Library

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.

The current 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. The new Vienna-Carter Library, approved by a bond referendum in 2020, is a proposed 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. Construction of the new library is set to begin this summer.

When will the current Patrick Henry Library location close?

The last day of service at the current location, which opened in September 1971, was May 9, 2025. There will be a period where both the old and temporary branches will be unavailable for service while books, furniture and shelves are transported and installed at the temporary location.

Where can visitors go until the new Vienna-Carter Library is built?

While this library is closed, customers are invited to visit the temporary location (details below) or a nearby full-service branch – close options include Oakton Library, City of Fairfax Regional Library and Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library. Materials can be picked up or returned to any Fairfax County Public Library branch.

What if I have holds in my account that will be sent to Patrick Henry Library?

The last day to pick up holds at the 101 Maple Ave East location was May 6, 2025. If you currently have Patrick Henry Library selected as your pickup location in your account, please change to another library until the temporary location opens. 

     •  Log into your library account.

     •  Click Holds in the menu on the left, then select the item(s) for which you would like to change the pickup location.

     •  Scroll to the bottom of the page and select Change Pickup Location, then select the new library from the dropdown menu and select Submit.

Patrick Henry Temporary Library

This project will begin with the opening of a temporary branch in June in the Cedar Park Shopping Center, 262 Cedar Lane, Vienna. The site is approximately 2800 square feet and intended as a quick visit and convenient service location.

Available at the temporary facility will be:

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

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

Future Vienna-Carter Library

The future Vienna-Carter Library 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, 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 includes Photovoltaic (PV) panel system and Geothermal heating and cooling to reduce energy consumption and achieve Net Zero energy.

Project construction is scheduled to begin in June 2025 and occupancy of the new library in early to mid 2027.

Will there be a celebration of the current Patrick Henry Library location?

A community celebration and open house 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.”

Following a proclamation in 2006 by President George W. Bush, Jewish American Heritage Month has been celebrated during the month of May to honor Jewish American culture and the many contributions the community has made in our country. To honor the occasion, Fairfax County Public Library is hosting presentations, storytimes, crafts, an innovative virtual reality exhibit and more throughout the month, highlighting members of the Jewish American community and their heritage.  

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.     

Jewish American Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt! - Kings Park Library – All Month Long 
Locate 12 famous Jewish Americans among the Children’s section of the library to win a prize.  

The Journey Back: A Virtual Reality Experience from the Illinois Holocaust Museum – Centreville Regional Library – May 5-15 (no session on May 9) 
Travel through a concentration camp with a Holocaust survivor in this first-in-the-world virtual reality exhibition. 

Learn About Shabbat, A Holiday that Comes Every Week – Lorton Library – Wednesday, May 7 
Learn about and celebrate Shabbat with a Jewish Family Ambassador from the JCC of Northern Virginia. 

Jewish American Heritage Month Art Party: Celebrating Jewish Artists of the WPA – Richard Byrd Library – Wednesday, May 14 
Be inspired by muralists, printmakers and rising artists who worked for the WPA during the Great Depression in this presentation and craft program. 

An Afternoon with Susan Gaeta: The Life and Music of Flory Jagoda – Pohick Regional Library – Sunday, May 18  
Join master vocalist and guitarist Susan Gaeta as she celebrates the rich traditions of Sephardic music though the inspiring life of her mentor, Flory Jagoda. 

Explore Jewish Paper Cutting – John Marshall Library – Monday, May 19 
Learn about Jewish folk art paper cutting and make your own papercut. 

We All Dance the Hora – Dolley Madison Library – Friday, May 23 
Sing and dance during this Jewish American Heritage Month dance party for all ages! 

American Girl Book Club: Jewish American Heritage Month Edition – Sherwood Regional Library – Sunday, May 25 
Talk about American Girl Rebecca – a Russian-Jewish immigrant living in early twentieth-century New York City in this special edition of The American Girl Book Club. 
 

For a complete list of Jewish American Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_JewishAmericanHeritage. 

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

Every year during the month of April, the American Library Association dedicates one week to honoring the important work of libraries and library staff around the country. Since its first official celebration in 1958, National Library Week has sought to highlight “the valuable role libraries, librarians, and library workers play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.”  

For its 2025 celebration, which runs April 6-12, Fairfax County Public Library wants to remind you of all the amazing things you can do FREE at your library. 
 
Beyond the countless books you can borrow, visitors to our branches (and website) can enjoy a plethora of resources including: 

• Access to 60+ online databases to research a variety of topics 

• Entertaining and educational programming for visitors of all ages 

• A collection of non-traditional items to borrow including board games, binoculars, thermal cameras and countless other surprising items 

• Space for meetings, study groups or gatherings for nonprofit organizations 

• So much more! 

You can share with us what your favorite free library resource is, or simply what you love most about the library, by visiting any of our 23 branches throughout the week to fill out a notecard.  

Can’t make it to a branch? Submit your comment online. 

Looking for more reasons why libraries are so great? Check out this booklist all about the joy libraries, librarians and reading bring to our world.

During their monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 12, the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees took time to honor several library employees with staff excellence awards.   

From Feb. 1-14, library users nominated staff members for recognition. A board committee reviewed submissions and selected 21 winners from more than 115 nominations. This year’s winners include:  

• Luis Aponte, Information Services Librarian, Centerville Regional Library 
• Sevil Atasoy, Circulation Manager, Culmore Library 
• Melissa Casolini Dal Bo, Assistant Branch Manager, Great Falls Library 
• Vicky Chu, Circulation Manager, Thomas Jefferson Library 
• Talitha Cunio, Youth Services Assistant, Pohick Regional Library 
• Randy Falkofske, Library Aide, John Marshall Library 
• Sophia Fazel, Youth Services Manager, Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library 
• Ashton Fonville, Youth Services Librarian, Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library 
• Kendall Hall, Youth Services Assistant, Kings Park Library 
• Margaret Kositch, Library Technology Director, Library Admin 
• Chandra Krishnamoorthy, Library Aide, Herndon Fortnightly Library 
• Margot Manburg, Youth Services Assistant, Sherwood Regional Library 
• Lyn McKinney, Branch Manager, Sherwood Regional Library 
• Tiana Page, Youth Services Manager, Herndon Fortnightly Library 
• Sonia Sagar, Library Aide, Reston Regional Library 
• David Shaffer, Branch Manager, Oakton Library 
• Anne Simpson, Assistant Branch Manager, Culmore Library 
• Suzanne Steward, Youth Services Manager, Culmore Library 
• Anita Toth, Youth Services Manager, Oakton Library 
• Letitia Van Campen, Assistant Branch Manager, Richard Byrd Library 
• Rebecca Wolff, Branch Manger, Thomas Jefferson Library 
• Kerri Zuiker, Youth Services Assistant, Centerville Regional Library 

Photos of the ceremony and the recognized staff can be found here.  

Did you know that glass bottles and jars are not accepted in most curbside recycling programs throughout the region?

The good news is that Fairfax County residents can bring their empty, clean and dry glass containers to purple glass recycling collection containers anytime. Glass deposited in these purple cans throughout the county is used to make food and beverage containers, fiberglass insulation, and reflective materials.

On Thursday, February 27, Fairfax County celebrated its 26th and newest location for consumer glass recycling with a ribbon-cutting and bottle-recycle at Chantilly Regional Library. 

Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Director Eric Carzon shared, "Libraries are the original members of the sharing economy and libraries, by the nature of our operation and how we do business, are fully engaged with reducing usage, reusing items and recycling them at the end of their lifecycle. It's embedded in everything that we do so if you're using a library, you are the ultimate recycler."

"This is our second purple can in Sully District. I'm really excited that we provide these services to the community so that the world is a better place for future generations," said Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith.

Since the program's inception in 2019, to date, over 50 million pounds of glass have been collected in the county's purple collection containers. That's approximately 42 pounds of glass from each of our 1.2 million county residents.

Always good for a fun tip, Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Deputy Director Eric Forbes explained to the crowd what the numbers and letters on your glass containers really mean. "N is for North America and then there's numbers associated with it. If it has a number 13 or 30 that means it was actually processed and made here in Virginia." Check out a few bottles or jars in your own home today and see what letters and numbers they have!

Library users and the community can currently recycle glass with FCPL at three locations: 

Chantilly Regional Library, Dolley Madison Library and Great Falls Library.

This February (and beyond) join Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) as we explore the diverse history of African Americans and highlight the many contributions they have made in this country from its very beginnings. With author talks, history presentations, storytimes and more for all ages, check out a small sample of what is on the schedule at your local library in celebration of Black History Month.  

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

• African Storytelling Re-imagined with Author Ada Ari – Multiple Branches – Multiple Dates 
  Hear the African folktale of Anansi the Spider, learn a popular Ghanaian dance, discover cultural facts about the Ashanti Kingdom and more in this fun program. 

• The Evolution of Jazz with Alison Crockett – Multiple Branches – Multiple Dates 
  Join  this award-winning vocalist as she takes the audience through a sonic journey of the language of jazz music from its spiritual beginnings to the present. 

• African Drumming Workshop with Kofi Dennis – Chantilly Regional Library – Sunday, February 9 
  Make steady-beat and rhythmic patterns with African djembe drums and shekeres in this program full of movement, singing and chanting!

• Breaking Down Barriers – Virtual – Wednesday, February 19  
  Explore the narratives of Black residents in Fairfax County, encompassing the experiences of the enslaved, military personnel, educators, entertainers and community activists who engaged in both national and local matters. 

• Carter G. Woodson Lecture – Multiple Branches and Virtual – Thursday, February 20 
  Learn about Carter G. Woodson, called 'The Father of Black History Month' by some, in this presentation from Dr. Lopez Matthews Jr., State Archivist and Public Records Administrator for the District of Columbia. 

• Who is Benjamin Banneker – Culmore Library – Thursday, February 20 
  “Meet” this brilliant astronomer, mathematician, and author as we explore his life and contributions and discover how he made history in this performance.  

• Illustrator Talk: Tequitia Andrews – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Saturday, February 22 
  Get drawing tips from this professional illustrator as she discusses her latest book and creative process before leading the group through a collective art activity.  

• Gather With Glory: An Afternoon with Author Glory Edim – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library – Sunday, February 23 
  Join the award-winning author of Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me and founder of the reading network Well-Read Black Girl for a presentation about her work followed by a book signing. 

For a complete list of Black History-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_BHMEvents.  

You can also celebrate and honor by selecting a new read from our specially curated Black History Month booklists for adults and kids. 

2024 marked the 85th anniversary year for Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). On February 1st, 1939, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted for a $250 allocation to fund a public library for the first time. It’s hard to imagine that small amount of money, which eventually became a traveling bookmobile, could sustain a free public library. Fast forward to today and it is the largest and busiest public library system not only in Virginia but also the entire southern United States, with an average circulation of over 12 million items.

FCPL also celebrated another major milestone this year, 25 million all-time digital checkouts and 3.8 million in calendar year 2024. That’s a lot of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines!
 

TOP DIGITAL ITEMS FOR 2024

The top digital items that helped surpass the 25 million mark were:
 

Top 5 Adult eBooks:
1.    “The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic” by Shana Abe
2.    “The Marlow Murder Club: A Novel” by Robert Thorogood
3.    “The Women: A Novel” by Kristen Hannah
4.    “It Starts With Us” by Coleen Hoover
5.    “Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed” by Lori Gottlieb

Top 5 Adult eAudiobooks:
1.    “101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think” by Brianna Wiest
2.    “Pretty Girls” by Karin Slaughter
3.    “The Heavens May Fall” by Allen Eskens
4.    “Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
5.    “The Paris Apartment: A Novel” by Lucy Foley

Top 5 Childrens and Young Adult eBooks:
1.    “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
2.    “Check & Mate” by Ali Hazelwood
3.    “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins
4.    “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
5.    “Throne of Glass” by Sarah J. Maas

Top 5 Childrens and Young Adult eAudiobooks:
1.    “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas
2.    “The Hunger Games” by Suzanne Collins
3.    “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling
4.    “If He Had Been with Me” by Laura Nowlin
5.    “A Wrinkle In Time” by Madeleine L’Engle

Top 5 eMagazines: 
1.    The New Yorker
2.    New Scientist
3.    Us Weekly
4.    The Week Magazine
5.    National Geographic Magazine

TOP PRINT MATERIAL CHECKOUTS FOR 2024

Of course, sometimes there’s no comparison with holding and reading a physical book.
Top 5 Print Adult:
1.    “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
2.    “Tom Lake” by Ann Patchett
3.    “Exchange, After the Firm” by John Grisham
4.    “The Women” by Kristin Hannah
5.    “Happy Place” by Emily Henry

Top 5 Print Childrens/Young Adult:
1.    “Thank You Book” by Mo Willems
2.    “Dog Man: Mothering Heights” by Dav Pilkey
3.    “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal” by Jeff Kinney
4.    “Dog Man: Unleashed” by Dav Pilkey
5.    “Dog Man: Fetch” by Dav Pilkey

 LIBRARY OF THINGS
The library also offers much more to check out! The Library of Things is a collection of items for loan that expands the boundaries of traditionally defined library materials. The items include:
•    Artwork
•    Binoculars
•    Board Games
•    Book Discussion Kits
•    Conserve Kits (Energy Conservation)
•    Hands-On History Kits
•    Meters
•    Nature Backpacks
•    Thermal Cameras

In 2024, FCPL added two new offerings to the Library of Things collection: Light Pollution Monitoring Kits and Family History Kits. 
Light Pollution Monitoring Kits, also known as Dark Skies kits, are part of the citizen science initiative, allowing people from all corners of the planet to contribute data that can be used in the analysis of a scientific problem. Provided through a partnership with Fairfax County Park Authority, this kit allows borrowers to measure and report levels of light pollution. Light pollution not only affects our view of the stars, but can also waste energy and money, cause sleep disorders in people, and disrupt sleeping and breeding habits of animals.
Family History Kits help families record their memories and stories by prompting meaningful conversations. All the tools to get started are inside this kit such as an instruction guide, digital voice recorder, and a set of interview prompt cards with questions in English, Spanish and Korean.  
 

TECHNOLOGY AND MAKING @ FCPL 

FCPL provides free access to the internet at each of their 22 branches — whether on a County-provided computer or your own mobile device or laptop. Connect Kits (Chromebooks) are also available for check out that include free Wi-Fi hotspot devices for on-the-go connectivity. 

FCPL offers three Do-It-Yourself or “Maker” Labs at Herndon Fortnightly Library, Pohick Regional Library and Sherwood Regional Library. These are places where visitors can learn, tinker, create, craft, make, and do-it-yourself. Each of the three labs have a variety of tools for whatever makers can dream up. Most branches also free 3D printing.

All year long, Fairfax County Public Library hosts a wide variety of programs, events and fun for all ages. Stop by your local library branch in 2025 to see what’s new!

Fairfax County is home to a large and thriving military community. According to an article from 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.    

Blue Star Family Play Date – Sherwood Regional Library – Sunday, November 3 
Get to know your neighbors during this event is for military and civilian families to meet, craft and play together. 

Special Storytime with Sergeant Victor Melendez – Kings Park Library – Wednesday, November 6 
Make new friends, introduce perspectives of military life, and socialize with other families during this family storytime. 

Marine Corps Silent Rifle Drill Team – Centreville Regional Library – Wednesday, November 6 
Experience the precision of the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon as they perform a unique precision drill exhibition, exemplifying the professionalism associated with the United States Marine Corps. 

Meet Author Lt. Col. Les Carroll – Multiple Locations – Multiple Dates (registration required) 
Listen as the author discusses the life experiences that inspired his book “This Troubled Ground.” Following the presentation, there will be a Q&A session and audience members can buy signed copies of his book.  

• Herndon Fortnightly Library – Saturday, November 9  

• Thomas Jefferson Library – Saturday, November 9 

• Chantilly Regional Library – Sunday, November 10 

Fitness Tips for Military Families – Sherwood Regional Library – Thursday, November 14 
Hear fom fitness professional and Army veteran Donna Welch as she shares her framework to help military families sustain healthy and enjoyable lifestyles. 

Celebrating Military Families – Lorton Library – Saturday, November 23 (registration required) 
Join us for a special military storytime followed by crafts and activities. All are welcome 

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

Thanks for Being a Friend! FCPL Honors Friends of the Library Week

National Friends of the Library Week is an opportunity for Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) 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. 

Please watch this video message from our Acting Director Christine Jones, featuring a few of our Friends members.