Beyond the Book Cover
MYTH: Libraries are just for kids.
BUSTED! Most libraries do offer a lot of early literacy programming and resources; we want to plant the seeds of learning early in developing brains. We employ youth services specialists who offer storytimes and sing-alongs, as well as adult services specialists who focus on resources and programming for adults.
The number of items in our physical collection is split almost evenly between materials for adults and materials for children and teens. Our collection is constantly evolving, but when we did the math in May, the number of items tilted ever-so-slightly in favor of “juvenile” categories (materials for children and teens) at 50.1%. Our digital collection favors adult users, with 69% of the items categorized as adult materials. We know commuters love their eAudiobooks!
Resources like LinkedIn Learning are also perfect for adults looking to enhance their professional skills. Explore courses on project management, marketing, software and more!
MYTH: All library events are just author talks.
BUSTED! Libraries bring in all kinds of presenters, not just authors and literary types. FCPL frequently hosts individuals with knowledge in gardening, history and wellness.
Our spring and summer schedules are packed with programs devoted to gardening. Find events on how to incorporate native plants, build a Zen Garden, swap house plants and more at bit.ly/FCPL_garden. Members of the Burke Historical Society frequently give presentations about local history through FCPL. Learn more about these presentations at bit.ly/FCPL_BurkeHistorical. For those into fitness or trying to become fit, we offer yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, meditation and other wellness programs both virtually and in person throughout the year. Want to learn to cook? We offer classes that will teach you how to use your air fryer or how to incorporate sprouted beans in your cooking.
MYTH: Libraries are so 20th century.
BUSTED! We know that is what a lot of people think. But guess what?
According to the Pew Research Center, the typical American reads five books a year. They have to get those books somewhere! Reading habits are changing in the 21st century, and 30% of American adults read at least one eBook in 2021, which is up five percentage points from 2020. Print books remain the most popular format for reading, with 65% of adults in 2021 saying they read a print book in the past year.
Libraries are evolving with reading habits. At FCPL, our eCirculation (including eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines) increased by 17% in fiscal year 2021.
One reading stat from the Pew Research Center we love: The share of adults with an annual household income of less than $30,000 who listened to an audiobook increased eight percentage points in 2021 over 2019. We hope that is because people are learning that their local library branches offer free access to digital formats!
MYTH: I don't need a book, so I don't need a library.
BUSTED! Reading has many benefits. According to a 2020 study published by Cambridge University Press, people who read more are less likely to experience cognitive decline. A 2017 study published in the journal Innovations in Aging suggests that book readers actually live longer. With that in mind, we hope you do take up reading! But even if you do not, it is worth your time to get a library card.
If you prefer to listen to your books or read on a device instead of hauling around a book, we understand! That is why FCPL offers a digital collection that includes eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines.
Even if you are not at all a reader (or listener), there maybe something for you at your local library. Do you like the outdoors? Check out one of our I Love Virginia State Parks backpacks, which includes a pass to Virginia’s state parks.
Still no? Well, do you own a home? One of our thermal imaging cameras or newly-launched Conserve Kits may help streamline your to-do list.
Need to borrow a laptop? We have Chromebooks with their own mobile hotspots available for borrowing!
We also have databases covering information from A to, well, W. The Auto Repair Source can provide the maintenance schedule and additional information about your vehicle. We also have searchable archives of The Washington Post and about 95 other databases between the two.
MYTH: Being a librarian is easy.
BUSTED! We certainly hope our staff enjoy their jobs and want to come to work. But that does not mean becoming or being a librarian is easy!
If you are asking a question at the information desk, you are talking to a librarian or a library information assistant. Our librarians have Master of Science degrees in either Library Science or Library and Information Science. They have had specialized education on research methods (e.g., genealogy), collection maintenance (which includes reviewing and selecting books)and other library materials. Librarians are well educated in the importance of intellectual freedom and the history of censorship and strive to support intellectual freedom in their collection development and programming.
Some librarians focus on children and teens. They plan and present programs to support early literacy practices and promote a love of reading.
Information assistants work alongside our librarians but are not required to have a master’s degree from an American Library Association (ALA)-accredited library school. Under the supervision of a professional librarian, they also provide information services to visitors of all ages, including reference, programming, outreach and recommend reading materials to library users. They all have had previous or “on-the-job” training in research and reader's advisory (the process of recommending books).
All our managers who work at the information desk are librarians and serve as the person in charge of the library. They oversee programming and reference services and supervise other librarians and information assistants.
MYTH: Libraries are free.
BUSTED! Free to the user, yes!
Libraries are free to the user, of course! FCPL ended the practice of charging overdue fines for most materials beginning Jan. 1, so you do not even have to worry about the cost of fines if you return materials a bit late.
However, books, streaming services, eTitles, bookmarks, programs and magazines are not free. Authors and other creators must be compensated somehow, and libraries are no exception. Fairfax County provides FCPL with a budget each year and behind most of our new initiatives, including our launch of Kanopy earlier this year, is a web of county dollars, grant funding, donations from Friends of the Library groups and other funding sources.
We have staff who devote their time to ensuring that our budget is wisely invested to provide a range of materials and programming that appeals to the diverse community which invests in us.
How can you be a good library citizen? Once you have enjoyed your book, whether it is digital or a physical book, return it as soon as possible so another library user can enjoy this shared resource.
There is also the matter of staffing. Libraries do benefit from volunteer support, but most people you see working in the library are not volunteers but paid staff members.