We welcome requests for books and other materials. However, our ability to purchase materials has been greatly reduced.

In FY 2010, Fairfax County Public Library has $2.71 to buy new materials for each Fairfax County resident, down from $4.46 in FY 2008, and $6.33 in FY 2000.

The Library’s materials budget has been cut 37% in the past two years, while collection use has gone up 16%. With over six million customer visits and almost 14 million checkouts in FY 2009, there is more demand for far fewer new items.

Because we get almost 500 requests for different titles each month, we regret that we cannot place holds on requested titles as they are ordered, or respond individually to each request. Please check the catalog after three weeks to see if the item you suggested has been ordered.

If the copyright date of a title is more than two years old, it is probably unavailable for purchase; however, we may be able to borrow it for you from another library system through our interlibrary loan service.

You may also donate a book to the library through the Fairfax Library Foundation's Wish List on Amazon. The list contains high-demand titles chosen by library specialists to enhance the collection.