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Fairfax County Public Library Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month | September 15-October 15

Honor Hispanic Heritage Month at Your Local Library!

September 1, 2025

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.

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Calling All Artists! Your Design Could be Here! Sept 1-30, 2025

New Logo, New Look: Library Card Design Contest

September 1, 2025

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:

Off white background with teal and blue decorative items including lace, a chandelier and a peacock. Also featured is a cover of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with a young woman reading, a teal All Fairfax Reads label and text that says Come Together and Read

All Fairfax Reads: Fall in Love with "Pride and Prejudice" in Our County-Wide Read!

September 1, 2025

“I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! …I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ― Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice This fall, Fairfax County Public Library invites the entire community to celebrate the enjoyment of reading with All Fairfax Reads! This annual event encourages readers from all walks of life to come together for a shared reading experience surrounding a particular novel or author of note. Think of it as one HUGE book club but without all the forced discussion and accountability. This year, in honor of what would be the author's 250th birthday, we will travel to Regency-era England and delve into a world of romance and class society as we read Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride and Prejudice. In addition to reading the book, FCPL will also host a series of related events this September and October, designed to enhance the reading experience and engage both the most ardent devotees and casual admirers. Why Pride and Prejudice? Among the most important authors of her era, Jane Austen's novels continue to endure today - especially Pride and Prejudice. Published in 1813, it is one of Austen's most popular and widely adapted novels featuring timeless characters, sharp social commentary and witty humor that have captivated readers across generations - making it an excellent choice to bring people together. Ways to Participate: Pick up a copy of Pride and Prejudice at a Fairfax County Public Library branch or download the eBook (available here) or eAudiobook (available here) on Libby. Check out our calendar of events and list of similar reads at bit.ly/FCPL_AllFairfaxReads. Share your reading experience with your friends, family, neighbors and online!

Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees Springfield District representative Philip Rosenthal. Aug 16, 2025. Thank you for your service to the library and the community.

Remembering Springfield District Library Trustee Philip Rosenthal

August 20, 2025

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.

From Barriers to Ballots

August 1, 2025

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 //--> The Video Player does not directly support your device. Please the link below the play in VLC, Quicktime, or other media player: https://dl.ebmcdn.net/fairfax/flash/16AF_0825_BarriersToBallots_KD1125.mp4 //-->

Love Your Public Library and Love Your Public Art!

July 30, 2025

Have you noticed your favorite Fairfax County Public Library branch’s public art? Many of our branches have statues or other art for you to enjoy. From now through September 30, 2025, take a selfie with one and earn a chance to win prizes! ArtsFairfax invites local library and art enthusiasts to participate in their Public Art Locator Challenge - a social media scavenger hunt to promote their Public Art Locator, a tool that maps public art throughout the region.  Public art is all around us – you just have to find it!      How to Play: Participating is easy! Simply take a selfie with publicly accessible art (at a library or anywhere in Fairfax County) and post on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win arts experiences. Qualifying Public Art Locator entries will be entered into a raffle for gift certificates, show tickets and other offerings from Fairfax arts organizations.      To secure one entry:  Post a photo with artwork already mapped in the Public Art Locator, tag ArtsFairfax and Fairfax County Public Library, and use the hashtag #PublicArtLocatorChallenge  To secure two entries: Upload new artwork to the Public Art Locator Post a photo with the artwork, tag ArtsFairfax and Fairfax County Public Library, and use the hashtag #PublicArtLocatorChallenge  ArtsFairfax is the local arts agency that provides funding and resources for the arts sector in Fairfax County, the City of Fairfax, and the City of Falls Church.  To learn more about the rules of the Public Art Locator Challenge and how to submit your entries, please visit: Introducing the Public Art Locator Challenge! - ArtsFairfax

a young man sits at a library desk with two laptops open in front of him and a hand held pensively to his chin

Seven Tips for a Successful School Year

July 29, 2025

Did you know the library can help students study, write reports and do homework? Let us be your partner in academic success! Use these seven tips to maximize your learning this school year with services and resources available for free from Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL). Tip #1 - Get support and guidance from library staff. You are not alone at the library — or wherever you are with internet access or a mobile device! Library staff are trained to help students find legitimate information sources in branch and online, including historical newspapers, speeches, reference databases, trusted websites and more. Visit the Information Desk at a branch for in-person support with research and help finding physical materials. Need a different way to reach us? Call your local branch or send us an email at wwwlib@fairfaxcounty.gov. Tip #2 - Take advantage of free tutoring sessions. While the library does not provide tutoring services, we can connect you with them — including virtual and in-branch sessions! Brainfuse HelpNow provides live, online tutoring and homework help for students in grades K-12. Tutors are available to meet virtually in English and Spanish every day between 2-11 p.m. A library card is required to use HelpNow outside the library. Tip #3 - Access 24/7 homework help online. The library's Homework Resources guide is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to help you find free resources to explore new ideas and get help with homework topics. Find a variety of online resources offering research material for papers and homework help separately tailored for students in grades K-6 and grades 7-12. Writing a paper? No problem. Check out the writing resources section for help with style, vocab, proper source citation and more. Plus, visit Brainfuse HelpNow's online Writing Lab for assistance and feedback in virtual study spaces. Tip #4 - Find books, magazines and newspapers. Whether you’re studying classics, history, current events or any other subject, with a library card you have at your fingertips more than 2.3 million items in the library's collection of digital and physical materials. Print books can be checked out in person or placed on hold and picked up later. Digital books are available 24/7 via OverDrive and the Libby App Access magazines and newspaper articles in print or online. Tip #5 - Check out library items with just your name — and no fines! FCPL provides all Fairfax County Public Schools students in pre-K through grade 12 with a fine-free public library virtual account called a Library Equity Access Pass (LEAP). All you need is your name to check out physical materials at a branch, and you can check out up to three items at a time for six weeks each. Tip #6 - Use library resources to prep for fall SATs and ACTs. Several different online sources offer test preparation for SAT, ACT, AP and SOL exams. Start with LearningExpress Library for a wide range of options (library card required). Tip #7 - Access free Wi-Fi and computers. Whether you have your own device or not, simply log in to do just about any online research and project preparation needed for school assignments. Bring your own laptop, tablet or mobile device and connect to free Wi-Fi from inside any branch and even from outside many of them. Can't bring your own hardware? Use ours! The library offers more than 400 public computers at our branches, all equipped with Microsoft Office apps, internet access and printing and scanning capabilities. Rather work at home? Check out one of our Connect Kits. The kits contain a Chromebook and mobile hotspot that can be borrowed by adults (cardholders ages 18+) for two weeks at a time with no renewals. Connect kits can be put on hold for pick up most branches, with the exception of Access Services and Patrick Henry Library.

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