Arlington Public Library

News

Win a Book Wednesday: “John Woman”

Win a Copy of "John Woman" by Walter Mosely

Photo of a book with a red and black cover with title "John Woman" in strong white font

About "John Woman"

"After getting away with murder, Cornelius Jones changes his name to John Woman and moves on with his life. He becomes a controversial professor of deconstructionist history at a southwestern university and is doing well for himself when his past begins to encroach on his present.

This absorbing book will make you reconsider how you think about history."

Reviewed for you here by librarian Michelle. Publication date is set as September 4, 2018.

Want to Win this Book?

  • Leave a comment below on Wednesday, August 8, and share the name of your favorite book about hidden identities?
  • Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook OR Twitter will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
  • The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday, August 9.
  • The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.

Win a Book Wednesdays takes place twice a month. Prize books are Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."

ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.

 

Celebrate Your Summer Reading Triumphs!

four popsicles on a blue background

Take a break, log your final summer reads, and pick up prizes at these cool end-of-Summer Reading events!

For All Ages:

Just for Teens and their Families:

 

Learn more about Summer Reading on the Library Website.

 

 

Central Library Upgrade: August Update

Phase Two News

Behind the scenes on the second floor, work has begun on our new multi-purpose technology and maker lab, as well as redesigned public PC stations.

Friends Book Store with open doors
The Friends Book Store is now open

First Floor Update

The Friends Books Store is now open for business. Look for news about a Grand Opening Celebration coming soon from the Friends of the Arlington Public Library.

photo of the temporary reference desk location
Temporary reference desk located next to the audiobooks on CD

Second Floor Update

The old Ask-A-Librarian desk has been removed, and we are currently offering reference services from a temporary desk at the top of the stairs (next to the audiobooks). The old desk has been relocated to its new home at the Columbia Pike Branch Library.

A temporary Computer Help Desk is now located in the temporary public computer area, where the Ask-A-Librarian desk used to be.

During Phase Two, we continue to offer a reduced number of public computers at Central Library. During this time, we recommend visiting other Library locations if you need to use a computer for an extended period of time.

New: Borrow Magazines from Central Library

Take Our Magazines Wherever You Go!

photo of many overlapping magazine covers

As of July 3, you can check out back issues of most magazines on the 2nd floor at Central Library. 

Titles range from The Advocate, The American Conservative, and Architectural Digest, to The New Yorker, Opera News and People, to This Old House, Travel & Leisure, and Utne.

Borrowing Rules

  • Loan period: 1 week
  • 1 renewal
  • No holds
  • Overdue fine: $.30/day

The most recent issue of any magazine, and reference magazines such as Consumer Reports, can not be checked out.

For more information about these, or any other Library magazines, speak to staff at the Reference Desk at Central Library.

 

Visit the Alcove in Rosslyn

Two Month Partnership with Rosslyn BID

Did you attend the Rosslyn READS! Spring Book Festival in April? The Library returns to Rosslyn in August and September, as we partner with the Rosslyn BID to bring programs for all ages to The Alcove, a pop-up space near the Rosslyn Metro.

“The Library is excited to partner again with the Rosslyn BID,” said Diane Kresh, Director, Arlington Public Library. “This private-public partnership enables us to engage with the Rosslyn community in new ways to offer a cross-section of Library programs for a wide range of ages and interests. Everything from DIY maker programs to story times and author talks.”

The Alcove is located at 1800 N. Lynn St., at the corner of 19th Street and N. Moore Street.

The Alcove Event Highlights

Roy Scranton, Author of "We're Doomed. Now What?"
Thursday, Aug. 9, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

"We're Doomed. Now What?" addresses the crisis of our time through a series of brilliant, moving, and original essays on climate change, war, literature, and loss, from one of the most provocative and iconoclastic minds of his generation.

Return on Creativity: Creators Behind the Scenes
Thursday, Aug. 16, 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Join us for "An Arlington Asset," the third seminar in the Return on Creativity (ROC) series, presented in partnership with Arlington Economic Development. This event features a talk on the evolution of branding by Greg Kihlström, author of "The Agile Brand," and a panel discussion with local experts Geoff Livingston of Livingston Campaigns, Lisa Nirell of EnergizeGrowth, and Scott Williams of the Newseum.

More Evening Events

Afternoon Maker Program Highlights

See all Maker Programs at The Alcove on the Library calendar.

Family Storytimes

See all of The Alcove in Rosslyn events presented by the Library on the Library calendar.

About The Alcove

The Alcove will also offer a storefront retail space, including a nonprofit used book store, open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday - Sunday.

The Alcove is located at 1800 N. Lynn St., at the corner of 19th Street and N. Moore Street. The entrance is on N. Moore Street next to Nando's Peri-Peri.

Learn more on the Rosslyn BID website.

 

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Win a Book Wednesday: “The Lost Queen”

Win a Copy of "The Lost Queen" by Signe Pike

photo of "The Lost Queen"

About "The Lost Queen"

"History and legend combine in this sweeping epic. In 6th century Scotland, Angles are ruthlessly attacking from the South, fought off by Emrys Pendragon and his warriors. Religious tension and violence is growing between the Old Ways and Christianity. The daughter of a king, Languoreth must marry for political alliance nd power. She hopes to use her position to save the Old Ways and her people, but doing so comes at great personal cost.

First in a trilogy full of action, romance, and political intrigue, Pike sheds new light on a powerful queen lost to history and her twin brother—a man who would become known as Myrddin."

Reviewed for you here by librarian Jennie R. Publication date is set as September 4, 2018.

Want to Win this Book?

  • Leave a comment below on Wednesday, August 8, and share the name of your favorite book about hidden identities?
  • Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook OR Twitter will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
  • The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday, August 9.
  • The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.

Win a Book Wednesdays takes place twice a month. Prize books are Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."

ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.

 

Changes to our Digital Collections

Arlington Public Library will not renew its digital subscriptions for Standard & Poor’s Capital IQ Netadvantage and the hoopla streaming service.

  • The last day to access Netadvantage will be July 23.
  • The last day to access hoopla will be August 31.

Arlington Public Library’s collection budget is down 17 percent in FY 2019, the result of the loss of $250,000 in one-time funds. Given fewer resources, the explosion of new digital formats, and rising costs of all of the collections, the Library will make further decisions throughout the coming year regarding what to reduce or eliminate entirely.

In making these decisions, the Library is considering patron feedback and evaluating usage, cost, and overlap among collections.

“Cutting these online services was not an easy decision. As the recent survey demonstrated, all of our collections are used and valued by members of our community,” says Diane Kresh, Director of Arlington Public Library.

What other options are available to you?

In the absence of Netadvantage, the Library still provides access to Morningstar and ValueLine, similar resources that provide information for investments, corporate financials and industry trends.

With the loss of hoopla, the Library will no longer offer a streaming music collection. This is a regrettable loss to our collection. However, for our eAudiobook listeners we do still offer downloadable audiobooks through Overdrive and RBdigital.

If you have questions about using our online resources, please visit our FAQ page, or inquire at the reference desk at any of our branches.

If you would like to leave feedback about these changes, please use this feedback form.

 

 

 

Win a Book Wednesday: “Bellewether”

Win a Copy of "Bellewether" by Susanna Kearsley

photo of Advance Reader Copy of "Bellewether"

About "Bellewether"

"Bellewether is a perfect blend of historical and modern, of romance and intrigue, and just the right touch of magical realism. Susannah Kearsley’s lyrical and elegant writing will pull you into the world of Millbank, Long Island.

The story alternates between the modern-day curator who is working to piece together the history of the Wilde Family and with Lydia Wilde whose family is forced to house two French Officers during the Seven Years’ War.

Overtime Lydia’s hate turns to love but with war waging and wounds that cannot be healed, the future is uncertain."

Reviewed for you here by librarian Jennie R. Publication date is set as August 7, 2018.

Want to Win this Book?

  • Leave a comment below on Wednesday, August 8, and share the name of your favorite book about hidden identities?
  • Everyone who leaves a comment here, on Facebook OR Twitter will be entered into a random drawing (Library employees are not eligible). Please only enter in one place.
  • The winner will be contacted by email on Thursday, August 9.
  • The winner can pick up their prize at the Library location of their choice.

Win a Book Wednesdays takes place twice a month. Prize books are Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of books that will be added to the Library collection within the next month, and can already be found in the Library catalog as "on order."

ARCs are uncorrected proofs given to the Library for review purposes only, and are not for sale.

 

Arlington County DHS to Host “Evictions in Arlington” Forum

July 17 at the Sequoia Building

quote: America is supposd to be a place where you can better yourself, your family and your community. But this is only possible of you have a stable home.

Did Matthew Desmond, author of this year's Arlington Reads book "Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City" and his exhibition at the National Building Museum get you thinking about issues of housing & economics in our community?

Join County staff and the Tenant Landlord Commission on July 17 at 6:30 p.m. for a community forum on evictions in Arlington County.

This event will take place at the Sequoia Building, located at 2100 Washington Blvd. You can learn more about the event and the panel members on the County calendar.

Matthew Desmond featured image

Thank You For Participating in the Library Collections Survey

We received 14,504 responses and over 5,000 written comments, a rate of response that absolutely floored us.

We are reading all of the comments, and will publish the complete survey results and findings this fall.

Here’s what we can tell you now:

Will print materials (books) be cut?

No. Arlington Public Library is committed to providing popular collections (bestselling books, DVDs, children’s books) and maintaining the lowest possible wait times. This survey asked about collections that have different usage patterns and cost structures than physical items such as books.

Is the budget cut now in effect?

Yes. As of July 1, 2018, the County is in the FY 2019 budget year. The Library collections budget has been reduced by 17 percent, or $250,000. Decisions on how to absorb this reduction will be made throughout the coming year and we will continue to keep you informed.

How will the Library make decisions about what materials to cut?

The survey will help inform our decisions but it is not the sole factor. We will also look at usage, cost, and what overlap exists among collections. Again, please stay tuned for more information.

 

Thank you for your ongoing support of Arlington Public Library. It’s you who make us who we are.

Diane

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