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Arlington Public Library

Director's Blog

Proposed FY 2011 Budget

The Arlington Years

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


Dear fellow users and supporters of the Arlington Public Library,

On Saturday, Feb. 20, the acting County Manager presented to the County Board the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2011.

As with the other County departments, the Library faces serious cuts as a result of the historic economic downturn that has affected virtually every state and local government in the nation. The Library budget details can be found here: http://www.arlingtonva.us/departments/ManagementAndFinance/budget/file74864.pdf

The proposed budget would affect the Library across the board, system-wide in the following ways for FY 2011:

  • The Library’s proposed cuts affect workforce—which translates into public service hours—and materials
  • Seven permanent Library staff positions are to be eliminated and much of the funds for the non-permanent workforce—63 percent—is to be eliminated as a result of reduced public hours
  • The Library materials budget faces a serious reduction resulting in, for example, no more music compact disks system-wide; no more branch periodicals
  • Proposed cuts in children’s materials are not as severe as those for other types
  • No Library fees and fines would be raised
  • Each branch library except Glencarlyn and Cherrydale would lose one service day each week—Glencarlyn and Cherrydale branches lost those hours in FY 2010
  • Reductions in branch hours will be done geographically so sections of the County will have a library open each day of the week; closures will be consolidated into full days rather than half days to simplify the schedule for the public
  • Central Library would open at 10 a.m. rather than the current 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday and would close at 5 p.m. on Sunday rather than the current 9 p.m.

The proposed budget is now in the hands of the Board, with public hearings set for March 23 and 24.

As a department director, I will go before the Board at its April 10 session to review details and answer questions. Final adoption of the FY 2011 County budget is set for April 24.

Please use the comments section below to post your thoughts, questions and ideas. I always appreciate hearing from the people we’re here to serve.

The Arlington Years: Snowver It

The Arlington Years

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

The last several days of wintery white-out are testament to the old adage that there can be too much of a good thing.

So when I wasn’t on County snow status conference calls, or checking on Library facilities in my all-wheel drive or concocting strange meals out of refrigerator odds and ends, how did I keep the stir crazies away? By loading up on free books and DVDs from my favorite local source, Arlington Public Library.

For books, I dug into (and finished) Jayber Crow, penned by Wendell Berry (this year’s Arlington READS author and an early booster of the environment and proponent of sustainability: “waste not want not”) and 1968: The Year that Rocked the World, Mark Kurlanksy’s riveting account of the year that woke me up to the world (Kurlansky is also author of several great social histories including Salt and Cod).

By contrast, my DVD viewing drifted toward the more eclectic with A Fish Called Wanda (insane fun), The Station Agent (everyone needs a friend), Short Cuts (the lives of 22 Raymond Carver short story characters woven together by the masterful Robert Altman), The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3 (not the Travolta travesty; but the gritty-city original from 1974 with Robert Shaw and Walter Matthau) and Lawrence of Arabia, which I needed two full snow days to finish. Whew!!! All of these . . . and more . . . waiting for you at the Library.

So that’s what I did on my winter vacation. What did you do? Please share in the comments section below. And if you were out there taking some pics of plows, puppies in the snow, spinning tires, or just the plain old white stuff itself, please consider sharing your photos with us by sending them to libweb@arlingtonva.us.

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

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.

 

 

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

The Arlington Years: Former Library Director Lelia Saunders Has Died

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.”

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

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

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

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.

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

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.



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