A successful advocacy effort to keep Cherrydale Library open earlier this year has received honors from the Virginia Library Association.
The organization gave the Citizens for Cherrydale Library its 2026 Advocacy Award for lobbying county leaders to turn back from plans to shutter the library during the local government’s fiscal year 2027 budget process.
The library association made the award based on the group’s “successful community campaign that preserved Arlington Public Library’s Cherrydale Library hours, staffing capacity and services.”
More than 1,500 local residents signed an online petition, spoke at one of the public budget hearings, attended an in-person or virtual Open-Door Monday meeting with a County Board member, met personally with members of the Board, wrote letters or emails to the Board, petitioned door-to-door, wore Cherrydale Library T-shirts and pins, and displayed pro-library yard signs.
One of the community’s responses to the county government’s proposal was a heartfelt YouTube video, prepared by students from Dorothy Hamm Middle School.
As a result of the combined efforts, County Board members rescinded the closure proposal from County Manager Mark Schwartz.
It was just the latest effort by county staff to close or reduce operating hours at the community library. Citizens for Cherrydale Library was founded in 1998 by Michael Gessel and Greg and Suzanne Embree to support its continued operation.
Gessel, who currently serves as the organization’s president, said, “We are honored that the Virginia Library Association recognized the Citizens for Cherrydale Library for our work protecting this beloved community institution. The real honor belongs to the people of Arlington County who united to keep the library open.”
Citizens for Cherrydale Library will receive the award at a reception in connection with the Virginia Library Association’s annual conference, to be held next month in Norfolk.
