Alert

Service Update: Hold Wait Times More Info

Alert

Central Library Now Open for Holds Pickup More Info

Arlington Public Library

News

Service Update: Hold Wait Times

In July, patrons placed over 50,00 items on hold for pickup. Due to the increased demand for holds and in order to provide a safe, contact-less holds-pickup service, patrons will experience longer than usual wait times for holds to come ready.

Librarian 1

How do you know when your hold is ready?

  • You will receive a holds pick-up notice by email or text.
  • You can also track the status of your holds in your library account online or in the Library App.

How long should you expect to wait for your holds to come ready?

  • Wait times for items showing in the catalog as “available” will vary but may take several weeks to fulfill.
  • Wait times for items with waiting lists are longer than usual as returned items must be quarantined for 72 hours.

What can you do to help?

  • Pick up your holds as soon as you are able, to help make room on the shelves for new holds.
  • Freeze or cancel any holds you are not interested in receiving before they come ready.

We are continually evaluating workflows to improve hold wait times. Thank you for your patience and support as we work to keep Arlington reading!

Arlington Public Library

The Early History of Arlington’s Libraries

Arlington’s Libraries have been a mainstay of the county landscape for generations – but how did the library system as we know it come to be?

Construction signage for Arlington’s Central Library, February 1960.

Before the year 1936, Arlington County had been served by five independent libraries: Glencarlyn, Cherrydale, Clarendon, Aurora Hills, and Arlington/Columbia Pike. These were volunteer-led efforts run independently rather than as a unilateral system, and that individually received limited financial support from the County. These locations were largely established and managed by women members of the Arlington community.

In 1936 however, the Public Library system changed forever. A group of citizens and representatives from those five libraries joined together to form a collective Countywide system and to appeal for increased County financial support. Four delegates from each branch as well as four delegates at large met to discuss the possibility of a cohesive, singular library system and what that would entail.

Articles from the Northern Virginia Sun describing the early efforts of Eleanor Leonard and the Arlington County Library Association. From September 17, 1937 (L), and November 11, 1937 (R).

A year later, in 1937, the newly formed Arlington County Library Association began work to establish Arlington’s first library system. In its early days, the Association completed a survey of the County’s libraries, population and resources to help guide their planning process. The group also conducted an “educate-your-county-officials” campaign, and eventually won their support. The County Manager at the time, Frank Hanrahan, agreed to their proposal under the condition that the proposed branches would need to meet ALA standards.

The group also voted unanimously to hire a professional librarian to oversee the formation of the library system. The County government later designated $3,500 to the libraries', $3,000 of which was for operational costs and $500 to pay the salary of the hired librarian.

The Aurora Hills branch of the Arlington Public Library, July 1969.

In July of 1937, Eleanor Leonard was hired for the librarian position. Among her efforts to standardize and streamline the library system, she discarded damaged material, cataloged the library’s holdings, and trained volunteers in all aspects of library work. By the fall of 1939, the five libraries had been standardized, while the daily work of running the libraries continued to be done by volunteers. By July 1938, 11,328 books had been reclassified and cataloged according to American Library Association standards.

Architectural plans for the Columbia Pike Library, date unknown.

About a decade later, in 1949, eight branches were in operation, among them: Aurora Hills, Cherrydale, Clarendon, Columbia Pike, Glen Carlyn, Holmes, Shirlington (formerly Fairlington), and Westover branches.

The Holmes branch closed in 1949, and the Clarendon location became the Central Library, while the rest of the branches continue to stand where they are today, ready to serve their respective local communities again once the pandemic is over.

Cherrydale Library opening celebration, 1961.

Front side of the Cherrydale Library at 4006 Lee Highway, where it operated from 1946-1961.

This post is a condensed version of the “Libraries” section of the Library’s Women’s Work project, featuring materials from RG 29: Arlington County Public Library Department Records.

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? 

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Picture Perfect! Arlington’s Summer Reading Challenges

Summer Reading Has Never Looked So Good

When you love a book, you might dress like your favorite characters, suggest it to your friends (furry, robot and otherwise...) and even cook it for dinner!

These photos were submitted by Arlington readers in response to this year's Summer Reading Bonus Challenge, to celebrate the fun of reading!

All dressed up for "Kiki's Delivery Service"
Emily Lu, "Reading is Transformative" - All dressed up for "Kiki's Delivery Service"
My years-old cactus is lately becoming friends with a recent household addition, some red clover. Together they are sharing in The Magic of Reality by Dawkins.
Becca Bowman, "Reading Is For Everyone" - My years-old cactus is lately becoming friends with a recent household addition, some red clover. Together they are sharing in The Magic of Reality by Dawkins.
Even robots enjoy summer reading!
Jennifer Hart, "Reading Is for Everyone" - Even robots enjoy summer reading!
My favorite character is Celia Bowen from "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.
Brit Austin, "Reading Is Transformative" - My favorite character is Celia Bowen from "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern.

Each Bonus Challenge submission earns you a raffle ticket in Summer Reading! Monday, August 3 is the last day to begin reading to complete the main Summer Reading Challenge, but you can still participate in Summer Reading up until September 1.

This is a Full English Breakfast that Mrs. Hudson might have served to her boarders, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson -- except that they often skipped breakfast, hot on the trail of criminals!
Jennifer Hart, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - This is a Full English Breakfast that Mrs. Hudson might have served to her boarders, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson -- except that they often skipped breakfast, hot on the trail of criminals!
Pippin, taking a break from studying his dog tricks.
Brittany Ham, "Reading is For Everyone" -Pippin, taking a break from studying his dog tricks.
My bear thinks I keep the house too cold, so he wraps up in a hat and scarf while he listens to The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on CD.
Carol Smith, "Reading Is For Everyone"- My bear thinks I keep the house too cold, so he wraps up in a hat and scarf while he listens to The Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban on CD.
Claire Fraser from the Outlander series. Wearing "the red dress" from book 2, "Dragonfly in Amber."
Amanda Starbuck, "Reading Is Transformative" - Claire Fraser from the Outlander series. Wearing "the red dress" from book 2, "Dragonfly in Amber."

Get inspired by these photos of Arlington community and Library staff Bonus Challenge submissions!

I photographed myself reading on a swing.
Chloe Iverson, "Reading Happens Everywhere" - I photographed myself reading on a swing.
A cake in honor of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Dion Dorsey, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - A cake in honor of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
I let my plants start reading and now they're getting ideas.
Karen Bishop, "Reading Is for Everyone" - I let my plants start reading and now they're getting ideas.
Reading laying on the floor of my bedroom with my head on a hamburger pillow.
Ethan Shinn, "Reading Happens Everywhere" - Reading laying on the floor of my bedroom with my head on a hamburger pillow.
Dressed as a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player reading a book about Baseball Superstars.
Ethan Shinn, "Reading is Transformative" - Dressed as a Los Angeles Dodgers baseball player reading a book about Baseball Superstars.
Here I am as a female version of Lockwood from the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud.
Hannah Axt, "Reading is Transformative" - Here I am as a female version of Lockwood from the Lockwood & Co. series by Jonathan Stroud.
The Flopsy Bunnies
Hillary Sheldon, "Reading is for Everyone" - The Flopsy Bunnies
On a bridge
Hillary Sheldon, Reading Happens Everywhere" - On a bridge
Babar!
Hillary Sheldon, "Reading is Transformative" - Babar!
[11:59 AM] Megan Wianecki William reads his new favorite book, "This Is a Dog" by Ross Collins. Nissa is not impressed.
Megan Wianecki, "Reading Is For Everyone" - William reads his new favorite book, "This Is a Dog" by Ross Collins. Nissa is not impressed.
A plug for the library's audiobooks! Last night I finished Pete Buttigieg's "Shortest Way Home" while social distanced walking by the Pentagon.
Brian Nilsson, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - A plug for the library's audiobooks! Last night I finished Pete Buttigieg's "Shortest Way Home" while social distanced walking by the Pentagon.
Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall/Thomas Cromwell trilogy...I read the final "The Mirror and the Light" then started rereading the first two.
Joan Winston, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall/Thomas Cromwell trilogy...I read the final "The Mirror and the Light" then started rereading the first two.
A family gathering
Kathryn Dominguez, "Reading Is for Everyone" - A family gathering
This photo is of my cat, Jelly Bean Jones, posing with two books I checked out from the library before the pandemic.
Krista O'Connell, "Reading is for Everyone" - This photo is of my cat, Jelly Bean Jones, posing with two books I checked out from the library before the pandemic.
The "How to Train Your Dragon" books are SUPER AWESOME. I wish this series would never end!
Lindy Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" - The "How to Train Your Dragon" books are SUPER AWESOME. I wish this series would never end!
Dragons love tacos!
Maddox Cory, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Dragons love tacos!
Inspired by "Brooklyn," and Eilis learning to eat with Tony's family, we crafted Italian foods, including homemade pizza and Zoodles. The dough we made ourselves, from yeast we cultivate. Bon appetit!
Maura Danehey, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Inspired by "Brooklyn," and Eilis learning to eat with Tony's family, we crafted Italian foods, including homemade pizza and Zoodles. The dough we made ourselves, from yeast we cultivate. Bon appetit!
Dragons love tacos!
McKensie Cory, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - Dragons love tacos!
I really like Garfield because it is funny!
Porter Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" - I really like Garfield because it is funny!
I've been eating so many tomato sandwiches lately. I feel like Harriet the Spy.
ILiz Laribee, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - 've been eating so many tomato sandwiches lately. I feel like Harriet the Spy.
I recently finished The Bookshop of Yesterday and loved it! What I thought was going to be an easy fun read, was such a fantastic journey and storytelling. I posted this to my bookstagram to share.
Samantha Avnet, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - I recently finished The Bookshop of Yesterday and loved it! What I thought was going to be an easy fun read, was such a fantastic journey and storytelling. I posted this to my bookstagram to share.
Here is a picture of my puppy Toby reading the book "Where the Red Fern Grows".
Sylvia Witt, "Reading Is for Everyone" - Here is a picture of my puppy Toby reading the book "Where the Red Fern Grows".
It's me, a young woman, reclined in a window seat reading "So you want to talk about race" by Ijeoma Oluo
Tabitha Ricketts, "Reading Gets Us Through (Pandemic Picks)" - It's me, a young woman, reclined in a window seat reading "So you want to talk about race" by Ijeoma Oluo
I love reading graphic novels!
Tyler Friedl, "Pandemic Picks" -I love reading graphic novels!
In Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault, many freedom rides were sent from Nashville by Diane Nash at Fisk University. These Nashville freedom riders inspired a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich
William Hornbeck, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - In Freedom Riders by Raymond Arsenault, many freedom rides were sent from Nashville by Diane Nash at Fisk University. These Nashville freedom riders inspired a Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich
I made this jello brain to go along with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! I like the first sentence of the book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
Hannah Axt, "Reading Feeds the Soul" - I made this jello brain to go along with Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! I like the first sentence of the book: "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
Here is Toasted Coconut reading Book 3 of "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" and gleaning new ideas for his nefarious plot to take over the world.
Emily Lu, "Reading is for Everyone" - Here is Toasted Coconut reading Book 3 of "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" and gleaning new ideas for his nefarious plot to take over the world.

Celebrating Dark Star Park

One of the reflecting pools at Dark Star Park. Image courtesy of Camryn Bell.

Embedded between the office buildings, businesses, and roadways of Rosslyn is a unique piece of public art - Dark Star Park. Each summer, at approximately 9:30 a.m. on August 1, morning light strikes the group of large spheres that make up the sculpture to create an eclipse-like effect, which lasts - much like a real eclipse - only for a few minutes.

How did this unusual public sculpture come to be?

View from one of the tunnels at Dark Star Park. Image courtesy of Camryn Bell.

Dark Star Park 35th Anniversary Celebration – this Arlington TV feature showcases the August 1st, 2019, alignment of light and shadow at the park, and is accompanied by an original score from local artists Janel and Anthony.

Built in 1984, Dark Star Park is the entry to the Rosslyn neighborhood, at a triangle formed by the intersection of North Fort Myer Drive, North Lynn Street, and N. Meade Street. It was constructed on the site of a former gas station, occupies 0.4 acres of land, and was designed to commemorate the anniversary of the purchase of the land by William Henry Ross, which would later become Rosslyn (Ross served as the neighborhood's namesake).

Aerial view of Dark Star Park. Image courtesy of Arlington County.

Artist Nancy Holt (1938-2014), who was chosen to helm the project in 1979, was somewhat apprehensive about the project upon entering Rosslyn, in part because the site was a vacant lot overrun with trash. In a 1988 documentary on the park, she said, “I was overwhelmed with how cold and distant a place Rosslyn was … It’s a concrete network here with very little thought about human beings, human scale, human maneuverability.”

Nancy Holt designing Dark Star Park. Image courtesy of the Holt/Smithson Foundation via DCist.

Dark Star Park combines elements of landscape architecture, sculpture, and astronomy. The piece is comprised of five gunite (air-placed concrete) spheres resembling fallen, extinguished stars, as well as two pools, four steel poles, and two tunnels.

Dark Star Park was commissioned by Arlington County during a transitional time in Rosslyn -  the Metro had recently arrived in Arlington, and development was still on the rise. The County funded the project with $200,000 from public and private sources, as well as a National Endowment for the Arts grant. (DCist, July 30, 2019)

Some of the gunite spheres and steel poles at Dark Star Park. Image courtesy of Camryn Bell.

Holt oversaw every aspect of the park’s design and development, and also served as a contractor on the project. She was a preeminent member of the land art movement, which rose to recognition in the 1970s. While practitioners of this style mainly concentrated in open natural spaces – places that could easily accommodate the monumental scale of the works associated with the movement – Holt’s work in Dark Star Park was unique due to its urban setting. In terms of her design approach, Holt said,

“I feel that the need to look at the sky—at the moon and the stars—is very basic, and it is inside all of us. So when I say my work is an exteriorization of my own inner reality, I mean I am giving back to people through art what they already have in them.”

Some of Holt’s other pieces were located in much larger environments than Dark Star Park. "Sun Tunnels," 1973-1976, is located in the Great Basin Desert of Utah. Image courtesy of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts.

The creation of Dark Star Park marked a significant first for the Arlington area: it was the first work of public art produced by the County. This was prior to the establishment of the County’s formal public art program that was inaugurated with the adoption of a Public Art Policy – nearly 16 years after the creation of Dark Star Park.

In the decades since, Arlington’s public art program has become a robust part of the County landscape.

Dark Star Park itself is also one of the first national examples of “integrated public art,” meaning that the art in the public site is inseparable from its setting and is a total environment to be experienced holistically.

Excerpt from December 9, 1993, article by Mary McCoy on public art in Arlington and Dark Star Park. From the Washington Post.

Holt planned the design of Dark Star Park using miniature clay models. She worked with astrophysicists to determine placement of the spheres and poles to align with the light at exactly 9:32 a.m. on the August 1 anniversary – a time of day chosen simply because Holt enjoyed the way the light hit at that moment. The need for exactness in alignment was in part why the park underwent a renovation in 2002, allowing Holt to reorient the spheres that had shifted over the years due to the changes in the Earth’s axis.

One common mistake about Dark Star Park Day is that the August 1 alignment is meant to celebrate the birthday of Grateful Dead lead guitarist Jerry Garcia. This assumption is compounded by the coincidence of the band’s song titled “Dark Star.”

NewsMakers: Dark Star Park – an Arlington TV feature on Dark Star Park from 2009, including a speech from Nancy Holt.

Learn more:

The documentary Troublemakers – available at the Library – discusses the history of the land art movement and features Nancy Holt.

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.

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The Library Report: Week 5 Update

You’ve been busy since our last report! Since June 15, over 56,000 print books and other library materials have been checked out or renewed, over 67,000 physical holds have been placed, and 163,000 items have been returned at all seven Library locations.

Five Things to Make Your Holds Pickup Easier

  • It’s hot out there! We’ve added a 4th service station to make the line move faster and shade tents to help protect you while you wait in line.
  • Hold status - We fixed a glitch in our system that showed some holds were available before they reached the shelf. Now, you can pick up your holds as soon as you see that they’re ready.
  • Make it fast - Bring your library card (or the card of the person you’re picking up for) to receive speedy service. No card? Use the digital library card in your Library App.
  • Control your holds - If you’re going out of town or don’t want to receive a book at this time, don’t forget to freeze your holds.
  • Arlington Wireless - Use the free Wi-Fi while waiting in line for your hold.
10 book covers

We're Constantly Impressed By How Much Arlington Loves To Read!

The ten most popular holds placed in the last 30 days are:

  1. “Too Much and Never Enough” by Mary L. Trump
  2. “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi
  3. “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett
  4. "The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir" by John Bolton
  5. "Make Russia Great Again" by Christopher Buckley
  6. "Sex and Vanity" by Kevin Kwan
  7. "White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo
  8. "The Guest List" by Lucy Foley
  9. "Friends and Strangers" by Courtney J. Sullivan
  10. "The Splendid and the Vile" by Erik Larson
Browse Popular and Available Titles

Fun in the Sun: Summers of Arlington’s Past

Arlington may not come to mind when you think of a beachy oasis, but in the 1920s, we had one of the region’s premier beaches right here.

The Arlington Beach and Amusement Park opened on May 30, 1923, on the Potomac River in the area near the Fourteenth Street Bridge (then known as Long Bridge). For nearly a decade, this was a go-to spot on a hot Arlington day.

Arlington Beach, circa 1925. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The beach was an immensely popular Arlington spot, with crowds of up to 12,000 during the most sweltering days, according to Arlington Magazine. The location featured both a sandy beach on the shores of the Potomac as well as bathhouses and the accompaniments of a full-scale amusement park: a merry-go-round, Ferris wheel, aerial swings, a rollercoaster called “The Whip,” and a ride called “The Dodgem.” Swimmers could use the beach’s diving board and swim at night under searchlights.

Dance pavilion, Arlington Beach. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The park’s dance pavilion was also one of its major draws in its opening season, providing a spot for people of all ages to spend summer evenings – the Washington Jazz Orchestra even performed here. In line with the rising car culture of the early 20th century, the park also advertised extensive parking facilities – important to draw customers from all around the region.

It’s notable that as popular as the Arlington Beach was, it was among the many segregated recreational areas in the County. Even though it was located near predominantly African American neighborhoods, including East Arlington and Queen City, the beach and amusement park were segregated for the duration of their existence.

Beachgoers at Arlington Beach, June 16, 1923. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

According to a research project on segregation in Arlington conducted by Lindsey Bestebreurtje at George Mason University: “County resident James ‘Jimmy’ Taylor recalled that Black children swam ‘in a creek on Route 50 called Blue Man Junction.’” African American Arlingtonians were also not permitted to use public pools, and the county’s first pool to allow African American children wouldn’t open up until the 1960s.

Interview with Ruth Jones

In a 1999 oral history interview with Ingrid Kauffman, Ruth Jones described going to the beach as a teenager. Born in March of 1913, Ruth began to visit Arlington Beach around 1927. Oral histories are used to understand historical events, actors, and movements from the point of view of real people’s personal experiences.

Narrator:  Ruth Jones
Interviewer: Ingrid Kauffman
Date: March 23, 1999

Ingrid Kaufman: And so can you tell us about Arlington Beach?

Ruth Jones: Well, I was just a young girl, 14 or 15 years old and I met my husband, well, he eventually was my husband.

IK: What was his name?

RJ: Raymond Jones. And he lived in Washington. And we started going to Glen Echo and to Arlington Beach and just having a good time for kids, you know. And so they had a roller coaster, a carousel.

IK: How much did that roller coaster cost?

RJ: Ten cents. A ride at your own risk. That’s the truth, too. It was rickety. After I came to Washington, it was only there for 2 years, 2 or 3 years, then they tore it down.

IK: They tore down the roller coaster?

RJ: Everything. And shut the beach down and all, to put the airport there.

Along the waterfront, Arlington Beach, circa 1925. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

As Jones describes, the location was eventually compromised by the construction of the nearby Hoover Airport. The traffic at the airfield grew to include both passenger and mail air service, which provided disruptive to the festivities of the beachgoers and park attendees. The Hoover airfield was also notoriously dangerous – and the aviation industry notoriously unregulated at this point – so the proximity of the beach and park also became a safety issue.

Girls from Keith’s [vaudeville circuit] at Arlington Beach, April 29, 1925. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

In 1929, the Washington Air Corporation bought the beach property in order to expand the Washington Airport, which later merged with the Hoover Airport as the Washington-Hoover Airport. However, with the construction of the Washington National Airport (now Ronald Reagan), the Washington-Hoover Airport closed. The former beach grounds were then purchased by the U.S. Department of War and became part of the Pentagon.

Amusement park, Arlington Beach. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Rides at Arlington Beach. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

This article was expanded from previous articles on Arlington Beach from 2008 and 2017.

Do you have a question about this story, or a personal experience to share? 

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Quaranzine: Issue 10

July 20: Nostalgia, Setting In

Quaranzine is a weekly collection of creative works from the Arlington community that documents how we responded to this strange time we find ourselves in. Submit your own work.

Modified photo
Diane Kresh, "Things I miss #4792" - Modified photo
Bolton
Alexandra Bowman, "Bolton"
A poem written during a sleepless night
Amy Sherman, "I Hope We Learn" - A poem written during a sleepless night
While trying to come up with a different way to say "Wash Your Hands", the Addams Family came to mind. Snap snap.
Brit Austin, "Wash Your Thing" - While trying to come up with a different way to say "Wash Your Hands", the Addams Family came to mind. Snap snap.
One of the things my wife and I miss from pre-Covid times is going to the movies. Last weekend we went to the drive-in theater to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and my wife coordinated her mask and t-shirt to the movie.
Christopher Sweetapple, "At the Drive-In" - One of the things my wife and I miss from pre-Covid times is going to the movies. Last weekend we went to the drive-in theater to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, and my wife coordinated her mask and t-shirt to the movie.
Before, during and after 3,201,878 Coronavirus cases in the U.S. and 134,976 deaths, Americans looked to their government for a national coordinated response to threats to our nation.
David Dastnly, "Looking For Leadership " - Before, during and after 3,201,878 Coronavirus cases in the U.S. and 134,976 deaths, Americans looked to their government for a national coordinated response to threats to our nation.
Sharpie and watercolor on a paper napkin, unfolded.
Liz Laribee, "I Miss What Summer Used to Feel Like" - Sharpie and watercolor on a paper napkin, unfolded.
A meditation on the meaning we impart to nature.
Edgar Evans, "Winter" - A meditation on the meaning we impart to nature.
A cry, as of the pained heart. The long, despairing moan of solitude. Darkness. Cold. Death and sickness everywhere...tears...pain. Where am I? Is this my world? My life to be? Why am I cold? Am I crying? Yes! (mixed media on wood: acrylic and metallic paint, collaged paper, sharpie pen, colored pencil, stamps 18" X 18" jenniferbeinhacker.com art outside the edge)
Jennifer Beinhacker, "I Cry for the Lost Souls in this Time of the Covid-19 World Wide Pandemic" - A cry, as of the pained heart. The long, despairing moan of solitude. Darkness. Cold. Death and sickness everywhere...tears...pain. Where am I? Is this my world? My life to be? Why am I cold? Am I crying? Yes! (mixed media on wood: acrylic and metallic paint, collaged paper, sharpie pen, colored pencil, stamps 18" X 18" jenniferbeinhacker.com art outside the edge)
This time of isolation has forced many of us to confront our feelings, and our conditions during this strange time. While many of the emotions and situations are negative, there are positive elements interspersed. I have tried to examine this in this mosaic. The negatives are in black and white, but the others are brighter and more complex in their depiction. The opalescent glass represents the complex and beautiful matter of our brains.
Maria Frescas, "The View Inside" - This time of isolation has forced many of us to confront our feelings, and our conditions during this strange time. While many of the emotions and situations are negative, there are positive elements interspersed. I have tried to examine this in this mosaic. The negatives are in black and white, but the others are brighter and more complex in their depiction. The opalescent glass represents the complex and beautiful matter of our brains.
Shutter speed 1/500th-of-a-second would be fast enough to stop motion of a bee's wings, right? Apparently not.
Mark Charette, "Bees Wings How Fast?" - Shutter speed 1/500th-of-a-second would be fast enough to stop motion of a bee's wings, right? Apparently not.
A couple weeks after we began staying at home, I realized that I was recycling something that would make an interesting art piece - the cast off part of a scarce resource during the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, I have been collaging with scraps from my desk on every toilet paper roll we have used. The title reflects the idea of having enough in this time when many do not and has me thinking about what I can do to be a better member of our community. I also miss going to museums and galleries to see art in person, so I installed the rolls with fishing line and painter's tape from the ceiling above my workspace in my studio. It is almost like a personal mini exhibition every time I sit down to work.
Molly McCracken, "Flush" - A couple weeks after we began staying at home, I realized that I was recycling something that would make an interesting art piece - the cast off part of a scarce resource during the beginning of the pandemic. Since then, I have been collaging with scraps from my desk on every toilet paper roll we have used. The title reflects the idea of having enough in this time when many do not and has me thinking about what I can do to be a better member of our community. I also miss going to museums and galleries to see art in person, so I installed the rolls with fishing line and painter's tape from the ceiling above my workspace in my studio. It is almost like a personal mini exhibition every time I sit down to work.
I like to take inspiration from both the Jane Fonda that hung out with the Black Panthers, and the Jane Fonda that wore tiny leotards and told you to feel the burn. I think an updated Jane Fonda workout would include aerobics, core, anti-racist readings, and cardio in the form of marching on the streets. Thinking of activism as a workout, something you do continuously rather than it being a one-and-done thing, would definitely be Fonda-approved.
Nico Felsenheld, "Are You Ready to Do the Workout?" - I like to take inspiration from both the Jane Fonda that hung out with the Black Panthers, and the Jane Fonda that wore tiny leotards and told you to feel the burn. I think an updated Jane Fonda workout would include aerobics, core, anti-racist readings, and cardio in the form of marching on the streets. Thinking of activism as a workout, something you do continuously rather than it being a one-and-done thing, would definitely be Fonda-approved.
During the pandemic, I've been inspired to paint - something I haven't done in years.
Sarah Roberts, "Possibilities" - During the pandemic, I've been inspired to paint - something I haven't done in years.
These pictures are from a socially-distanced water balloon fight with friends who are moving out of state.
Sheela Ahluwalia, "Goodbye Battle" - These pictures are from a socially-distanced water balloon fight with friends who are moving out of state.
My Monday a.m. class now meets only on Zoom, where we get together and show our work. But, more importantly, we see familiar faces.
Winifred Scheffler, "My Shrinking World" - My Monday a.m. class now meets only on Zoom, where we get together and show our work. But, more importantly, we see familiar faces.
Submit to Quaranzine

The next deadline for submissions to Quaranzine is Thursday, July 23.

This Week in 19th Amendment History: Ida B. Wells

July 16, 1862: Ida B. Wells is Born

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment with stories about the people and events that led to the passage of women’s suffrage in the United States.

Ida B. Wells was an investigative journalist, activist, and suffragist who led an anti-lynching crusade in the United States in the 1890s. She was also one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Portrait of Ida B. Wells, circa 1893. Image courtesy of the National Park Service.

Early Life

Ida B. Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, to James and Lizzie Wells. Following the conclusion of the Civil War, Wells’ parents became politically active as the country navigated Reconstruction. Ida's father, James, was a member of the Freedmen’s Aid Society, as well as one of the founders of Rust College in Holly Springs – one of 10 historically Black universities founded before 1868 that is still operating today. Encouraged to pursue her education, Ida later enrolled at Rust College but was ousted from her studies after a dispute with the university’s president.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

At only age 16, she lost both of her parents and her infant brother to a yellow fever epidemic that had decimated Holly Springs. Left with custody of her other siblings, Wells was able to convince a school administrator that she was 18, and began teaching to support her family. In 1882, she moved with her siblings to Memphis to live with an aunt, and there she continued to work as a teacher. She began classes at Fisk University in Nashville, where she would commute to by train. On one of these trips in May 1884, Wells – who had purchased a first-class ticket – was forced to move to a segregated car for African American passengers. Wells refused to move and was forced off of the train. Wells went on to sue the railroad and won a settlement in court.

Inspired by this incident, Wells pivoted her career toward writing about the topics of race and politics. Under the pseudonym “Iola,” Wells’ work was published in a number of Black-owned newspapers and periodicals. She also went on to hold shares of two newspapers: The Free Speech and Headlight, and Free Speech. All the while, she continued teaching in the segregated Memphis school system, of which she was also a vocal critic. Due to her vocal stance against segregation in the city and in the schools, as well as her criticism of the condition of schools, she was fired from her position.

People's Grocery Lynchings

In 1892, Wells’ journalistic focus took a turn. After the murder of a friend and two of his business associates at the hands of a lynch mob in Memphis, Wells began reporting on the epidemic of lynching in the South.

The three men, Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Will Stewart, had owned a storefront called People’s Grocery that was successfully competing with white businesses in the city. They were attacked and fought back, then were arrested, and subsequently dragged from jail by a white mob and lynched. This prompted Wells, who was also a godmother to Moss’ daughter, to write articles against lynching, and she frequently risked her own life to travel and learn more about killings that occurred in the region.

In 1898, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to present her anti-lynching campaign to then-president William McKinley.

A marker at the site of the 1892 People’s Grocery lynching. Image courtesy of the Lynching Sites Project, Memphis.

Wells faced violence herself over the course of her reporting – in response to one of her editorials, a white mob stormed her newspaper’s office and destroyed her property there. Wells was in New York at the time, but the incident led to her moving to Chicago, where she continued reporting on lynching for the New York Age; a newspaper helmed by T. Thomas Fortune, who had also been formerly enslaved. In 1892, she compiled her reporting on lynching into a book, titled “Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases.”

A report of the attack on Wells’ office in Memphis from the Washington Bee, June 11, 1892. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The front page of one of Wells’ books on lynching in the United States, published 1895. “A Red Record” was a follow-up to “Southern Horrors,” and included more statistics and case details. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

The Alpha Suffrage Club

In addition to her reporting work, Wells was a founding member of numerous civil rights groups including the National Association of Colored Women and the Negro Fellowship League. She also attended the founding conference of what would later become known as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Wells’ work in advancing the suffrage cause was also prolific. In January 1913, she founded the Alpha Suffrage Club in Chicago, where she also served as president. The club aimed to promote city representatives who would best serve the Black community and who favored suffrage. The Alpha Suffrage Club was crucial in Illinois passing its Equal Suffrage Act on June 25, 1913, which granted women suffrage in the state.

As a result of their efforts, Wells and other members were invited to march in the 1913 Suffrage Parade in Washington, D.C. However, at the parade, Wells and the members of her group were asked to march at the back of the procession by the white parade organizers, to which Wells refused, joining in in the midst of the action.

A profile of Ida B. Wells in Salt Lake City’s The Broad Ax, July 14, 1917. Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

Legacy

Wells died in 1931 but continued her career and life as an activist until the end of her life. In 1929 and 1930, she ran for state senator but was defeated – however, simply running as an African American was unprecedented at the time and her campaign was revolutionary in and of itself.

Wells’ legacy has long been overlooked in the scope of women’s suffrage, civil rights activism, and the progression of investigative reporting in the country. Just this year, she was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize, “For her outstanding and courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching.” She is also among those featured in the New York Times’ “Overlooked” project, which highlights individuals who previously were not given the space for an obituary. You can read their retroactive obituary for Wells on their website.

A monument has also been proposed to honor Wells in her longtime home of Chicago.

Image courtesy of the League of Women Voters Chicago.

The Library has a number of resources to learn more about Ida B. Wells, as well as some of her original works:

By Ida B. Wells:

About Ida B. Wells:

2020 marks the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Learn how Arlington County is commemorating this milestone of civil rights on the Arlington County website.

Columbia Pike Renovation Starts Early August

Full Renovation Will Create Improved 1st Floor Library

Access to the Columbia Pike Branch book drop and parking lot Wi-Fi will be unavailable during construction.

Columbia Pike, 2009

The full renovation will create a significantly improved library space for patrons on the first floor.

The Columbia Pike Library, currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is beginning a long-planned renovation project.  The first floor of the library will undergo a full renovation to include more efficient use of floor space and shelving, more small public meeting room spaces, improved lighting, and new furniture, carpet and paint.

The current second floor of the library will be converted to a classroom and multi-use space for the adjoining Arlington Career Center.  The renovated second floor space will be available to the community as a public meeting and gathering space on the evenings and weekends, in cooperation with Arlington Public Schools (APS).

What is the timeline of the construction and when will the Columbia Pike Library re-open?

  • Construction is scheduled to begin in early August and will go through late Fall 2020.
  • All library neighborhood branches are currently closed to the public due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Holds-only pickup of books and DVDs is underway at Central Library.  Following completion of construction, the County will evaluate when to reopen the Columbia Pike library based on Covid-19 conditions and health and safety guidelines in place at that time.

What are the immediate changes for residents and library patrons?

  • The book drop at Columbia Pike will close as of Friday, July 17.
  • All other book drops remain open.
  • Wi-Fi in the parking lot at Columbia Pike will no longer be available after Wednesday, July 22.

How can residents access library and expanded Wi-Fi services going forward?

  • Expanded Wi-Fi remains available in the parking lots at Central Library and Aurora Hills Library.
  • The library’s eBook and eAudiobook collection is available and has expanded offerings.
  • The status of County facilities is uncertain moving forward due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, holds-only pickup of books and DVDs is underway at Central Library.
  • The library will continue to evaluate what library services can be offered safely for patrons and staff.  Expanded offerings beyond the holds-only pickup service at Central library may be available at one or more libraries in the future.

Background

The School Board and County Board members first met with the community about this project on November 18, 2019.  For more information on the Arlington Career Center Expansion project and Arlington Public Schools use permit for this construction project, please see Item 34 from the June 13, 2020 County Board agenda and continue to follow the APS design and construction page for the Arlington Career Center Expansion updates.

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