Dear Fairfax County community,

I would like to thank both our customers and staff members for your flexibility in January when Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) returned to offering curbside and virtual services only and to welcome you back into our branches for express services! 

Whatever our service model, library staff are eager to discuss your needs and select materials appropriate for various age ranges and reading interests. Whether you’re most comfortable continuing to use curbside services or if you’d like to visit us inside, we can create customized bags of books and other materials for you to pick up at the branch of your choice. FCPL also continues to offer a robust array of virtual programs, telephone and online chat reference support, and readers' advisory services. 

Ensuring digital access remains an important part of our mission. Chromebook laptops are now available for checkout from the Centreville, George Mason, Reston and Sherwood regional branches for at-home use up to two weeks at a time.   

We continue to highlight and celebrate the diversity of our community. Our new Diversity and Inclusion Programming (DAIP) committee facilitated virtual events for all ages and many interests for Black History Month, and it will put together programming for other upcoming commemorative dates, including Hispanic Heritage Month this fall. Stay tuned for more information!

The American Library Association’s National Library Week falls April 4-10 this year. As during previous library weeks, FCPL will offer its customers of all ages a chance to Read Away Your Fines. Every 15 minutes of reading logged during this week removes $1 in fines, up to a maximum of $15 per customer. 

Enabling our customers to safely enjoy library programming during the COVID-19 pandemic is a priority, with virtual opportunities providing unique ways to engage with each other. Our partner Fall for the Book is co-hosting An Evening with Kristin Hannah April 22. Ms. Hannah is the bestselling author of The Nightingale, Firefly Lane, Winter Garden and many others. Firefly Lane was recently adapted as a Netflix series featuring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. During this event, Ms. Hannah will be in conversation with Tayla Burney, a longtime public radio producer in Washington, D.C.

For more information about these initiatives and more, stay tuned to our homepage and follow us on social media!

Best wishes for happy reading and a healthy spring,

Jessica A. Hudson
Director
Fairfax County Public Library