Example created by Jackson Shapiro for 2018 LEGO exhibit.
This exhibit is open to LEGO builders age 18 and under, as well as teams that include at least one member under 18.
Submission Deadline: Monday, Dec. 16, 2019.
Rules:
There’s no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with a spooky read. From ghost stories to thrillers to true crime, pick one of these up when you want to hide under the covers with a good book.
Want to create something booo-tiful, listen to spooky poetry performed, or watch a silly movie?
We’ve got fun Halloween events all month for kids, teens and adults!
Don’t have time to search all the book reviews to find your next perfect read?
Save time and stress with our curated lists, tailored for almost every genre or interest.
Everyone has a story – the Library can help you find yours!
Information gained from trustworthy, vetted resources can assist those with cancer to discover treatments, conquer fears, and gain strength.
Start your Breast Cancer research with these books to help patients, caregivers and survivors navigate the complicated world of breast cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship:
These materials have been provided by a grant from the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation. Since 2000, the VCBF has financially supported local libraries and library systems across the Commonwealth. providing more than $60,000 in funding, helping libraries to purchase breast health books, e-books, periodicals, DVDs and other materials to to support women and their families in their community.
Friday, October 11, marks the 31st anniversary of National Coming Out Day, an annual observance to raise awareness of the interests and rights of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Arlington Public Library is honoring this date by displaying Pride flags at all of our locations.
As a gay person, National Coming Out Day holds personal significance.
I take it personally when we discover pages in our Library’s children’s books about gay moms and dads have been deliberately torn or defaced.
I take it personally when a patron writes me and tells me that the Library’s Pride Month book displays promote sexually deviant behavior.
And I take it personally when a patron threatens to trash a branch library because it has displayed the Pride flag.
As an Arlington County leader, my support of National Coming Out Day means that I encourage Library staff to show up at work as they truly are — proudly and without fear of consequence.
As a public library director, National Coming Out Day reminds me that each day in a library is coming out day. Libraries are judgement free zones – safe spaces that welcome all who enter their doors, regardless of beliefs, preferences, country of origin, age, income status or appearance.
And as a gay person, National Coming Out Day affirms a commitment I made to myself: to respect and honor my choices and to be who I am, this day and every day.
Diane
Do you know where your water comes from?
By the 1920s, while a few Arlington communities were serviced by privately-owned water companies (including Aurora Hills and Cherrydale) most of the County’s 16,040 residents got their water from individual shallow wells, which were inconvenient and susceptible to pollution.
Arlington County Water Department Float for the Water Carnival, November 1927
In 1922, the State of Virginia passed legislation to permit the establishment of sanitary districts within the County for the purpose of constructing water and sewer systems.
The Arlington County Board of Supervisors contracted engineer Asa E. Phillips to investigate options for a County-wide water system in 1926. Phillips and the County Board proposed a number of solutions to County residents. Eventually residents decided that instead of building its own water filtration plant Arlington County would request water from Washington, D.C., which had recently finished construction on the Dalecarlia Water Plant.
After Congress passed two authorizing acts – the first to allow the sale of the federal water supply to Arlington County, and the second to connect the federal water system to the Arlington County water system – and the Virginia General Assembly authorized bonds for the construction and operation of the water supply, construction began on the water main that would connect Dalecarlia to Lyonhurst Station in North Arlington, one of the highest points in the County. Lyonhurst Station was equipped with a pump station, a 260,000-
gallon water tower, and a 1.5- million gallon reservoir.
On November 3, 1927, public water supply service began in Arlington. The County declared a special holiday and threw a Water Carnival in Lyon Village to celebrate. The Water Carnival consisted of a parade with floats decorated by various county groups, a fire hydrant demonstration, dancing, fireworks, a barbeque and even a jousting tournament! In the water spirit of the event, many of the afternoon activities were rained out, but that did not dampen the celebration too much, as the evening programs continued.
Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant, 2011
The distribution system in Arlington has significantly expanded and updated from the original 1927 system, and improvements to the system, initiated in 1953, have since made Lyonhurst Station obsolete.
Arlington County's water source is the Potomac River. The water is then treated and comes to us from the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant, run by the Washington Aqueduct.
Read more about the Arlington County Water & Utilities Department and the water system:
To learn more about Arlington's history, visit the Center for Local History on the first floor of the Central Library.
Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share?
Use this form to send a message to the Center for Local History.
Arlington Public Library announces the return of thousands of historic materials from the Library of Virginia.
Some of these repatriated records date back to the late 1840’s, which make these the oldest records in the Center for Local History’s collection. A goldmine for genealogical research, these documents provide a window into Arlington’s social, economic and agricultural history.
Boxes, housed at the Archives, containing thousands of historic materials from the Library of Virginia.
“These early records represent a snapshot of a time in Arlington we know little about,” said Library Director Diane Kresh. “We are excited to learn more as we begin to examine these records.”
The acquisition includes:
Page detail of a voter registration book from the Library of Virginia acquisition.
Years ago, a large quantity of historic documents was transferred to the Library of Virginia for storage and safe-keeping. The transfer included a small number of non-Circuit Court records. With the recent renovation of the Community Archives, Arlington Public Library is now able to provide space to house and catalog these historic documents.
A sample of the collection will be on display during two public viewings on October 16, 7-8:30 p.m. and October 23, 2-3:30 p.m. at the newly remodeled Community Archives.
The Center for Local History's Community Archives is an off-site storage facility which collects and preserves materials that illustrate the history and culture of Arlington County. The facility is located at the Woodmont Community Center on 2422 N. Fillmore St. in Arlington, VA 22207.
Once the records are processed, they will be made available to the public. Over time, records will be digitized as part of an ongoing effort to increase public access to government records and archival materials.
Cover image: Personal property interrogatories from the Library of Virginia acquisition.
American Archives Month, which takes places each October, raises awareness about the value of archives and archivists.
