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link to "Best Recent Black Fiction" booklist

link to "Olympics and olmypians" booklist

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Book cover of The Blue Plate: A Food Lover's Guide to Climate Chaos, plus photos of panelists.

Feb. 25, join an Arlington Reads panel on Climate & Cuisine featuring leaders in food and farming!

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Photo of Rev. Jesse Jackson (second from the right) speaking at a press conference, 1979, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, LC-U9-37985- 14, photograph by Marion S. Trikosko

Remembering Civil Rights Icon, The Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson

1941–2026

The President's House, Philadelphia, PA.

Director’s Message: Black History Month

Those who try to erase history will fail.

Update: Elevator outages, maintenance and upgrades at Central Library

Maintenance projects affect elevators, parking and restrooms at Central Library beginning Jan. 15.

A celebratory crowd waves miniature American flags at the naturalization ceremony.

Director’s Message: Arlington 250

Libraries, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Join us for the Nation’s 250th anniversary.

Collage of book covers from Director Diane Kresh's book list.

Director’s Message: A Year of Reading and Fellowship

Books I recommend to others.

Composite of 10 book covers with text "Books You Missed."

Great Books You Might Have Missed in 2025

Books that flew under the radar

Coming Soon: New Evening Hours Starting Jan. 12

Evening hours changes at four locations.

Text reads Too Cool for Yule #18 in lime green bubble text. Dancing silhouettes against a background of audio waves.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965: Remarks by Rev. Dr. DeLishia A. Davis

Virginia voting rights

Photo of the historical marker for suffragist Mary Morris Lockwood, located at 1501 North Lincoln Street, across Hayes Park in Arlington, VA.

Arlington, VA Suffragist Mary Morris Lockwood

Women’s Suffrage Movement

Remembering Kitty Clark Stevenson

Remembering the late Kitty Clark Stevenson.

Appreciating Arlington Educator Katherine Mosley Ross

Learn about Arlington educator Katherine Mosley Ross.

Photo of marchers holding signs demanding the right to vote at the March on Washington, 1963. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-ppmsca-37229

Exhibition: From Barriers to Ballots

August 1 – November 4, 2025

Sharing the Love: Edmond and Alice Fleet

Edmond and Alice Fleet forged successful careers facing barriers.

Ellen M. Bozman at 100

April 21, 2025, marks Ellen M. Bozman’s 100th birthday

A group of eight people stands together on a small stage in front of large windows, smiling at the camera. They hold two framed items—one is a historical document with maps and text, and the other is a framed portrait of a bearded man. Colorful blue, green, and yellow balloons decorate the space above them, celebrating Glencarlyn Library's 101st birthday.

Glencarlyn Library’s 101st Birthday

Stories from patrons lifelong and new.

The Friendly Cab Company

Learn about Ralph Collins and the cab company he started.

Edmund and Elizabeth Campbell with hearts behind them.

Sharing the Love: Elizabeth and Edmund Campbell

Read about Elizabeth and Edmund Campbell’s contributions to Arlington.

Our Lady Queen of Peace

Read about Arlington’s historic Black Catholic church.

Edu-Futuro: Preserving Latino Culture in Arlington

Read about Arlington’s Latino Culture.

Happy Birthday to Smokey Bear!

Read about Smokey Bear and a prominent local artist.

Swimming Away The Dog Days

Learn about Stuart Paine and swimming in Arlington County.

Pride Month Collection Spotlight: The Jay Fisette Papers

Learn about former Arlington County board member, Jay Fisette.

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Featured Resources

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Libby by OverDrive

Flipster

Streaming Video

O’Reilly eBooks

REAL Archives Project:
Re-Encuentro de Arlington Latinos

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NextReads Newsletters

Subscribe: Receive monthly new book updates via email on your favorite genres, topics and age ranges.

Each newsletter features brand new releases, as well as gems and sleepers from our shelves.

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Staff Picks

Is someone still your family if you never knew they existed? This beautifully written and propulsive novel examines the complex relationship between two sisters connected by their bigamist father as they grow up in 1980s Atlanta.

Laura B

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T12:52:14-05:00

Laura B

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/silver-sparrow/

Crazy As Hell

Short biographies of everyone from Sojourner Truth to Parliament Funkadelic illuminate the the craziness of the American Black experience. Organized into archetype sections such as "The Outlaw" and "The Spiritualist" this darkly humorous guide offers insight and hard truth.

Jennie R

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T12:54:23-05:00

Jennie R

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/crazy-as-hell/

Witchful Thinking

This debut novel is a fun supernatural romance set at the Jersey Shore. When a spell goes awry, a witch and a merman find themselves thrown together in a series of unexpected events that lead to romance. The perfect escape from reality with a magical happy ending.

Megan W

Arlington Public Library

2025-03-27T10:51:42-04:00

Megan W

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/witchful-thinking/

The Aosawa Murders

This book is advertised as a crime novel. Although there is a horrible crime and the culprit is slowly revealed, it is much more about how that crime affected an entire community, how people dealt with it immediately and then over decades as those people grow and change.

Heather C

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T12:56:46-05:00

Heather C

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/the-aosawa-murders/

Foster

In rural Ireland, a child’s summer with relatives becomes a story of care, loss, and quiet revelations. Keegan’s elegant, restrained writing delivers enormous impact. Perfect for readers who love emotionally rich, beautifully written fiction.

Rebecca C

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T12:58:23-05:00

Rebecca C

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/foster/

Photobooth

A biography of both the author and the chemical photobooth itself, exploring the machines’ role in Fitzgerald’s personal life and in her artwork, this comic introduces the reader to the world of photobooth fanatics.

Lesley H

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T13:00:08-05:00

Lesley H

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/photobooth/

catalog link to "fortune cookie chronicles"

The Fortune Cookie Chronicles

An initial quest to discover the origin of fortune cookies grows into a fascinating story of Chinese-Americans as seen through the lens of food. A can't miss cultural history.

Jennie R

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T13:02:10-05:00

Jennie R

An initial quest to discover the origin of fortune cookies grows into a fascinating story of Chinese-Americans as seen through the lens of food. A can't miss cultural history.

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/the-fortune-cookie-chronicles/

Door-to-Door Bookstore

An ode to books and their stories, this novel is a great palate cleanser after a heavy read or a demanding series. You will fall in love with Carl and 9 year old Sascha as the unlikely duo deliver books to a set of unique (and variously troubled) locals in their small town.

Emily G

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T13:03:48-05:00

Emily G

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/door-to-door-bookstore/

Downton Shabby

An American film producer from Hollywood sets out to learn about his family's history and ends up saving his ancestors' castle. DePree's lack of DIY skills and cultural knowledge lead to some hilarious moments. Great for Anglophiles and fans of HGTV.

Janet O

Arlington Public Library

2026-02-19T13:05:21-05:00

Janet O

https://library.arlingtonva.us/testimonials/downton-shabby/

In the Bleak Midwinter

This mystery series featuring Russ, a small town police chief, and Clare, a military helicopter pilot turned minister, is set in the Adirondacks and seems destined for PBS Masterpiece. Local gossip and politics mixed with murder make for addictive reading.

Nico P

Arlington Public Library

2018-04-03T11:46:12-04:00

Nico P