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Arlington Public Library

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Center for Local History to Curate 2020 Time Capsule

2020 UnBoxed

Photo of colored cloth face masks with a typographic logo of "2020 UnBoxed."

The Center for Local History (CLH) will curate a time capsule, “2020 UnBoxed,” which will contain objects and material representing the major events and themes of 2020 in Arlington County.  

“The time capsule is a snapshot of today as well as a gift for the future, preserving an account of a particular period in time,” said Library Director Diane Kresh. 

Themes for the collection will include:   

  • The 2020 Census 
  • The COVID-19 pandemic 
  • Racial justice and civic unrest 
  • Arlington County’s naming centennial 
  • The 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage

The CLH, whose mission is to preserve and share the history of Arlington County, its citizens, organizations, businesses and social issues, will reach out to community organizations and leaders over the next 9 months to obtain items that represent the major events of 2020. 

The time capsule will also draw from items donated to the COVID-19 Archives project. Residents are encouraged to continue to submit donations that illustrate how Arlington life has been affected and altered by the pandemic. 

The time capsule collection will be exhibited online in October during American Archives Month, which celebrates and raises awareness about the value of archives and archivists. The items will then be sealed and deposited in the Arlington Community Archives for preservation and future research. 

Introducing Book Bundles for Kids

Pre-Bundled Picture Books or Early Readers

By popular request we now offer Book Bundles for Kids in English and Spanish.

Three prescholers reading a picture book

Pick up 10 pre-bundled picture books in English, 10 early reader books in English, or five Spanish-language books (four picture books and one early reader) during holds pickup hours at Central Library.

Book Bundles are designed to give parents and young kids a taste of the Library's collection when browsing is not available.

What Is In a Book Bundle for Kids?

  • Each English-language Book Bundle contains 10 picture books, or 10 early reader books.
  • Each Spanish-language Book Bundle contains four picture books and one early reader book.
  • Book Bundles ARE designed to recreate the joy of discovering something new and wonderful while browsing the Library shelves.
  • Books Bundles ARE NOT designed to match a specific interest or theme.
Book Bundles of Early Readers

How Do Book Bundles Work?

  • Book Bundles are available during Holds Pickup hours at Central Library.
  • Ask for a Book Bundle at the Holds Pickup window.
  • Limit: One Book Bundle (or any kind) per library card.
  • Each book in the Bundle is checked out for 21 days, and can be renewed like a regular book.
  • If you no longer want a book in a Book Bundle, you can return the book at any time.
Assorted example picture books

Picture Books

Assorted example Early Reader books.

Early Reader Books

Book Bundles Are Designed to Supplement, Not Replace, Holds

If your child is interested in a specific topic or book, please place a hold on those books, or contact the librarians by phone, text or chat to get help doing so.

Arlington Public Library Eliminates Overdue Fines

Minimizing Barriers to Using the Library

As of July 1, Arlington Public Library eliminated overdue library fines to make the library’s collections accessible to all Arlingtonians and library patrons. The goal is to increase access to and minimize barriers for marginalized populations to use the library, particularly for youth and low-income patrons.

“Every member of our community has a right to library services and library fines and fees are known barriers to use. We are pleased that we can eliminate these long- standing barriers and continue our mission to reach everyone regardless of their socioeconomic background,” says Diane Kresh, Director of Arlington Public Library.

The elimination of fines will reduce the Library fine budget by an expected $155,000 in anticipated revenue to $10,000 in FY 2021. The $10,000 remains in the budget due to the continuation of replacement fees for lost items.

Borrowing

Patrons will be able to borrow an item for up to twelve weeks if no other patron has placed a hold or up to 3 weeks if another patron has a hold on the item.

Library staffer adding back books to a shelf.

If the item is not returned at the end of the loan period, a grace period of twenty-eight days will come into effect. The patron will not accrue overdue fines during the twenty-eight days. If the item is not returned by the end of the grace period, the item is considered lost and a replacement fee will be charged. If a replacement fee is charged and the item is later returned, the fee is reversed. The replacement fee is dependent on the cost of the book.

Going forward, patrons who either lose or fail to return items to the Library will be assessed a replacement fee that will affect their ability to borrow, renew, place holds on materials, or log in to premium sites, such as Consumer Reports until the fee has been paid or the item has been returned.

Patrons with existing fines will still need to pay those. During the library closure, no fines were accrued for checked-out items.

Paying Fines

  • By phone at 703-228-5260; Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • By mail with a check or money order mailed to Central Library, Attention: Circulation, 1015 N. Quincy St, Arlington, VA 22201
    • Please include the library card number with the payment and make the check payable to “Treasurer of Arlington County.”

To find out more about borrowing, loan periods and renewals, visit the accounts information page.

Exhibition Pays Tribute to Women in Arlington

Women's Work: Then & Now

The 29 Arlington women profiled in the exhibit include (from left to right) Caroline Gary Romano, Margarite Syphax, Seema Jain, Dr. Phoebe Hall Knipling, Mary A. R. Marshall, Gertrude Crocker, Marguerete Luter and Cornelia Bruere Rose, Jr.

In March, Arlington Public Library will launch a new exhibition at Central Library, titled “Women’s Work: Then & Now.”

  • March 5 through April 2 at Central Library.
  • Exhibition opening Thursday, March 5, 6:30 p.m., followed by an author talk with featured guest Liza Mundy, author of "Code Girls."
RSVP

The opening reception will be followed by an author talk with Liza Mundy. In "Code Girls: The Untold Story of the American Women Code Breakers of World War II," Mundy uncovers the truth about the army of women code-breakers who worked behind the scenes here in Arlington and in Washington DC, and brings to life the forgotten history of these unsung heroes whose efforts helped save hundreds of lives.

The exhibition commemorates both Arlington County’s 100th anniversary and the 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment. Included in this exhibition are stories, photographs, letters and memorabilia, which spotlight individuals and groups of Arlington women who dedicate their work to improve their community and the lives of others.

“These stories show that women are strong, resilient, even fierce when necessary, and that they are more than able to carry out the work before them,” said Diane Kresh, Director of Arlington Public Library. “Arlington would not be the same without them.”

Discover and learn about the work of Anna Barber, Charlene Bickford, Ellen Bozman, Judith Brewer, Elizabeth Campbell, Gertrude Crocker, Pauline Haislip Duncan, Alice Fleet, Alice Foster, Saundra Green, Critchett Hodukavich, Seema Jain, Carolyn (Carrie) Johnson, Cintia Johnson, Dr. Phoebe Hall Knipling, Puwen Lee, Marguerete Luter, Mary A. R. Marshall, Sushmita Mazumdar, Ruby Lee Minar, Constance (Connie) Ramirez, Caroline Gary Romano, Cornelia Bruere Rose, Jr., Virginia Lillis Smith, Florence Starzynski, Margarite Syphax, Nancy Tate, Marjorie Varner, and Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez.

The nominees, selected by the 16 exhibition partners, were based on their groundbreaking, visionary and ongoing contributions to the communities they serve. Also included in this exhibition, are women who were curated from the Center for Local History’s online exhibition, “Women’s Work: Stories of Persistence and Influence.”

The exhibition partners are AED-Cultural Arts, Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women, Arlington County Department of Human Services, Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation, Arlington County Fire Department, Arlington County Police Department, Arlington County Sheriff’s Office, Arlington Food Assistance Center, Arlington Historical Society, Arlington Public Schools, CPHD-Historic Preservation, Encore Learning, Friends of the Arlington Public Library, Girl Scouts Association 60, League of Women Voters of Arlington and WomenWork (WoW) Employee Resource Group.

Grab & Go Express Book Collection

Read More, Wait Less

If it's on the shelf, you can check it out!

Grab & Go books on a bookshelf at Central Library
logo_grabandgo_bw

The new Grab & Go express book collection contains bestselling adult fiction and nonfiction, ready to be checked out immediately.

New titles will be added to the Grab & Go collection on a regular basis.

Where to Find Grab & Go Books

Look for the Grab & Go express book collection on designated shelves at Central Library and the Branch Libraries. There is no Grab & Go collection at the Connection: Crystal City Pop-Up Library.

You will also find Grab & Go copies of your favorite eAudiobooks and eBook titles in our Overdrive collection.

Don't see any Grab & Go titles on the Library shelf or in Overdrive? That means they are all checked out at the moment. But check again soon, as someone could finish and return one at anytime!

How does Grab & Go work?

14 Day Loan Period - Borrow Grab & Go titles for up to two weeks.

No Holds, No Renewals - Books cannot be renewed or placed on hold. They do not display in the library catalog.

Late Fines - $.30 a day.

Digital Readers - Electronic titles will return automatically after 2 weeks. If you don't see any Grab & Go titles in Overdrive, that means they are all checked out.

Done Reading? - Return your Grab & Go title for the next reader to discover!

July 20: Grand Opening of The Shop Makerspace

Celebrate our Brand New Makerspace!

Join us all day for equipment demonstrations, speakers, and workshops for all ages.

Schedule:

  • 12:30-1:30 p.m.: Home Movie Preservation
  • 1:00-2:30 p.m.: Egg Drop Challenge
  • 2:00-3:00 p.m.: Bike Tire Jewelry
  • 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Drywall repair
  • 3:00-4:30 p.m.: Make a spinning top

Learn more on the Library calendar

Arlington Public Library’s Health Week

Because Information is the Best Medicine

5 people holding symbols of health topics

The Library will host a series of events, conversations, and presentations to support a healthier Arlington.

Focusing on a different theme each day, we will celebrate the power of prevention, advocate for healthy and fair policies, and share strategies and resources for a strong public health system.

  • Monday, May 27 - Memorial Day (Library closed)
  • Tuesday, May 28 - Brain Health
  • Wednesday, May 29 - Family Health
  • Thursday, May 30 - Mental Health
  • Friday, May 31 -Heart Health
  • Saturday, June 1 - Community & Global Health

Schedule of Events

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