Library/County Hours During the Holidays

Updated 12/19  to add Dec. 24 information--


All Arlington Public Library locations will be closing early on:

  • Saturday, Dec. 24 - closing at 2 p.m.



All Arlington Public Library locations will be CLOSED on:
  • Sunday, Dec. 25 - Monday, Dec. 26
  • Sunday, Jan.1 - Monday, Jan. 2.

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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousDecember 14, 2011 at 3:54 PM

    Why would you be open Christmas Eve instead of the Monday after Christmas? That doesn't make sense, not to mention the impact on your employees.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Arlington Public Library, Public Information OfficeDecember 14, 2011 at 4:39 PM

    Hello Anonymous Dec. 14, 3:54 PM,

    Good question.

    The Library's operational calendar follows the County's, which is based on the Federal government's.

    http://news.arlingtonva.us/pr/ava/christmas-new-year-s-holiday-closures-220468.aspx

    http://www.opm.gov/Operating_Status_Schedules/fedhol/2011.asp

    For the Arlington County and Federal governments this holiday season, the official holiday for Christmas and New Year's is on a Monday because Dec. 25 and Jan. 1 fall on Sundays, when most government employees are not regularly scheduled to work. Most government employees also do not work on Saturdays, on which both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve fall this year.

    Because employees are only given one day off for Christmas and one day off New Year's, the federal government probably favored Monday based on the precedent of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, effective since 1971, which applies to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day and Veterans Day.

    Because all Library locations close at 5 p.m. on Saturdays, all Library employees will be able to head out to celebrate Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve just about the time the sun goes down.

    Thanks for asking.

    ReplyDelete
  3. MatthewDecember 15, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    Actually, I think it makes sense to close on the day after Christmas, which, as you indicate, is the holiday for Christmas this year. I thought you might also close earlier on Christmas Eve, though. I am glad that you are open regular Saturday hours on New Year's Eve though (I will probably come to a library on Dec. 31). I understand that, since Christmas and New Year's Day are Sundays, the following Monday is the "official" holiday in each case.
    Thanks for all you do. I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousDecember 16, 2011 at 10:21 AM

    Thanks for the informative background on how the government decides a day is a holiday. FYI, Fairfax, Alexandria, Montgomery, and Loudoun libraries are all closed on Christmas Eve. DC is closing early. Wish you all a Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

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