Dear Fairfax County Community,

It is finally fall here in Fairfax County and we have another great issue of Branch Out for you! Before I get into what you can expect from Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) in the coming pages and in the coming months, I wanted to congratulate all our summer reading finishers and participants. It was incredibly exciting for us to see so many smiling faces in our branches over the summer and we hope everyone’s enthusiasm for reading continues into the fall and beyond.

Another thing worth celebrating is our return to normal operating hours after a year on a modified schedule. Under normal hours, which went into effect on Aug. 28, our regional branches are open Monday-Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Thursday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., while our community branches are open on Monday and Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We want to thank everyone for their continued patience during our previous schedule modifications and look forward to helping you discover what you can do at the library with this extra time!

Looking ahead, we have a lot of big things happening this fall. Starting in September, our School Age and Teen Services Outreach team will begin hosting programming at the Community Services Room located in Tysons Corner Center. These programs will cater specifically to teens ages 12-18 and include STEM learning opportunities, arts and crafts, gaming, and more, completely free of charge.

We also have A LOT of author events planned, including:

• A virtual program with Victoria Christopher Murray, co-author of New York Times’ bestselling novels The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, on Sept. 19.
   
• A presentation from Dr. Marisa G. Franco, author of Platonic: How the Science of Attachment Can Help You Make—and Keep—Friends, at Sherwood Regional Library, also on Sept. 19.
   
• The inaugural Local Author Book Festival at Chantilly Regional Library on Sept. 30. Featuring more than 40 local authors, the event will begin with a talk by internationally renowned author David Baldacci. Be on the lookout for a special VIP event in advance, hosted by the Fairfax Library Foundation.
   
• A virtual presentation with journalist Rachel Louise Snyder, author of No Visible Bruises, on Oct. 21. This event is offered in partnership with Shelter House and the Fairfax County Department of Family Services Division of Domestic and Sexual Violence Services and will feature a discussion about local resources available to those experiencing domestic violence.

And that is just a small sample of the amazing things FCPL has planned this season. Read on to learn more about what’s happening at your local library!

Jessica A. Hudson
Director
Fairfax County Public Library