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Update: Elevator Outages, Maintenance and Upgrades at Central Library

Central Library is undergoing maintenance to repair and upgrade the elevators, restrooms, roof and HVAC systems.

Winter Update:

  • Starting January 20, the only accessible elevator at Central will be the elevator located in G1 in the garage that goes from G1 to the first and second floors of the library. Patrons with mobility challenges who park in the garage should park on G1 for the duration of this project to more easily access the elevator. Check back for updates.
  • All second-floor restrooms are closed for renovation. First-floor restrooms are open.
  • The smaller surface parking lot directly off Quincy Street is partially open. All other parking lots and the garage are open.
  • Work in the Auditorium continues. Public booking is on hold until work is complete.

The entire project is anticipated to last through Spring 2026. The library will remain accessible and operational throughout the project.

Our apologies for any inconvenience or disruption as we provide regularly scheduled maintenance to our building.

Please check back for updates.

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

Great Books You Might Have Missed in 2025

Looking for a great book? We're here to help!

Arlington readers know that every month sees more amazing books released than they can possibly keep up with! In 2025, nearly 2,500 books received a starred review.

Arlington fell in love with some of those books critics raved about, but with so many to choose from, some inevitably flew beneath our radar.

The books are sorted into subcategories: fiction, nonfiction, graphic, detective, science fiction and fantasy teen, elementary/middle grade and picture books/early readers. And much like browsing the library’s shelves, you're sure to find something unexpected and delightful!

To see which books Arlington readers checked out the most this year, check out our companion list: Arlington's Top Reads in 2025.

Browse Full Lists in the Library Catalog

Complete List
Fiction List
Nonfiction List
Detective List
Sci Fi and Fantasy List
Graphic Novel List
Picture Books / Early Readers List
Elementary / Middle Grade List
Teen List

Arlington’s Top Reads in 2025

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What did Arlington readers check out this year?

2025 was another excellent year for Arlington readers with over 3.6 million checkouts.

Arlington's reading choices span a wide array of genres, including cookbooks, romance novels, biographies and picture books. We listened to eAudiobooks, read on our phones and stacked paper books on our nightstands. Still, certain titles stood out as particularly popular.

Here is a breakdown of the most popular adult, kids and young adult titles.

Composite of 10 book covers.

Two titles had more than 4,000 checkouts this year:

  1. "Onyx Storm" by Rebecca Yarros
  2. "The Women" by Kristin Hannah

The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros was a big hit with all three titles in the top ten.

Emily Henry had two titles this year with "Funny Story" and "Great Big Beautiful Life."

"The Women," "Funny Story" and "Iron Flame" are on the list for the second year in a row while "Fourth Wing," "Remarkably Bright Creatures" and "Demon Copperhead" are in their third year of being one of Arlington’s most popular reads!

"Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas is one of the most popular teen reads for the third year in a row, but the rest of the top five are all books from The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, with "Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" keeping its position at number one.

Just like last year, our younger readers couldn’t get enough of "Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney!

We’re excited to see what books Arlington will fall in love with in 2026.

Of course, there are always great books that don’t get the buzz and popularity and sometimes are overlooked.

Curious about the other excellent releases you might have missed this year? We have a curated list of Great Books You Missed in 2025 to help you find some hidden gems in our catalog.

Always free. Always open. Always reading!

Your favorite eCollection resources

The library’s digital collections had a standout year in 2025, with patrons turning to eCollections more than ever. From books and newspapers to online courses and career tools, these platforms have become part of everyday life for readers and learners across the Arlington community.
Libby remains the favorite for eBooks, audiobooks and magazines, while PressReader connects patrons to newspapers and magazines from around the world. One in four titles read on PressReader were international titles and in languages other than English, underscoring its role as a vibrant hub for global perspectives. Across all of our magazine platforms, patrons most enjoyed reading The New Yorker, The Economist, The Atlantic, People and Consumer Reports.

Learning platforms saw strong engagement as well. O’Reilly and LinkedIn Learning offered courses in artificial intelligence, technology, business and creative skills. Patrons especially enjoyed diving into top courses "WordPress: Ecommerce, Project Management Foundations" and "Pre-investing: Before Investing in Real Estate," and "Writing: The Craft of Story"—all designed to sharpen professional skills or introduce new hobbies and opportunities to online learners.

Mango Languages kept language learners busy with sessions in everything from Spanish to Japanese to American Sign Language, often right from their phones.

Specialized eCollections played an important role.

Value Line gave investors reliable financial research, Consumer Reports guided smart shopping decisions and Bookflix made reading fun for families by pairing children’s books with engaging videos. News lovers stayed informed with full access to the Washington Post Digital and Global Newsstream.

We welcomed several new eCollections this year. You can stream films and series through Access Video On Demand: Master Collection and Biblio+, explore American and global cuisines with AtoZ Food America, AtoZ World Food, and Eat Your Books and dive into research using AtoZ Databases and Social Explorer.

Career seekers will find guidance and opportunities in Vault Career Intelligence. With more than 70 eCollections available, there’s something for everyone.

Arlington's Top 10 eResources In 2025

Coming Soon: New Evening Hours Starting Jan. 12

Starting January 12, 2026, evening hours on Monday and Wednesday are changing at the following library locations: Aurora Hills, Cherrydale, Courthouse and Glencarlyn libraries. The new hours will affect the Teleconnect Space at Courthouse Library.

Collage of four photos of different libraries.

The new hours will be:

Monday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.  

(Previous hours 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.)

Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. 

(Previous hours 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.)

There are no changes in hours at Central, Columbia Pike, Westover and Shirlington libraries; these locations will remain open until 8 p.m. on Monday.

The number of open hours for all libraries will remain unchanged while allowing the Library to serve more patrons.  The Library evaluated door count data and checkout information to make this decision.

Thank you for your continued support of Arlington Public Library and your participation in our programs and services. For questions or feedback, please contact the Library online.

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

New November Releases

We're grateful for authors and stories.

This November, we express our gratitude for the imagination and dedication of authors who give us stories to enjoy.

Marisa Kashino’s "Best Offer Wins" skewers the local real estate market in a twisted and darkly humorous novel of domestic suspense. After being outbid 11 times in 18 months for various houses in the D.C. area suburbs, Margo’s getting desperate. When she hears of a wonderful house that will soon hit the market, she’ll stop at nothing to get it.

Nils knows today is his last day on earth, but still goes to work as a ferry operator. As the passengers embark, he sees they are all ghosts from his past. Sailing his route through the Norwegian fjords for the final time, he waits for the ghost of his recently deceased wife in the wistful and quiet story "The Ferryman and His Wife" by Frode Grytten and translated by Alison McCullough.

While trying to negotiate a lighter sentence by returning stolen art from previous heists, an officer tells thief Myles Conner that only a Rembrandt would save him. So, while out on parole, Conner steals a Rembrandt in an audacious daytime theft from Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. Anthony M. Amore’s "The Rembrandt Heist" gets into all the action and intrigue of a story that’s stranger than fiction.

In 1834, David Ruggles opened the first Black bookstore in the U.S., selling abolitionist literature and creating a place for Black people to gather and learn. It’s a template many Black bookstores to come would follow, despite harassment from the FBI and IRS, racism, gentrification and a shifting publishing marketplace. "Black-Owned" by Char Adams traces the history of the Black bookstore and the role those bookstores have played in their communities.

Middle grade readers will want to check out "How to Free a Jinn" by Raidah Shah Idil. When Insyirah and her mother move from Australia to Malaysia to take care of her ailing grandmother, Insyirah learns the women in her family can see jinn. As she gets used to life in a new place, she must also confront an evil spirit haunting her new school in this energetic adventure that blends family, mythology and faith.

Annie Fairfax has been cursed by the finfolk—vengeful creatures that live beneath the waves and were responsible for the shipwreck that killed her parents. Annie is a young female head of the whaling company that her village depends on for survival. Responsibility weighs heavily on her shoulders while the curse is getting worse. There might be a cure, but the cost may be too high in "Break Wide the Sea" by Sara Holland. Teen readers will be drawn in by this roiling and atmospheric tale blending horror, folklore and love.

Place Your Holds Now!

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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

New October Releases

The Spooky Season Is Here 👻

The nights are getting longer and whether you’re celebrating spooky season or the start of cozy season, it’s the perfect time to curl up with a blanket and a good book. 

Set in 2075 New York, the queer cyberpunk dystopian thriller "Local Heavens" by K. M. Fajardo retells "The Great Gatsby," showing the timelessness of its themes of wealth, class, loss and the damage careless people can cause while going after their desires.

You’d think that bargaining with a shadowy figure for a promotion would be standard at a workplace like Dark Enterprises, but while Colin does get promoted, he also unleashes an ancient evil. Mark Waddell’s "Colin Gets Promoted and Dooms the World" sees Colin trying to save the world because there are a few things he likes about it—his best friend, the new guy he’s been seeing, and of course, his new job. Welcome to Night Vale meets The Office in this darkly humorous horror satire that doesn’t skimp on the romance or action.

The college years often include bad grades, worse boyfriends, questionable fashion choices, late-night parties and learning who you really are. All of this is further complicated if you’ve already won the Nobel Peace Prize and are a global figure for surviving the death threats that haven’t gone away. "Finding My Way" by Malala Yousafzai is a candid and dynamic memoir as she confronts a public image that’s impossible to live up to and learns who she actually is, on her own terms.

November 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a Great Lakes shipwreck immortalized in song by Gordon Lightfoot. "Gales of November" by John U. Bacon is an absorbing and in-depth look at the wreck, as well as the importance and dangers of sailing on the Great Lakes. Most importantly, he introduces readers to the 29 men lost when she went down, their lives on board and on shore and the loved ones they left behind.

Allan Wolf and Jose Pimienta’s middle grade novel, "Vanishing of Lake Peigneur" tells the dramatic story of when a routine drilling operation on Louisiana’s Lake Peigneur went very, very wrong, creating a giant whirlpool and draining the entire lake away into the salt mines underneath. Narrated by the lake itself and detailing the lives of the people caught in the chaos, this is a gripping introduction to a little-known environmental disaster.

Beauty content creator Lyric plans to spend the holiday season continuing to build her platform and get the most out of her latest brand collaboration. When a spur-of-the-moment photo with new classmate, Juniper, goes viral, the girls decide to make the most of the moment and start fake dating for the clicks (and the accompanying money, which will fund their respective post-high school plans). But the line between reality and social media blurs quickly in "I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm," Mariama J. Lockington’s slow-burn teen Christmas romance.

Place Your Holds Now!

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