Jemtegaard (now retired), to participate as well. Kristi brought the insight she gained while serving on the official Caldecott selection committee in 1992 (Tuesday by David Wiesner won that year) to the Project.
Since its founding, the Caldecott Partnership Project has spread to several other Arlington elementary schools. Each year students study the art and stories of picture books – especially past Caldecott winners – to gain a greater understanding of the way words and illustrations work together to create a well-written and well-designed picture book.
Then our student jurors make their own predictions for which new books will win the Caldecott.
Learn more about the previous winners of the Caldecott Medal.
Paws-to-Read at the Cherrydale Branch Library has been really exciting for patrons and staff – but it’s the dog volunteers who seem to have the most fun!
At the January Paws-to-Read, I had a chance to talk with goldern retriever Archie. He filled me in on what motivates him to volunteer, and what some of his favorite books are.
CHERRYDALE LIBRARIAN: When is your birthday?
ARCHIE: My birthday is on October 4th and I’m 4 years old.
CL: How did you get your name?
ARCHIE: My full name is Archibald Henderson and I’m named after the longest serving Marine Corps Commandant.
CL: When did you move to Arlington?
ARCHIE: My humans and I moved to Arlington from New Orleans this past summer and I’m having fun learning about Virginia.
CL: Why did you decide to join Paws-to-Read? What do you think about Paws-to-Read?
ARCHIE: I decided to join Paws-to-Read because my human is a librarian who enjoys libraries and children and knows the importance of reading. I love having the children sit with me and read and pet me.
CL: What is your favorite thing to do?
ARCHIE: My favorite thing to do is go for a jog or to a dog park.
CL: What is your favorite snack?
ARCHIE: My favorite snack is anything edible.
CL: What is your favorite book or book recommendation?
ARCHIE: I recommend Go Dog, Go! by PD Eastman for beginning readers, and Stanley’s Party by Linda Bailey for established readers or fun read-alouds.
Thanks for letting us get to know you, Archie!
The next session of Paws-to-Read at the Cherrydale Branch Library will be on Saturday, Feb. 23, from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. – call 703-228-6330 to sign up.
Paws-to-Read is a partnership between the Library and PAL (People Animals Love), a local animal therapy organization. You can learn more about why reading to dogs helps children become better readers from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
Shalma will celebrate her first anniversary as a Library volunteer this winter – she’s been volunteering in Central Library’s Youth Services department since last March, 2012, and as a Cyber Center Help Desk assistant since last October.
We asked Shalma a few questions about herself:
What makes you continue to volunteer?
I just love being able to help anyone, especially when it comes to helping out when I act as the computer desk assistant. I want to give back to my community by contributing the time I have for a good cause and am pleased that I am making a difference no matter how small it is.
What’s your favorite thing about the library?
I love every part about it from the workers, to the books and to those who come regularly and are so excited to find what they are looking for; so I can never narrow it down to one thing.
What do you do when you’re not volunteering?
I also tutor HILT students after school at Washington-Lee High School and do various other community service with each of my extra-curricular activities such as for Key club, Red Cross, Latin American Student Association, Direct Relief International and Teen Network Board, along with mentoring freshmen as part of a new program I was selected for, called Connect. I also recently started to work at a frozen yogurt store and ado debate for fun. Also watching foreign films and learning new languages are part of what interests me.
Are you a Metro DC native, or a transplant?
I am a resident of Arlington and take the Art Bus to get to central to volunteer every Saturday morning.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Right now I am not exactly certain of what I want to be, but I’ve always been interested in the medical field and also am interested in English along with wanting to do the Peace Corps.
What is the best book you’ve read recently?
I read a lot, but recently have not had time to read my chosen books, so it is hard for me to decide, but I would say a good read is Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky which I had to read for my English class this year. The author’s style captures the reader throughout each page and through the picture he paints of each scene, I as the reader am able to see vividly each scene.
What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?
I would say an Indian film called Don because through it I am able to practice my Hindi.
We feel very lucky to have Shalma volunteer with us!
Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.
Built in the blacksmith’s shop at Gulf Branch Nature Center, the metalwork was created by local smiths working with visiting craftsmen from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, Arlington’s newest sister city.
The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Viktor Anushkevychus, presented the work to Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh on Jan. 24 at Central Library during a tour of the County.
Ivano-Frankivsk is known for its talented blacksmiths and in May hosts an annual international festival featuring the hand-forged art.
Did you read or watch these? What was on your Top 10?
Click on each graph to enlarge the image.
Visit the Library’s Facebook Page for more Graphs of 2012, including the top 25 Books on CD, and the YA reviews favorite books of 2012.
Behind the Scenes is our periodic look at how the Library works, brought to you by acting chief of the Library’s Materials Management Division, Rachel Wood.
We champion the power of stories, information and ideas.
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