Dear Fairfax County Community,

Welcome summer! It may be hot outside, but Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) has tons of cool news and events to share with you.

The highlight of every summer is of course our annual Summer Reading Adventure from June 12 to Aug. 18 for all ages. This year’s theme is “Adventure Begins at Your Library” and that’s certainly true! There is so much to explore at your local library, whether it’s in the pages of a book or at one of our fantastic events and programs. I invite you to learn more about the adventures awaiting you by reading this issue’s feature article, "Adventure Awaits!" starting on page 4 that highlights several fun contests, events and programs.

From puppet shows to musical performances and even laser tag for teens, a calendar of all the Summer Reading Adventure fun can be found at bit.ly/FCPL_SRAEvents.

There are also two BIG opportunities to celebrate summer reading fun this year with games, crafts, snacks, face painting, a photo booth and more! The second annual Fairfax Library Foundation Children’s Summer Reading Festivals will be held Saturday, June 15 at Woodrow Wilson Library from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday, Aug. 15 at Chantilly Regional Library from 12 to 3 p.m. And like most things at the library, they’re FREE!

In addition to the start of summer, June is also recognized as Pride Month. Because everyone belongs at the library, FCPL will celebrate the contributions of members of the LGBTQIA+ community all month long with workshops, book discussions, trivia, crafts and more. The highlight of the month includes two amazing author events. First up at George Mason Regional Library on Saturday, June 8, USA TODAY bestselling and Lambda Literary Award-winning author of I'm So Not Over You and A Dash of Salt and Pepper Kosoko Jackson will discuss his work, writing process and more. Then, in a virtual program on Thursday, June 20, hear from New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, The Extraordinaries and more, TJ Klune. For a complete list of Pride events at a library near you visit bit.ly/FCPL_LBGTQIAEvents.

Finally, please note that Reston Regional Library will temporarily close for an anticipated ten-week facility renovation this summer. The last day of service to the public will be Friday, June 28, with work beginning on Monday, July 1. This brief and necessary refresh will enhance library visitors’ experiences and complete important facility modernizations to ensure that it remains usable, clean and safe for the duration of the building’s lifespan. While this library is closed, customers are invited to visit a nearby branch – close options include Herndon Fortnightly Library, Great Falls Library and Chantilly Regional Library. Staff can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations and materials may be picked up or returned to any FCPL branch.

We hope you have a great summer… and don’t forget to keep on reading!

Jessica A. Hudson
Director
Fairfax County Public Library