Shirlington Branch Library reopened March 18, 2007

4200 Campbell Ave.
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 228-6545
(Wi-Fi)
Locator map
Shirlington Library blog

Branch Manager Susan McCarthy

Hours Monday: 10:00am - 9:00pm Tuesday & Wednesday: 1:00pm - 9:00pm Thursday: 10:00am - 6:00pm Friday & Saturday: 10:00am - 5:00pm Sunday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

General Information

Updated 3/23/2007

The 15,000-square-foot Shirlington Library, Arlington County's first new-from-the-ground-up library in 30 years, now occupies the ground level of a four-story building. The remaining space will house offices and two new performance spaces for Signature Theatre, one of Arlington's premier cultural arts organizations.

High-Tech Features

• 28 public PCs with Internet access and common business software (two for kids only; plus three library catalog only)
• Wireless high-speed Internet access
• 75-person meeting room with SMART Board
• Easy, fast, express checkout with RFID microchip technology

More Features

• Convenient free parking in the nearby parking deck
• After-hours book and media drops in the parking deck and off the plaza
• Ground-level access from both entrances, parking deck and plaza
• Java-friendly (and other non-alcoholic beverages too!)
• Special collection of standard theatrical works
• Community business area with copier, bulletin board and more
• designated handicapped parking spaces, including van access
• 10,000+ sq. ft., public plaza with seating

Gathering Spaces

1,160 sq. ft. Community Meeting Space
A welcome feature will be the flexible 1,160-square-foot meeting room. This community space can seat up to 75 people. The room can be configured to create two smaller rooms — or opened up to the library interior for larger events. An ADA-compliant meeting room, it includes audio loop and CCTV technology features.

The room is equipped with a SMART Board, technology that merges touch screen projection with a traditional whiteboard for interactive presentations and training. The room will be used for programs of all kinds, from lectures and film screenings to smaller technology classes, writer's groups, Signature Theatre's popular "Page to Stage" discussions and more. It doubles as a quiet study space when no programs are scheduled.

In addition, the library features quiet, coffee-friendly reading spaces, and a landscaped rock garden.

Public Art

Public art is an integral part of the building design. Erwin Redl designed an LED (light emitting diode) architectural light installation. The LED display runs up a channel on the entire right side of the library entrance, to draw attention to the library from as far away as the other end of the street. (Note: LEDs are digitally programmable and have extremely low power consumption.) Martha Jackson-Jarvis, a Washington , D.C. sculptor and mosaic artist, designed the mosaic art for the fountain and plaza located near the entrance to the library. Jackson-Jarvis has created public art projects for clients such as Metro and Fannie Mae.

Earth-Sun, Acrylic Abstract by Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director, Signature Theatre.

Future Japanese Rock Garden, LED panels against rear wall. ¹

Plaza fountain - river rock and glass mosaic. ²

Plaza fountain - river rock and glass mosaic - side view. ³

Environmentally Friendly

The new building incorporates many green elements, and the County will apply for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Green elements include: reuse of soil to minimize landfill hauls; energy-efficient HVAC and other systems; a reflective white roof that helps the building stay cooler in hot weather; recycled-content carpet; reduced—odor paints and glues to preserve air quality; and a "switched fluorescent" lighting system to take advantage of day lighting.

Project Facts

• Theatre/library complex is a $225 million public-private venture between Arlington County, Federal Realty Investment Trust Corporation, and Signature Theatre.
• Signature leases the three-story space above the Shirlington library.
• Grocery store and a hotel eventually will move into Shirlington Village.
• In July 2007, Shirlington's main street will be renamed Campbell Ave., honoring Arlingtonians Edmund and Elizabeth Campbell.

Shirlington Library History

The first library in Shirlington, then called Fairlington, was established in 1947 at 2780 South Randolph Street, in rented quarters in the Shirlington Trust Building. It expanded in 1952 and again in 1955. Then in July 1962, the County broke ground on a new building at 2700 South Arlington Mill Drive. Plans for the new location in the Village at Shirlington were approved in late 2000. And in 2001, the library on Arlington Mill Drive was razed and Shirlington Library moved to a temporary storefront location in the Village at Shirlington. This interim location was to have stayed open until the new building's completion. However, a flood in the restaurant above closed the library for good in November 2006. The new Library, at 4200 Campbell Ave. in the Village at Shirlington opened in 2007. It is Arlington County's first new-from-the-ground-up library in 30 years. The new library offers three times the space of Shirlington Library's last temporary home.

Directions

Map [pdf]

From Southern Virginia

• Take I-395 North
• Take Exit 6 - Shirlington / Quaker Lane.
• Bear left over highway, move into right lane, and turn left at the first traffic light onto Arlington Mill Dr.
• Proceed through the traffic light at the intersection of S. Randolph St. and Arlington Mill Drive, and then make the next left onto Campbell Ave. (formerly S. Stafford St.)
• Proceed one block and turn right into the parking garage.
• Walk from the garage to signs marked "Library, Theatre, and Retail"
• Turn right and the front of the library will be visible.

From Washington DC or Maryland

• Take I-395 South
• Take Exit 7 - Shirlington / Glebe Road and remain in the left lane of the exit sign marked "Shirlington."
• After passing below the overpass, bear right toward the Shirlington exit.
• At the end of the exit, go straight through the traffic light crossing at Shirlington Rd and proceed onto Arlington Mill Dr.
• Proceed through the traffic light at the intersection of S. Randolph St. and Arlington Mill Dr. and make the next left onto Campbell Ave. (formerly S. Stafford St.)
• Proceed one block and turn right into the parking garage.
• Walk from the garage to signs marked "Library, Theatre, and Retail"
• Turn right and the front of the library will be visible.

Metrorail and Metrobus

• The #10 and #23 buses stop at the intersection of Campbell Ave. (formerly S. 28th St.) and S. Quincy St.

Photo Credits:

1. Future Japanese Rock Garden, LED panels against rear wall. Artist, Erwin Redl
2. Plaza fountain - river rock and glass mosaic. Artist, Martha Jackson-Jarvis
3. Plaza fountain - river rock and glass mosaic - side view. Artist, Martha Jackson-Jarvis