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Arlington Public Library

Director's Blog

Director’s Message for National Library Week

Libraries: Where You Belong

Diane Kresh stands in her office doorway wearing an Arlington Public Library t-shirt. Pictures from across her career are pinned to the doorway.

This is a special year for me: my 50th year working in libraries.

When I began working at the Library of Congress in 1974, there were no computers, no Internet, no social media, no Alexa to wake me up in the morning, no telework, no eAudiobooks.

Then the nation was a couple of years past the enactment of Title IX which has made possible the careers of outstanding women athletes. More than 12 million people tuned in to watch the rematch between Caitlin Clark's Iowa Hawkeyes and Angel Reese's LSU Tigers — a new record for a women's college basketball game. (Sports and books have been some of my favorite pastimes.)

Over the past 50 years, libraries also have undergone significant change.

The outside of Central Library framed by plants and cherry blossoms, with banner text reading "Read whatever you want. Whenever. However."
The entrance of Central Library as captured this spring.

The replacement of the manually generated catalog card with machine-readable data was a major disruption. An essential resource for nearly 200 years, the passing of the venerable card catalog made way for online cataloging of library collections, now available on an app on your phone.

In 1990, the American Library Association implemented a policy to ensure equal access to information for all persons by recommending removing barriers like fees and overdue charges. Arlington Public Library eliminated fines and fees for overdue books in July 2020.

Banned Books Week was established by the American Library Association in 1992 in response to a surge in book bans in libraries and schools. In the U.S. today, book bans and challenges have risen at an unprecedented rate. Especially affected are books written by LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC authors. Arlington Public Library became a Book Sanctuary in September 2023.

From the beginning of my career, I have stood up for intellectual freedom. I believe books change lives and connect us to the world. Books and what they teach create more opportunities for us, our community and the world. Books and their stories promote tolerance, acceptance and understanding.

And I can’t say it often enough, libraries are more than books. They are “third places,” not home, not school or work. They are community hubs that connect people to information and connect people to people. For young people, librarians are “third” adults – not teachers or parents – trusted adults who will listen with compassion and without judgment.

A child jumps double dutch in a children's event at Aurora Hills library.
A recent Double Dutch Double Feature event at Aurora Hills Library.

For older adults, we offer a variety of programs to make connections (like book clubs, mindfulness practices and chair yoga) and learn new things (such as digital preservation, knitting and foreign languages). And the list goes on …

I have devoted 50 years of my life to what I still believe is essential, affirming work. Libraries are central players for the public good. Libraries are places of belonging. Libraries are free. Libraries are open to all.

Join us this week to celebrate books, those who write them and those who make them available to you.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: New Year. Same Resolution.

Read Whatever You Want. Whenever. However.

This year marks 50 years I have worked in libraries. I entered this sacred profession on June 3, 1974 and have never once regretted my decision not to go to Law School (Sorry, Mom).

Books have been my life’s work. Reading them. Sharing them. Reflecting on them. And as library director, making them available to all.

I was first awestruck by the power of language while reading Edna Ferber’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "So Big," in my late teens. The book wasn’t on any reading list of mine; I likely just picked it up from Westover Library, possibly helped by the librarian who often recommended books to me.

It’s a coming-of-age story (a favorite genre of mine) and features a young woman, Selina Peake De Jong, who decides to become a schoolteacher in a Midwestern farming community. As Selina travels by train to her new home, she looks out the window and beholds the majesty of the fields, shimmering in brilliant color and light as the train hurtles past.

The description took my breath away, filled as it was with anticipation of new beginnings, as was I on the cusp of adulthood.

I grabbed an envelope and wrote down the words, memorializing the moment when I matured from reader to READER. A thrilling realization of the strength of language and stories to guide me both deeper into and out of myself.

No doubt many of you have had that same experience. It’s a wonderful feeling, isn’t it?

I reconnected with Selina at the October Friends of the Arlington Public Library (FOAL) book sale when I found and bought a copy of "So Big." The years have not lessened the appreciation I have for what she and Ms. Ferber have done for me.

I am no longer the young woman on the brink of adulthood. I have traveled many thousands of miles and experienced profound joy, deep sorrow and everything in between. And through it all, I have found meaning, solace, and courage in the books I have opened whether shared by friends and family, touted in reviews or simply stumbled upon. What a wonderful life and one I am grateful for each day.

My 2023 reading year was a year of discovery—debut authors or authors new to me; final chapters with beloved characters; several dips into classics overlooked by me; an occasional dip into the zeitgeist; wider reading of LGBTQIA+ authors and authors of color; some mysteries, some memoirs, some magic and a couple of books starring librarians. Of course.

For those of you looking for suggestions, here’s my list.

2023 Goodreads Reading List

'Tis the season for resolution-making. If you are looking to sustain a reading habit or create one anew, we have some helpful tips to share:

  • Try an eAudiobook. As I write this message, I've listened to 48 hours of Barbra Streisand's amazing 970-page memoir "My Name is Barbra." I've loved every minute of it.
  • Find a book buddy. I have two: my son Matt and my dear friend Deb. We talk and trade books among the three of us and keep the spirit of reading strong.
  • Frequent our FOAL bookstores, each purchase supports the library. Find your version of "So Big," the book that made you a reader.
  • Join a library book club or the Winter Reading Challenge.
  • Join the library in reading one of Baldwin’s best-known works—"The Fire Next Time"—during February and then participate in a community discussion of this pivotal work on Feb. 29. The library will have unlimited eAudiobook copies of this work available, along with a few of Baldwin's others, from January through March.
  • Bonus tip: do not worry about finishing every book you pick up. There are plenty more out there. Life is too short to spend time on doing something you don’t enjoy. And that’s true for most things, including reading.

Here’s hoping you find something good to read—whatever, whenever and however.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Too Cool for Yule: #16

For most of the years I have worked with Arlington Public Library, I have created a seasonal playlist known as “Don’t Touch that Dial,” or recently, “Too Cool for Yule.”

This tradition is personal. Every year, it brings memories of the thousands of hours I’ve spent over the years making playlists for friends, siblings, and work colleagues. Now, I mostly create playlists for myself. And with the addition of Spotify and iTunes, it’s easy.  No more waiting on my favorite radio station to play my favorite song and record it on a cassette tape. Remember those days?

Just like a great book or film, a great playlist captures the spirit of a person.  My favorite playlists are ones that feature bits of edginess, elegance, humor, and hope. I enjoyed curating this list. Happy listening!

 

Listen on Spotify

A few liner notes about the selections:

My top pick is “My Favorite Things” by the late Tony Bennett. Always one of my favorite songs made more so by Bennett’s silky-smooth baritone.

Musicians who have left us, The Band’s Robbie Robertson (represented by the Staple Singers' glorious rendering of “The Weight”), Sinéad O’Connor and Bennett may be gone, but will never be forgotten.

Taylor Swift and Britney Spears are having huge cultural moments.

It’s the 50th anniversary of the birth of Hip Hop.

And if you make it all the way to the end, here’s a bonus track.

As 2023 winds down, we hope you will take a moment to relax, gather with family or friends, grab your favorite beverage and give a listen to this edition of “Too Cool for Yule 2023.” Be inspired to sing along or dance. And please share some of your seasonal favorites with us. They just might end up on next year’s list.

From all of us at Arlington Public Library, we wish you and yours a joyful season’s end and a peaceful new year.

Always Free. Always Open. Always Listening.

Diane Kresh
Director
Arlington Public Library

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Director’s Message: Read What You Want. Whenever. However.

On Sept. 26, Arlington County took a stand for the banned! The County Board issued a Resolution in support of libraries and declared our libraries to be “book sanctuaries.” This comes as we recognize Banned Books Week (Oct. 1-7) and celebrate the freedom to read.

Earlier this week, I was interviewed by Jenn White, host of NPR’s 1A, on the topic of banned books. It was both a thrilling and humbling experience to be in conversation with a 16-year-old student who organizes a banned books club for teens and author Carl Hiaasen.

However, the majority of daily news stories regarding books and accessibility are not encouraging.  

From Jan. 1 to Aug. 31, 2023, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom documented challenges to 1,915 unique titles, a 20% increase from the same reporting period in 2022. And 2022 saw the highest number of attempted book bans since the ALA began compiling data about censorship in libraries more than 20 years ago. Not a record to be proud of.

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Perhaps not surprisingly, banned and challenged books are often stories about people of color, the LGBTQIA+ community or other marginalized groups.

Everyone has a story. Stories foster empathy and connect us to others. And they can provide lifesaving insights and context for anyone questioning: “Who am I? How do I relate to the world around me?”

In September for National Library Card Sign-up Month, Arlington Public Library welcomed more than 3,750 new patrons and renewed library cardholders.

This week, Arlington Public Library joins libraries (3,000 and counting) across North America committed to collecting and protecting endangered books, making those books broadly accessible, hosting talks and events and educating others on the history of book banning and burning.

Arlington Reads with "Maus" author Art Spiegelman. Photo by Daniel Rosenbaum.
Arlington Reads with "Maus" author Art Spiegelman. Photo by Daniel Rosenbaum.

So, what can you do?

Please stand with me and the Arlington Public Library staff in support of the freedom to read what you want—whenever, however.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Libraries for All

Library Director Diane Kresh speaking during the ceremony.

Library Director Diane Kresh speaking during the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at Central Library. Photo by Christopher George.

On August 24, 2023, Arlington Public Library had the privilege of hosting a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony.

As a local government department, we were asked by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to be the location where 50 people, representing over 30 countries, would become new American citizens.

It was an awe-inspiring experience, and it reminded me how libraries are for all.

  • Libraries provide free and unrestricted access to information, for all.
  • Libraries create safe spaces to celebrate our collective and varied cultures, for all.
  • Libraries are the center of the community, and we welcome all, whether you are a citizen or not.

50 people, representing over 30 countries, participated in the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony. Photos by Christopher George.

The library is a place of new beginnings and possibilities for these 50 new Americans who were sworn in yesterday, for our diverse Arlington community (of which 22.5% are foreign born), and for future generations of New Americans arriving to Arlington. We even offer classes to prepare for the United States Citizenship Exam.

Rita Dove, former Poet Laureate of the Library of Congress, has said, "Libraries are where it all begins." And it's true. Let’s think about that for a minute in the context of what it means to be a citizen.

Becoming a citizen means being granted certain rights and responsibilities in exchange for active engagement in community life and governance, at both the local, state and national level.

Citizenship is a weighty responsibility. One that requires patience and diligence. This Country’s form of representational government depends on the active engagement of all citizens.

And that’s where we come in. Libraries, especially public libraries, were founded on the belief that the public has a right to know.

Arlington Public Library welcomes all who enter our doors.

September is “Library Card Sign-up Month.” Please join us with our vital work in the community by finding a way to help someone get a new library card.

With libraries, the possibilities are endless and communities are stronger.

Libraries for all.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane KreshDirector, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Summer is a Time to Read for Fun. Seriously.

Diane Kresh stands at a podium with her hands raised.

Diane Kresh warms up an Arlington Reads audience. Photo by Daniel Rosenbaum.

Public libraries across the nation are in the heat of Summer Reading Programs and Arlington Public Library is, too. We believe summer reading is for everyone—and if you have not yet signed up, you can do it now. Join the 5,673 who have already registered and you too can earn Washington Nationals tickets, a free book and more.

The New York Times recently reported on the “new, low test scores for 13-year-olds,” the lowest level in decades. “The percentage of 13-year-olds who reported reading for fun has also declined. Last fall, 31 percent said they ‘never or hardly ever’ read for fun, compared to 22 percent in 2012.”

Not good news.

What is good news? This is a problem that can be fixed. One book, one reader at a time.

Patrons at the Friends of the Arlington Public Library Book Sale. Photos by Christopher George.

The benefits of reading are well documented: reading increases creativity and imagination; reading together builds strong family and community bonds; reading expands one’s vocabulary and promotes and enhances critical thinking skills; reading teaches all of us, and especially young people, about the complex world we live in. And I haven’t even mentioned the health benefits which include reducing stress and anxiety and even countering mental decline.

One of the joys in my life is reading.

And not just reading itself, but sharing and talking about what I am reading with others: friends, coworkers, patrons. And with print, eReaders and eAudiobooks, one can read pretty much anywhere at any time—on family trips in the car, commuting to work on the bus or subway, in a book club, at a coffee shop or on a comfy couch. And if you can’t find something to read, we are here to help with suggestions for every taste and reading level through our website, new app and book displays throughout our library locations.

Let’s read, share, and then read some more. Let’s make a habit of reading for fun. It’s a habit you’ll never want to break.

Always open. Always free. Always reading.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane KreshDirector, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: Reflections on the Human Library

Arlington Public Library hosted a "Human Library" this past Saturday.  Some hours after it ended, I felt a deep appreciation for an extraordinary day spent with Arlington County colleagues, friends, families, a baby and more than a hundred curious readers eager to engage in honest, face-to-face conversations. “Human books” and readers sat across from one another, respectfully probed highly personal subjects, listened and learned.   Living as we do in a time when technology makes information constantly available, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the volume of news stories that highlight our differences and headline depressing topics.

The "Human Library" offers an alternative. A promise of increasing understanding, acceptance and mutual respect by simply sitting down and talking openly and unreservedly to one another.

On Saturday, April 29, 16 "human books" were accessed over 110 times by event participants. Photo credit Daniel Rosenbaum.

I was a "human book"—my title, “Coming Out Late.” Each conversation I had was a revelation, an opportunity for me to delve further into my own story and relate to someone as they reflect on their own or those they hold dear.

What an honor and a privilege to share one’s most intimate thoughts and experiences with a stranger and come away feeling seen and heard. 
I am thankful to the Library leadership for their willingness to try something completely different and to our extraordinary staff who spent months planning the program.

I am grateful to those who joined us and gave selflessly of themselves and for demonstrating to the community how to care for one another.

Our "Human Library" was a very big deal, and we hope to bring it back again soon.

Always open. Always free. Always human.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane KreshDirector, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message for National Library Week

There's more to our story.

Library Director Diane Kresh smiles at her desk, with a bookshelf and cherry blossoms outside visible in the background.

April 23-29 is National Library Week. A pretty big deal for libraries across the nation, including this one.

This year’s theme is “there’s more to the story.” Libraries are full of possibilities ranging from picture books to large print, audiobooks to ebooks and now we offer Kanopy (30,000 documentary films and movies to stream for free). In addition, we have the Library of Things where patrons borrow American Girl dolls, games, gardening tools and DIY kits.

A collage of films available on Kanopy. Text reads "Explore a world of cinema with Kanopy."

Library programming connects community members to one another through book clubs, storytimes, musical performances, crafting classes at The Shop and author talks with Arlington Reads. Award-winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft ("New Kid," "Class Act" and "School Trip") will be in person (and streaming) at Central Library on Apr. 27.

Library infrastructure provides high-speed internet and computers, indoor and outdoor Wi-Fi, spaces for meetings or group study, comfortable seating for reading and tables for doing homework. The Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library enables patrons to conduct online healthcare appointments, job interviews, career counselor meetings and social service appointments in a private setting. We invite you to check out our newest location, the Courthouse Library, on the ground floor of the Ellen Bozman Government Center.

Library professionals support businesses, job seekers and entrepreneurs. Youth Librarians help hone literacy skills for our youngest residents. At Arlington Public Library we offer all this for free.

Arlington Public Library’s vision is to be “the heart of a thoughtful, inclusive and dynamic community where people and ideas connect.” Let’s think about a few of those words. Thoughtful: our collections represent diverse points of view and appeal to a myriad of lifestyles. Inclusive: Arlington’s libraries accept all people. We are welcoming spaces where all who enter our doors are accepted for who they are. Where people and ideas connect: libraries are safe places for exploration and discovery. To learn about the world and one’s place in it. To learn who we are.

And speaking of increasing understanding, on Sat., Apr. 29 we will host a Human Library, where human “readers” are invited to check out a human “book” and engage in a conversation.

A person with blue hair, glasses, and a visible tattoo wearing a shirt that reads "I am a Book of the Human Library" speaks to a group of people.

In February, The New York Times published “A Love Letter to Libraries, Long Overdue.” If you have not read it, I encourage you to do so. The article speaks volumes to people like me who have spent close to 50 years working in libraries. There is one line from the article I keep thinking about:

"The modern library keeps its citizens warm, safe, healthy, entertained, educated, hydrated and, above all, connected."
— Elisabeth Egan and Erica Ackerberg for The New York Times

Yes, yes, and YES.

There is and will continue to be “more to the story” in libraries – in their collections and in their services. Let us help you discover new aspects of your story. We will write it together.

Always free, always open, always your library.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

 

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

The Library Director’s 2022 Reading List.

“Every reader his or her book. Every book its reader.”
— S.R. Ranganathan

If you have space in your life to read one more year-end list, I made one too. Books that will stay with me and I will recommend to others. Books that changed my thinking. Books by authors I had never heard of and could not believe I had not. The books I wanted to go on and on and on, the best kind of books. Here’s my list.

2022 Reading List

My tastes are eclectic.  

My guilty pleasure is the police procedural (the more noir, the better) followed closely by the coming-of-age novel. I read both fiction and non — have a fondness for memoir — although not biography.

I read “classics” I believe I should have read. I read author debuts. I am an occasional completist (Elizabeth Strout and Ann Patchett). Reading fantasy novels are still on my to-do list (Octavia Butler is on my bookshelf but has not yet made it into my hands) and authors from outside the United States. I am discovering Graphic Novels (“Black Hole” by Charles Burns is on my nightstand). I have occasionally judged a book by its cover (“Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus) and been pleasantly surprised – in a good way. 

Is reading one of your resolutions for 2023? Have you ever been a reluctant reader but want to read more?  

Here are some tips for creating and sustaining a reading habit. 

  • Try an eAudiobook. I’ve become an avid audiobook consumer which has the additional benefit that your listening skills improve as well.  
  • Ask a friend, coworker, family member or neighbor, “What are you reading?” It’s a great conversation starter. 
  • Frequent our Friends of Arlington Public Library bookstores, each purchase supports the library. 
  • Join a Library book club or the Winter Reading Challenge. 
  • And my favorite tip from Ron Charles, Book Critic at The Washington Post, “Dedicate this year to reading only works in translation. You’ll permanently expand your horizons.” 

If you are like me and have recommitted to a year of reading more, my final tip: there is no harm in setting aside a book and not finishing it. The library has the next one just for you.

Keep reading.

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library

Director’s Message: End-of-Year Reflections

End-of-Year Reflections

"The word 'understand' … means 'to stand in the midst of.'"
— Andrea Elliott, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Invisible Child: Poverty, Survival, and Hope in an American City."

Photo of Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh.

Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh.

Arlington Reads hosted Andrea Elliott in late November and since her visit, I have been thinking a lot about what “to understand” means to me in my role as director of Arlington Public Library. At a minimum, “to understand” means actively listening to others and putting one’s ego and preferences aside.

Easy, right? What’s harder — for me, anyway — is looking for and finding common cause in unexpected places and hearing from people I might not agree with. It is tempting to cut oneself off from deeper relationships based on biases and assumptions, be they political, cultural or historical in nature. And we must try to set them aside if we are to live in community with one another.

Over the past year, how has Arlington Public Library tried to understand the Arlington community better? 

The pandemic made more visible inequities in income, housing, education, and technology for many of our residents, inequities we sought to address through programs and services.

For example, we hosted six Kindergarten kickoff events in which we joined with parents and educators to prepare their children for Kindergarten. More than 400 children and families from across the County participated, with waitlists suggesting significant interest and a role for libraries in learning readiness.

Our "Arlingtown" play community at Central Library — think re-purposed Amazon boxes, designed and decorated to look like the streets and neighborhoods of Arlington — hosts nearly 2,500 of our youngest readers per month. It is a joy for our staff to see what a little paper, scissors, paint and glue can do to spark the imagination of children.

We designed a community gifting project and collected gently used (and sometimes new) items for a free holiday shopping experience. We launched the Teleconnect Space at Columbia Pike Library to provide a free, private room for telehealth, social service appointments, job and college interviews.

We fully refreshed the collections and the spaces of the library inside the Detention Center and hosted programs featuring Arlington Reads authors. The free indoor and outdoor WiFi hot spots were used 1,600,000 times, nearly double from the year before. For the first time, we joined a nationwide effort to celebrate "Welcoming Week," announced by a proclamation by Board Chair Katie Cristol, which offered activities to bring together neighbors of all backgrounds.

How have we begun to train ourselves to listen to the stories around us and to increase our understanding of others?

There are many ways we come together as a community. By joining our weekly storytimes, signing up for a sewing class, attending a U.S. Citizenship or foreign language or English conversation class, participating in our Community Quilt project or joining our Summer and Winter Reading programs. You could also submit materials for the REAL Archives Project, or el Re-Encuentro de Arlington Latinos, designed to illustrate the rich, vibrant history of the Latino community in Arlington County.

We have stood "in the midst" of challenging social issues with our signature author talk program Arlington Reads. We have been doing this since 2006 with our first book "Digging to America" by Anne Tyler in which we had conversations on adoption, immigration and what it means to be "other," an "outsider."

So, the question remains, are we there yet?

During our event with Andrea Elliott, she said that to understand "does not mean that we have reached an ultimate truth. Rather it means that we have experienced enough of something new and something formerly unseen to be provoked, humbled, awakened, or even changed by it."

Not a destination, a journey.

As we close this year and anticipate the next, all of us at Arlington Public Library leave you with a promise:

We will keep paying attention. We will keep showing up. We will keep listening. And we will continue to stand in the midst of others.

Will you join us?

Signatue of Library Director Diane Kresh.

Diane KreshDirector, Arlington Public Library



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