Varsity Force

Makerspace

The Shop is Arlington Public Library’s makerspace at Central Library, 2nd floor, 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22201. Open Lab supports personal and collaborative projects, feedback, experimentation, and staff assistance; active library card, completed Maker User Agreement, and age 9+ are

The Shop is Arlington Public Library’s makerspace at Central Library, 2nd floor, 1015 North Quincy Street, Arlington, VA 22201. Open Lab supports personal and collaborative projects, feedback, experimentation, and staff assistance; active library card, completed Maker User Agreement, and age 9+ are required

The Shop offers free programs in sewing techniques, 3D-printing projects, social crafting, and introductions to the Silhouette Cameo Cutter and Glowforge Laser Cutter

At: Central

Cost: The Shop offers free programs in sewing techniques, 3D-printing projects, social crafting, and introductions to the Silhouette Cameo Cutter and Glowforge Laser Cutter

Ages: active library card, completed Maker User Agreement, and age 9+ are required

3D printing

The Shop has staff-operated 3D printers. Patrons must submit a 3D Printing request and make an appointment for a 3D Printing consultation; consumables cost $0.05 per gram and resin printing costs $0.15 per mL

The Shop’s equipment includes an Epson F170 sublimation printer, button makers, a Logan 350 mat cutter, glass-cutting tools, a glass grinder, and a Fuseworks Craft Glass Fusion Kiln. The kiln requires a certification class and online reservation

Cost: consumables cost $0.05 per gram and resin printing costs $0.15 per mL

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

The Shop has a Glowforge laser cutter. Use requires a certification class and online reservation, is restricted to makers age 18 and older, and requires patrons to provide their own materials

The Shop has a Silhouette CAMEO 3 vinyl cutter and vinyl heat press. Adhesive vinyl costs $0.50 per sheet and heat-transfer vinyl costs $0.75 per sheet

Cost: The Shop has a Silhouette CAMEO 3 vinyl cutter and vinyl heat press. Adhesive vinyl costs $0.50 per sheet and heat-transfer vinyl costs $0.75 per sheet

Ages: The Shop has a Glowforge laser cutter. Use requires a certification class and online reservation, is restricted to makers age 18 and older, and requires patrons to provide their own materials

Sewing and textiles

The Shop has Brother CS6000i and Brother CS7000i computerized sewing and quilting machines, Brother PE800 and PE900 embroidery machines, SINGER 14HD854 Heavy Duty Serger, and SINGER Heavy Duty 6800C sewing machine

The Shop has Hatch Embroidery Digitizer, dress forms in sizes small through large, and requires patrons to provide their own fabric and thread

Creative software

The Shop provides Build-a-Button software

Children’s computer stations include Microsoft Office; George W. Hawkes Downtown Library Chromeboxes provide internet access and Google web-based apps

At: George W. Hawkes Downtown

Kids' STEM

Little Explorers programs for ages 0–4 focus on art, math, science, engineering, and fine-motor skills

The library offers STEAM programs covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, plus homeschool programs with STEAM activities

Read It Again STEM Kits contain educational toys, games, DVDs, CDs, puppets, and books focused on science, technology, engineering, and math for grade-school-aged students

Ages: Little Explorers programs for ages 0–4 focus on art, math, science, engineering, and fine-motor skills | Read It Again STEM Kits contain educational toys, games, DVDs, CDs, puppets, and books focused on science, technology, engineering, and math for grade-school-aged students

Homework help

Brainfuse HelpNow provides free K–12, all-subject online tutoring with a library card, including on-demand tutoring, an online writing lab, and study sessions

Learning Express Library provides grades 3–8 tutorials, practice sheets, and test preparation in math, reading, writing, and social studies, including STAAR preparation

H.O.P.E. Tutoring provides weekly onsite, all-subject tutoring for grades 2–8 at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, East Library and Recreation Center, and Southeast Library; students must sign up

Brainfuse HelpNow includes live tutoring in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP, and state standardized tests, plus a 24-Hour Writing Lab and homework-question assistance

At: George W. Hawkes Downtown, East, Southeast, Columbia Pike, Courthouse

Cost: Brainfuse HelpNow provides free K–12, all-subject online tutoring with a library card, including on-demand tutoring, an online writing lab, and study sessions | it is free and may be booked for two hours per day, up to twice per week

Ages: Learning Express Library provides grades 3–8 tutorials, practice sheets, and test preparation in math, reading, writing, and social studies, including STAAR preparation | H.O.P.E. Tutoring provides weekly onsite, all-subject tutoring for grades 2–8 at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library, East Library and Recreation Center, and Southeast Library

Career resources

Brainfuse HelpNow’s Adult Learning Center provides live professional assistance with resume and cover-letter writing

The Teleconnect Space may be booked for job interviews, career-counseling meetings, college or scholarship interviews, meetings with college counselors or financial-aid decision-makers, and SCORE counselor meetings

Ages: Brainfuse HelpNow’s Adult Learning Center provides live professional assistance with resume and cover-letter writing

Nature and farm programmes

Nature Backpacks support exploration of Virginia State Parks and nature study, with guides to bugs and slugs, animal tracks, Virginia birds, mammals, Virginia trees and geology, plus a field-observation container, dip net, magnifying lens, and activities

Library of Things

Nature Backpacks include a Virginia State Parks parking pass, Pocket Naturalist Guides, Port-A-Bug observation container, dip net, magnifying lens, Leave No Trace card, and activity suggestions. They check out for one week, cannot be renewed, and may be placed on hold through the catalog

The Game Collection lends games for all ages for one week; games may be renewed once when not on hold and returned to any library location

The library has 100 Books Before Kindergarten backpacks available for checkout from any library location, each containing 10 picture books

Read it Again Kits contain educational toys, games, DVDs, CDs, puppets, and books and are available for checkout at any library location

Ages: The Game Collection lends games for all ages for one week

Museum and park passes

Nature Backpacks include a parking pass for free parking and entrance to all Virginia State Parks except Natural Bridge State Park and Southwest Virginia Museum State Park, which charge per-person entry fees

At: Southwest

Cost: Nature Backpacks include a parking pass for free parking and entrance to all Virginia State Parks except Natural Bridge State Park and Southwest Virginia Museum State Park, which charge per-person entry fees

Memory lab and digitisation

The Shop has a ClearClick Video to Digital Converter for VHS and Beta, Epson Perfection V600 Flatbed Scanner for photos, film, and slides, Epson FastFoto 680W photo scanner, Wolverine Data Film2Digital MovieMaker-PRO for 8mm and Super 8 conversion, and ION Audio Classic LP 3-Speed USB Conversion Tur

The Shop has a ClearClick Video to Digital Converter for VHS and Beta, Epson Perfection V600 Flatbed Scanner for photos, film, and slides, Epson FastFoto 680W photo scanner, Wolverine Data Film2Digital MovieMaker-PRO for 8mm and Super 8 conversion, and ION Audio Classic LP 3-Speed USB Conversion Turntable for vinyl

Teen space

The Young Adult Area at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library is reserved for teens during the week and is intended for exploring, hanging out, and special teen programs; dates and times are provided through a linked schedule

Teen Corner is Arlington Public Library’s teen-only Discord server, with library announcements, events, Teen Services staff chat, and channels for teen volunteers and Library Youth Ambassadors. Teens apply online and receive an invitation from library staff; students age 12 and under cannot participate under Discord’s terms

Library Youth Ambassadors help shape teen programs and services and develop leadership and teamwork skills. Members must be approved library volunteers and complete a membership application; meetings are scheduled for the first and third Thursday of each month, 5:30–6:30 p.m.

Teen Advisory Board members compile annual top-10 recommended book lists for their schools. Middle School TAB meets during lunch in school libraries; High School TAB meets monthly at Central Library, where pizza is provided

At: Central, George W. Hawkes Downtown, Southwest

Cost: Teen programs include Rebel Writers for grades 7–12, Dungeons & Dragons Free Play and Basics Sessions at Southwest Branch, Chess Club, H.O.P.E. Tutoring, Family events, and Teen Time

Ages: The Young Adult Area at George W. Hawkes Downtown Library is reserved for teens during the week and is intended for exploring, hanging out, and special teen programs | Teen Corner is Arlington Public Library’s teen-only Discord server, with library announcements, events, Teen Services staff chat, and channels for teen volunteers and Library Youth Ambassadors. Teens apply online and receive an invi

Gaming, esports and VR

The Game Collection provides games for players of all ages that encourage continued learning, constructive play, and creative thinking. Games check out for one week, may be renewed once if not on hold, and can be returned to any library location

Teen programming includes Dungeons & Dragons Free Play and Basics Sessions at Southwest Branch and Chess Club for teens ages 13–17

At: Southwest

Cost: Teen programming includes Dungeons & Dragons Free Play and Basics Sessions at Southwest Branch and Chess Club for teens ages 13–17

Ages: The Game Collection provides games for players of all ages that encourage continued learning, constructive play, and creative thinking. Games check out for one week, may be renewed once if not on hold, and can be returned to any library location | Teen programming includes Dungeons & Dragons Free Play and Basics Sessions at Southwest Branch and Chess Club for teens ages 13–17