Neighbors urge Arlington County Board to keep Cherrydale Library open

Residents, frequent users and library advocates urged the Arlington County Board to preserve the Cherrydale branch as part of public testimony on the proposed FY2027 budget.

"Please allow me and generations of Arlingtonians to do so," Joe Bookbinder told the board, describing long family ties to Cherrydale and saying the branch serves different needs than the larger central library. Multiple residents stressed that the branch is child-friendly, walkable for toddlers and grandparents, and central to neighborhood social ties.

Speakers said that eliminating Cherrydale would not only reduce immediate access to books and programs but also harm intangible community benefits such as neighborhood connection and early-childhood reading habits. One resident noted that the branch has existed in some form since 1922 and called it "a jewel of the community."

Library advocates also raised budgetary and process questions and asked the board to consider alternatives rather than branch closures. The public hearing was then closed and final action on the FY2027 budget will occur at the board's April meeting.