Cherrydale Branch Library

Serving North Arlington since 1922

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This report--written by 9-year-old Rebecca Joskow on March 26, 2009--earned
her membership in
Time for Kids,--an offshoot of Time magazine--and
an exciting day at the White House, where she interviewed presidential speechwriter
Sarah Hurwitz. Scroll further down to see photos of Rebecca at the White House on
September 2, 2009.

Arlington County Board’s Library Budget Cuts

By Rebecca Joskow, Arlington, Virginia (March 26, 2009)

March 24, 2009 was the Arlington County Board’s budget meeting. “Three libraries
with comparatively few users – Aurora Hills, Cherrydale, and Glencarlyn—would be
open three days a week instead of six,” was one of the County Manager’s proposals.
The Arlington Library Department needs to cut more than $900,000 from its $12.4
million budget.

Cherrydale is one of Arlington’s smaller libraries, but its supporters came out in
full force at the budget hearing. Many people spoke for keeping Cherrydale’s current
hours. They noted that reducing the hours will lead to fewer people using the library,
which may lead to the library being shut down. Neighbors spoke about the environmental
cost of having to drive to Arlington’s Central Library rather than walk to Cherrydale.

Cherrydale is close to H.B. Woodlawn Middle School. Many middle school students go to
Cherrydale after school to wait for their parents, do homework, or volunteer. At the budget
hearing, one of these students, Melissa Joskow, spoke about her experiences volunteering
at the library. “I now know where all the cassette tapes go, which color is science fiction,
and even the staff bathroom,” she said.

A number of parents at the hearing explained that their children feel more comfortable in
a small, neighborhood library than at the main branch. In smaller libraries, kids know
where to find the children’s books and become friendly with the library staff. Elderly
people meet there, as well as book groups. Many people commented on how kind and helpful
the Cherrydale library staff were and how staff members always remembered them.

Supporters at the hearing noted that the number of visitors to Arlington libraries between
July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009 rose 8%. Newspapers across the country have reported a rise
in library use during these hard economic times. People without computers have been going
to libraries to look for jobs on the internet.

Another Cherrydale supporter at the hearing, Lisa Sockett, pointed out that President Obama
in his February 24 speech to Congress encouraged parents to read more to their children,
which will be harder to do if libraries’ hours are cut. In sum, many people spoke at the
budget hearing about the need to support Arlington’s libraries, not cut their hours.

Supporters of Cherrydale library have started a petition on the internet. Over 800 people
had signed the petition at the time of the budget hearing.

WH Fence
Nine-year-old Rebecca Joskow in front of the White House, September 2, 2009.




WH Gate' Program
Rebecca at the White House gate on her big day.




With Sarah Hurwitz
Rebecca in the White House with presidential speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz, whom Rebecca interviewed on September 2, 2009.






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