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Director's Blog

Don’t Touch That Dial – The Second Annual Yule Blog

Published: December 15, 2009

Director's Blog

 

Here we come a caroling—‘tis the season to be seasonal. It’s that most wonderful time of the year for decking and hauling, tinseling and snowballing (at least somewhere), so it’s time for another list of much beloved songs to drive the dark away. In looking over last year’s inaugural list, I see we have a hard act to follow. Decisions, decisions—whether to go ironic or indie? Caroler or crooner? Classical or comedy? Hipster or hippie? Rhythm ‘n’ blues-er or rocker? Too much to choose from because ANYONE who has ever dared to call himself or herself a singer has made an album or two (or three) of seasonal favorites, those tunes that nestle in like ear worms as the Macy’s T-Day balloons are launched, not to be freed until early January.

Much as I did last year, I decided to go for the eclectic sampler, the kind of box of treats my family used to buy at the Russell Stover Candies store at Seven Corners Shopping Mall.

 

 

No barking dogs, no marauding reindeer committing granny-cide, no warbling, woodland rodents, and not a lot you’re likely to hear in the grocery aisles. Not even a Bob Dylan re-interpretation (too scary). Just a little of this and a little of that—something new, something blue and maybe a tune (or two) new to you.

So grab a hot cuppa, slip into a Snuggie and, once again click, spin or play your way into the holidays. And post a comment below with YOUR list of favorites—be they musical, audio-visual, photographic, literary or memories of the most notable gifts ever given or received as you and yours celebrate the best of the season—be it Christmas, Eid, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, Diwali, the Solstice or any other.

Repeat the sounding joy. . .

10. “Winter Wonderland”—Rosemary Clooney. Long before there was dreamy George there was his Aunt Rosie, one of the best of the canaries (girl singers) to come outta the Big Band era. She really swings, “are you listening?”

9. “Do You Hear What I Hear”—The Roches (from “We Three Kings”). A trio of hip sisters, neo-folkies with a twist. I picked this one because I like the song so much but the whole deal is great.

8. “Jingle Bells”—Barbra Streisand. On steroids. A frighteningly fast take on a holiday classic, recorded in 1967 when La Barbra was no doubt still channeling Fanny Brice. Catch it if you can; it must be heard to be believed.

7. “Greensleeves”—John Coltrane, live in 1961 at the fabled Village Vanguard with his greatest band ever, featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones.

6. “River”—Herbie Hancock: The Joni Letters.

It’s coming on Christmas.
They’re cutting down trees.
They’re putting up reindeer.
And singing songs of joy and peace.

Herbie and Joni, it doesn’t get any better than this.

5. “The Wild Wood Carol”—Cambridge Singers (from “Christmas Day in the Morning”), conducted by John Rutter. After a nine millionth hearing of the John Rutter “Gloria” last Christmas, a friend of mine remarked that he was going to devote the rest of his life to destroying every extant recording of it. But that’s Rutter the composer. Rutter the choral conductor puts the Brit stiff upper lip to good use with this crystalline clear collection of classics that stays in my CD changer throughout the whole of December.

4. “A Christmas Song”—Charles Bressler and Ned Rorem (from “Rorem: Songs of Rorem”). And for the truly adventuresome, check out Susan Graham’s “Songs of Ned Rorem.” Take special note of “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Luscious.

3. “Santa Claus is Back in Town”—Elvis Presley. The King.

2. “Run Run Rudolph”—Chuck Berry. Hey hey my my. Rock and roll will never die.

1. “Have Yourself A Merry Christmas”—The Carpenters. Last year I closed my list with Judy Garland’s version . With this pick, I am starting a tradition within a tradition, to close with a different cover of my super all-time fave song of the season. I own a lot of versions and there are scores out there–even one by Twisted Sister. So we should be more than good until 2050. And still I will never, ever put Bob Dylan’s version on this list.

 

Bonus Tracks: One silly, one serious and one off-the-wall.

1. “Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time”—Wings. Sir Paul McCartney doing what he does best. Tossing off a little nothing and making it all look easy.
2. “I Fell Out of A Christmas Tree”—Little Rita Faye. Okay. This is the off-the-wall one. From a goofy and strange Christmas album I owned when I was a kid. It had Lionel Barrymore reading ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, among other strangenesses. The whole thing is just plain weird.
3. “The Holly and the Ivy”—The Medieval Babes. The whole album is a little new agey and other worldly.

 

 

December 15, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog, News Archive Tagged With: yule blog

The Arlington Years: Library Wins ABBIE award for "Best Place to Learn Something New"

Published: November 18, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

It was announced at today’s County Board Meeting that Arlington Public Library was voted “Best Place to Learn Something New” in the 2009 Arlington’s Best Best Business (People’s Choice “ABBIES”) Awards. Thanks for all your support!

In accepting this award, we, the staff of Arlington Public Library, are simply building on the groundwork laid by the remarkable women of Arlington in the early days of the 20th century. They had no money, no books, no knowledge of library procedures. But what they did have was vision, heart and moxie. Operating out of spaces scrounged from likely and unlikely places–a double garage, a school, a storefront, the second floor of a bank, a venerable town hall, a fire house–these mighty women, known variously as the Cherrydale League of Women Voters, the Women’s Civic Club of Clarendon, the Arlington Community Club, the Jefferson District Women’s Club, the Library Committee of the Aurora Hills Garden Club grew Arlington Public Library one book and one building at a time.

And they were not afraid of doing it for themselves.

When a roof leaked over a circulation desk at one location, they plugged the hole with blotter paper. When they needed money for books and supplies, they baked and sponsored lectures. When the properties their libraries were housed in sold, they packed and took their shows down the road, to other locations.

In 1937, “the libraries” became a department within the County government with an annual budget of $3500 and a newly minted trained librarian. The goal was to begin to create the system of seven branches plus Central we enjoy today. Mrs. Nat Hynes, Mrs. Fred A. Lyons, Mrs. Frances V. Speek, Mrs. C.C. Nikiforoff and many others, hometown heroes whose names you won’t come across in the standard history texts, but whose collective will and determination speaks volumes. Ms. Robert Livingston summed it up best when she said in an article that appeared in the Washington Star in 1938: “Where there’s a woman’s will in a good cause, she generally finds the way, if she refuses to become discouraged.” I think it’s safe to say that this was a bunch of women who did not get discouraged.

The facts in this brief entry are courtesy of the Virginia Room of the Arlington Public Library, a treasure trove of Arlington’s unsung heroes if there ever was one. So if you are reading this, thank a librarian.And thanks for learning with us.

See you again soon.
Diane

November 18, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog Tagged With: award news

The Arlington Years: OLD Westover Will Close Sept. 26 in Preparation for NEW Westover

Published: August 27, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

Greetings Readers,

We wanted to let users of the old Westover Branch Library know that public operations at the 1800 N. Lexington St. facility will end with the close of business–5 p.m.–on Saturday, Sept. 26. It’s been a great 47-year run but we’re all due for some extra elbow room–almost three times the amount.

The drop slots at the new Westover branch, 1644 N. McKinley Street, will begin accepting returns the evening of Sept. 26 and those materials will be checked back into the collection on a regular basis. The old drop slot at 1800 N. Lexington will be sealed. Of course, you can always return Arlington Public Library items at any of our locations regardless of where it was checked out originally.

From Sept. 27 to Oct. 30, Westover hold items will be relocated to Central Library hold shelves.

With the new Westover branch opening on Oct. 31, we’ll be scrambling during the break to move materials, hook up computers, set out furniture and test the wi-fi.

Although the new place isn’t open yet, we’ve already got a terrific new web page for it so do visit in cyberspace. And check back often for updates. We might just put out a call for folks to help move books from the old building to the new in one giant bucket brigade. Stay tuned.

Thanks for checking in.

August 27, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: New Westover Branch Library Opening in Late October

Published: August 6, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh


More details to come but we’ve set Friday, Oct. 30 for the official ribbon-cutting and Saturday, Oct. 31 for an “all treats, no trick” Halloween open house for the new facility, which is a joint project between Arlington Public Schools and Arlington County Government.

August 6, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: Former Library Director Lelia Saunders Has Died

Published: July 13, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

Sad news today about someone who played a key role in shaping the Library as we know it: Lelia B. Saunders

Former Arlington (Virginia) Public Library Director Lelia B. Saunders died July 12, 2009 at a hospice in Reston, Va. after a short illness. She was 91.

Saunders was director of the Arlington Public Library from 1980 to 1986. She was named acting director in 1979 following her service as assistant director beginning in 1957.

Saunders’ predecessor, Jane B. Nida, described Saunders as “my right arm” during a tenure in which Arlington Public Library became a widely popular system, opening the County’s first Central Library and building new facilities for all six of its branches.

Under Saunders’ direction, the Library system made a strong push in areas of technology—establishing the use of anti-theft devices for materials; a computer-aided database research system; equipment and reference services for the blind and deaf ; and an early computer catalogue network.

Saunders oversaw growth in the Library’s historic document collection, as its Virginia Room became the repository for a widespread “Search and Save Drive” in partnership with the Arlington County Historical Commission. Saunders also made the difficult decision for the Library to emboss its logo on rare book plates in the Virginia Room collection to ward off theft and mutilation.

In 1980, Arlington Public Library joined the reciprocal borrowing program sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. Non-residents no longer had to pay $10 per year for an Arlington card and Arlingtonians were able to obtain public library privileges in the District, Falls Church, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Prince George’s and Montgomery County.

During Saunders’s tenure, the County re-examined pay scales for library staff compared to other systems in the region. It also became known that Saunders, the only woman heading a department in the County, was being paid less than her male peers.

Born in Roanoke, Va. in 1917, Saunders was a longtime resident of Alexandria, Va. She was an alumnus of Columbia University and former president of the Virginia Library Association.

There will be a graveside service at Evergreen Burial Park at 1307 Summit Avenue S.W. Roanoke on July 15 at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers donations in her memory can be made to the Old Presbyterian House at 323 S. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Jane Nida once called her assistant and future successor as “the best book-selector I’ve ever known.” She was also “a real Virginia gentlewoman.”

July 13, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog Tagged With: Arlington Years

The Arlington Years: New Thursday, Friday Hours for Cherrydale, Glencarlyn; Westover Remains Open

Published: June 19, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh
Hello again,

Thank you for your patience regarding the new hours for the Cherrydale and Glencarlyn branch libraries. Beginning the week of July 1, they will be open Thursdays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. These times were chosen after getting feedback from those communities.

We’ve issued a news release, which also explains changes in some library fees, also beginning July 1, the start of the new fiscal year.

Finally, we’re still awaiting word on a closing date for the old Westover Branch Library as construction continues for the new Westover facility down the street. Programs will continue at the old Westover building except those summer reading events already slated for the Lee Center at 5722 Lee Highway. Please check the Library website for schedules or you can call the Westover staff at 703-228-5260.
Thanks again for your patience.
Diane

June 19, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: Aurora Hills to Keep Hours; Cherrydale, Glencarlyn Reduced By One Day

Published: April 29, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

More details on the approved FY 2010 Library budget to follow including the impact on materials. Here is the news release issued following the April 28 Board vote.
Please note that Fiscal Year 2010 begins July 1, 2009.

Here is a breakdown of the proposed FY 2010 budget and what the County Board decided. The Department of Libraries numbers are on the first page.
The complete online version of the adopted budget will be available in mid-June.
A new schedule of Library system operating hours, including the reductions affecting the Cherrydale and Glencarlyn branches, is being developed and will be posted in a few weeks.

April 29, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission on FY 2010 Proposed Library Budget

Published: April 13, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

As submitted to the County Board, the Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission has endorsed the proposed FY 2010 budget for the Department of Libraries.
The Commission praised the Library leadership team for a “strategic approach to the budget reductions required by the current economic environment and for their proactive attempts to explain the reductions to the community.”
The entire report can be read here.

April 13, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: Library Proposed FY 2010 Budget FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Published: March 31, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh

Hello,
The following is based on questions and answers that have been exchanged in recent weeks. This should be a bit easier to read than the comments section of the previous blog entry. Of course those comments will remain online.
————————————————————————————–

Library Proposed FY 2010 Budget  FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

How were library circulation statistics and other numbers used in formulating the proposed budget?
The circulation numbers cited are from Fiscal Year 2008 statistics, the most recent complete set of numbers we have. The percentage of circulations for a branch is the total number of circulations transacted at that branch divided by the total number of system circulations for FY 2008. Books sent to Cherrydale, for example, to fill holds (regardless of the owning branch) are counted as Cherrydale transactions if checked out to the borrower at Cherrydale.
Arlington Public Library keeps usage system statistics as required for national library metrics each year. The proposal to reduce hours at Aurora Hills, Cherrydale and Glencarlyn was a difficult but well-researched business decision based on where reducing hours would have the least impact on the overall Arlington community and the Arlington Public Library system.
Historically and currently, Aurora Hills, Cherrydale and Glencarlyn have the lowest branch percentages in terms of circulation and visitation. These are the two overarching statistics used in the field of libraries to evaluate usage. While reduced hours clearly create an inconvenience for some users of the Library system in some locations of the County, the goal is to maintain a viable Arlington Public Library system with the least inconveniences overall. According to the statistics, Aurora Hills, Cherrydale and Glencarlyn are simply utilized less than other branches in the County system. (Plaza Branch Library & County Store is a special case and an explanation appears below.)
The cost to serve patrons at a specific location is not isolated to the direct cost of operating the facility itself. Other costs across the Library system are incurred to provide services at any location. Arlington Public Library is a system with many centralized budget items. Certain staff members perform duties that involve multiple sites and those responsibilities can vary on a daily basis.
We are pleased that Arlingtonians love their library system. We do too, especially because many staffers live in the County. And we tried hard to preserve the best of what we do at our busiest locations within budgetary constraints. We are not stopping anything we do. We are reducing hours so that we can repurpose staff to fill existing vacancies and open a brand new, larger facility in Westover later this year without being able to hire additional staff.

More Arlington Public Library statistics can be found here: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/Libraries/about/BranchComparisonStatistics.aspx
More proposed FY 2010 Library budget information can be found here: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ManagementAndFinance/budget/page68674.pdf
http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ManagementAndFinance/budget/page69209.pdf
More proposed FY 2010 County budget information can be found here: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/ManagementAndFinance/budget/page67119.aspx

Why close the current Westover branch for three months this year?
The most current information we have is that the new Westover-Reed building will open in October. Closing the building allows us to ensure a smooth transition to the new facility. By closing in July, we also realize a one-time budget savings of $32,000 that would have been designated for temporary workers.

How will the new hours for the library system be established?
We are considering all suggestions for a system-wide schedule. Everything is on the table for discussion as we remain committed to providing the best level of service we can given the circumstances. The goal is to be open 24 hours a week at Glencarlyn, Cherrydale and Aurora Hills. Which hours/number of hours/days we are open is subject to discussion and we welcome feedback as we look at options to meet the greatest demands on the system within our budget constraints.
With limited staff and money to run each facility, reducing hours at some sites enables us to retain the best of what we do. And we hope to create a schedule that is not so complicated that no one can remember when we’re open. Such varied hours of operation would be a disservice to the whole community.
We are not restructuring the Library system at this time—we are belt-tightening, which is why we chose to reduce hours, trim our materials budget, freeze vacant positions and hold spending in operations costs to system-wide savings. Each branch and Central are part of a whole known as Arlington Public Library and we look at this process from that vantage point.

Reducing branch hours at the three aforementioned branches enables the Library system to:
  • Respond to service demands in the busiest locations. There are staff shortages throughout the library system due to vacancies, a hiring freeze and position eliminations.
  • Respond to the increased service requirements at the new Westover Branch Library, which will have twice the space of the existing facility. Two permanent positions reallocated from the Cherrydale branch will serve at the Westover branch.
  • Reduce use of temporary employees to cover vacation leave, sick leave and other staff shortages across the entire library system. The permanent branch positions are not eliminated; affected staff will be reassigned to work in other branches and Central Library.

How will the library collections be affected by a reduced budget for new materials?
The Library makes the best use it can of the money it has for collections. Funding was already cut in FY 2009 because of state reductions and the budget will be reduced further in 2010. We continue to look at the collection needs of the system as a whole to determine spending priorities.
Since we are a small community and make deliveries every day but Sunday throughout the system, we try very hard to provide our residents with what they need. Our goal is to keep our system-wide collection both broad and deep with a mix of popular materials at each location.
As we have neither the space nor the budget to duplicate the entire library collection at each location, we rely on our system of deliveries to ensure that Arlington residents can get what they need where they need it as quickly as possible.

How are volunteers used by the Library system and could they fill the roles of some staff members?
Volunteers are always welcome. The challenge is to find the right balance between the use of permanent, professional staff (many with masters degrees in library science) and volunteers. The Library has always used volunteers and will continue to do so. We greatly appreciate each and every one. They are wonderful.
Volunteers log
as many as 1200 hours per month. This level of support is enormously helpful to our professional staff and enables us to do “more with less.” But professional library staff are also privy to patrons’ confidential information and for everyone’s protection, tasks that involve such access are performed by only a handful of specially trained volunteers.

Can donations of materials help the Library’s collections needs?
The Library welcomes donations of materials in good condition and yet, approximately 99 percent of donations are not needed for the Library’s collection so it is not an effective offset to our materials budget, overall. That said, donations sold by Friends of the Arlington Public Library at its semi-annual book sales (and in small sale displays at our locations) make for an immensely valuable and cost-effective program.
Almost all Friends book sale proceeds come back to the Library to support Library programming and to purchase new materials for our system, which benefits all of our branches and Central.

Why is Plaza Library and County Store treated differently than other branches?
The Plaza Library and Arlington Store is a unique, new component to both the Library system and Arlington County Government operations. It provides government reference service for County staff, manages the County store and serves as “information and referral”—a switchboard, if you will—for all County offices and services. It is not open at night and on weekends because it has a specific mission not shared by the rest of the libraries in the system, including Central.

Why is Central Library treated differently within the system?
Central Library is not a branch and is designed to provide a number of unique services and materials that can’t be duplicated throughout the system. Central is a hub, not a spoke. Central libraries traditionally have the most hours within a system.
The last reduction in hours within Arlington Public Library took place in July 2008, when the 9 p.m.-to-10 p.m. hour was eliminated Monday through Thursday at Central Library so staffing and resources could be redirected to busier times of day. This reduction helped meet Fiscal Year 2009 budget cut requirements that resulted in part because of cuts in state aid. At the time no library in neighboring jurisdictions and no Arlington branches were open past 9 p.m. and that remains true today. Central Library is now open 72 hours per week, more than any other central library in the region.

Will the Library be raising fees and fines?
For the proposed FY 2010 budget, the Library recommended raising the fines for overdue materials, and increasing the fees for both interlibrary loans and printing.
Raising fees will realize a small amount of additional revenue for the County. The Library has not raised its fees since 1998 and we have now proposed bringing them to a level consistent with that of other jurisdictions. One example: the price for printing a sheet of paper from an Arlington Public Library computer terminal will rise from 10 cents to 15 cents. The cost of using a copier is already 15 cents per sheet and will not rise.
Arlington Public Library is fortunate to have reciprocal borrowing agreements with other local jurisdictions, both a privilege and a convenience Arlington residents benefit from. Because of the reciprocal borrowing agreements, made possible through the Council of Governments, we do not charge for this service and similarly, Arlington residents who borrow from outside of Arlington are not charged.
We are opposed to charging for using library materials, no matter how nominal the fee. Charging for use runs counter to the mission of a public library, which is to provide free and open access to residents regardless of their ethnic background, educational level, or economic status.
In addition, the Code of Virginia says the following: “The service of books in library systems and libraries receiving state aid shall be free and shall be made available to all persons living in the county, region, or municipality.” (Code 1950, § 42-31; 1970, c. 606.)

“The term ‘books’ as used in this chapter may be interpreted in the discretion of the Board to mean books, magazines, newspapers, appropriate audiovisual materials and other printed matter.”  (Code 1950, § 42-32; 1952, c. 494; 1970, c. 606.)

Could Library facilities be rented out to raise funds?
It is important to note that County administrative regulations prohibit the use of County conference rooms, including those in libraries, for profit-generating activities. We would also need to evaluate the additional costs of opening the facilities when the County is closed (e.g., cleaning services and security) and the increase in building wear and tear.
Keep in mind that food is not allowed in the public spaces of libraries during operating hours so that would factor in as well.

How can Arlington consider cutting library hours during the current economic troubles when no library in the United States was closed during the Great Depression?
A cursory Web search finds a number of libraries indeed closed during the Depression, from Seattle to Texas to North Carolina and up to nearby Bethesda. No doubt there were others, probably even in Virginia. Library hours were also affected.
The New York Public Library website tells us this about that system:  “As a result of reductions in the 1934 New York City budget, ten branch locations of The New York Public Library were closed from June – September 1934, according to The New York Times (May 11, 1934, p. 23), and the Staten Island “book wagon” and the “Bronx Traveling Library” were stopped, as well. Six other branches – non-Carnegie branches – had substantial reductions in hours of service, and those hours were not restored until the fall of 1939, according to the Times (September 13, 1939, p. 25).”

March 31, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

The Arlington Years: Arlington Public Library Service Reductions and the FY 2010 Budget

Published: February 26, 2009

The Arlington Years

Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh
Dear friends,
As we adjust to the new economic realities that have prompted budget reductions across County government, Arlington Public Library remains committed to providing the best services and collections possible for our customers.
Despite belt tightening and lifestyle changes, those of us fortunate enough to serve the residents of the County will continue the effort to preserve the things that make Arlington a special place to live and work. This is reflected in the budget choices we have made and in the services we continue to provide. 
In brief, Arlington Public Library’s budget recommendations for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 are: 

• Glencarlyn, Cherrydale and Aurora Hills branches open 3 days per week
• Decreasing the materials budget by $125,000, meaning fewer purchases of books, magazines, newspapers, electronic databases, DVDs and music
• Significantly decreased use of non-permanent staff at all levels
• Increased vacancies within the permanent staff due to frozen positions
• Closing the current Westover branch facility effective July 1, to prepare for the opening of the new Westover facility in fall 2009
• Suggested increases in library fines and fees for printing, lost library cards, overdue materials and interlibrary loan mailings

None of these decisions were easy and at this stage, the FY 2010 budget is a proposal.

There are many opportunities to make your opinion known. In addition to the public hearings to be held by the Arlington County Board in late March, the Library is scheduling open “town meetings” at Central Library and each of our branches except Plaza.  All meetings will start at 7 p.m. except Aurora Hills, when I will speak at 7:45. Here is the schedule. PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME: I will speak at the Aurora Hills meeting (hosted by the AH Civic Association) at 8:30 p.m.:
• March 4, Cherrydale
• March 10, Glencarlyn
• March 11, Aurora Hills (new time–8:30 p.m in senior center adjacent to library)
• March 17, Westover
• March 18, Central (Auditorium)
• March 31, Shirlington
• April 1, Columbia Pike

As someone who grew up in Arlington and benefited from its first-rate Library, I want to “do it all” for this system.  And yet we can’t given the current budget predicament. 
So the staff and I chose to recommend doing the next best thing, which is to fund our programs and services in the most cost-effective way possible so we can continue to fill shelves with relevant materials, entertain children with storytimes and help neighbors get back on their feet with free computers, Internet access and job-seeking resources.
Our proposed hours of service across the system may change—to enable us to staff where service demands are greatest—but our commitment to the community is unchanged.
Please take advantage of the “comments” link below to send me your questions and suggestions. I will respond under your remarks to keep the dialogue going. And I look forward to meeting you and speaking with you in person at one of the seven open “town meetings” mentioned above.
Over to you…

February 26, 2009 by Web Editor Filed Under: Director's Blog

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