First, a story...
Chrysalis, one of our youth services librarians, shared this story with me:
"A few weeks ago, I was chatting with a mom and daughter before storytime who have attended regularly for a couple years now. She mentioned that her child loves playing librarian with their bookshelf at home, taking the books down to read, then putting them all back on the shelf.
Her daughter doesn’t quite understand what a librarian is yet, but she knows it has something to do with books. One day, she had pulled off all of her books to read and as she went to put them away, she looked at the pile of books and said:
'I am a librarian, and there is much work to be done.'"
Indeed.
2024 was a year that both ran too long yet not long enough. Let me explain. Too long to witness the tragedies and heartbreak encircling the globe. Not long enough to do all the things we librarians strive to do each day—inform, preserve, protect—to hold the people of our communities in shared humanity, focusing on unity.
Typically, this Director’s Message recaps our previous year.
Here goes:
The books I read: debut authors (Essie Chambers) and old masters (Charles Dickens, Jean Stafford). Favorites included Louise Erdrich and Kate Atkinson and prize winners such as “James” by Percival Everett and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey, as well as “Held” by Anne Michaels.
There were writers whose every word I hung on, Claire Keegan as an example. New York Times list toppers (Elena Ferrante), and surprises such as “The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir” by Jennifer Ryan. Books about books: “The Reading List” by Sara Nisha Adams. And romance novels by Casey McQuiston and Dolly Alderton in anticipation of “Share the Love,” the 2025 Arlington Reads theme—a celebration of love in all of its manifestations and a chance to get beyond ourselves and into the hearts and minds of others.
My full reading list appears on Goodreads. In the new year, I am switching to StoryGraph to join a new community of book lovers. I hope many of you will connect with me there. If you struggle with finding either the time or the inclination to read, check out this piece from Axios. Lots of tips to spark one’s inner reader.
The 2024 Arlington Reads homage to James Baldwin underscored what a towering presence he remains in American literature. Likewise, our celebration of Afrofuturism introduced us to groundbreaking storytelling.
The Human Library and the Holiday Gift Nook returned—strong reminders Arlington residents are full to bursting with empathy and generosity. Thank you to all who participated.
The Shed, The Shop, our bookstores and gardens, GameFest and the creative Instagram reels, kept us nourished, curious, entertained and connected. Thank you to our talented library staff and volunteers.
The library’s patrons showed up. Our annual circulation broke records: eCirculation grew by more than 40% and many thousands of Arlingtonians attended more than 3,500 programs. Our patrons expressed good wishes in letters, emails and in person, further grounding our commitments to social justice, compassion and fairness.
The Library’s goals for 2025 remain the same. To hear and respond to those whose voices we have occasionally tuned out. To see those who live on the margins. To do our best each day for ourselves and for each other.
From the staff and volunteers of Arlington Public Library and the members of the Friends of the Arlington Public Library, we wish you all the best for 2025! There is much work to be done.
Diane Kresh
Director, Arlington Public Library
