Support Your Library

Gardener Yu-hsin Hsu Wins County Volunteer Award

The County Board will honor two volunteers on Tuesday, April 25 as the 2016 recipients of the Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award.

Yu-hsin Hsu, Library Garden Volunteer and Noreen Hannigan

Yu-hsin Hsu, Library garden volunteer, and Master Naturalist Noreen Hannigan

An ardent supporter of Arlington’s natural resources, Yu-hsin Hsu has volunteered with Long Branch Nature Center, the Arlington Central Library pollinator garden, the Natural Resources Management Unit and Arlington Regional Master Naturalists.

Yu-hsin became a volunteer in our gardens in early spring 2016. At that time, she happened to pass by the Library’s native pollinator garden, where she saw a staff member weeding. She offered to help, and has not stopped helping since – eventually taking over the care of the pollinator garden. (This garden is particularly special to Central Library staff, as it was created and nurtured by former coworker Lynn Kristianson, who died in 2015.)

Margaret Brown, Central Services Division Chief at the Library says of Yu-hsin: “She brings to the garden a spunky energy and perseverance, as well as a similar passion for educating others about the critical importance of pollinators and native plants. She is tireless in her efforts and selfless in her generosity.”

At Long Branch Nature Center, Yu-hsin has been invaluable as a Saturday animal care volunteer since fall 2013, logging about 160 hours and freeing up weekend staff to attend to visitor contact and other activities as well as directing other animal care volunteers in their tasks. In addition to animal care, Yu-hsin helps with invasive exotic plant removals and preparing for twice-yearly native plant sales at the center.

The final piece of Yu-hsin volunteering trifecta is her work with the Department of Parks and Recreation’s Natural Resources Management Unit, educating and involving children in the Remove Invasive Plants (RiP) program, volunteering at the native plant nursery, and with habitat restoration projects. She has also helped inventory County plants and animals through the annual National Geographic Bioblitz, and engages in other conservation and outreach activities through the Master Naturalist Program.

What Volunteers Do: American Girl Doll Maintenance

Keeping Dolls Healthy and Beautiful

In March 2013, Library started an innovative program to make the library (and reading) more fun and accessible to young readers.

The American Girl Lending Program has made American Girl doll kits available for 1-week checkout; each kit contains an American Girl historical doll, the associated “Meet [the doll]” book, an Arlington County historical fact sheet, a journal, and a carrying case. Young readers play with the doll while reading her book, learn about life in Arlington County during the time period covered in the book, and share the doll’s adventures by writing in her journal.

American Girl Doll Maintenance at Central Library

Dolls on hold, waiting to be picked up

Function: Take care of American Girl dolls
Current number of volunteers: 2
Hours: 1 hour/week
Special Skills: Must love dolls

The American Girl doll program has been very successful.

The number of kits has grown from 30 to 60 in less than a year, and readership of the American Girl doll books has grown in tandem; in fact, even with 60 kits, the books routinely are on hold for other readers. The program is expanding to include other activities, such as LEGO® kits and books. In addition, eight other library systems from across the country have contacted the Arlington County Library System for help in starting American Girl doll programs.

According to Anne Womack, Collection Development Librarian at Central, American Girl doll volunteers are critical to the success of this program.

The volunteers maintain the doll kits, so that each reader can receive a like-new doll. When a kit is returned, volunteers use special “American Girl doll” brushes and picks to brush out and re-style the doll’s hair. They also clean the doll’s face and hands, and inventory the kit to make sure nothing is missing or broken. Finally, they photocopy the journal entries, so that these accounts eventually can be posted to the Library’s blog. Once this work is completed, the kit is ready for its next recipient and the fun continues. Anne noted that readers and volunteers have taken such good care of the dolls, that no doll has been broken. But if one ever is, she can be admitted to the American Girl Doll Hospital for care!

Currently, there are two American Girl doll volunteers: a mother-daughter team who work one hour each week, after school. However, Anne noted that one or two more parent-child volunteer teams would be welcome! No special skills are needed, just a love of dolls!

– by volunteer Laura West and librarian Anne Womack

Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.

Meet Volunteer Ann Gray

A Long Love Story Inspires a Volunteer…

Ann Gray started volunteering as a pager at the Westover Branch Library on January 17, 2012, the second anniversary of her husband’s death.

Ann’s connection to Westover goes back to her childhood, when the library was housed in the apartments at the corner of Longfellow and Washington Boulevard, and her mother became friends with a librarian named Dorothy. Years later, Dorothy’s nephew graduated from college, and Dorothy asked Ann’s mother if Ann was still in the area… Dorothy’s nephew became Ann’s husband, and they had been together for over 45 years when he died.

What is your favorite part of volunteering?

Having access to the stacks before the lights come on and the patrons come in. The only sounds I hear are the voices of the thousands of authors.

What do you do when not volunteering?

I volunteer at Virginia Hospital Center pushing wheelchairs and pointing the way to the restrooms. Recently I’ve added the challenge of mastering the public transportation system since my decision to go car-free.

Are you a Metro DC native, or a transplant?

I consider myself a native, starting at age 6 about three blocks from where I’ve lived for the last 40 years. Walter Reed Elementary School was my grade school. I graduated from Washington-Lee HS.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Must I? [We say no.]

What is the best book you’ve read recently?

“Tapestry of Fortunes” by Elizabeth Berg.

What is the best movie you’ve seen recently?

Can’t remember when I last saw a movie in the theatre, but our public library has a massive collection of movies, any one of which is a pleasure.

Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.

Teen Volunteer Prisila Otazo

Gaining Experience and Insight

Prisila has been a Youth Services volunteer at Central Library since last spring, and is now helping staff with a special project in Materials Management. She also volunteers at local events and will soon add the hospital to her list of experiences.

She says she volunteers because she likes gaining experience, which will give her an edge when she goes to college. She also likes learning about how the Library works, because there is much more going on here than most people realize.

What’s your favorite thing about the library?

My favorite part about helping out is realizing that the few hours I come throughout the week I am able to make the job easier for someone else. It really satisfies me to know I can do something to help out the people that have constantly assisted me when needed.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

In my free time I play soccer all the time because I believe practice makes perfect, well at least close. All throughout the year I play for a rec team and when it comes to the spring I play for both my high school and my rec team. As for academics, I do anything possible to maintain a high GPA even if it means sacrificing the fun things I do during my free time. My main focus right now is school because there is nothing better than being a hard worker and seeing the results.

Are you a Metro DC native, or a transplant?

I am a proud Metro DC native!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I am not a hundred percent sure of what I want to be when I grow up but I do want to go in the medical field. Meaning, I would like to apply to medical school once I finish being an undergraduate. I have already gained experience in this field and will continue to do so, in order to increase my chances of getting in. As of right now I am not decided on a specific profession but the general idea of it really fascinates me.

What is the best book you’ve read recently?

I am currently reading “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky. I enjoy the point of view in which it’s written. I have previously seen the movie and it is really interesting to see the few differences between the two. Aside from this book I would consider “Mind Wide Open” by Steven Johnson one of the best books I’ve read because it is a book about the brain. I finished reading it a while ago. It is a book entirely about neuroscience and makes me question whether I might enjoy being a neurologist.

What is the best movie you’ve seen recently?

I would have to say the best movie I’ve seen recently is “12 Years A Slave.” This movie is definitely on my top 10 lists of movies that were amazing. This movie was very sad towards the end but I realized all that mattered was that the man got his freedom back and no one could ever take that away again. It’s definitely a movie you can’t miss out on and everyone should take the time to watch it because it’s a sad truth that occurred many years ago.

Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.

Colleen Funkhouser, Columbia Pike Volunteer

Proud to Help Provide Quality Service

Colleen started volunteering at Central Library in 2009, and switched to the Columbia Pike Branch Library after she moved to Alexandria in 2011. She volunteers on Columbia Pike’s 2nd Floor Info Desk, and occasionally in circulation processing delivery, holds or the paging list.

We asked her to tell us a little bit about herself, and why she enjoys spending her free time at the Library:

What makes you continue to volunteer?

I know the library depends on reliable volunteers to provide quality services to the public. If I have the spare time, of course I’m going to offer it to a valuable part of my community – the public library system.

That is so cool. What’s your favorite thing about the library?

I get to meet and help a wide variety of people each week. Some are regular library patrons looking for new services, while others are visiting for the first time and have no idea where to start. Either way, nearly everyone is appreciative of the services we provide and are a joy to serve.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I work for an environmental nonprofit in Northern Virginia. When I’m not sitting at my work desk or the library Information Desk, you can find me hiking, biking, or canoeing around the region.

Are you a Metro DC native, or a transplant?

I am a transplant from Pennsylvania, by way of South Carolina.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

A librarian for the National Park Service.

What is the best book you’ve read recently?

If you need a literary escape from the hustle and bustle of the Metro DC area, I highly recommend A Year in the Maine Woods by Bernd Heinrich.

What’s the best movie you’ve seen recently?

Embarrassingly, I can’t remember any recent movies.

Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.

Gil Leigh: Master of the Central Welcome Desk

Meet Gil Leigh, a 72-year old retired Federal executive, and long-term volunteer on the Central Library Welcome Desk.

The goal of the Welcome Desk is to give a warm and friendly greeting to all Library visitors, as well as to relieve pressure on regular staff as much as possible by providing assistance with general information, library cards, parking passes, copier operation, catalog searches, and more.

Gil likes this volunteer job very much. It has variety, lets him help people while giving back to his community, and gives him a good reason to get out of the house in the morning.

He also thinks the Welcome Desk is an important part of Library services, and is also pleased that Central Library and the Volunteer Coordinator are working hard to keep it staffed whenever the Library is open.

Interested in becoming a Library volunteer? Check out the Current Openings on our Volunteer Page.

Honoring and Honored by a Shirlington Patron

Lieutenant. Colonel James R. Mailler loved the Library.

In fact, he loved the Shirlington Branch Library so much that when he died in March 2011, his will included a donation to Shirlington for branch projects.

Lt. Col. Mailler’s generosity is a symbol of how much he valued the free aspect of public libraries. His nephews say that their uncle lived by the mantra “a Wall Street Journal provided by the library is one I don’t have to buy myself.” He also frequently shared with them how much joy he received from spending his days in the Library and surrounding shops in Shirlington.

Our first project with the bequest has been to rejuvenate the Library’s back patio garden:

A memorial plaque in honor of Lt. Col. Mailler has been added ~~to a chair~~ to the window next to the newspapers, where he often sat. In reflection of his life and his personality, the plaque reads:

The Shirlington Library Garden

Rejuvenated thanks to the generosity of Lt. Col. James R. Mailler, U.S. Army (Ret.)
September 23, 1927 – March 21, 2011

An extraordinary man and loyal patron of the Shirlington Branch Library for many years.

We’re proud to have been such an important part of Lt. Col. Mailler’s life.

Maria Abbott: Beloved ESL Teacher

On Monday evenings, nearly 20 people gather for a lively English conversation class led by an equally lively volunteer…

An 84-year old Arlington resident, Maria Abbott has been teaching ESL conversation classes at Central Library for a number of years.

As a native of Brazil, Maria understands the challenge of learning English as a second language. The students, who come from all around the world, spend 90 minutes each week exploring the basics of English conversation and culture. They discuss a variety of themes, including American holidays, being a good citizen, and current events.

Maria’s students also take turns sharing about their own cultures and countries, such as Azerbaijan and Turkey, in order to demonstrate and understand the multi-culturalism within the United States.

Learn more about Volunteer Opportunities at the Arlington Public Library.

Marilyn Makes Volunteering a Family Affair

Meet Marilyn… and her family!

Marilyn Keyes started volunteering at the Westover Branch Library two and a half years ago. As a resident of Arlington for 36 years, she was looking for a way to give back to her community. Her volunteer job is to search for and process all the items that have been put on hold over the weekend – which is usually hundreds of items. So a few months after she started volunteering, Marilyn “recruited” her husband Steve to join her on Monday mornings.

Since then, Marilyn and Steve have done an amazing and thorough job searching for and sending out items on hold. This dynamic team has also taken on the unpacking and sorting of our massive Monday morning delivery.

And just a few months ago, Marilyn encouraged her daughter Krista to volunteer at Westover as well. Now Krista does a great job putting carts of items in call number order on Wednesday mornings, and even fills in searching for hold items when Marilyn and Steve are traveling.

We are grateful that Marilyn, Steve and Krista have taken on so much at Westover… The only problem is when they all go on vacation together!

Learn more about Volunteer Opportunities at the Arlington Public Library.

Frances Kerns: Queen of Holds

Meet Frances, otherwise known to the Shirlington Branch Library staff as “Queen of the Holds”.

Over the past four and a half years, Frances has filled many volunteer assignments. She has worked with magazines and shelved Library materials, and even inventoried the entire Shirlington collection!

For her current volunteer assignment, Frances visits Shirlington several times a week to check in and shelve all the holds that have arrived for patrons that day. If you stop by in the afternoon you may catch a glimpse of her swamped by cartloads of books.

And much to the delight of the Shirlington staff, she also bakes a mean batch of cookies!

Learn more about Volunteer Opportunities at the Arlington Public Library.

Gardener Yu-hsin Hsu Wins County Volunteer Award