Library
It was announced at today's County Board Meeting that Arlington Public Library was voted "Best Place to Learn Something New" in the 2009 Arlington's Best Best Business (People's Choice "ABBIES") Awards. Thanks for all your support!
In accepting this award, we, the staff of Arlington Public Library, are simply building on the groundwork laid by the remarkable women of Arlington in the early days of the 20th century. They had no money, no books, no knowledge of library procedures. But what they did have was vision, heart and moxie. Operating out of spaces scrounged from likely and unlikely places--a double garage, a school, a storefront, the second floor of a bank, a venerable town hall, a fire house--these mighty women, known variously as the Cherrydale League of Women Voters, the Women's Civic Club of Clarendon, the Arlington Community Club, the Jefferson District Women's Club, the Library Committee of the Aurora Hills Garden Club grew Arlington Public Library one book and one building at a time.
And they were not afraid of doing it for themselves.
When a roof leaked over a circulation desk at one location, they plugged the hole with blotter paper. When they needed money for books and supplies, they baked and sponsored lectures. When the properties their libraries were housed in sold, they packed and took their shows down the road, to other locations.
In 1937, "the libraries" became a department within the County government with an annual budget of $3500 and a newly minted trained librarian. The goal was to begin to create the system of seven branches plus Central we enjoy today. Mrs. Nat Hynes, Mrs. Fred A. Lyons, Mrs. Frances V. Speek, Mrs. C.C. Nikiforoff and many others, hometown heroes whose names you won't come across in the standard history texts, but whose collective will and determination speaks volumes. Ms. Robert Livingston summed it up best when she said in an article that appeared in the Washington Star in 1938: "Where there's a woman's will in a good cause, she generally finds the way, if she refuses to become discouraged." I think it's safe to say that this was a bunch of women who did not get discouraged.
The facts in this brief entry are courtesy of the Virginia Room of the Arlington Public Library, a treasure trove of Arlington's unsung heroes if there ever was one. So if you are reading this, thank a librarian.And thanks for learning with us.
See you again soon.
Diane
- Thank You For Learning With Us
County Board Chairman Christopher J. Zimmerman presents the 2011 ABBIE award to Library Director Diane Kresh. For the third straight year, Arlington Public Library has been voted the "Best Place to Learn Something New" in the Arlington Best Business Awards...
- Thanks For Supporting Arlington Public Library
County Board Chairman Jay Fisette with Library Director Diane Kresh For the second straight year, Arlington voters have chosen the Library as the "Best Place to Learn Something New" for the Arlington Best Business Awards (ABBIEs) . The competition...
- Old Westover: June 16, 1963 - Sept. 26, 2009
The old Westover Branch Library building will end it's very successful 46-years of serving the public this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. Check out these pages from building's dedication ceremony program (click to enlarge), which took place on Sunday,...
- The Arlington Years: New Westover Branch Library Opening In Late October
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh More details to come but we've set Friday, Oct. 30 for the official ribbon-cutting and Saturday, Oct. 31 for an "all treats, no trick" Halloween...
- The Arlington Years: Fiscal Year 2010 Recommended Arlington Public Library Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Please read the proposed Department of Libraries budget for FY 2010.A news release was issued Feb. 21 on the County Manager's proposed FY 2010 for Arlington...
Library
The 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 KreshIt was announced at today's County Board Meeting that Arlington Public Library was voted "Best Place to Learn Something New" in the 2009 Arlington's Best Best Business (People's Choice "ABBIES") Awards. Thanks for all your support!In accepting this award, we, the staff of Arlington Public Library, are simply building on the groundwork laid by the remarkable women of Arlington in the early days of the 20th century. They had no money, no books, no knowledge of library procedures. But what they did have was vision, heart and moxie. Operating out of spaces scrounged from likely and unlikely places--a double garage, a school, a storefront, the second floor of a bank, a venerable town hall, a fire house--these mighty women, known variously as the Cherrydale League of Women Voters, the Women's Civic Club of Clarendon, the Arlington Community Club, the Jefferson District Women's Club, the Library Committee of the Aurora Hills Garden Club grew Arlington Public Library one book and one building at a time.And they were not afraid of doing it for themselves.
When a roof leaked over a circulation desk at one location, they plugged the hole with blotter paper. When they needed money for books and supplies, they baked and sponsored lectures. When the properties their libraries were housed in sold, they packed and took their shows down the road, to other locations.
In 1937, "the libraries" became a department within the County government with an annual budget of $3500 and a newly minted trained librarian. The goal was to begin to create the system of seven branches plus Central we enjoy today. Mrs. Nat Hynes, Mrs. Fred A. Lyons, Mrs. Frances V. Speek, Mrs. C.C. Nikiforoff and many others, hometown heroes whose names you won't come across in the standard history texts, but whose collective will and determination speaks volumes. Ms. Robert Livingston summed it up best when she said in an article that appeared in the Washington Star in 1938: "Where there's a woman's will in a good cause, she generally finds the way, if she refuses to become discouraged." I think it's safe to say that this was a bunch of women who did not get discouraged.
The facts in this brief entry are courtesy of the Virginia Room of the Arlington Public Library, a treasure trove of Arlington's unsung heroes if there ever was one. So if you are reading this, thank a librarian.And thanks for learning with us.
See you again soon.
Diane
- Thank You For Learning With Us
County Board Chairman Christopher J. Zimmerman presents the 2011 ABBIE award to Library Director Diane Kresh. For the third straight year, Arlington Public Library has been voted the "Best Place to Learn Something New" in the Arlington Best Business Awards...
- Thanks For Supporting Arlington Public Library
County Board Chairman Jay Fisette with Library Director Diane Kresh For the second straight year, Arlington voters have chosen the Library as the "Best Place to Learn Something New" for the Arlington Best Business Awards (ABBIEs) . The competition...
- Old Westover: June 16, 1963 - Sept. 26, 2009
The old Westover Branch Library building will end it's very successful 46-years of serving the public this Saturday, Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. Check out these pages from building's dedication ceremony program (click to enlarge), which took place on Sunday,...
- The Arlington Years: New Westover Branch Library Opening In Late October
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh More details to come but we've set Friday, Oct. 30 for the official ribbon-cutting and Saturday, Oct. 31 for an "all treats, no trick" Halloween...
- The Arlington Years: Fiscal Year 2010 Recommended Arlington Public Library Budget
The Arlington Years Thoughts from County Native and Arlington Public Library Director, Diane Kresh Please read the proposed Department of Libraries budget for FY 2010.A news release was issued Feb. 21 on the County Manager's proposed FY 2010 for Arlington...