Library

National Friends of the Library Week (October 19-25, 2025) is an opportunity for Fairfax County Public Library to thank our many Friends groups for their contributions throughout the year.  These individual groups support, assist and promote library activities for the local community. Every Friends group makes valuable contributions to the entire library, as well as their own branch. Most Friends groups hold book sales, and the proceeds are donated back to the library to help the library acquire books and equipment as well as sponsor programs and exhibits beyond the library's operating budget. 

We express our sincere appreciation to all of our Friends of the Library volunteers! Over the course of FY2025, our Friends groups donated more than $369,660 and provided 37,297 hours of support to our system.

Our Friends Groups Include:

• Access Services Advisory Group
• Friends of Burke Centre Library
• Friends of Centreville Regional Library
• Friends of Chantilly Regional Library
• Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library
• Friends of Culmore Library
• Friends of Dolley Madison Library
• Friends of George Mason Regional Library
• Friends of Great Falls Library
• Friends of Herndon Fortnightly Library
• Friends of Kings Park Library
• Friends of Kingstowne Library
• Friends of Lorton Library
• Friends of Martha Washington Library
• Friends of Oakton Library
• Friends of Patrick Henry Library
• Friends of Pohick Regional Library
• Friends of Reston Regional Library
• Friends of Richard Byrd Library
• Friends of Sherwood Regional Library
• Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library
• Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library
• Friends of the Virginia Room

2025 Friends Choice Awards

The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees and community members will gather on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Chantilly Regional Library to celebrate the library’s Friends groups and recognize members nominated by their peers for their service.  

Join your library's Friends group today!

Community members wishing to become part of a Friends groups can find out more information on the library’s Friends website. This page includes a list of the different Friends groups throughout Fairfax County as well as details on membership and how to join. You can become actively involved or simply have the satisfaction of supporting a worthwhile cause. Consider donating your used books to the library for sale during Friends' book sales!

By Hannivett Nabahe, Virginia Room Librarian, City of Fairfax Regional Library

Family History Month is about more than looking back: it is about making space for today’s stories so that they can be remembered tomorrow. Every shared memory, recipe and photograph adds to the larger story of who we are. This October, the Virginia Room invites you to spend some time reflecting on the connections between your personal story and those from the community we share.

The Virginia Room is Fairfax County’s foremost collections of books, photographs, and manuscripts related to its history and genealogy. Since 1954, we’ve grown from a single shelf to the entire second floor of the City of Fairfax Regional Library. Across manuscript collections, historical newspapers and other print and online resources, our materials capture the everyday lives and major milestones of people who have shaped our community.

Beyond scholarly or historical research, we welcome all community members to explore their collective past. See what your relatives looked like decades ago through our hundreds of yearbooks from area schools. Explore the history of your home through our maps and county records tracing property ownership since 1742. Picture how daily life has evolved over the decades through our collections of images (over a million!) of neighborhoods, notable areas, and community members.

Looking to trace your family roots? For many, including Georgene Chastain of the Fairfax Genealogical Society, the Virginia Room is “a treasure for genealogists and local family historians.” Even though our name is the Virginia Room, our print genealogical materials span all 50 states.

We are excited to offer special programing for Family History Month. Homeschool Science for Kids is reprising our summer workshop, helping school-age children capture family stories in their own words. Gunston Hall’s Lacey Villiva will lead our Preserving Family Recipes event, where attendees will explore historic recipes and experience a delicious demonstration based on a recipe from our collection, “bringing recipes and flavors from even farther back, helping humanize history.”

We also provide genealogy programming year-round. Our Genealogy for Beginners series, designed by a local enthusiast, eases community members into their first steps through their family tree. And we host monthly Open Genealogy Nights, where volunteers from the Fairfax Genealogical Society help solve tough family history puzzles.

Of course, you can also find resources for preserving your memories across our library branches. Memory Depot stations allow you to preserve your photographs, family movies, and voice recordings. Family History Kits, part of our Library of Things, are available in English, Korean and Spanish, to help you get started recording your family stories prompt cards, a digital recorder and a beginner’s guide.

We in the Virginia Room hope you will join us in celebrating and preserving the stories that connects us. Whether you are a curious beginner just starting their journey, a seasoned researcher in need of centuries-old documentation, or a local organization looking to preserve your institutional stories for generations to come, we would love for you to visit and explore what we have to offer.

Check out more FCPL Family History Month events:
*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.   

Intergenerational Family Tree Word Art – Saturday, October 4 - City of Fairfax Regional Library
Use your ancestors' names to create the unique branches of your family tree. Bring the names of your family members to this Intergenerational program tie-in for Family History Month. This is a great project to complete as an intergenerational family! Ages 8 and up.

Fighting Crime One Tree at a Time – Friday, October 10 – Dolley Madison Library
Join us for a compelling deep dive into the cutting-edge world of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) and how it's transforming the way cold cases are solved. Whether you're in law enforcement, forensics, genealogy, or simply passionate about true crime and justice, this program will show you how science and strategy are rewriting cold case investigations. Adults.

Family History for Kids and Loved Ones – Monday, October 13 – Thomas Jefferson Library 
Bring along Grandma, Grandpa, or another loved one and celebrate Family History Month with an intergenerational family history program! Ages 8-12 with an adult.

Tell Your Story - Creating an Oral History – Thursday, October 16 – Kings Park Library
Creating an oral history is a meaningful way to share memories and experiences with your family. Discuss the importance of leaving an oral history, and learn how to start an interview with a loved one or create your own recording. Adults.

Cookbook Book Club: Family History Month – Tuesday, October 28 – Pohick Regional Library
Celebrate Family History Month at the inaugural meeting of Pohick Regional Library's Cookbook Book Club! Bring a dish inspired by your family's history. Adults. 

Tracing back to a week-long celebration in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month was officially recognized in 1988 by President Ronald Regan and honors the significant roles Hispanic/Latino Americans have played in shaping the United States since the beginning of the county. From September 15 to October 15, Fairfax County Public Library is joining several others in celebrating the many contributions to our country made by people of Hispanic and Latino ancestry with presentations, musical performances, storytimes, crafts and more. 

Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you:   

*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.   

Hispanic Heritage Month Art Party: Arpilleras – Richard Byrd Library – Saturday, September 13 
Get inspired by the Chilean fabric art of arpilleras and tell your own story in fabric using both sewing and no-sew techniques.  

Botanical Cyanotypes – Pohick Regional Library – Saturday, September 20 
Explore the connection between cyanotypes, also called sun prints, and Hispanic heritage with local artist, Claudia Valdovinos. 

D.I.Y. Microscope-Making – Sherwood Regional Library – Tuesday, September 23 
Assemble your own microscope in honor of Hispanic inventor Albert Báez, then forage for specimens to study up close. 

Bilingual Storytime with Supervisor Palchik – Oakton Library – Thursday, September 25 
Join us for a bilingual storytime that includes stories, songs and rhymes in English and Spanish with a special reading by Supervisor Dalia Palchik. 

Hispanic Heritage Month BINGO – Kings Park Library – Friday, September 26 
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a culturally-inspired game of BINGO! Shout out as you get five in a row to win awesome prizes! 

Grupo Fenix Performances – Various Branches – Saturday, September 27 
Experience the passion, pride and iconic sounds that define mariachi music and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with electrifying performances from Grupo Fénix, 

Colorful Cooking – Lorton Library – Monday, September 29 
Explore the colorful world of cooking and Hispanic heritage by creating a tasty salad together from My Mexican Kitchen by Eva Longoria. 

Inform, Enrich, Empower: Celebrate Local Latinx Leaders – Virtual – Thursday, October 2 
Hear from inspiring Hispanic and Latinx leaders as they share stories of how their strength and resilience have led them to successful careers and positive contributions to our society. 

Cempasúchil: A Paper Marigold Pop-up Craft – Thomas Jefferson Library – Saturday, October 11 
Pop into the library and craft your own cempasúchil, a paper marigold that is an iconic symbol of Day of the Dead. 

Hispanic Folktales with Bright Star Theater – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Monday, October 20 
Enjoy a performance that celebrates the various folk tale traditions of the Spanish-speaking world featuring a variety of characters from a wide range of cultures. 

For a complete list of Hispanic Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_HispanicHeritage. 

You can also celebrate by participating in our Hispanic Heritage Month Genre Bingo Challenge on Beanstack! Learn more about the challenge and sign up to participate here. Looking for some book inspiration? Check out this list of English language books and this list of Spanish language books available in our catalog all about Hispanic culture.  

Fairfax County Public Library is excited to share our new look with you!

Debuting for Library Card Sign-Up Month in September 2025, our new logo and branding encompass the endless possibilities available at your library once you step through our doors or open a book. We truly believe that your local library is a place to imagine, discover and connect with your community.

It will take several months to change all our materials and displays in branches so pardon our dust. In the meantime, we have an exciting opportunity for you to participate in reimagining a part of your Fairfax County Public Library by helping design new kids and adult library cards! 

Library Card Design Artist Call and Contest

From Sept. 1-30, 2025, we invite you to show us your creative side by submitting your ideas for new library card designs that incorporate our new logo. We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Eligibility and Rules:

Open to creative types of all ages but a background in digital design may prove most helpful in a successful submission.  

• Two categories are being considered, a library card that would appeal to kids and one to adults.
• Artwork must be able to fit within the template (card, key tag and bookmark) and incorporate FCPL's new logo. 
• No photographs please, only PDF, PNG and JPG files of your design will be considered.
• Please submit original designs, containing images that you have or will be able to help obtain the rights to. Designs created using artificial intelligence will not be considered. 
• Designs must be submitted online using the form below by 8 a.m. on Oct. 1, 2025.
• Winning designs will be chosen by a committee of library and foundation staff and will receive $500 each from Fairfax Library Foundation. Notification will be sent by Oct. 31.
• Fairfax County Public Library employees are eligible to submit a design but may not receive a monetary prize if selected.

Design files:

• Template (containing card, key tag and bookmark)
• Logo package

Questions about your submission or the contest? Please contact Library Marketing and Communications Director Sara Prohaska at sara.prohaska@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Submit Your Designs Here:

It is with deep sadness that we share news of the passing of Library Board Trustee Philip Rosenthal on August 16, 2025. He was 82.

Phil’s commitment to his community was steadfast. He had served as the Springfield District Trustee on the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees since January of 2018 championing literacy, education and access to resources for all residents. Phil was chair of the Library Board’s finance committee and a member of its outreach committee.

After learning of his passing, Library Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Levy said, “He was such a strong supporter of books for children among other initiatives. We are going to miss his presence on the board.”

“He personally attended many library-related events to support not only his district’s branch, Pohick Regional Library, but also other branches throughout the system. I am truly going to miss him,” said FCPL Director Eric Carzon. 

We sincerely thank Phil Rosenthal for his years of service to the community and send our deepest condolences to his family.

Fairfax County Public Library is proud to announce the exhibit "From Barriers to Ballots: The Fight for Equal Voting Rights in Virginia" that will be displayed in select library branches this fall. To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Arlington Public Library has generously partnered with FCPL, among other community partners, for an exhibition to tell the stories of activists in Northern Virginia who fought for voting rights.  

Visitors will learn the story of four activists and the critical parts they played in securing the Voting Rights Act - Gertrude Lynde Crocker, Portia A. Haskins, John Robinson and Gum Springs resident Annie E. Harper.

The exhibit will be on view during regular opening hours at Sherwood Regional Library (Aug. 1-31), and City of Fairfax Regional Library (Sept. 1-Nov. 4) and includes an interactive voting element where visitors are encouraged to share their answers to the question "What does voting mean to you?"

We encourage you to visit the exhibit being featured at FCPL and take time to visit Arlington Public Library's exhibits and attend their events as well.

Learn more: New Exhibition Features Work of Former Voting Rights Activists – Official Website of Arlington County Virginia Government

Patrick Henry Library is one of the busiest community locations in the Fairfax County Public Library system, operating at a level of a small regional.

Patrick Henry Library's New Location

The temporary Patrick Henry Library branch is now open in the Cedar Park Shopping Center, located at 262 Cedar Lane, Unit C, Vienna. 

The site is approximately 2800 square feet and intended as a quick visit and convenient service location. The hours for this location are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Available at the temporary facility are:

     • Small browsing selection    • Ability to pick up holds or return books  

     • Public Wi-Fi     • Chromebooks for onsite use      • Some programming (e.g. storytimes)

Customers are invited to visit a nearby full-service branch to attend programs and events or to browse a larger selection – close options include Oakton Library, City of Fairfax Regional Library and Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library. Materials can be picked up at or returned to any Fairfax County Public Library branch.

Members of the public came out to celebrate the ribbon-cutting and open house of the new temporary location on Wednesday, July 23, complete with cupcakes and ice cream from fellow Cedar Park Shopping Center business tenant, Toby's Handmade Ice Cream.

Watch here: 16AF: Ribbon Cutting at Patrick Henry Library | Cable and Consumer Services

Future Vienna-Carter Library

The future Vienna-Carter Library, approved by a bond referendum in 2020, is a joint development project between Fairfax County and the Town of Vienna to renovate the library and provide additional parking structures for the library and the town. The facility will replace the existing Patrick Henry Library with an approximately 19,000 SF one-story library and a 209-space four-level parking structure on the existing site, 101 Maple Avenue East, Vienna. The proposed facility will include a state-of-the-art library space that will support the current and future programmatic and operational needs of the library users and staff, an outdoor reading and gathering space, and a flexible community space that will be open during and after library business hours. The garage will provide 125 parking spaces for the library users and staff, and an additional 84 parking spaces for the public.

The project has a goal to achieve a minimum of LEED Gold certification, 50% energy reduction over current ASHRAE standards, Net Zero energy design and will utilize all electrical systems and equipment. The project also includes a Photovoltaic (PV) panel system and Geothermal heating and cooling to reduce energy consumption and achieve Net Zero energy. Construction is scheduled to begin in late summer 2025 and occupancy of the new library in 2027.

Why the new name? The Fairfax County Public Library Board decided to rename the newly rebuilt facility the Vienna-Carter Library at their meeting in February of 2024. The Carter family as a whole has contributed significantly to the history of the library, the Town of Vienna and Fairfax County. In 1958, Carter and his wife Lillian co-founded the Vienna Friends of the Library in their living room and led a successful community effort to open an FCPL facility, the Patrick Henry Library, in 1962 as an integrated library facility where “Everyone [is] Welcome.”

Celebrating Patrick Henry Library's Former 101 Maple Ave East Location

The last day of service at the 101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna location, which opened in September 1971, was May 9, 2025. A community celebration and open house honoring the old location took place on Saturday, March 29, 2025, featuring remarks from community leaders, history activities, crafts, performances, commemorative giveaways and more, for all ages. The community was also encouraged to share their memories of Patrick Henry Library in short interviews with staff and members of Vienna Historic Inc. “We moved to Vienna before my children were born.  Walking from the picture book area to the early readers and juvenile readers, to teen books is like a walk through our family’s life,” said one celebration visitor. Another shared, “This library has been the living room for the community for so many years.”

Everyone belongs at the library!  
 
Pride Month is an annual commemorative celebration honoring the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities and the impact members of these communities have had on history and culture. Recognized in June to honor the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the observation was nationally recognized in 1999 by then-president Bill Clinton, though Pride celebrations date back to 1970. 

Throughout the month, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is celebrating the contributions of members of the LGBTQIA+ community all month long with workshops, movie viewings, crafts and more. 

Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you:   

*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.     
 
Unpacking Gender: How to Talk to Kids and Teens – Chantilly Regional and Sherwood Regional Libraries – Tuesday, June 10 (Chantilly) and Wednesday, June 18 (Sherwood) – Registration Required 
Explore the messages we are taught about gender and how they can affect our relationships with ourselves, loved ones and community in this program led by Fairfax County Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, a division of the Fairfax County Department of Family Services. 

No-Sew Pride Fashion – Tysons-Pimmit Regional and Centreville Regional Libraries – Tuesday, June 17 (Tysons-Pimmit) and Sunday, June 22 (Centreville) – Registration Required 
Join NoVA Prism Center and transform your t-shirt into fabulous Pride-ready fashion—no sewing required! Learn exciting customization techniques and design your own unique Pride apparel. 

Funday Monday PRIDE – Sherwood Community Center – Monday, June 23 
Join our librarians as the City of Fairfax's Commission on the Arts presents the "Funday Monday" series at the Sherwood Community Center with a special Pride-themed storytime and ribbon craft. 

Pride Crafts - Woven Pride Flags! – Thomas Jefferson Library – Monday, June 23 
Learn how to create pride flag bracelets using the rigid heddle method of weaving in this program for advanced crafters.  

Pride Month: Movie and Craft – Kings Park Library – Tuesday, June 24 – Registration Required 
Stop by the library to enjoy an easy-to-make keychain craft while watching the 2018 movie “Love, Simon.” 

For a complete list of related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_LGBTQIAEvents. 

You can also celebrate by selecting a new read from our specially curated Pride Month booklist found here.  

On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Fairfax County Public Library’s Pohick Regional Library, in collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Washington District and Fairfax County Asia American History Project conducted a special naturalization ceremony at which 25 candidates for citizenship were administered the Oath of Allegiance.

At its meeting Wednesday, May 14, the Fairfax County Board of Trustees honored the 2025 Fairfax Library Foundation Scholarship Recipients. 

This year’s awardees included 16 undergraduate recipients, 7 graduate, and 9 recipients of scholarships for staff development. Congratulations to all the recipients!

Graduate Scholarship Recipients

• Raven Anderson
• Kathleen Cheon
• Rebecca Herrera
• Rebecca Kurylo
• Laura Odegard
• Sahadev Poudel 
• Larissa Yates

Undergraduate Scholarship Recipients

• Temni Afework 
• Karsten Anderer
• Alice Cao-Dao
• Krishna Chaduruvelly
• Zayan Meah, Savkar-Loser R.E.A.D. Scholarship 
• Liyana Mohammed, Pohick Friends Joan & Richard Vaaler Scholarship
• Ibrahim Mujahid, Myra “Micky” Shulman New American Initiative Scholarship
• Susan Pirnat, Friends of the Centreville Library Scholarship
• Cory Potter
• Daniel Purvis, Pohick Friends Dan & Joanne Neckel Scholarship
• Alicia Rebello, Pohick Friends Andrew Pendergrass Scholarship
• Ella Ridgway, Friends of the Burke Centre Library Scholarship
• Amery Stapleton, Pohick Friends Rita Hoskins Scholarship 
• Eleanor VanDuyne, Pohick Friends Nancy Vandel Scholarship 
• Victoria Wood, Christine Chambers-Chun Scholarship
• Claire Yan, Pohick Friends Mary Storch Scholarship

Staff Development

• Luis Aponte
• Mona Chandan
• Logan Counard
• Sondra Eklund
• Nancy Klein
• David M. Mercer
• Pamela Murrell
• Sara Prohaska
• Jennifer Tchida

Award totals for this year include $22,500 for undergraduate, $24,000 for graduate, and $4,877 for staff development scholarships. To date, the Foundation has awarded a total of $585,000 in scholarships.

A full photo gallery celebrating our scholarship winners can be viewed here: 2025_FLFScholarshipAwardees - Fairfax County Public Library.