library

New Columbia Pike Library Being Considered

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Public Library officials are considering moving the Columbia Pike Branch Library from the Arlington Career Center on South Walter Reed Drive to the soon-to-be-redeveloped Arlington Mill Community Center, near the western end of the Pike (see map).

The potential move, just revealed to the public, may be necessary if an expansion of the Career Center eats into the library’s current space.

The revamped Arlington Mill Community Center is expected to have a floor or two open for the library, should it be forced to relocate.

The plan is being presented for public comment on the web and at a town meeting to be held at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 16, at the library.

“We recognize that any move presents challenges for the community,” a spokesperson wrote on the Library News blog. “We want to hear from you about how such a move would affect your use of the Columbia Pike branch.”

What Will the Library of the Future Look Like? You Decide.

By ARLnow.com

This will be a rare instance of librarians encouraging people to speak up.

On June 5, Arlington County will hold a focus group to hear the citizen ideas for the future of the library system. And they’re giving away an iPod to boot.

The county is specifically seeking ideas for ways to improve its libraries. Officials will be asking questions like “why do you use the Library?” and “what should the ‘library of the future’ look like?”

The focus group will take place at the Fairlington Community Center (3308 South Stafford Street) at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Refreshments will be served and an iPod will be raffled off.

Flickr photo by Arlington Public Library.

To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

It’s expected to a be a beautiful, warm weekend, with temperatures reaching as high as 90 degrees. In other words, it’s the perfect weekend to head to a park, enjoy an outdoor movie, or go on a bike ride. See our events calendar for even more fun things to do.

Tonight

Author talk with Novella Carpenter — The author of “Farm City” talks about her experience creating a fully operational farm on a vacant lot next to her Oakland, Calif. apartment. From 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Arlington Central Library (1015 North Quincy Street).

Friday

Crystal City 5K Friday — Run in Crystal City’s last 5K Friday of the season. The race kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at 2121 Crystal Drive, and will be followed by an post-race party in a nearby apartment complex.

“I Love the ’90s” Rosslyn Outdoor Film Fest — Rosslyn will kick of its ’90s-themed film festival with the 1995 favorite “Clueless.” Takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Rosslyn Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway).

Fashion, Food and Music for the Cure — Join former Washington Redskin LaVar Arrington and his wife Trish for a fashion show at Caribbean Breeze restaurant (4100 North Fairfax Drive) benefiting the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure Against Breast Cancer. There will be a musical performance by Jason Cerda followed by a runway show. Doors open to the public at 9:00 p.m.

Saturday

Tour des Bibliotheque — Join Arlington Public Library staff members for a bicycle tour of six of the county’s seven libraries. The tour will start at Central Library (1015 North Quincy Street). Meet on the Quincy Street side near the front doors at 9:30 a.m.

Shirlington Kentucky Derby Party — Help support Operation Homefront while sipping mint juleps and rooting on your favorite thoroughbred. The event, at The Bungalow (2766 South Arlington Mill Drive) will feature a Derby hat contest, Derby food and a classic derby drink showcase. Post time for the race is 6:24 p.m., but the party kicks off at 4:00.

Sunday

Potomac Overlook Park Heritage Festival — A springtime tradition with fun for all ages. The event features music, entertainment, food, community exhibits, games, a maypole dance, and more. It takes place between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. at Potomac Overlook Regional Park (2845 North Marcey Road).

Mamma Mia Flash Mob — A “flash mob” style dance performance from the musical Mamma Mia is scheduled to take place at 3:00 p.m. at Ballston Common Mall (4238 North Wilson Blvd). The public is welcome to participate if they know the moves. Whether it’s truly a flash mob if it’s announced ahead of time is up for debate, but nonetheless organizers promise “a mob of synchronicity, choreography and fun.”

Afternoon Notes: Statement on Calls, DCA Emergency Landing

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Police Investigate “Annoying” Calls — The Arlington Police Department has received more than 150 reports of “annoying” phone calls from the 307 area code. Police say they believe the calls “may have been the result of a computer dialing error.” See the police statement here.

Emergency Landing at DCA — A U.S. Airways flight from Reagan National Airport to Boston turned around and made an emergency landing at Reagan National due to “mechanical problems,” the Washington Post reports.

Library Discusses Budget Impact — Although many of the funding cuts threatened for the Arlington Public Library system were restored thanks to a public outcry and a higher-than-proposed tax hike, the library will still face some service and material cuts. The official Library Blog has more details.

Big Changes to Central Library

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington Central Library has started a significant overhaul intended to make the library “as efficient as possible.” Among the changes:

  • The entire collection of new books will be placed in the east lobby
  • Popular paperbacks will be shifted upstairs
  • More public seating
  • A redesigned first floor
  • An additional group study room
  • New art display areas

Check out the work in progress at this weekend’s 35th annual Friends of the Arlington Public Library Book Sale or during next weekend’s 3rd annual Tour des Bibliothéque (a bicycle tour of six Arlington libraries).

To Do Tonight: Dream of Spring

By ARLnow.com

With all this talk of blizzards and groundhogs seeing their shadows, now might be a good time to willfully escape from reality and dream about spring (which is exactly a month and a half away.) Tonight, naturalist Greg Zell will lead a presentation about the wide variety of natural habitats and unique wildlife that reside within Arlington’s borders. Imagine, while everybody else is fighting for bread, milk and toilet paper at the grocery store, you can be learning about natural wonders that exist in your own backyard.

Where/when:
Starts at 7:00 PM
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
1015 N. Quincy Street
(2 blocks from Virginia Square Metro)