Arlington County Library – Columbia Pike Branch

After reading other reviews of this library, I have to disagree. I think it is great for young children. I love their selection of kids’ and babies’ books, as well as the cute reading nooks for little tykes. My one year old climbs all over the cushioned floor pillows and chairs while my 4 year old sits at the table and reads. The little carousels with the babies’ books are handy for me to locate and grab age-​appropriate board books quickly. The stuffed animals & bead mazes are a great distraction for Lil Man.
They have a Spanish language section that I have yet to explore, but plan to.
They also have a summer reading program that lets little ones earn free books for reading books and doing other reading/​language-​related activities. The librarians were super helpful on our first visit – providing a calendar of events and answering all of our questions. Parking is plentiful and free. And the best part is the easy self-​checkout. LOVE that! I haven’t been to other Arlington libraries yet but this one more than meets our needs!

Great public. library for Arlington residents. Check out the calendar, they offer a lot from Hatha Yoga classes, to book readings by authors, and the staff is quite helpful. They have books for sale in the front for 50 cents.

This is one of the older branches of Arlington public libraries. I hold it dear to my heart because I would come here as a kid, and still come here. I love how easy it is to do things online with Arlington library; I can place a book on hold, come in, do self-​checkout, and be back out the door in less than 5 minutes. This is useful when I don’t have the time to stand and browse, or if I already know exactly what book I want to read.
There’s good study space upstairs, the few times I decide to come and actually stay. It’s quiet area upstairs, with wide tables to spread all your textbooks out. If you need to use a computer, there is a room full of them so long as there isn’t a class going on. There is an area to print for a nominal charge as well.
I realize this branch isn’t as posh and large as some of the newer Arlington branches, but there’s something comforting about how it’s stayed the same.

I am not going to write a long review here other than that Lia hit every aspect of this library on the head. In fact, I am writing my review from it now. It seems like what I’d assume a mental institution would have as its interior. All bland white walls with flickering florescent lighting with not much else other than the obvious book shelves and occasional dry erase board. Someone could definitely go insane up in this place if in here too long!

So, I don’t have a library card for this place and I’ve never actually even looked at their books… BUT we are regulars at the Under 2 story time on Fridays and it is fantastic. Well, actually, it’s totally cheesy and over the top. But that seems to be what the kiddos love. I took my now 10 month old there regularly in this past fall session. It’s a lot more than story time. You sit in a circle and the lovely woman in charge always has a little agenda planned with print outs of the lyrics to all of the songs and rhymes she wants to cover. (Because having a baby does not make you all of the sudden know all of the words to you are my sunshine) So there’s singing and tickling and sometimes a parachute. Then there’s a brief story. The babes are encouraged to do as they please. If they want to crawl, then crawl! If, in my baby’s case, you want to crawl across the room, into another mom’s lap while you poke her daughter — have at it. And, finally, there’s always 15 minutes at the end (at least) for play and they have SO many toys. And the toys are different each week. I don’t know how she does it. It was really cool to see my little one go from slightly overwhelmed in the beginning to become pretty independent by the end.
The only reason I did four instead of five stars is because it is so popular that it can be a little cut throat to get into class. You want to get there a bit early and get a name tag to ensure your spot.

I’m a fan.

I agree with Lia this library is pretty depressing looking but I will give them three stars for the following reasons:
#1) Their huge selection of DC/​Marvel comics and manga — Avengers, X-​Men, Teen Titans, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach… they have it all. Not like I read them but my boyfriend is a huge fan boy so this particular library branch is his go to stop for free entertainment.
#2) Their neighborhood coupon trade bucket — One of my favorite past times is to clip coupons with great expectations of huge savings and then forgetting about them. At this particular library, they have a little plastic bucket where you can discard coupons that you don’t use and trade them with your neighbors. I love dropping my Fancy Feast clippings in here and exchanging them for one of those coveted $ 4 razor blade coupons.
I will admit that this review does not paint me and my boyfriend in the most positive light (unless you are 80 years old or a pimpled comic book guy) but this is our life and our library and we think is is a — ok.

I cannot give a library any less than 3 stars, but really? This library is depressing. The exterior, the interior, and the selection.
I finally decide to save gas (ie, I look at my checking account and realize I was fundsy lowsy, and should probably stop driving to Beatley Library all the time) and I’m excited that I have a branch I can walk to. Yay — I can now be a hippie chick that walks to the library with her re-​usable bags and shops local along the way.
I get there and sign-​up for a card with the friendly staff. Then I start to look around. Lots of space, not a lot of shelves. And the shelves that are there are not even at full capacity. No beautiful display of just-​in books and DVDs, just a cart waiting for library staff to add newly returned items back the shelf (one of those items was Raphael Saadiq CD. Interesting.) Nothing I want in the DVD section, so I start to browse books. Nothing great on the first floor, so I head upstairs. Nothing great there either, except for a great atlas (yes, I am a geography/​map dork).
At this point, I’m considering checking the YA section for some Sweet Valley High or Baby Sitters Club or even the children’s section for «If You Give a Mouse a Cookie». I left with two books that I am only semi-​interested in. I have never, ever, left the library with only two books. EVER.
I go home to cry into my own Langston Hughes anthology and feel bad for Mother Earth (and my checking account. and my car mileage) because I will now be driving to Alexandria. I also have nothing else to read, so I figure I better get on with reading some poetry (oh, a section not available at this branch).
Then, to top it off, once I finished crying, I try to order books/​DVDs online, and Arlington library does not stock most of what I want. While I can see which other libraries do stock the requested materials, I cannot order them via Arlington and pick-​up in Arlington. Instead of having an easy, multi-​city/​county library exchange program, I need to order from Beatley and go pick-​it up there. Really? This is the national capital region and that’s the best they can do? Not a fan.
However, there are a decent number of computers in the library, and desks, and private work rooms, which is great for the community. I’m sure many parents and children are thankful for the computer and internet access, as well as the study space. I saw many teens studying (always a good sign). So yes, I’m thankful this community has a library. But, if you have access to another library, I recommend it over this one.

The other review is dead on. Very interesting window displays. They do have free wifi internet, so bring your laptop. Pretty good selection of DVDs, too. Helpful librarian at the reference desk.

The little library that could. I love this library that looks like a bank with it’s cute little no longer used bank-​thru window. Small, but friendly. Even though the collection is mini, the county’s system let’s you order books from other banches. Just heard a rumor they have free wi-​fi, but haven’t confirmed that yet. They sometimes have home-​made looking displays in the windows on odd topics — sea scouts etc. They also seem to forgive me for perpetually turning in one day late books.
Latest window displays: 1) Collecting Sea Glass is Fun! 2) Sea Scouts 3) Toys are the windows to our heart’s memories… or something like that