Due to the inclement weather forecast, the author talk event with Susan Orlean has been postponed until further notice.
Next month, we look forward to seeing you at the Jacqueline Woodson Arlington Reads author event on March 14.
News
Deandra Tan: Comics
On exhibit at the Aurora Hills Branch Library, February 6 - March 31.
Artist Statement:
Deandra "Nika" Tan is a Virginia-based writer and artist who primarily leverages the medium of comics to tell her stories. Her visual art style combines elements of Japanese manga and vintage art illustrations, which she then further adapts to fit the tone of whatever project she's working on. Initial concept work is done traditionally with a pen and paper, whereupon the comic is drafted and completed on a tablet computer. Recurring themes in her stories explore the tensions between romantic and familial relationships and the desire for societal recognition.
Want to buy something you see on our walls?
Artists contribute 20% of sales made during their exhibit to the Friends of the Arlington County Public Library, to help support Library programming.
CANCELED – February 20 Author Susan Orlean in Conversation with Library Director Diane Kresh
2019 Arlington Reads Author Susan Orlean
Central Library Auditorium
Wednesday, Feb. 20, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Join us for a conversation between Library Director Diane Kresh and journalist and author Susan Orlean on her newest work, “The Library Book.”
A staff writer for The New Yorker for over twenty years and a former contributing editor at Rolling Stone and Vogue, Orlean’s previous work has inspired two successful films: “Blue Crush,” the story of young women surfing in Maui, and “Adaptation,” the metafilm directed by Spike Jonze.
All Library Locations Closed Monday, Feb. 18 for George Washington Day
In Virginia, the official state holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February is named “George Washington Day.”
The federal holiday celebrated on the same day is named “Washington’s Birthday.”
And Maryland calls it something else…
So if you live in the Metro DC area, keeping track of this holiday’s name can be confusing.
Celebrate Black History Month with these Library Events
February is Black History Month! Films, music, art and speaker events for all ages.
George Washington Day? Presidents Day? Washington’s Birthday?
The Federal Holiday Celebrated the 3rd Monday in February is "Washington's Birthday"
Edward Penfield, illustrator. Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division, cph.3g12932.
But if you live in the Metro DC area, keeping track of this holiday's name can be confusing...
- In Virginia, the official state holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February is named George Washington Day.
- In Maryland, they now celebrate the state holiday President's Day on the third Monday, but until 1996, MD celebrated Lincoln's birthday on Feb. 12 and Washington's Birthday on the third Monday of February.
- In Washington D.C., the Human Resources Department matches the federal holiday, and marks the third Monday of February as Washington's Birthday (pdf p.14).
- The United States Office of Personell Management (Federal Government) marks the third Monday of February as Washington's Birthday.
While "Lincoln's Birthday" is a separate holiday in some states, and "Presidents Day" is the name of the holiday in other states (although no one agrees on the punctuation), the term "Presidents Day" was never adopted as the name of the federal holiday.
From the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
Presidents Day: In the United States, [a holiday] (third Monday in February) popularly recognized as honouring George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The day is sometimes understood as a celebration of the birthdays and lives of all U.S. presidents.
The origin of Presidents’ Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington—commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States—was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate.
During debate on the bill, it was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents’ Day to honour the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change.
After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents’ Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers’ use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday. Presidents’ Day is usually marked by public ceremonies in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country.
"Presidents’ Day." Britannica Academic, Encyclopædia Britannica, 18 Feb. 2011. academic-eb-com.library.access.arlingtonva.us/levels/collegiate/article/Presidents-Day/389228. Accessed 12 Feb. 2018.
[Article originally posted Feb. 9, 2012. Sources checked and citations updated February 12, 2018; Feb 6, 2019]
Win a Book Wednesday: “The Bird King”
Win a Copy of "The Bird King" by G. Willow Wilson
About "The Bird King"
"From the author of "Alif the Unseen" comes a stunning novel filled with folktale, fantasy, and history. A young woman finds power and faith in order to accomplish the seemingly impossible. Fatima, a concubine in the court of Granada must brave the unknown to save her friend Hassan from the Spanish Inquisition. This is a story filled with cultures meeting – sometimes mixing, sometimes clashing – and the complications of love. For fans of Naomi Novik, S. A. Chakraborty and Helene Wecker."
Reviewed for you here by librarian Karen. Publication date is set as March 12, 2019.
Want to Win this Book?
- Leave a comment below on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and share the name of the book you're reading this week.
- 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, Feb. 7
- 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.
Central Library Upgrade: Public Computers Unavailable Feb. 4-5
On Monday, Feb. 4, and Tuesday, Feb. 5, Central Library's public computers may be unavailable for public use.
During this time, we will be installing new public computer station on the second floor.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Free AARP Tax Preparation Help at Central and Columbia Pike
For People with Low or Moderate Income
Ayuda para la Preparación de Impuestos para Personas de Bajos Recursos
How does it work?
- Walk-in or make an appointment
- Be prepared by bringing the necessary documents with you.
- Spanish speaking volunteers are available at both Library locations.
- Tax Preparation Clinics are presented in partnership with AARP and the Arlington County Department of Human Services.
All Library Locations Will Close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29
All physical items that were previously due January 29 are now due January 30.
See the Arlington County website for complete weather-related County information.
