George W Hawkes Central Library

At first glance, it’s not exactly a glamorous library. I’ve been hearing rumors about this library getting torn down and relocated, but I’m not sure if that will happen soon.
Overall a great place. Library cards are free (you can get one at the front desk) and conveniently come with a little key card to put on your car keys so you’ll never forget your library card again. Arlington has definitely improved their library system in the past few years. There are now laptops to check out if you’re not looking to use a desktop upstairs. There’s also free wifi, up to date magazines, newspapers, CDs, and new books all the time.
The children’s section on the left side has looked the same since I was a kid. However, everything in that area is accessible to children and there’s usually someone walking around looking to help any guest who comes in. On the second floor, there’s desktop computers that you can use if you have a library card. If I remember correctly, there’s also a black/​white and color printer and a copier as well.
If you’re an Arlington resident, I would highly recommend getting a library card. It’s a pretty underrated item to have, but you can create a username and log into the catalog through your computer at home. Arlington has done a great job of integrating more technology into their library system. The system now has ebook versions of several library books, so you can conveniently read books on your computer/​tablet at home without even going to the library.
Another thing to add that a lot of people don’t know: if you’re looking for a book at the library you have the power to reserve the book through your library card. You can do this online without even leaving your home. When reserving a book, you can also have it sent to any of the libraries in the Arlington area (and also 1 Mansfield library). Whichever library you choose to send the reserved book to, the library staff will have the book in your chosen location in less than a week. You can also check the status of your account and your books (if they have arrived) on your online library account.

My favorite APL!
First floor has a large children’s area, fiction books, magazines, DVDs and CDs.
Second floor has the computers and all the non-​fiction material.
Basement’s the YA section, with bathrooms and some conference rooms.
This library is huge, yet still kept tidy.
Staff is friendly and helpful.
There are some homeless people outside or are sometimes found napping in some corners inside the library, but they do no harm and have never bothered me.

I would like to admit my bias right ways. I do work for the APL, and particularly at the Central library. On the same note, I’m also a patron and was a patron long before getting hired. I’m also biased because I love libraries, books, learning, and the like and in the works to be a librarian (with my last semester of grad school in Fall 2011).
What I love about the APL Central Library are many things. 1) The staff is excellent. I work with them and have seen them at work. They are so great that we are adding many options next year and the staff is so kickin’ that we don’t have to hire new staff for those new options! 2) They are quick to get the most popular and up and coming new releases. I work with the new books and see them all the time. 3) They have made excellent renovations, with 25 – 30 new computers, cozy seating and an awesome YA area in the basement! There are more renovations planned. 4) It’s free (well, sure, we pay taxes but most of the costs are covered by grants. 5) the APL has many digital options (blogs, book reviews, ebooks, downloadable audiobooks) and is constantly keeping up with new technology. 6) they are located in the heart of Arlington, which makes for easy access. 7) Free Wi-​fi and the connection is great (which it didn’t used to be).
All in all, yes I’m bias but at least I admitted it. I wholeheartedly recommend the APL, especially the Central Library branch!

You can judge me if you want, but libraries are cool. They are free, the old books kind of smell cool, librarians are sweet old ladies that remind you of your mother and they are quiet.
The other night talking high school football with my wife’s grandmother she mentioned that her little brother was the starting QB for the only Arlington ISD high school to ever win a state championship, the 1951 Arlington High School Colts football team. Being the history major and sports nut that I am, I wanted to check this out and the internet was NO help. (Who said everything is on the internet??? Because it’s not.)
5 minutes on MicroFilm and I found article after article on this mythical team. I spent a good hour reading weekly articles on the team, reading other articles about the development of Arlington, then a tiny town of a few thousand people, and looking at the advertisements thinking ads were much cooler back then.
Moral of the story: libraries and MicroFilm are a wicked cool way to kill a few hours. I know they are facing budget cuts, but I hope they live through these tough times.