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A group of seven adults stands in a row inside a library in front of an “Information” sign, each person holding a framed certificate and facing the camera. Bookshelves and computer stations fill the background.

FCPL Recognizes Outstanding Employees with Annual Staff Excellence Awards

March 18, 2026

At their monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 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 20 winners from more than 100 nominations. This year’s winners include:Ashley Alford, Circulation Aide, Oakton LibraryDonald Brown, Tech Lab Assistant, Sherwood Regional LibraryMarina Canant, Youth Services Manager, Centreville Regional LibraryLee Conselatore, Reader’s Advisor, Access Services LibraryValerie Furino, Cataloging Librarian, Technical OperationsDeborah Khuanghlawn, Information Services Librarian, George Mason Regional LibraryAdrienne Leo, Adult Services Librarian, Reston Regional LibraryAnh Luong, Circulation Manager, Herndon Fortnightly LibraryAsele Mack, Youth Services Manager, Kingstowne LibrarySusan Martin, Information Services Assistant, Kings Park LibrarySara Meserve, Assistant Circulation Manager, Pohick Regional LibraryNatalie Minehart, Youth Services Assistant, Sherwood Regional LibraryKim Nguyen, Circulation Aide, Burke Centre LibraryRoxanne Ringer, Branch Manager, Kingstowne LibraryLeslie Scannell, Page Manager, Kingstowne LibraryJennifer Schrott-Crisman, Youth Services Manager, Great Falls LibraryCeleste Simon, Adult Services Librarian, Pohick Regional LibraryMaree Watkins, Adult Services Librarian, City of Fairfax Regional LibraryKrista Wirley, Youth Services Manager, Lorton LibraryAllen Zapata, Youth Services Assistant, George Mason Regional LibraryPhotos of the ceremony and the recognized staff can be viewed below and downloaded here.

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March: Women Who Shaped America - Graphic depiction of woman in starry dress walking with American flag cape and fist raised

Celebrate 250 Years of Women’s History with FCPL

March 1, 2026

Over the course of the United States of America’s 250-year history, countless women have played a role in shaping our nation into what it is today. This Women’s History Month, join Fairfax County Public Library and celebrate the lives and stories of women who have made an impact on our county, our country and beyond with presentations, storytimes, crafts, games and more for all ages.Here’s 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.STEAM Team - Celebrating Women Who Shaped America | Burke Centre Library | Saturday, March 7 Learn about some of the United States’ great women scientists while putting your engineering skills to the test in this program for school aged children.Tea with Dolley Tea Party | Dolley Madison Library | Saturday, March 7 Join Dolley Madison herself for an afternoon of tea as she graces her namesake library for a party filled with fun for all ages.Girls Just Want to Have Fun | Sherwood Regional Library | Monday, March 9 Let loose and have some fun at this dance party for babies, toddlers and preschoolers featuring tunes written by women.The History of Suffrage in Fairfax County | George Mason Regional Library | Monday, March 9 Discover how the women's suffrage movement played out at the local level in Fairfax County with historian and author Alice Reagan.Women’s History Month Bingo | Kings Park Library | Friday, March 13 Learn about famous women from throughout history in this themed game of Bingo for all ages – you might even win a prize!Clara Barton and the Missing Soldiers Museum | John Marshall Library | Saturday, March 14 Hear the story of Clara Barton and her focus on a post-Civil War humanitarian effort to find missing soldiers.Senior Movie: “A League of Their Own” | Lorton Library | Friday, March 20 Enjoy a lunchtime showing of this classic 1992 film telling a fictionalized account of the first women’s professional baseball league.Capital Harmonia: Women’s Chorus Performances | Various Branches | Various Dates Listen to and learn about American female composers with community choral group Capital Harmonia.Meet The Author: Louisa May Alcott | Chantilly Regional Library | Wednesday, March 25 Travel back in time to meet Louisa May Alcott, famed author of Little Women, as she discusses her life and answers questions.Female Patriots of the American Revolution Live! | Herndon Fortnightly Library | Tuesday, March 31 Meet some of the women from the early days of United States and learn about the part they played in the revolutionary war!For a complete list of our Women’s History-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_WomensHistoryMonth.You can also celebrate by selecting a new read from our specially curated Women’s History Month booklist found below.Women's History Month

Richard Byrd Library Facility Update

February 27, 2026

Richard Byrd Library will remain closed at least through late March 2026 as we work to repair the branch's boiler system. An exact reopening date is unknown at this time. What You Need to KnowLibrary customers are encouraged to continue to visit one of our other locations to attend programs, borrow and return materials, and utilize services. Nearby branches include Pohick Regional Library, George Mason Regional Library and John Marshall Library.Please note: Items may not be returned to Richard Byrd Library during the closure; but can be accepted at any of our other 21 locations.Customers With Checkouts or HoldsNew holds cannot be selected for pickup at Richard Byrd Library.All other holds designated for pickup at Richard Byrd Library have been changed to Pohick Regional Library (6450 Sydenstricker Rd) for the duration of the closure. Please note this location on future e-mail notifications.Any customers wishing to pick up their requested material at a different branch may change the designated pickup location or suspend their holds by accessing their account.Questions? Need help?Further updates to this facility's status will be found on this site. For staff assistance, please contact the library by calling 703-324-3100 or emailing WWWLIB@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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Older Adults Explore Lifelong Learning with FCPL

February 27, 2026

Fairfax County Public Library strives to be a community hub of innovation and education, offering lifelong learning to all Fairfax County residents from early literacy up to continuing education and activities for adults and seniors. Your local library is a place to pursue your interests, connect with like-minded individuals and discover the world around you. New Lifelong Learning Series at Kings Park Library Learning never stops when you come to the library! Just ask our senior visitors to Kings Park Library. Throughout 2026, the branch is reaffirming Fairfax County Public Library’s commitment to helping our visitors learn something new – no matter their age – with a new series of programming geared specifically towards older adults.The branch's Lifelong Learning Series is a yearlong initiative designed to provide engaging programs, resources and social opportunities for Fairfax County’s older adult community. Developed by the branch’s Adult Services staff, the series was created after feedback indicated a desire for more programs designed for seniors and retirees.The series aims to create a vibrant selection of learning opportunities through outreach and partnerships with local organizations. It features educational and informational sessions led by library staff and trusted partners such as AARP, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (OLLI Mason), other Fairfax County agencies, local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Topics include safe driving, scam prevention, caregiving, library resources for older adults, plus much more. Details about the Lifelong Learning Series programs can be found on the FCPL events calendar at bit.ly/FCPL_KPLifelongLearning. In addition to this series, older adult patrons of Kings Park Library can enjoy a variety of other social activities and educational programs on a weekly basis. Highlights include music Bingo, speed friending and the branch’s ongoing chair yoga program. A complete list of Kings Park Library’s upcoming programs for older adults can be found here. Lifelong Learning Programs and EventsAll Fairfax County Public Library branches regularly provide programming and events for older adults throughout the year ranging from author presentations and yoga classes to musical and cultural performances to crafting workshops and tax assistance with AARP. Some programs are even virtual so you can attend from the comfort of home. Fairfax County Public Library regularly partners with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (OLLI Mason) to provide free educational presentations to community members around the county and beyond with virtual and in-branch programming on a wide range of topics. Information about upcoming OLLI Mason programs is available on our calendar.Online Learning ResourcesFCPL offers dozens of online resources to help anyone learn something new. Some popular examples include:LinkedIn Learning - Anyone with a library card can access LinkedIn Learning and their thousands of online courses for free.LearningExpress Library - Offers video courses to learn popular software and computer basics. All content is free with your library card.Universal Class - More than 500 free courses are available, including more than 55 in the Computer & Technology category.Mango Languages - For globetrotters and armchair travelers alike, offers conversational language learning in over 70 languages, including English for speakers of other languages.Making @ FCPLFCPL also currently offers three “Do-It-Yourself” Maker Labs at Herndon Fortnightly Library, Pohick Regional Library and Sherwood Regional Library. These are places where you can learn, tinker, create, craft, make, and do-it-yourself! Each of the three labs have a variety of tools for whatever you can dream up. Maybe you need access to jewelry making tools, a sewing machine, or a button maker. You can use these items for free at a maker lab. Want to learn how to knit or program a robot? There are free classes offered at the maker labs and other branches as well. Learn to Use New TechnologyMany of FCPL’s branches offer one-on-one technology assistance and tutoring programs where you can sit down with someone knowledgeable who can teach you how to use a new phone, tablet or eReader, or just how to navigate the internet more easily. Questions? Need Help?Last but not least, the librarians staffed at the information desk of every library are a wonderful resource to assist you with any reference search and can help with selecting reputable books and information on any topic.

Closure Alert: Culmore Library closed for HVAC upgrades

Culmore Library Closed for HVAC Upgrades Through January 2027

February 4, 2026

Falls Church, VA — Fairfax County Public Library’s Culmore Community Library 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 also includes 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. Updates on the repair progress and reopening plans will be shared here on the library’s newsroom and on our social media platforms.Customers With HoldsAll customer holds will be paused for the duration of the closure unless otherwise changed in your library account to another branch. Your place in line will remain.Any customers wishing to pick up their requested material at a different branch while Culmore Library is closed may change the designated pickup location or unsuspend their holds by accessing their account.Questions? Need help?For staff assistance, please visit any library, or email Culmore Library staff at LIBCL@fairfaxcounty.gov. You may also contact FCPL administration by calling 703-324-3100 or emailing WWWLIB@fairfaxcounty.gov. During Culmore Library's ClosureCulmore Library staff have been shifted to other locations during this closure and will be conducting a small amount of programming at Culmore Church, located nearby (see below). 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.Community Outreach at Culmore ChurchBeginning February 18, Culmore Library staff will provide library programming* at Culmore United Methodist Church - 3400 Charles Street - Falls Church, VA 22041. Highlights include:Wednesdays and Thursdays Preschool Playdate | 8:30-1 p.m.Drop in for stories, songs, & playtime and make new friends during this self-guided play. No registration or tickets. Doors close when room capacity is reached. For babies to age 5 with caregiver.Be Curious - Afterschool | 2:30-4 p.m.Play, learn and discover with your friends through stem challenges and maker programming. No registration required. Doors close when room capacity is reached. School Age children.WednesdaysEnglish Conversation Class| 1-3 p.m.Practice and improve your English. No registration required.*Programming and additional services will be posted on the FCPL Events calendar.

Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary with FCPL February Honoring Black American History and Civic Impact

Celebrate 250 Years of Black American Civic Impact at Your Local Library

February 1, 2026

In celebration of both Black History Month and America’s 250 Anniversary, Fairfax County Public Library is honoring the history, contributions and civic impact of Black Americans with a variety of author presentations, children’s programs, musical performances, book discussions and more. Check out this 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.Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television with Dr. Sherri Williams - Martha Washington Library – Saturday, February 7 Learn about how Black Americans' digital activism on Twitter changed how television is watched, developed and produced because of Black viewers' advocacy.The Tougaloo Nine with M.J. O'Brien – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library – Saturday, February 7 Local author M.J. O’Brien discusses his latest book about the dramatic three-day period in March 1961, when nine students from historically Black Tougaloo College staged sit-ins at the all-White Main Library in Jackson, Mississippi.Civil Rights and Racial Reckoning in Northern Virginia – George Mason Regional Library – Monday, February 9 Hear from Edwin B. Henderson II as he speaks about the history and contributions of African Americans in Northern Virginia, the celebration of culture, and ongoing work to promote understanding and racial reckoning.Bsrat Mezghebe & Helon Habila – Reston Regional Library – Tuesday, February 10 Author Bsrat Mezghebe discusses her debut novel, I Hope You Find What You Are Looking For, in a conversation with award winning author and professor Helon Habila. STEAM: Black Innovators – Lorton Library – Saturday, February 14 Learn about important contributions from Black inventors and scientists through crafts and experiments in this program intended for children grades K-6.Black Dance: Housing the Past and the Present – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Sunday, February 15 Discover how Black dance keeps African cultural traditions alive and serves as an affirmation of identity and independence with Associate Professor of Dance at George Mason University Lawrence M. Jackson.American Girl Book Club: Addy – Sherwood Regional Library – Sunday, February 15 Join other American Girl fans and read Finding Freedom, a book about Addy Walker, an enslaved girl that courageously escapes to freedom in Philadelphia in 1864. We will chat about the book and make our own Addy-inspired applique pillows.Paint a Basquiat Self-Portrait – Burke Centre Library – Tuesday, February 17 Express yourself and paint a self-portrait inspired by one of the great American artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, while learning about his rise to fame, and how he transformed art with his distinctive neo-expressionist style.African Storytelling Reimagined – Kings Park Library – Thursday, February 19 Explore African countries, geography and traditions through music, dancing, interactions with authentic artifacts and captivating folktales.Celebrate Black Voices with Author S.A. Cosby – The Alden at McLean Community Center – Saturday, February 21 Enjoy a keynote presentation from the critically acclaimed author of King of Ashes, All the Sinners Bleed, Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland. S.A. Cosby will discuss his books and how his life in Southeastern Virginia inspires his award-winning crime novels.“The Evolution of Jazz” by Award-Winning Performer Alison Crockett – Sherwood Regional Library and Centreville Regional Library – Saturday, February 21 Alison Crockett takes the audience through a sonic journey of the language of jazz music from its spiritual beginnings to the present.Craft & Movie Watch – John Marshall Library – Saturday, February 28 Create paper airplanes while watching a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, a squadron of black pilots given the chance to prove themselves in the sky, even as they battle discrimination on the ground. A complete list of the Library’s Black History Month events can be found at bit.ly/FCPL_BHM. You can also learn about and honor the lives of influential Black Americans by checking out a book from these lists put together by the Library’s Collection Marketing team: Black History Month Reads For Adults Black History Month Reads For Children

Coming Soon: Kingstowne Regional Library

January 29, 2026

Alexandria, VA — Kingstowne Community Library's current location will close to the public starting February 15, 2026, to prepare for its upcoming move to the new Kingstowne Regional Library located in the Franconia Governmental Center. In advance of the closure, visitors to Kingstowne Library will notice that items on shelves may be relocated or unavailable as FCPL prepares to transfer the collection. Timeline and Dates to KnowFebruary 4 - Last day new holds will be sent for pick upFebruary 13 - Last day to pick up holdsFebruary 14 - Last day of service at the 6500 Landsdowne Ctr., Alexandria location. The doors and book drop will close at 6 p.m.Early Spring - The new Kingstowne Regional Library at Franconia Governmental Center (7130 Silver Lake Blvd., Alexandria) will open. Updates on the grand opening of the new location will be shared on the library’s newsroom and on our social media platforms.April 15 - As a courtesy, Kingstowne Library due dates have been extended to this date. Materials may be returned to any FCPL branch. Customers With HoldsStarting February 4, 2026, available holds will not be sent for pickup at Kingstowne Library.All customer holds will be paused for the duration of the closure and move unless otherwise changed in your library account to another branch. Your place in line will remain.Currently available holds at Kingstowne Library must be picked up by 6 p.m. on February 13.Any customers wishing to pick up their requested material at a different branch while Kingstowne Library is closed may change the designated pickup location or suspend their holds by accessing their account.Questions? Need help?For staff assistance, please contact the library by calling 703-324-3100 or emailing WWWLIB@fairfaxcounty.gov. During Kingstowne Library's ClosureCustomers are invited to visit a nearby branch – close options include Lorton, Martha Washington and Sherwood Regional libraries. Staff at any branch can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations. 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.Updates on the grand opening of the new location will be shared here on the library’s newsroom and on our social media platforms.Coming Soon: Kingstowne Regional LibraryThe new Kingstowne Regional Library at Franconia Governmental Center will open in early spring. This new combined facility will be approximately 90,000 square feet and offer structured parking and easy access. It will house the Franconia Police Station in approximately 28,000 square feet, the Franconia District Supervisor’s Office in approximately 4,200 square feet, and the Franconia Museum will be located off the lobby giving it great exposure. The Active Adult Center will have approximately 7,200 square feet, and a new Childcare Center with approximately 10,000 square feet will offer care for infants to pre-kindergarten children. The Kingstowne Community Library will be expanded to a Regional Library and will occupy approximately 30,000 square feet. Learn more about the project here.

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