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Director’s Message: National Poetry Month

I Hear America

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

April is National Poetry Month, and I am reminded of two poems I first read in elementary school: “Paul Revere’s Ride” and “I Hear America Singing.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a 19th-century celebrity poet whose "Paul Revere's Ride,” published in 1861, was written to inspire patriotism and unity among his fellow Americans on the eve of the Civil War. Composed in a propulsive anapestic tetrameter to mimic the hoofbeats of galloping horses, the poem made a folk hero of Revolutionary War patriot Revere and evoked the valor of those who thundered off to give rise to a new nation.

“Listen my children and you shall hear 
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere" …
Dum dada dum dada dum dada DUM.

Decades after his ride, Revere established the Revere Copper Company (later Revere Copper and Brass, Inc.)—producer of Revere Ware—a staple of mid-20th-century household kitchens. I wonder how many cooks featured in this year’s Arlington Reads “Stirs It Up” series got their start using these copper-bottomed pots and pans in their parents’ kitchens?

Leaves of Grass.
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman.
Walt Whitman.
Walt Whitman, photo by George C. Cox. Feinberg-Whitman Collection, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Lot 12017.

Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing” was included in the third edition of Leaves of Grass, published in 1860. It is a paean to the dignity, pride and individual voices of working-class Americans—uplifting, patriotic and joyful. And yet, the song of a harmonious America was not sung by all. Whitman’s optimism was soon enough shattered by the brutality of the Civil War he saw in Washington, D.C., while nursing wounded soldiers.

Author Langston Hughes.
Langston Hughes, photo by James L. Allen. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library.

Langston Hughes published “I, Too” in 1926—the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. As a Black American, Hughes despaired of realizing the essential truth of the document, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” An homage and counterpoint to Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing,” Hughes asserts Black Americans will one day claim their rightful “seat at the table.”

Longfellow, Whitman and Hughes, each writing in a different context and time, appealed to our better natures to unite in common cause and reach the promise of freedom from oppression; equality among genders, race, and religions; and justice for all.

At the close of the Constitutional Convention in September 1787, Elizabeth Willing Powel—a power player in Philadelphia society and political circles which included George Washington—famously asked Delegate Benjamin Franklin, “What have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" Franklin replied, "A republic... if you can keep it."

The question is no less relevant today.

Happy National Poetry Month.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Women’s History Month

In Praise of Women

Members of the Organized Women Voters at their 31st Anniversary Luncheon in 1954. Charlie Clark Center for Local History.

The community of Arlington has been enriched by the work of women leaders, whose impact has been felt in civil and voting rights, education, business, government and human services. Women have served with distinction on our elected boards and their names grace many of our public buildings and spaces. Women like Mary Norris Lockwood, Ellen Bozman, Emma Violand-Sánchez, Elizabeth Campbell, Dorothy Hamm, Mary Marshall, Evelyn Syphax and her sister-in-law Marguerite Reed Syphax. Many of their stories are represented in the archives of the Charlie Clark Center for Local History.  

Thanks to research done by Bridgette Wisdom, an Adult Services Librarian at Central Library, here are more stories of heroic women with an Arlington connection.

The Ball-Sellers House is owned and operated by the Arlington Historical Society.

With her husband, John Ball, Elizabeth Payne Ball (1716-1792) helped build what is now known as the Ball-Sellers House, Arlington’s oldest standing house. After Ball’s death in 1766, William Carlin, a tailor in Alexandria whose clients included George Washington and George Mason, bought the house. In that era, widows customarily left their homes to move in with their children, but that didn’t suit Elizabeth. She gave her dowry to Carlin in exchange for staying put, and she went to court to enforce a provision of British law that, despite the sale, granted her lifetime occupancy of one third of the property. Today, the Ball-Sellers House is operated by the Arlington Historical Society.

Adapted from "In Arlington’s Oldest House, a Layered Past" and "County’s oldest residential property approaches a milestone anniversary."

Selina Norris Gray with two of her daughters.
Selina Norris Gray with two of her daughters. National Park Service image.

Selina Norris Gray (1823-1907), a second-generation Arlington enslaved woman and personal maid to Mary Custis Lee, was entrusted with the care of Arlington House during the Civil War. When the Lee family fled Arlington House in 1861 under the threat of Union occupation, the keys were left with Selina who was tasked with protecting the family's home and heirlooms, many of which belonged to George and Martha Washington.  Gray saved the Washington heirlooms from looters when she prevailed upon Union General McDowell to remove the pieces to the U.S. Patent Office for safekeeping.  Selina and her children were freed in December 1862 and continued to live at Arlington House until they purchased 10 acres in Green Valley, where they grew and sold produce until her death in 1907. Selina Gray Square, located at 1201 South Ross Street, is named in her honor.

Adapted from "Selina Gray," "Selina Norris" and "Life of Gray Family."

Grace Hopper with three other programmers and the Univac I computer.
Grace Hopper with three other programmers and the operator's console of the Univac I computer, 1957. Courtesy of the Computer History Museum.

Grace Hopper (1906-1992) was a trailblazing computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral. She helped program the Harvard Mark I during WWII, created one of the first compilers, and played a key role in developing COBOL, a programming language for business applications. Hopper's commitment to making computers accessible to all, regardless of their background, laid the foundation for the widespread use of computers today. Admiral Hopper is buried at Arlington National Cemetery and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016. The Grace Murray Hopper Park is located at National Landing near the River House Apartments, where she lived until her death in 1992. The Grace Hopper Center, currently under construction, will be the innovation hub for Arlington Public Schools, housing new and growing programs available to APS high school students.

Adapted from "Rediscover Grace Murray Hopper" and "Grace Murray Hopper: Mathematician, Navy Veteran, Arlington Resident."

Police shot of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland
Police shot of Joan Trumpauer Mulholland. Jackson Mississippi, 1961.

Joan Mulholland is an American civil rights activist who was active in the 1960s. Rejecting segregated norms, she was one of the Freedom Riders who was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1961, and was confined for two months in the Maximum Security Unit of the Mississippi State Penitentiary (known as "Parchman Farm"). The following year she was the first white student to enroll at Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, and served as the local secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee.  After her retirement from teaching, she founded the Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation dedicated to civil rights education. 

Adapted from "Joan Trumpauer Mulholland: Taking a Stand" and The Joan Trumpauer Mulholland Foundation.

Torri Huske is an American competitive swimmer and Olympic champion known for her dominance in the butterfly and freestyle events. Born in 2002 in Arlington, Virginia, she began swimming at age six with Arlington Aquatic Club. Huske rose quickly through swimming age group competitions, breaking national records in high school before joining Stanford University. She has earned multiple Olympic medals and set American and world records. Huske has become one of the most decorated American swimmers of her generation with standout performances at the 2020 Olympics, 2022 World Championships and numerous collegiate and international meets. 

Adapted from "Torri Huske, Arlington’s Best-Known Olympian, Talks About Her NoVA Roots and What’s Next" and "Torri Huske’s winding road to Tokyo continues with an American record at the U.S. Olympic trials."

These women, along with an endless list of others, have left their mark on Arlington and the world—and inspire us to make our own.

Celebrate Women’s History Month and explore our diverse women’s voices book lists or find more stories about Arlington women from the Charlie Clark Center for Local History at Arlington Public Library. Always free. Always open.

Women's Voices Book Lists
Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Editor's note: The title "In Praise of Women" references the works of William Dunbar and Stephen Sondheim in name only.

Director’s Message: Black History Month

Feb. 11, 2026, Correction: In the previous message, it was stated that John Adams, along with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, was a slave owner. John Adams did not own slaves. Thank you to our conscientious readers who brought the error to our attention. For more information, visit the Miller Center at the University of Virginia. Revised message is below.

We are the story keepers now.

The President's House, Philadelphia, PA.
The President's House, Philadelphia, PA. National Park Service photo.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Philadelphia. City of Brotherly Love. Home of cheesesteaks, Philly Soul, the “Rocky” steps. And the President’s House site where George Washington and John Adams lived as the White House in Washington, D.C. was under construction. 

The site is part of Independence National Historical Park, and until late January of this year, featured a memorial consisting of videos and plaques about Washington's slaves who accompanied him to Philadelphia. The irony is obvious, a Founding Father who fought for freedom was himself a slave owner.

The National Park Service removed the plaques as part of a broad effort by the current administration to recast the American story into one of triumphal virtue. The drafters of the Declaration of Independence—Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Franklin—could be both for freedom and, all but Adams, own slaves. They were not perfect men; their views were complicated and framed by their times. They excused slavery and ignored the rights of women. To deny or paper over those facts does a grave disservice to those men and to all of us.

The Library Company of Philadelphia.
The Library Company of Philadelphia.

I’ve also been thinking about another historical site: the Library Company of Philadelphia founded as a scholarly club in 1731 by a 25-year-old Benjamin Franklin whose aim was to provide affordable access to books. While initially a subscription library, by 1741 the Library had opened to non-club members, providing an early framework for today’s public library.

The Library’s collections were broad. This description from a 1976 text by Edwin Wolf claimed the Library contained “virtually every significant work on political theory, history, law and statecraft (and much else besides) could be found on the Library Company's shelves, as well as numerous tracts and polemical writings by American as well as European authors. And virtually all of those works that were influential in framing the minds of the Framers of the nation are still on the Library Company's shelves.” The Library has been in continuous operation since its founding and recently became affiliated with Temple University.

National Park Employees remove signage related to slavery from the President's House. Photo by Mijuel K. Johnson.
National Park Employees remove signage related to slavery from the President's House. Photo by Mijuel K. Johnson.

I think about these two Philadelphia landmarks because they illuminate an essential question of our current times: whose narrative matters? And who has the right to tell it?

Clint Smith, the author of the brilliant article "Those Who Try to Erase History Will Fail," posited in The Atlantic that it will be up to private museums to preserve our nation’s history.  As a history buff who grew up feasting on the Smithsonian exhibits, I hope it doesn’t come to that.  Private means money, fees and privilege, and such projects will be undoubtedly difficult to establish and maintain. And those who have the means and choose to build them may not be inclined to share their fruits. 

This is why libraries and other public institutions are so important and necessary: to understand our past and prepare for the future, to exalt in achievements and be humbled by the shameful.  We went to the moon and back, and we treated American citizens as “less than” for centuries.  

Rather than hide our blemishes, we should embrace them–and vow to do better.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Arlington 250

Libraries, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness

A U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at Central Library.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding.

What began in 1776 as an audacious experiment launched by leaders of 13 colonies with a combined population of 2.5 million has grown into a nation of 50 states, the District of Columbia and territories with more than 300 million people. Over the centuries, people immigrated to this country from all points of the globe in pursuit of personal freedom, to escape persecution and achieve a better quality of life they could not access in their home countries.

From the very beginning, libraries have been part of America’s “experiment”—doggedly supporting intellectual freedom, accepting people as they are and offering spaces filled with books and possibilities to anyone who calls America home.

Library of Congress, Prints and Photography Division, 102.
Arlington 250

In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, communication is instantaneous, distinctions between fact and opinion are often blurred, and narratives are increasingly shaped by those in power. By contrast, libraries protect the collective narrative.

Libraries reveal life as it is lived—by people both ordinary and extraordinary—and commit to preserving the inconvenient truths that accompany growth and progress. By their very purpose, libraries assert the sanctity of the human spirit and the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Their presence in cities and rural towns across the United States is integral to creating an informed citizenry, where the voices of the powerful and powerless blend in service to a just and representative government. To strive for anything less is to diminish the bold and fearless ambition of our founders—while not perfect yet nonetheless dedicated to the ideals of equality we, as a nation, still hope to achieve.

Arlington Public Library will mark this milestone with a yearlong celebration featuring a community read, author talks, HistoryFest 250 in partnership with Arlington Historical Society in May, a summer festival in July, an oral history project and more.

The Library's Arlington 250 programming is made possible by the generosity of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

County Manager Mark Schwartz reads a story during the reopening of Courthouse Library. Photo by Daniel Rosenbaum.

As we reflect on this significant historic milestone event, we invite everyone to take part and lend your voices and your wisdom as we consider where we have been as a community, a nation, a world—and where we are going. And as with all journeys, the destination is secondary to the journey itself.

Thank you for being part of our journey to be the best we can be for the community of Arlington we are proud and privileged to call “home.”

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: A Year of Reading and Fellowship

Our Year in Review

Arlington Public Library experienced a productive year in 2025, achieving several notable milestones.

Over 4,200 library programs attracted thousands of participants, while our staff conducted 400 outreach events in partnership with Arlington Public Schools, numerous County departments, and community development and housing organizations such as Affordable Homes & Communities (AHC) and True Ground.

Library patrons—numbering over 95,000—accessed more than 2.1 million physical books and 1.8 million digital media resources. Numerous titles offered both valuable insight into and relief from current events.

My 2025 reading list is available below, accompanied by commentary on the most noteworthy books.

I was already familiar with Lily King and Amy Bloom; the remaining three are notable new authors I intend to follow closely. The common theme among them is the exploration of love and family—whether it involves those we are related to by birth or those we select throughout life. Love and family. Frankly, what else is there?

Diane's 2025 Reading List

As I reflect on this past year, I am proud of the work we have done to serve and support the community of Arlington. Here are some highlights:

Katie and Vincent smile while they walk down the aisle after getting married at Central Library.
Photo by Alex Sakes Photography.

The Arlington Reads theme, “Share the Love,” was showcased through four distinguished author events featuring Julia Quinn, Curtis Sittenfeld, Casey McQuiston, and David and Nicola Yoon. Additionally, the program included Central Library's inaugural public wedding, attended by more than 300 guests including library patrons, in celebration of love and community.

The Community Picnic and Joining Fair brought hundreds to Central Library, where 29 local clubs recruited new members. Earlier in the year, a screening of “Join or Die” highlighted social scientist Robert Putnam’s research showing that democracy relies on robust civic connections.

Over 200 teenagers, including volunteers of the Teen Network Board, took part in a “Teen Takeover” after-hours event at Central Library, gaining exclusive access to The Shop and fun activities like fort-building, ZTAG and manicures.

Patrons visit a table at the Community Picnic and Joining Fair.
Director Diane Kresh smiles in front of a crowd of Pride paraders in Washington D.C.

During WorldPride 2025 in Washington, DC, local libraries joined the Pride parade, with staff members marching alongside a "Freedom to Read" banner to support literacy and access to information. Hearing the enthusiastic cheers from the crowd for both librarians and the LGBTQIA+ community—which I am proud to belong to—was both uplifting and exciting as we started along the parade route.

The “From Barriers to Ballots” exhibition highlighted the achievements of Arlington and Northern Virginia voting rights activists. Reverend Dr. DeLishia A. Davis closed the event with moving remarks and led a communal singing of “We Shall Overcome.”

Furloughed federal employees received comprehensive support, including access to meeting facilities, wellness initiatives, legal assistance, peer support groups, career development services and additional resources.

Our partners are vital: the Friends of the Arlington Library fund all Library programs and equipment for The Shop; One More Page Books supports our author events; and our County government colleagues and Arlington’s non-profits provide valuable expertise.

Engaging with patrons is a rewarding aspect of my role as Library Director. Arlington resident Susan Senn and her book club, active for over 40 years, have impressively completed 532 books.

A large group photo of Arlington Public Library staff enjoying a holiday party.

The values guiding our work—love, empathy, family, social justice and community—continue to shape our future direction. Thank you for your continued support of Arlington Public Library. We exist because of your engagement, and we deeply value the trust you've given us to be responsible and compassionate stewards—a responsibility we will always honor.

Always Free. Always Open. And wishing you all the best in the new year.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Too Cool For Yule #18

As we (finally) reach the home stretch of 2025, it is time for the annual release of Arlington Public Library’s “Too Cool for Yule” playlist. Take a beat, press pause and reset. Whatever reflection and chill look like to you, let Arlington Public Library provide the score.

A couple of musical notes about the selections we’ve included.

Tom Lehrer, the brilliant satirist died this year at the age of 97. Those of us of a certain age will remember his ingenious topical takes on full display in songs like “Vatican Rag,” “Hanukkah in Santa Monica,” and many others. Pure genius.

Since I began this list 18 years ago, I never fail to include a cover of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” first introduced by the incomparable Judy Garland in the 1944 cinematic classic “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Frank Sinatra serves it up here with his impeccable phrasing and rhythm. Sublime.

We close the playlist with the Staple Singers’ version of “Will the Circle be Unbroken.” A tune first penned in 1907, and later popularized by the Carter Family and the 1960’s Nitty Gritty Dirt Band--when I first heard the tune as a tribute. The lyrics speak to our fractured times and the promise of better days. And don’t we all need a little hope for better days right now.

So, brew a cup, raise a glass, relax with loved ones and hit play. Let this playlist serve as a reminder that Arlington Public Library is always free. Always open. Always listening.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director
Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: We’re Not Going Anywhere

Library Director Diane Kresh talking to a FOAL book sale customer.
Library Director Diane Kresh talking to a FOAL book sale customer.

Friday, Oct. 24, was the first full day of our twice-yearly Friends of the Arlington Public Library (FOAL) used book sale, and Arlington’s longest running "recycling" program. I just ended my morning shift having rung up scores of shoppers who exited the library garage, weighted down by bags of books. I met young adults, older adults, retirees, babies, teachers, librarians and some furloughed federal employees who found themselves, sadly, with time on their hands.

FOAL book sale shoppers browsing the used books collection.
FOAL book sale shoppers browsing the used books collection.

All of them united by a love of books and reading.

The book sale is one of my favorite library events. A chance for me and the staff to engage with residents and patrons we might not usually see and whose generosity we depend on. Every penny that is earned by the book sales goes back to the library to pay for author talks, game nights, summer and winter reading challenges, equipment for The Shop and more.

Everything you can think of to keep our community educated, entertained and engaged.

Volunteer signaling to a book sale customer to check out.
Volunteer signaling to a book sale customer to check out.
Shoppers can find unbeatable deals on books, games, puzzles and more.
Shoppers can find unbeatable deals on books, games, puzzles and more.

As I worked the sale I talked with job seekers, home schoolers, young families and students. Many in our community are struggling. Costs of goods and unemployment are rising. Businesses are closing including Pirouette, across the street from Central Library and a warm and welcoming place to gather after a library event. There is no end in sight for the government shutdown and there is a lot of uncertainty and fears of what might come next.

One thing you can be sure of: Arlington Public Library is not going anywhere. Our doors are still open for reference help, quiet study, meeting friends or making new ones at our jigsaw puzzle tables.

If you haven’t stepped through our doors in a while, please do. If you’re a regular, thank you. We are all in this together.

Always Free. Always Open. Always Dependable.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

MUSICAL CODA

Director’s Message: Collections Updates

A woman browses books in a brightly lit aisle at Arlington Public Library, pulling a hardcover from the shelf while reading the back cover. Books fill the shelves around her in a well-organized collection.

Arlington Public Library’s collections budget is decreasing 21% in Fiscal Year 2026. The library will continue to build and sustain a collection that fully serves the reading and educational needs of Arlington residents. However, patrons may notice some changes starting July 1 including:

  • An increase in wait times on the most popular titles, both for print and digital collections.
  • For digital collections, wait times will increase to up to 35 weeks or longer.
  • The library’s eBook “Grab and Go” collection will be discontinued for FY 2026. The print “Grab and Go” collection will still be available.

Changes to Streaming Services

A person wearing headphones sits at a table in Arlington Public Library, browsing the Biblio+ streaming service on a laptop. The screen displays the homepage featuring the film The Bookshop and a tagline that reads “a library of entertainment at your fingertips.”

Starting July 1, Arlington Public Library is moving to two new streaming services. To provide similar breadth and quality of content while offering better value and long-term sustainability, the Library is discontinuing Kanopy and adding two new streaming options:

Biblio+

  • Curated and growing selection of independent films, documentaries, TV series (including BBC content) and children’s programming
  • Accessible on all devices; unlimited, ad-free access

Access Video

  • Over 30,000 educational and entertainment videos
  • Content providers include PBS, HBO, National Geographic, TED Talks and more
  • Unlimited, ad-free access for patrons; accessible on all devices
Screenshot of the Access Video streaming service homepage, featuring a banner for the show “Brain Games” and logos of featured producers including ABC, Green Planet Films, National Geographic, A&E Networks, PBS, and HBO. Below are carousels of Staff Picks and AVOD exclusives with program thumbnails such as The Weight of the Nation, The Story of God with Morgan Freeman, and Years of Living Dangerously.

The staff of Arlington Public Library remains committed to providing the highest levels of library service to ensure patrons can read what they want, when they want and however they want. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us over the next year as we manage these changes to our collection.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Taking Pride in Stride

WorldPride 2025 is in full swing and Arlington County is all-in. Hosted by Washington, D.C.'s Capital Pride Alliance, WorldPride offers a gazillion opportunities from May 17 through June 8 to enjoy music, art and fellowship.

The event is expected to attract nearly 3 million visitors to our area—a great chance to showcase Arlington’s strong commitment to inclusivity.

A new Pride banner at Central Library's east entrance.

The County took the festival to the next level with its Show Your Pride events held May 16 and 17 with a Block Party celebrating an installation from projection artist Robin Bell and a forthcoming work from muralist Lisa Marie Thalhammer.

Left: installation by projection artist Robin Bell (Photo: Sora Yamahira / Bellvisuals.com). Right: digital artwork for a forthcoming mural by Lisa Marie Thalhammer (Lisa Marie Studio).

Arlington Public Library is hosting a range of Pride events culminating in the June 7 WorldPride Parade, where we will walk alongside colleagues from libraries in D.C., Prince William and Prince George's counties. And check out my Pride playlist and my book list curated for Pride Month—a list of LGBTQIA+ classics and titles new to me, and maybe to you, too.

"Trans Anthology Project" discussion and signing with authors Chrissy Boylan and Heather Kirby, presented May 14, 2025, at Central Library.

A resolution adopted by the County Board on May 13, 2025, reaffirmed a commitment to equity originally adopted in September 2019 and further emphasized the County’s aim to ensure Arlington is welcoming and inclusive of all, including LGBTQIA+ individuals and families.

Along with dozens of others, I was in attendance in the County Board room as the resolution was read by Board Member Maureen Coffey and passed unanimously. The spirit in the room was electric.

A large group of community members poses in the Arlington County Board meeting room on May 13, 2025, celebrating the passage of a Pride resolution. People of all ages hold rainbow, Progress Pride, and transgender flags, smiling in support of LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Behind them, a screen displays a heart graphic with rainbow stripes and the message “YOU ARE ALL WELCOME HERE,” alongside text affirming Arlington County’s support for WorldPride 2025 and the LGBTQIA+ community. The Arlington County seal and U.S. and Virginia flags are visible in the background.
The County Board and community members following the Pride resolution on May 13, 2025.

One section of the resolution resonated with me both personally and professionally:

“WHEREAS social acceptance and inclusion leads to better outcomes for members of the LGBTQIA+ community and helps ensure full participation in and enjoyment of communal life, which in turn enriches the cultural and social fabric of our community.”

Librarians bring The Truck to Arlington County's Pride Proclamation on June 5, 2024.

This statement mirrors a stated goal of Arlington Public Library, to be a third place where all belong. A place where continuous learning, discovery and self-fulfillment are limitless, and community connections broadened. A judgment-free zone where all who enter our doors, regardless of beliefs, gender preferences, country of origin, age, income status or appearance are welcome.

A place where you can come as you are and not as someone wants you to be. Your life, your choice.

Arlington Public Library: Always Free to Come as You Are.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden

The Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden: an appreciation

Dr. Carla Hayden was sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress in 2016. Appointed by Barack Obama in the final days of his presidency, she was the first woman and first African American to lead this storied institution—which I was fortunate to call “home” for more than 30 years.

Arlington Public Library staff meeting with Dr. Hayden.
Arlington Public Library staff meet with Dr. Hayden in the Librarian's Ceremonial Office in the Thomas Jefferson Building at the Library of Congress, November 2, 2022. (L-R): Katherine Chiriboga, Anneliesa Alprin, Brittany Veland, Jennifer Odlum, Diane Kresh, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.

Carla Hayden is of the people and for the people. She has used her years of public librarianship in Chicago and Baltimore to open wide the doors of the “people’s library.” Her championing of literacy, popular culture and freedom of speech is her proud legacy.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden delivers the "Play Ball!" announcement for Library Night at Washington Nationals Park, August 20, 2024. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Short in stature, tall in spirit, she is unwavering in her belief that libraries are for everyone. She was President of the American Library Association (ALA) when the Patriot Act was moving through Congress and fought to preserve the sanctity of library borrowing records.

Dr. Carla Hayden in a purple jacket at the Library of Congress Main Reading Room.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden in the Library's Main Reading Room, September 1, 2020. Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress.

Dr. Hayden was fired by the current administration via email on Thursday, May 8, one year before her 10-year term was to end.

Thank you for your service, Dr. Hayden. Our nation’s libraries owe you a debt of gratitude.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library



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