Wish More eBooks Were Available From Arlington Libraries?

So does the library system.

The Arlington Public Library posted the following explanation on its website recently as to why the library system does not offer more eBooks for download. The library system agreed to repost the essay on Patch. Have you tried to download eBooks from the library before? Did you find what you were looking for? Tell us in the comments below. ~ Welcome to one of our periodic looks at how the Library chooses and acquires the materials that end up on our shelves. In this case, we’re talking about the virtual shelves that hold our eBook collection. Here’s the latest from the acting chief of the Library’s Materials Management Division, Rachel Wood. ________________________________________________________________ Disappointed with the gaps in the …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

'Valuable' Item Found in Arlington Public Library Donation

Did you donate something to an Arlington library last week? If so, you may have left something valuable behind.

Arlington librarians are hoping to solve a mystery, and it’s not one they've read in a Nancy Drew novel. Last week, someone dropped off material for the Friends of the Library book sale and tucked inside was “something of value,” said Peter Golkin, Arlington Public Library spokesman. Volunteers sorting the items found the material. “This was kind of hidden, so this person who donated didn’t even realize what was in there, and we would like to give it back to them,” Golkin said. Golkin wouldn’t give away any more clues about the item so that librarians can verify the true owner. “But you can say the valuable material is tucked away in a safe, so we aren’t taking any chances there,” Golkin said. Did you donate something to the Friends of the…

• Photos (1)

Library Hosts 'Incredible Edible Book Contest' on Saturday

Professional judges include Clarendon's Bayou Bakery Chef David Guas and Bakeshop's Justin Stegall.

Have you ever loved a book so much you devoured it? The Cherrydale Branch Library is taking that concept literally. Professional judges including Bayou Bakery's David Guas will judge Saturday's Incredible Edible Book Contest. An edible book, according to the library, is "any representation of a book title that is made primarily from edible materials. It can look like a book, refer to a character, be a pun on a title, etc. It can be as fancy as a decorated cake or as simple as a bowl of grapes (The Grapes of Wrath?)" Entries should be dropped off between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday at the Cherrydale library, 2190 N. Military Road. The public can begin viewing the entries at noon. Awards will be given out at 3 p.m., followed by light …

• Photos (1)

Arlington Public Library Catalog, Accounts System Crashes

Late fees, online services have been suspended.

The Arlington Public Library and Arlington Public Schools catalog and accounts system have crashed, causing the loss of about a week's worth of data. "It affects our whole catalog, everything in the collection — books, video, music," library spokesman Peter Golkin told Patch. "Everyone's account is inaccessible, so you can't check and see what you have out and what your holds are doing. It also prevents folks from signing on to use the research online databases we have." The crash affects all activities that took place between Saturday and Thursday, according to an email the library system sent to patrons Friday afternoon. Golkin said the system backup was also lost in the process, complicating matters. All online services have been …

• Photos (1)

Thursday: Suspense Novelist Alma Katsu Discusses 'The Reckoning'

Arlington Central Library hosts author.

Suspense novelist Alma Katsu will discuss her book "The Reckoning" at 7 p.m. Thursday at Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. "The Reckoning" is the second in a Gothic suspense novel trilogy. The first book, "The Taker," was named a Top 10 Debut Novel of 2011 by the American Library Association and has developed an international following, according to an Arlington Public Library news release. Katsu's writing has been compared to the early work of Anne Rice and Elizabeth Kostova's "The Historian," according to the library statement.

• Photos (1)

Banned Books Week: What You Need to Know

Censorship is alive and well, as highlighted by Banned Books Week — and you might be surprised by who the most vocal challengers of books are.

The importance of the First Amendment and the concept of intellectual freedom might not always be readily apparent to most children, but Banned Books Week is a great opportunity to make those lessons come alive for kids — and adults. Banned Books Week begins today. It's held annually during the last week of September. The week is an occasion for libraries and bookstores across the United States to help folks realize just how real and ongoing a problem censorship is. Locally, Arlington Public Lirbary proudly proclaims, "We read banned books." For the second year in a row, library staff and volunteers have created videos featuring individual books that have been banned or challenged over the years. Each one challenges readers to decide for …

• Photos (1)
• Videos (2)

Check Out Art Exhibits at Arlington Libraries

The exhibits are on display this month and next.

Want to check out artwork, photography and more? Check out these free exhibits at Arlington Public libraries. Nilo Santiago’s travelogue paintings are on display at the Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St., this month. Handmade quilts are on display at the Shirlington Branch Library this month and next. The branch is at 4200 Campbell Ave. in Shirlington Village. View beaded jewelry at the Westover Branch Library, 1644 N. McKinley Road, through September. Portraits of homeless pets are also on display at the Westover branch this month and next. See Muriel Braxton’s still life paintings until Aug. 28 at the Shirlington Branch Library.

• Photos (1)

Arlington Library Honored for Jobs Tribute, Banned Books Videos

Local library given two best of show awards by Library Leadership and Management Association.

The Library Leadership and Management Association has honored the Arlington Public Library for two videos — a Steve Jobs tribute and a series of "Free to Read" spots about banned books. The local library received two best of show awards for "outstanding public relations efforts (electronic)," according to a news release. The Jobs tribute was created before the Apple co-founder was known to be in failing health, the release states. It was scripted and produced for National Library Card Week 2011 and features Library Director Diane Kresh in the role of innovator-in-chief. The "Free to Read" series on banned books used QR codes placed on the back of selected titles with a message notifying people that the title had been challenged or banned …

•  1 Comment
• Videos (2)

Last Chance: Arlington Libraries Seek Summer Teen Volunteers

Library system has volunteer opportunities at Central, Westover, Columbia Pike and Shirlington.

The Arlington Public Library has a variety of volunteer opportunities for teenagers this summer at several of its locations. Don't let the application deadline catch you off guard! Central: Arlington Central Library is looking for multiple storytime craft prep assistants and summer reading sign-up assistants. These are one- and two-hour per week volunteer opportunities. Application deadline: May 15. Westover: Multiple one- and two-hour volunteer shifts are available at Westover, including a teen open art studio assistant, a story time craft assistant, a storytime craft prep assistant, numerous summer reading sign-up assistants, and a teen display king or queen. Application deadline: May 31. Columbia Pike: This branch offers a month-long …

• Photos (1)

Arlington Public Library to Launch Digital Projects Lab

Hardware, software will allow audio/video editing, graphic design and animation.