Arlington Public Library is an official book sanctuary.
The data is in: Arlington residents love to read.
Happy Centennial James Baldwin!
Celebrating James Baldwin
Director’s Message
Director’s Message for National Library Week
National Library Week 2024 is celebrated Sunday, April 7 through Saturday, April 13.
Director’s Message: New Year. Same Resolution.
Books I recommend to others.
Too Cool for Yule: #16
Don’t Touch that Dial.
Director’s Message: Read What You Want. Whenever. However.
A Banned Books Week message.
Director’s Message: Libraries for All
They celebrate our collective and varied cultures.
Let’s read, share, and then read some more.
A promise of increased understanding and mutual respect
Director’s Message for National Library Week
There’s more to our story.
The Library Director’s 2022 Reading List.
Books I recommend to others.
Director’s Message
End-of-Year Reflections
Too Cool for Yule: #15
Don’t Touch that Dial.
Taking it Personally: National Coming Out Day
Oct. 11, marks the 34th anniversary of National Coming Out Day
Stand Up for Books
Banned Books Week (September 18-24, 2022) promotes free and open access to ideas and information.
Reading Between the Lines: Year Two of Reading in a Pandemic
The Library Director’s 2021 Goodreads Reading List.
Too Cool for Yule, 2021
Pop, jazz, instrumental, New Orleans, country, bluegrass, R&B, old school pop, The Chipmunks, and more on Diane’s annual playlist.
All individuals, age two and older, who enter Arlington Public Library buildings will be required to wear a mask, regardless...
Read moreThe Library Director’s 2020 Book List, Continued
“My reading tastes shifted along with everything else in both my work and home life.”
The Library Director’s 2020 End-of-Year Playlist
How to honor those who have left us too soon, the sacrifices we’ve made, and the uncertainty of what next...
Read moreFrom the Library Director.
Happy Pride…
We Have Work To Do. – Diane’s thoughts on Pride Month, 2020.
A message from the Library Director.
We have been preparing for reopening, while remaining committed to our mission and to the health and safety of our...
Read moreServing Arlington During the COVID-19 Pandemic
National Library Week: April 19-25, 2020
Dancing with Myself: Playlist for a Pandemic
Tunes from the Library Director.
The Library Director’s 2020 Book List
“So many books, so little time.”
The Library Director’s 2019 Playlist
A collection of seasonal tunes, from schlock to rock, and everything in between
Taking it Personally: National Coming Out Day
The Library honors National Coming Out Day by displaying Pride flags at all of our locations.
On the 50th Anniversary of Stonewall
This year, Arlington County celebrates “50 Years Forward: from riots to rights” and cities across the country, will host Pride...
Read more“Too Cool for Yule” 2018
A number of years ago, I began creating the holiday play list, variously known as “Don’t Touch that Dial,” the...
Read moreFree To Be
Thursday, October 11, 2018, marks the 30th anniversary of National Coming Out Day, an annual observance to raise awareness of...
Read moreWe received 14,504 responses and over 5,000 written comments, a rate of response that absolutely floored us. We are reading...
Read moreCommitment to Racial and Social Equity
Today, the Arlington Public Library joined with libraries in our area and around the country in signing the Urban Libraries...
Read moreDirector’s Blog: Vital Signs
A number of years ago, I was invited to mount a photo exhibit in Zagreb, Croatia. “Vital Signs” was a...
Read moreWomen’s Work
Today, with a bit of tongue in cheek and in honor of Women’s History month, Arlington Public Library launches a...
Read moreThe Cookie Chronicles: Life Skills 101
Were you a Girl Scout? Do you have a cookie-selling story to share?
Libraries Now and Forever
On behalf of all the Library staff, thank you for being part of a great public library system and best...
Read morePut an “i” in Civic
Looking for something fun and meaningful to do this holiday season, either on your own, with your family or with...
Read moreDon’t Touch That Dial 2017
Thanksgiving has come and gone which means it’s time to dust off the annual “Don’t Touch That Dial” holiday mix.
Director’s Blog: Banned Books Week
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his...
Read moreAn Important Note From the Library Director
Arlington Public Library remains committed to being a welcoming place that accepts all comers regardless of backgrounds, beliefs, origin, income...
Read moreDon’t Touch That Dial, 2016 Edition
It’s the Library Director’s favorite annual blog post – a time to look back on the year, and to share...
Read moreDirector’s Blog: The Right to Vote
“It was in Miss Barbara Nelson’s first grade class at Stewart-Tuckahoe that I first learned that the choices I made...
Read moreLibrary Director Receives Women of Vision Award
Library Director Diane Kresh honored by the Commission on the Status of Women at the 2016 Women of Vision Awards…
Director’s Blog: Golden Years
Library Director Diane Kresh’s thoughts on David Bowie, and sharing the gift of courage…
Our Annual “Too Cool for Yule” Blog
AKA“Don’t Touch that Dial” Mix The National Day of Listening has now gone past. But we’re just getting started with...
Read moreCelebrating 170 Years of Service
It’s not every day that we get to celebrate our own… On Thursday, Nov. 5, Arlington County celebrated six Library...
Read moreDirector's Blog: Take a Stand for Books
An email from Powell’s Books in Portland, Ore. arrived in my inbox yesterday reminding me that Sept. 28 – Oct....
Read moreForward with Arlington's History: A Mid-Term Task Force Report
The Arlington History Task Force, made up of County staff and citizen volunteers, continues to map out the best strategy...
Read more40 Years Since Saigon Fell
Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, was captured April 30, 1975 as the United States pulled out its remaining diplomats...
Read moreDirector’s Blog: The Cookie Chronicles
If the sign-up sheets haven’t yet begun circulating in your office, don’t fret. They will soon. The annual Girl Scout...
Read moreYour Annual 2014 “Too Cool for Yule Blog” Mix
This “Frozen” time of the year we bring you good cheer… And queued a set of tunes you’re just longing to...
Read moreDirector’s Blog: Vital Signs
“We are Pride” In celebration of Pride Month, Director’s Blog is featuring “Vital Signs,” a collection of my photographs chronicling the LGBT...
Read moreDirector’s Blog: Class of 2014
Class of 2014 A couple of events–one past and one pending–have me engaged in a fair amount of self-reflection. First:...
Read moreA Birthday Tale to Tell
The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll Would Be 79 this Wednesday Here’s a double trouble playlist, with a hit from...
Read moreOur Sixth Annual Yule Blog The month of December is finally here The time of the season we bring you...
Read moreDirector's Blog: Giving Thanks for Your ABBIEs Support
Giving Thanks As you may have heard, for the second straight year Arlington Public Library has won “Best Customer Service”...
Read moreOur Fifth Annual "Too Cool for Yule Blog"
The classified confetti from Macy’s parade is now gone. Black Friday and Cyber Monday, too. It’s that most wonderful...
Read moreDirector's Blog: November's Happy Ending
It’s been quite an autumn in Arlington. First came Hurricane Sandy, which thankfully caused little of the heart-breaking destruction seen...
Read moreAnswers to (Almost) Anything
Meet the Public (through the Press) I had the pleasure of taking part last week in a new feature at...
Read moreA Shelter After the Storm
Thanks to all who have helped make Central a safe, cool space this week. The staff and volunteers who have...
Read moreLibrary, Cooling Center, Spray Park
Both Central Library and the Shirlington Branch Library will stay open tonight (Sunday) until 11:00 p.m. During this weekend’s power...
Read moreGreat News for Branches, Yours and Hours
Hello friends, The Arlington County Board has approved a Fiscal Year 2013 budget that will restore branch hours throughout the...
Read moreTombstone Blues
Almost Gone
Clarendon, April 2, 2012.
TA Sullivan & Son Monuments photo by Diane Kresh.
Last Dance
Old sign on North Fairfax, now gone. Arlington business sign, now replaced. Photo taken by Diane Kresh on May 8,...
Read moreEach year, the Christmas season seems to arrive a little earlier. A few weeks ago, it was not yet Halloween...
Read moreArlington Public Library Remembers
Where were you on Sept. 11, 2001? As the 10th anniversary of this epochal moment approaches, I find myself reflecting...
Read moreWhen Arlington Did the Right Thing
“The time is always right to do the right thing.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On August 28, the...
Read moreA Library Legend Checking Out
Today marks the start of Maureen Karl Appreciation Week. You may not know Maureen, our soon-to- be-retired Materials and Technology...
Read moreTake Me Out–Summer Dreams of Fields
Baseball became a part of my life on a cool evening in the late summer of 1960 at Griffith Stadium...
Read moreAnd now we bring you the last part of the Library Director’s annual “Don’t Touch That Dial” holiday-music blog...
Read moreToo Cool for Yule: Holiday Tunes from the Director, part 2
This week we bring you the Library Director’s annual “Don’t Touch That Dial” holiday-music blog post, designed to chase the...
Read moreThis week we bring you the Library Director’s annual “Don’t Touch That Dial” holiday-music blog post, designed to chase...
Read moreA Budget Year Check-in
We’re a few months into the new fiscal year and I thought it would be a good time to check...
Read moreWatch video of the full program on vimeo. The Real Deal arrived last night in Arlington. It wasn’t the Beatles...
Read moreFY 2011 Budget Approved–What It Means for the Library
The Arlington Years Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Hello again, As you may have...
Read moreProposed FY 2011 Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Dear fellow users and supporters of...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Snowver It
The Arlington Years Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh The last several days of wintery...
Read moreDon’t Touch That Dial – The Second Annual Yule Blog
Here we come a caroling—‘tis the season to be seasonal. It’s that most wonderful time of the year for...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Library Wins ABBIE award for "Best Place to Learn Something New"
The Arlington Years Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh It was announced at today’s County...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: OLD Westover Will Close Sept. 26 in Preparation for NEW Westover
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Greetings Readers, We wanted to let...
Read moreThe Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh More details to come but we’ve...
Read moreThe Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Sad news today about someone who...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: New Thursday, Friday Hours for Cherrydale, Glencarlyn; Westover Remains Open
The Arlington Years Thoughts From County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane KreshHello again, Thank you for your patience...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Aurora Hills to Keep Hours; Cherrydale, Glencarlyn Reduced By One Day
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh More details on the approved FY...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Fiscal Affairs Advisory Commission on FY 2010 Proposed Library Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh As submitted to the County Board,...
Read moreThe Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Hello,The following is based on questions...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Arlington Public Library Service Reductions and the FY 2010 Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane KreshDear friends,As we adjust to the new...
Read moreThe Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Please read the proposed Department of...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: The Day the Music Died (almost)
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Fifty years ago today teen pop...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Are you ready, Senator?
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Visit Flickr for more of my...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Meet "The Librarian" of 1947
Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh
The Arlington Years: My brush with Elvis
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Yesterday was the King’s birthday. He...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: At Your Service
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Several weeks ago I had the...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Looking Ahead
Don’t Touch that Dial—A Yule Blog from the Director
Do you hear what I hear? As another holiday season has us in the grip (or gripe), I am reminded...
Read moreThe Arlington Years: A Shout Out for Innovation
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh A capacity crowd was treated Dec....
Read moreThe Arlington Years: Arlington Talks
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh On a brisk and clear September...
Read more