Cherrydale Branch Library

Serving North Arlington since 1922

County Board Candidates Discuss Cherrydale Library

In July 2007, the neighborhood volunteer group, Citizens for Cherrydale Library (CCL), conducted its usual pre-election query of each candidate for County Board. The CCL provided these answers to the Arlington Sun Gazette and the Cherrydale Sweet & Sour News. The CCL also promised to post each candidate's answers on the Cherrydale and Maywood neighborhood list-serves.
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1. Do you support maintaining the current funding level of the Arlington County Department of Libraries?

Mary Hynes: I do support maintaining the current level of funding of the Arlington County Department of Libraries and, if resources allow, would support increased funding for the Department. I would also hope that the Department of Libraries staff would, by finding efficiencies, be able to expand services within existing funding l evels. In an information age and especially in a community that values information, our libraries are a vital resource for the all of us. At a time when access to information on the Internet is increasingly vital for so many business and personal purposes, our libraries play an essential role in closing the digital divide. In Arlington, everyone may not want or be able to afford their own computer and Internet service, but through our libraries, it’s important that we ensure all Arlingtonians have easy access.

Mike McMenamin: Absolutely! In fact, I will ensure that future libraries are built on time and on budget. Residents of the county have waited too long for new libraries to be built, such as Shirlington and Westover.

Josh Ruebner: Yes.

Walter Tejada: I believe that libraries are an essential part of our community. For many Arlingtonians, especially children, they are a critical place to learn. Together with our schools, libraries are a basic educational resource for neighborhood residents. Therefore, we must ensure that we protect library services.
The County's FY 2008 budget, which I recently voted for, contained an increase of more than $200,000 in library funds over 2007 expenditures, which in turn represented an increase of over $700,000 from the 2006 budget. Community support for libraries continues to be high. While I am always on the lookout for ways to make our government more efficient, I am not willing to do so at the expense of essential County services like libraries. Therefore, I will likely continue to support strong funding of our library system.

Joseph Warren: I do support the current funding level for the Dept. of Libraries.

2. What are your views on concentrating the County's library system in a smaller number of locations as opposed to maintaining the network of neighborhood libraries?

Mary Hynes: Neighborhood libraries like neighborhood schools contribute tremendously to the quality of life of nearby residents. They facilitate easy access to the world of information for so many Arlingtonians, from our youngest who visit to hear stories read aloud, to our elderly neighbors for whom a neighborhood library conveniently offers the latest books, magazines and books-on-tape. In a community like ours, which is working to increase walking and reduce emissions associated with unnecessary driving, neighborhood libraries make so much sense.

Mike McMenamin: Neighborhood libraries are an important part of the community. Community activities occur at neighborhood libraries, such as book clubs and children's reading events. These libraries are utilized by the community and should remain.

Josh Ruebner: I support maintaining a mix of larger libraries with a network of smaller neighborhood libraries.

Walter Tejada: As pledged when first elected in 2003, I continue to support maintaining the network of neighborhood libraries. Preserving the character of existing neighborhoods is one of my central goals, and local libraries are unquestionably a part of that character.
Neighborhood branches also make sense from a user's standpoint. Their manageable size is less intimidating and creates a more welcoming environment. A neighborhood librarian is more likely to get to know individual patrons and be able to help them find reading material or give them reference help. Neighborhood libraries are close to home and, because of their size, are usually easier for residents to use. They are especially valuable for children, teenagers and others who can't drive.
Even for the rest of us, having many convenient neighborhood library locations encourages walking and helps keep us out of our cars.
With a strong inter-library loan program and with increased use of virtual library (including e-books and electronic information databases for homework, business and education), we can make our neighborhood libraries even stronger.

Joseph Warren: Neighborhood libraries are important in a community. The local libraries don't need to offer the full services that the central library does. These services, such as many computers for public use, are expensive and should be concentrated at the main library. But for those who simply want to read newspapers and magazines or do limited research, local libraries do this very well. I have often gone to the former small library in Shirlington just to read several newspapers and used magazines such as Consumer Reports for research.

3. As a member of the County Board, will you seek to close Cherrydale Library?

Mary Hynes: No. In recent years, the County Board has been asked this question several times. Each time, Board Members have decided to keep Cherrydale Library open. Except in extraordinary circumstances, I see no reason why my position would differ.

Mike McMenamin: No. As a long time Cherrydale and Maywood resident, my family has used the library on many occasions, and so do most of my neighbors. It, like other neighborhood libraries, is an important resource for adults and children alike.

Josh Ruebner: As a member of the County Board, I would work to ensure that Cherrydale and all other neighborhood libraries remain open.

Walter Tejada: Absolutely not. The library provides essential services and is a part of Cherrydale's neighborhood character. It should remain open.

Joseph Warren: As a Board member, I will not attempt to close the Cherrydale Library.

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This site is maintained by Citizens for Cherrydale Library, a group of citizen volunteers seeking since 1998 to promote and preserve our most important neighborhood institution. Contact us at suza1@comcast.net with any questions or comments.