In 1923, the Burdett Library opened in after endowment by General Samuel S. Burdett, and the Cherrydale library opened with support from the Cherrydale League of Women's Voters as well as the Patrons League.

In 1924, the Clarendon Library followed at Citizens Hall with support from the Educational Committee of the Women's Civic Club.

In 1926, the Aurora Hills Library opened with support from the Jefferson District Women's Club.

In 1971, the library became the first in the Washington metropolitan area to have a video cassette system.

[5] Arlington Public Library began in the late 1800s with a book collection stored for the Glencarlyn community at Carlin Hall that was run by the Young People's Library Association.

In 1914, General Samuel Swinfin Burdett bequeathed the money to begin a public library in Glencarlyn, not to exceed $3,000.

Clarendon Library opened at Citizens Hall in 1924, it was started by the Educational Committee of the Women's Civic Club.

[6] In 1926, The Aurora Hills Library was started by the Jefferson District Women's Club.

[6] Arlington District Library Association began in 1928 as an alliance of 20 local organizations.

Prior to this, the libraries received little financial support from the local government and were run solely by volunteers, mostly women.

Frances Henke took on the position for a few months before going into the Army Library Service.

Nida moved into the Director of Libraries position in 1957 after Blattner retired.

[6][12] In 1981, a Kurzweil Reading Machine for the blind became a part of the Central Library.

The library catalog system becomes available at all locations and the Arlington public high schools in 1988.