Bookworms of all ages can gather for author discussions and book signings during the Alexandria Library’s Winter Book Festival next month.
The festival is expected to draw more than 20 authors for discussions on their journeys to publishing, as well as to sell and sign copies of their books. The free event is scheduled from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library (717 Queen Street). Registration is not required.
From historical tours and adult field trips to trivia nights, several events coming to Alexandria this winter will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The various roles Alexandria played in the forging of the U.S. will be told in events across the city. The events are compiled in a list by the American Revolution 250 Commission, or VA250, which was established by the General Assembly in 2020.
What did you read this past fall?
The Alexandria Library system shared its most-checked out books from mid-September through last week with ALXnow, with over a dozen fiction reads topping the charts. The library recorded a grand total of 1,811 check-outs of its top 20 titles during that period.
If you visited Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library recently, you might have noticed a colorful collection of pom-poms planted in the grounds outside.
The whimsical pom-pom garden encouraged donations to the Alexandria Library’s annual Yarn Storm drive, which collected some 400 hats, mittens and scarves for donation to an Alexandria shelter.
From the annual Alexandria Film Festival to free crafting, author events and a sold-out Banned Book Speakeasy, this fall weekend in Alexandria is packed with plenty of interesting activities. Catch an independent film, try a candle-making workshop or attend Sunday morning jazz brunch.
Discover all that’s happening in your community this weekend (Nov. 7-9), from events and entertainment to live music and more.
The Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library is launching a four-week cultural exchange program that will culminate in a virtual meeting between Alexandria students and their counterparts in Seoul, South Korea.
“Stories without Borders: Hello, Seoul!” begins Monday at 6 p.m. at the library’s Story Room and runs through Nov. 10. The program, designed for students in grades 3-5, features weekly sessions exploring Korean culture through stories, crafts, and games.
Book lovers of all ages can get a chance to find some deals at two upcoming used book sales from the Alexandria libraries.
The first sale goes from Thursday, Sept. 25, to Sunday, Sept. 28, at the James M. Duncan Library (2501 Commonwealth Avenue) in Del Ray. Books will be priced at $4 for hardcovers and $2 for paperbacks, unless otherwise marked. Puzzles and games will also be on sale.
A new traveling exhibit chronicling 400 years of struggle for Black equality in the U.S. will open in Alexandria on Wednesday, Sept. 24.
The Kate Waller Branch Library (717 Queen Street) will host Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equity Exhibit from Sept. 24 until Oct. 25 (Saturday). The traveling exhibit from the Virginia Museum of History and Culture highlights the stories of Black Virginians who fought against injustice. Alexandria history makers are included in the exhibit, and the opening on Sept. 24 will be hosted by Alexandria Library Director Rose Dawson and feature a presentation from genealogist Char McCargo Bah on 15 African Americans “whose lives and legacies shaped the city’s journey toward equality,” according to Alexandria Library.
This coming Monday, September 1, is Labor Day and a number of city government offices and facilities will be closed.
Trash collection will move to Tuesday for the holiday, parking enforcement at metered spaces will be lifted, and it will be your last chance to enjoy public pools. See a full listing of what’s open and closed below.
The Alexandria Library will host its third annual Black Family Reunion on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library in Old Town, continuing an award-winning event designed to preserve African American history in the city.
The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 717 Queen Street, encourages African American families to bring documents and images to be scanned and added to the library’s Local History/Special Collections archive.
Alexandria Library Director Rose T. Dawson received the prestigious Trailblazers Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association at the organization’s annual conference in Philadelphia last month.
The award represents the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s highest honor, presented every five years to recognize pioneering contributions that have “blazed a trail” in the library profession. Dawson became the first black director of the Alexandria Library when she took the position in 2008.
