library

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Norwood Found Guilty of Murder — A Montgomery County jury has found Brittany Norwood guilty of the brutal murder of Rosslyn resident Jayna Murray. Murray was found beaten and stabbed to death in a Bethesda Lululemon yoga store in March. [ABC 7]

Cain Accused of Sexual Harassment in Crystal City — Republican presidential frontrunner Herman Cain has been facing accusations that he sexually harassed female employees while serving as head of the National Restaurant Association. The latest accuser alleges that one incident of harassment happened at an (unnamed) restaurant in Crystal City. [Politico]

‘Puzzle Fest’ This Weekend — Arlington Public Library is hosting its first-ever Arlington Puzzle Festival on Saturday. From 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) puzzle enthusiasts can compete in crossword and Sudoku tournaments. There will also be speakers and a scavenger hunt. [Library Blog]

Flickr pool photo by Maryva2

Morning Poll: Fewer Books, More Downloads?

By ARLnow.com

As Arlington Public Library contemplates its future, one question that’s being raised is how to prioritize the library’s budget in a digital age.

With more and more library users using e-readers and other electronic means of reading books, some are wondering whether it makes sense to continue devoting such a high percentage of library resources to old-fashioned, hard copy materials (e.g. books and CDs).

Would you want more downloadable content from Arlington Public Library even if it meant less hard copy material?


Library Looks to Future at Upcoming Public Sessions

By Katie Pyzyk

Arlington Public Library is looking to the future, and wants the public to speak up with ideas and suggestions. A series of public gatherings called “Invent the Future of the Library” is being held to examine where the library is headed, and what steps need to be taken to get there.

The first session is tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Walter Reed Community Center (2909 16th St. S.). The second is next Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:00 p.m. at the Fairlington Community Center (3308 S. Stafford St.), and the last is Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:00 p.m. at Washington-Lee High School (1301 N Stafford St.).

Tonight’s session will have a significant focus on technology and which trends are shaping, or will shape, the library. The results from the recent Library User Satisfaction Survey will also be discussed. You can take part in the new, very short, online survey regarding services and programming by clicking here.

Central Library Unveils Solar Panels

By Katie Pyzyk

The Central Library (1015 N. Quincy St.) held a ribbon cutting event Monday afternoon to unveil its newly installed solar panels.

The 250 panels on the roof of the building are expected to save the library $14,000 per year.

The project was funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, through a grant administered by the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Henry Kelly of the U.S. Department of Energy, who lives in Arlington, said clean energy plans help to create jobs.

Kelly said, “Investing in clean energy is an integral part of the economic recovery process.”

Arlington County Board Vice-Chair Mary Hynes said the timing of the unveiling is fitting, considering October is National Energy Awareness month. She also wants more green initiatives to spread throughout Arlington.

Hynes said, “I hope this is the first of many opportunities to add solar to our buildings.”

The Central Library plans to continue its push for a greener community by installing a Capital Bikeshare station in front of the Quincy St. entrance. The goal is to have that in place by next spring.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Changes on Tap at Harry’s in Clarendon — Harry’s Tap Room (2800 Clarendon Blvd) is getting a new name and some new food. Renovations at the Clarendon restaurant are expected to begin later this month. When it reopens three weeks later, it will be re-branded as “Market Tavern” and will have a revised food focus. [Bisnow]

Discount on Signature Theater Tickets — Shirlington’s award-winning Signature Theater is offering 15 percent off tickets at the Signature box office when theater-goers present their library card. Two new Signature productions, A Second Chance and Hairspray, will start next month. [Arlington Public Library]

Housing for the Homeless — This week volunteers canvased the streets of Arlington in an effort to identify the 100 most vulnerable homeless individuals in the county. Part of the 100 Homes campaign, the results of the survey will be used to determine which chronically homeless persons will be moved to permanent housing. Findings from the surveys are being presented today to elected officials and to the public. [Washington Examiner, 100 Homes Arlington]

Flickr pool photo by divaknevil

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

State Change Could Cost Arlington Millions — A proposed change in the way Virginia determines how much localities are reimbursed for road maintenance could cost Arlington $9.2 million per year if approved. [Sun Gazette]

Bikeshare Expansion Approved, Sort Of — The Arlington County Board voted on Saturday to use $1.2 million in state funds to build about 30 new Capital Bikeshare stations along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor. Installation of the stations (and nearly 200 new bikes) is expected to wrap up in the summer of 2012. The action isn’t official yet, though. Due to an administrative error, the Board will have to reconsider the item at their Tuesday evening meeting. [Arlington County]

Board Talks Libraries at Meeting — Facing public comments in favor of restoring pre-recession hours at Arlington Public Library branches, the County Board on Saturday reiterated their support for the library. At the same time, members said that they must balance other budget priorities before restoring hours. [Sun Gazette]

Remembering Queen City — Former residents of an African-American enclave in Arlington known as Queen City recently recounted their experiences living there. Queen City was leveled in the mid-1940s t0 make way for the transportation infrastructure necessary for the new Pentagon complex. Many displaced residents settled in the Arlington View or Green Valley neighborhoods. [Patch]

Lovers of Books May Become Lovers at Library Singles Event

By ARLnow.com

Single? Enjoy reading books? Want to meet other single people who enjoy reading books?

If the answer to all three of those questions is ‘yes,’ then the Arlington Public Library has just the event for you this weekend.

On Sunday evening, the Shirlington Branch Library (4200 Campbell Avenue) will be hosting the library’s first-ever ‘Book Dating’ event. Library officials are billing the event as a “novel” way to help the literary-minded find love.

To participate, think about a couple of books you’d like to share: favorites, disappointments, readings-in-progress, etc. Bring them from home or pick them up at the library. Then head over to the event (from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.) and library staff will set you up on a series of 3 minute mini-dates with each of the other participants.

There will be “no fines for overdue romances,” library spokesman Peter Golkin noted.

Refreshments will be provided by Ruth’s Chris Steak House.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Star Wars Event at Library — Arlington Central Library hosted a Star Wars costuming event over the weekend, as the above photo (uploaded to the library’s Facebook page) demonstrates.

School Stats Released — The class of 2011 at Arlington Public Schools had an on-time graduation rate of more than 87 percent, just above the state average of 86.6 percent. Arlington’s drop-out rate is declining, meanwhile. The rate was 9.8 percent in 2011, compared to 12.5 percent in 2008. [Arlington Public Schools]

Alexandria Gets Bikeshare — The Alexandria City Council voted yesterday night to join the Capital Bikeshare program. For Bikeshare members in Arlington, that means point-to-point trips to Old Town will be possible, from CaBi stations in Crystal City, Pentagon City and along the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor. [Washington Post]

N. Va., Military Contractor Mecca –Why have military contractors been moving their headquarters to Northern Virginia? Because they want “to be where the action is,” writes Forbes. In general: “Whether they generate sizable revenues from the government or not, big companies seem to like northern Virginia a lot, despite being surrounded by some of the worst traffic jams in the nation.” [Forbes]

Last Day for ABBIE Nominations — Today is the last day to nominate local businesses for the annual Arlington’s Best Business Awards. The 15 categories include “Best Brunch,” “Best Customer Service,” and “Best New Business.” (Disclosure: The ABBIE Awards are an ARLnow.com advertiser.) [ABBIE Awards]

Photo via Arlington Public Library

Library to Host Star Wars Costume Event

By ARLnow.com

If you’ve ever wanted to look like your favorite Star Wars character, now’s the time to learn how to do it.

With Halloween just around the corner, Arlington Public Library is hosting a Star Wars costume event this coming weekend. Representatives from the Rebel Legion and the 501st Legion — international costuming enthusiast organizations for the Star Wars good guys and bad guys, respectively — will be on hand at Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) on Saturday to discuss how they make their elaborate Star Wars costumes.

Star Wars geeks and casual fans alike are invited to come take photos with fully-costumed members of the local Rebel Legion and 501st Legion (slogan: “Bringing order to the galaxy since 1997”). For those who want to follow in the footsteps of legion members, be prepared for intricate instructions on how to become an authentic storm trooper, Jedi knight or bounty hunter.

“This program will be very detailed, so it is recommended for upper-elementary school kids, teens and adults,” the library said on its blog.

The event will be held at the Central Library Auditorium from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call 703-228-5946.

Spike in Library Card Applications After Kindle Announcement

By ARLnow.com

The announcement that Amazon Kindle users will now be able to “borrow” eBooks for free from the Arlington Public Library web site caused an apparent spike in library card applications.

Spokesman Peter Golkin said that the library received 150 library card application following the Kindle announcement.

“Usually that number would be 20-30,” Golkin said.

Arlington Library eBooks Now Available on Kindle

By ARLnow.com

Amazon Kindle users can now “borrow” eBooks from the Arlington Public Library web site.

Amazon announced today that its electronic reading device will now work with eBooks from 11,000 public libraries across the U.S. Borrowed eBooks will include “all the unique features of Kindle books, including real page numbers and Whispersync technology that synchronizes your notes, highlights, and last page read.”

“After a public library book expires, if you check it out again or choose to purchase it from the Kindle store, all of your annotations and bookmarks will be preserved,” Amazon said. All generations of the Kindle will be supported.

Arlington Public Library currently offers more than 3,500 Kindle-compatible books. Library users can wirelessly send an eBook to their Kindle device by logging into their Amazon account after checking the book out on the library’s web site. The service is free for all Arlington Public Library card holders.

“This is big news for… Kindle owners who have been waiting for years not to have to buy every book they want,” said library spokesman Peter Golkin.

The Arlington Public Library eBook system, managed by the digital content vendor OverDrive, is already compatible with the Barnes and Noble Nook, the Sony eReader and other eBook readers.

Anyone interested in learning more about eBooks and eBook readers can visit Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) today and check out the OverDrive Digital Bookmobile. The 74-foot, 18-wheel tractor-trailer will be parked in the library’s East Parking Lot from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.

“Visitors can view instructional videos, talk with expert staff and test the interactive computer stations, in an immersive, hands-on learning environment,” the library said on its blog. “Bring your questions, gadgets and shopping lists to get advice from the Library team of experts.”

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