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Multicolored winter scenes with mountains, trees, a gold medal, a skier and a speed skater with text that reads Read for the gold Winter Reading Adventure December 1, 2025-January 31, 2026

Read For The Gold This Winter with FCPL!

December 1, 2025

By Tina Mraz, Program and Educational Services Director As the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisp, Fairfax County Public Library invites readers of all ages to warm up with a good book and join the 2025 Winter Reading Adventure - Read for the Gold! This exciting countywide challenge runs from December 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026, encouraging everyone from preschoolers to adults to set reading goals, discover new stories and celebrate their achievements along the way. Participation is easy through FCPL’s Beanstack platform. Readers can register online at fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org. Depending on the reader’s age, they can earn 10 or 15 virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 20 or 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three. Those who prefer an offline experience can visit their nearest FCPL branch to pick up paper reading logs. Once participants complete the adventure, they can visit any of our 23 branches to pick up a coupon sheet. Additionally, finishers will be automatically entered into drawings for $25 Amazon gift cards. Joining the Winter Reading Adventure helps readers maintain strong literacy habits year-round and provides a cozy opportunity to discover new favorites from the Library’s vast collection of print, digital and audio titles. Plus, with the added incentive of badges and prizes, there’s never been a better time to curl up with a good book. Additionally, throughout December and January, several branches will host special programs and activities. From storytimes and scavenger hunts to reading recommendations and themed events, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. These programs are designed to encourage creativity, literacy and community engagement while making reading a fun and rewarding adventure. This winter, challenge yourself, your friends and your family to read, learn and grow together. Visit bit.ly/FCPL_WRA for details and get ready to Read for the Gold with us!

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Show Us How Much You Saved with FCPL!

December 1, 2025

As the year comes to an end, it is once again time to flaunt your frugality and show off your library checkout receipts. You might even win a book! Fill out the form below**, letting us know how much Fairfax County Public Library has saved you this year (hint: it’s found at the bottom of your checkout receipt) and you will be entered to win one of 14 signed books. Books are available in the following categories: early literacy, school age, adult and nonfiction. Available books include: Fresh Start by Gale Galligan (two copies) Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano Finlay Donovan Digs Her Own Grave by Elle Cosimano Gather Me by Glory Edim Saturday by Oge Mora Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora Written In The Waters by Tara Roberts Behind My Doors by Hena Khan Amina's Voice by Hena Khan The Book That Almost Rhymed by Omar Abed (two copies) The Day The Books Disappeared by Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard The House Next Door by Ellen Oh Participants can denote their preference when filling out the form. Entries will be accepted through an online form** from December 15 - January 16, with winners drawn on January 20. Winners will be contacted following the drawing and will be able to pick up their book at their preferred branch at a later date. **Note: The form will be published on this page closer to December 15.

Closure Alert: Culmore Library will close for HVAC upgrades starting January 17, 2026.

Culmore Library Closing for HVAC Upgrades Beginning January 2026

November 17, 2025

Falls Church, VA — Fairfax County Public Library’s Culmore Community Library will be closed to the public starting January 17, 2026, to undergo significant system repairs and upgrades aimed at ensuring optimal comfort and safety for visitors and staff. The project will also include its parking lot and grounds, and is expected to last approximately one year, with tentative plans to reopen in January 2027. The closure is necessary to upgrade the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to better serve the needs of the community. In advance of the closure, patrons and visitors to Culmore Library will notice that items on shelves may be relocated or unavailable as FCPL begins to transfer the collection to another library location or storage. Meeting rooms will also not be available for booking after January 16. Culmore Library staff will be shifted to other locations during this closure. While this library is closed, customers are invited to visit a nearby branch – close options include Thomas Jefferson, Tysons-Pimmit Regional and George Mason Regional libraries. Staff at any branch can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations and materials may be picked up at or returned to any FCPL branch. Digital library resources, including e-books, audiobooks, and online databases, remain available 24/7 to all cardholders via the library’s website. "We understand that the temporary closure may cause inconvenience and appreciate the community's patience and understanding as we work to improve our facilities for the long-term benefit of our patrons," said Fairfax County Public Library Director Eric Carzon. "We thank our partners in the Facilities Management Department for implementing this project.” Updates on the repair progress and reopening plans will be shared here on the library’s newsroom and on our social media platforms.

Fairfax County Public Library + WETA = An Education and Entertainment Partnership for You

November 1, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library is excited to announce a new partnership with local PBS member station WETA to provide easy access to free video streaming services for FCPL’s visitors, customers and cardholders. The mission and vision of public television and public libraries are closely aligned – to inform, engage and inspire our communities with trusted sources of information and entertainment that respect a diversity of views, culture and heritage. Supporters of both organizations value education, creativity and curiosity, making the partnership a natural fit. WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service and app for all ages and interests. It offers thousands of on-demand hours of acclaimed PBS and WETA shows* that have been curated by WETA programming staff with local D.C.-area audiences in mind. Among the free local programming of interest to FCPL customers are programs exploring local and national history news, current affairs and documentaries, arts, food and travel, dramas, comedies and more. Live television streaming of every WETA channel is also available with WETA+, including WETA UK, WETA PBS, WETA Metro, WETA World and WETA PBS Kids. The WETA+ streaming app is available for download on Roku, Apple TV and iOS, fire TV, Samsung, LG, Google TV and Android. Throughout the year, Fairfax County Public Library will help viewers continue the adventure after watching WETA+ programs with specially curated book recommendations and in-person programming based on shows, themes and topics. To celebrate the partnership, FCPL and WETA will also host a series of events centered around the much-anticipated PBS premiere of “The American Revolution”, a six-part, 12-hour documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. * Monday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. at Oakton Library * Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. at City of Fairfax Regional Library * Thursday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at Dolley Madison Library * Friday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at Sherwood Regional Library At these events, attendees will be able to learn more about the WETA+ streaming service and app, be able to sign up for a free Roku streaming device and customer support, check out one of the recommended books and watch a portion of the documentary. We look forward to developing even more exciting ways that you can enjoy FCPL and WETA together! *Some premium programming offered on WETA+, such as select Masterpiece shows, require a paid PBS Passport membership not provided by FCPL or WETA. A select number of memberships may be distributed during the partnership.

Show Your Appreciation For Veterans and Military Families at Your Local Library

November 1, 2025

Fairfax County is home to a large and thriving military community. According to the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, which coordinates the Veteran and Military Families Commission, more than 45,000 active-duty military, selected reserve members, and an estimated 65,000 veterans live in Fairfax County. To honor these members of our community, Fairfax County Public Library will be celebrating National Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month this November. Throughout the month, library visitors can join us at branches around the county to connect with and celebrate our military neighbors with programming that includes author talks, storytimes, demonstrations 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. Write a Letter to a Soldier! – Herndon Fortnightly Library – November 3-26 Stop into the library and write an encouraging letter or draw a picture for a soldier. Letters will be sent to the Support Our Troops organization at the end of the month. All ages. Veterans Day Family Fun Fest – Kingstowne Library – Saturday, November 8 Join us in celebrating those who serve and their families! We will have presentations, performances, crafts, snacks, and an opportunity to share about your military family's journey. All ages. Letterboxing in the Library: National Veterans and Military Families Month – Chantilly Regional Library – Sunday, November 23 Ready for a different kind of scavenger hunt? Letterboxing is a hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art, and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small boxes in publicly accessible places (like the library or a park) and distribute clues to finding them. Each letterbox contains a hand-carved rubber stamp. A letterboxer stamps an image of it into the logbook each participant carries. Try out this fun hobby at Chantilly Regional Library where you’ll find a series of military-themed hand-carved stamps in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month. Drop by any time between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to get started, as hidden letterboxes will be removed at 4 p.m. Clues and logbooks will be available to participants. All Ages - children must be accompanied by an adult. For a complete list of related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_MilitaryFamilyAppeciation.

Vienna-Carter Library artist illustration of library with large windows, trees on corner of Maple Ave. in Vienna

Vienna-Carter Library and Parking Garage Project Update

October 29, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office and the Town of Vienna are pleased to share with the public the construction timeline for the Vienna-Carter Library and parking garage project, located at 101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. The design and bidding phases were completed in July, and the construction contract was awarded on September 18, 2025, to Costello Construction of Maryland. Project Timeline: Construction fencing, permits and preparation of the site are scheduled for late Fall 2025. Demolition of the current Patrick Henry Library building will begin in early 2026. Project completion is anticipated in early 2028. About the Project: The project will replace the existing Patrick Henry Library with a state-of-the-art, approximately 19,000 SF one-story facility. This new library will feature modern amenities, including a children’s reading area, study rooms, a staff workroom, flexible community spaces, an outdoor reading area and a 209-space, four-level parking structure at the existing site. The Vienna-Carter Library and garage project aims to meet both the current and future needs of the Fairfax County Public Library system while addressing the growing needs of the community. This new library will offer: A comfortable and modern space for learning, reading and socializing. Features such as an outdoor reading and gathering area, a light-filled children’s reading corner, play and study spaces for young readers, and a flexible community assembly room available for events during and after library hours. Enhanced landscape features and wider sidewalks with indigenous vegetation to improve the pedestrian experience along the Maple Avenue streetscape. Sustainability is a cornerstone of this project, with plans to achieve LEED® Gold certification and incorporate Net Zero Energy design. Environmental features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, enhanced building envelope and energy-saving systems, solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, green materials promoting indoor air quality and improved stormwater management through underground chambers. For additional information about the project or to stay informed about updates, please visit: bit.ly/FCPL_Vienna-CarterLibrary Media Contacts: Sara Prohaska,Marketing and Communications Director,Fairfax County Public Library -sara.prohaska@fairfaxcounty.gov Sharon North,Section Chief, Communications,Department of Public Works and Environmental Services -sharon.north@fairfaxcounty.gov

Heart of the Library: Celebrating Fairfax County Public Library's Friends Groups

October 1, 2025

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 gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Chantilly Regional Library to celebrate the library’s Friends groups and recognize members nominated by their peers for their outstanding service. The full downloadable photo gallery can be found here. This year’s honorees are: • Karrin Lukacs, Friends of Burke Centre Library • Caitlyn Largent, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Morgan Mayernik, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Tiffany Tran, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Susan Vogel, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Liz Critchley and Brian Critchley, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Helena Ferret, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Barbara Levermann, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Peggy Greenwood and Jack Greenwood, Friends of Culmore Library • Jennifer Lyons, Friends of Kingstowne Library • Jessica Jeffcoat Sanchez, Friends of Kingstowne Library • Susan Gantz, Friends of Oakton Library • Arnold Goldstein, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Cindy Richards, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Laura Stokowski, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Phyllis Talbert, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Nancy Vandel, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Moira Doherty, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Lynda Ose, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Tom Radlick, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Arja Sahramaa, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Marge Shapira, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Ariel Welt, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Elizabeth Nelson, Friends of Richard Byrd Library • Barbara Kondash, Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library • Penny Anderson, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Alex Klein, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Cindy Shayne Magielnicki, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Bobbie Leamer, Friends of Virginia Room 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!

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