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Oakton Library Celebrates 15th Anniversary

October 3, 2022

U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly and Oakton Library Branch Manager David Shaffer OAKTON, Va. – FCPL’s Oakton branch on Sept. 24 hosted a celebration in honor of its 15th anniversary. Guests including U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, Fairfax County Supervisor Dalia Palchik and Virginia Sen. John Chapman “Chap” Petersen were on hand to pay tribute to the library’s longevity. To commemorate the occasion, attendees were treated to a variety of festivities including a presentation on owls from wildlife organization Secret Garden Birds and Bees, a performance from the Vienna Community Band, activities for children and a tour of the library’s rain garden. Additionally, the ceremony served to showcase the history of the library and how far it has come. “The story of Oakton Library is as unique as Fairfax County itself,” said Connolly. “The need for the library came during a time when many residents felt there was not a library nearby for them to attend,” he continued. Since opening in 2007, Oakton Library has received a Silver Rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program and is certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a habitat for wildlife. Oakton Library now offers many programs to people of all ages and backgrounds, including preschool storytimes, book discussion groups, guest speakers and more. According to Friends of Oakton Library Co-President Corinne Savage, “It’s impossible to imagine Oakton without a library. It continues to inform, educate and inspire all who step foot in here.” Learn more about the Oakton branch or find out how you can get involved with the Friends of Oakton Library.

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Fairfax County Public Library Honors Friends Groups Members

October 14, 2022

Library Board of Trustees Chair Brian Engler and Cathy Pluchinsky BURKE, VA – The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees and community members gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 12 to celebrate the library’s Friends groups and recognize members nominated by their peers for their service. This year’s Friends’ Choice Awards took place at Kings Park Library and featured a program honoring 25 individuals and one community group for their support of the library and its mission. During the event, Board of Trustees Chair Brian Engler praised the Friends groups for their contributions to the library over the last year. “Together, the groups donated more than $430,000 from July 2021 to June 2022,” he said. These funds have been and continue to be used to support library programming, enhance the digital materials collection and provide opportunities for staff and volunteers such as scholarships and registration for professional organizations. Engler also spent time honoring each recipient for their contributions. Reading a summary of their nominations, he welcomed each honoree, presenting them with a certificate, gift card and pin as a token of the library’s appreciation. This year’s list of honorees include: Stan Gowin, Access Services Advisory Group Sandy Neuzil, Access Services Advisory Group Mary Ellen Hurley, Friends of Burke Center Library Sharon Gottovi, Friends of Centreville Regional Library Cathy Pluchinsky, Friends of Centreville Regional Library Virginia Uliana, Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library Lynn Peterson Mobley, Friends of Great Falls Library Bonnie Ketch, Friends of Kings Park Library Makayla Adams, Friends of Kingstowne Library Katherine Varela, Friends of Kingstowne Library Willow Martin, Friends of Oakton Library Cindy Richards, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Laura Stokowski, Friends of Pohick Regional Library Eileen Evon, Friends of Reston Regional Library Terrill Evon, Friends of Reston Regional Library John France, Friends of Reston Regional Library Karen France, Friends of Reston Regional Library Beverly Greenblatt, Friends of Reston Regional Library Kerry Hum, Friends of Reston Regional Library Michael Hum, Friends of Reston Regional Library Charly Karlsson, Friends of Reston Regional Library Sujung Kim, Friends of Reston Regional Library Dianne Pretanik, Friends of Reston Regional Library Woman’s Club of Springfield, Friends of Richard Byrd Library Miki Wellck, Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library Vera Finberg, Friends of Virginia Room Community members wishing to become part of a Friends groups can find out more information on the library’s website. This page includes a list of the different Friends groups throughout Fairfax County as well as details on membership and how to join.

Woodrow Wilson Library Renames Conference Room After Carmen Fernandez

July 11, 2022

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – Fairfax County officials gathered Saturday to honor Carmen Fernandez, a longtime pillar of the Culmore community. A conference room at the Woodrow Wilson Library in Falls Church now bears plaques in Fernandez’s honor. The Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees voted in June 2022 to confer the honor. Born in Cuba, Fernandez came to the U.S. in 1960 and worked as a social worker in Arlington County for 25 years before founding the nonprofit Hispanics Against Child Abuse and Neglect (HACAN), according to her obituary. Fernandez spent many Saturday mornings in the Woodrow Wilson Library room that now bears her name facilitating community programs and activities for elementary school-aged children through a HACAN program known as Morning Star, as well as parenting education classes through the Morning Star Mothers program. “It’s Saturday morning and here we are at the Woodrow Wilson Library, where Carmen spent hundreds of Saturday mornings,” said Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross. “That was Carmen, always willing to give time and effort to her community … Her legacy is here, in the faces of the many children she inspired. HACAN is a nonprofit educational and advocacy organization dedicated to strengthening families in Northern Virginia through parent education and out-of-school activities that serve and support youth, according to its website. Carmen Paredes, HACAN’s executive director, also had words of praise for Fernandez, calling her “an extraordinary woman who could see people’s potential and believe in them.” Fernandez’s children Silvia Brugge, Celia Fruchterman, Javier and Jorge Fernandez were on hand for the unveiling of the plaques.

Friends of Reston Regional Library Donate $200,000 to FCPL

June 13, 2022

RESTON, Va. – Fairfax County Supervisor Walter L. Alcorn, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) leadership and dozens of library supporters were on hand Wednesday, June 8 as the FCPL Board of Trustees accepted a $200,00 gift from the Friends of Reston Regional Library. “The Friends of the Reston Regional Library are amazing, hard-working community advocates who donate generously." said FCPL Director Jessica Hudson. The group’s funds are raised primarily through used book sales. The gift will be invested in FCPL’s collection, benefitting cardholders throughout the county. "At $3 million, county funding for collection building is below the recommended level of 20% of the library's total budget," said Frances Millhouser, chair of the Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees. A majority of the gift will be invested in FCPL’s digital collection, which experienced explosive and sustained growth in recent years. FCPL’s collection budget is unable to meet community demand in large part because more cardholders are checking out digital materials. In May 2022, just over 51,000 unique users checked out items from the library’s physical collection while the digital collection saw about 46,150 unique users in the same time period. Those digital users are all borrowing from a collection of slightly under 228,000 items while the physical collection contains more than 1.8 million items. These numbers show the digital collection works hard; digital titles are placed on hold and checked out more frequently than their physical counterparts. Laws around eBook licensing mean digital materials also cost more than their physical counterparts. FCPL collection services staff plans to invest the gift in ways that benefit the maximum number of cardholders, including purchasing Simultaneous Use eAudio packages, acquiring more perpetual use licenses and expanding the Lucky Day collection, which offers popular titles to cardholders for two weeks and does not permit holds or renewals. Some areas of FCPL’s physical collection do work as hard as our digital collection; FCPL collection services staff plans to spend a portion of this gift on board books, Read-Alongs and other materials for young readers as well as Spanish-language materials.

Nurture Your Environmental Literacy With Free Library Programs and Resources

May 6, 2022

Throughout 2022 Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is celebrating literacy in all its forms, showcasing a different type through programs, activities and resources each month. With Earth Day celebrated recently and spring blooming into summer, May is Environmental Literacy Month at your local library. What is Environmental Literacy? According to the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) as noted by the Ecological Society of America’s Ecosphere journal, environmental literacy is “an awareness of and concern about the environment and its associated problems, as well as the knowledge, skills, and motivations to work toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.” Whether you’re an avid environmentalist or gardener already, or you’d like to learn more about contributing to a healthier planet — or simply a greener neighborhood — for the next generations, the following library programs and resources will help you nurture your understanding of the natural world and our impact on it. Free Environmental Literacy Month Events Join FCPL virtually on Thursday, May 12, at 7 p.m. for a discussion about our favorite delectable and delicate foods that may disappear as a result of climate change. Advance registration is required. Visit Sherwood Regional Library this month for hands-on workshops: upcycle old pieces of paper and cardboard and learn the art of storytelling through collage May 12 at 10:30 a.m.; and learn to grow and use 12 common culinary herbs May 22 at 2:30 p.m. Advance registration is required for both programs. Explore gardening with native plants and wildlife in mind in a series of programs with local experts. Discover how to create a butterfly-friendly habitat in your own yard on Thursday, May 5, at 2 p.m. at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library. Pop into City of Fairfax Regional Library Saturday, May 7, from 1 to 3 p.m. for native plant seeds and advice from Fairfax County Master Gardeners. Explore ways to support songbirds and achieve personal landscaping goals with native plants in virtual presentations on May 9 and May 11. Advance registration is required for virtual programs. For more events like this, check out the library events calendar at bit.ly/FCPL_GG-environment. Lifelong Learning FCPL cardholders can borrow fine-free* from the library’s collection and enjoy 60+ recommended books on the environment: bit.ly/FCPL_Env-Lit-Books. Plus, find a curated list of virtual and in-person lifelong learning opportunities in the library’s online guide for Adults and 50-Plus at bit.ly/FCPL_LifelongLearning. Massive Open Online Courses(MOOCs) are free, online, college-level courses from universities and other providers worldwide; numerous courses in environmental science and other environmental literacy topics are available at bit.ly/CourseBuffet_EnvSci and bit.ly/ClassCentral_EnvSci. More for Gardeners Find out how to help Fairfax County’s flora and fauna thrive in FCPL’s interview with a Plant NOVA Natives member. Read the article in the spring issue of Branch Out magazine: bit.ly/FCPL-flora-fauna. Have more questions about any type of gardening? Ask a Fairfax County Master Gardener at a plant clinic! Find times and locations at bit.ly/FCPL_PlantClinics. Finally, make sure you’re growing in healthy soil by picking up a soil testing kit from any FCPL branch: bit.ly/FFX_SoilTests. *Some special collections, including interlibrary loans, Chromebooks and hotspots, continue to accrue overdue fines.

Boost Your Financial Literacy With Free Library Programs and Resources

April 6, 2022

Throughout 2022 Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is celebrating literacy in all its forms, each month showcasing a different type through programs, activities, resources and materials. With tax season in full swing this month, April is all about Financial Literacy at your local library. Everyone from toddlers to retirees can hone their money smarts this month as FCPL celebrates Financial Literacy. Sign up for Money Smart Storytime, a webinar about financing college, an estate planning presentation and more! What is Financial Literacy? According to the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy as noted by PBS.org, personal financial literacy is "the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of financial well-being." Financial literacy can give you the confidence to make smart decisions and reach your goals — no matter what stage of life or financial situation you’re in. Check out the library’s programs and resources below to boost your financial literacy this month! Free Financial Literacy Month Events Visit Centreville Regional Library any time in April to participate in a financial literacy scavenger hunt and turn in your completed form by April 30 for the chance to win a personal finance book. John Marshall branch is hosting Piggy Bank Family Storytime Saturday, April 16 at 10:30 a.m. Register for stories and a craft! Join FCPL virtually on Tuesday, April 19, at 7 p.m. for a workshop on Savings & Investing: The Basics with Suzanne McGovern of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration is required for this online event. If paying for education is in your future, join us virtually Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. for Learn About Virginia529: A Tax-Advantaged Way to Pay for Education. Registration is required for this online event. Bring your questions and learn about all aspects of Social Security from an expert in a presentation by AARP at Sherwood Regional Library on Sunday, April 24, at 3 p.m. Investing in the Digital Age is a virtual briefing by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at noon on Tuesday, April 26. Register now to learn: Steps to build wealth What to consider when using investing apps Risks of digital assets, like cryptocurrencies Meme stocks and trading based on social media trends The risks of trying to pick winners or time the market Protecting your money from investment scams. Interested in tax help, too? Appointments are available through April 16 for AARP Tax Help at Herndon Fortnightly Library and VITA Tax Assistance at Kingstowne Library. Find dates, times and registration at bit.ly/FCPL_TaxHelp. Always-Available Money Management Resources FCPL cardholders now enjoy fine-free* borrowing from the library’s collection, which includes 500+ books, eBooks and audiobooks on personal finance: bit.ly/FCPL_ReadPersonalFinance. Plus, you can access digital resources anytime and anywhere you have an internet connection by visiting the online guide to Finance, Investing and the Economy at research.fairfaxcounty.gov/finance for curated information, databases, tools and more. *Some special collections, including interlibrary loans, Chromebooks and hotspots, continue to accrue overdue fines.

Read and Feed

March 28, 2022

For several years, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) has hosted a “Food for Fines” drive each fall as a way of facilitating food donations to our partner organization, Food for Others, which offers library cardholders a reduction on their fines. As of Jan. 1, FCPL no longer charges overdue fines on most materials. To continue its partnership with Food for Others, FCPL is now hosting “Read and Feed” in April. Those who wish to give may simply drop off donations at any FCPL branch during its regular hours throughout the month of April. Most needed items include: Oil Cereal Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb. Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz. Rice, 16 oz. packages Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass) Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz. Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.) Pasta Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz. New or clean reusable grocery bags Can openers Food for Others is unable to accept donations of: Items that are more than three years expired, opened items, food that is not labeled, homemade items, cooked food, or toiletries.

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