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Fairfax County Public Library Richard Byrd Library Facility Update

Richard Byrd Library Reopens Monday, April 6

April 3, 2026

We are pleased to announce that Richard Byrd Library will reopen with normal operating hours beginning Monday, April 6 at 10 a.m. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we worked to replace the branch's heating system.  Information about HoldsRichard Byrd Library can be chosen as a pickup location for new holds beginning immediately.Previously placed holds that are not yet in transit to another branch may be rerouted to the Richard Byrd branch by changing the pickup location.Holds already at or in transit to another branch cannot be rerouted and must be collected from the previously selected location.Customers may change the designated pickup location or manually reactivate suspended 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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Coming Soon: Kingstowne Regional Library

April 1, 2026

Alexandria, VA — Fairfax County Public Library is pleased to announce that the new Kingstowne Regional Library, located in the Franconia Governmental Center (7130 Silver Lake Blvd., Alexandria), will open to the public on Saturday, April 11 at 10 a.m. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, please join us for a special storytime, scavenger hunt, games and performances, as well as a photo booth. We can't wait to welcome you to our newest library!SCHEDULE OF EVENTSALL DAYScavenger Hunt, Games and Library Card Sign Up10 a.m.-1 p.m.Silly Shotz Photobooth11 a.m.Lane Elementary School Choir12-2 p.m.Storytime and Parade with Princess Belle2 p.m.Hayfield High Honors Orchestra Sneak Peak Photos About Franconia Governmental Center and Kingstowne Regional LibraryThis new combined facility is approximately 90,000 square feet and offers structured parking and easy transit access. It houses 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 is located off the lobby giving it great exposure. The Active Adult Center has approximately 7,200 square feet, and a new Child Care Center with approximately 10,000 square feet will offer care for infants to pre-kindergarten children. The Kingstowne Community Library has been expanded to a Regional Library and occupies approximately 30,000 square feet. Learn more about the project here.How to Move a LibraryMoving into Kingstowne Regional Library took months of planning and logistics! Staff at Kingstowne Community Library loaded books on carts and packed up program materials, while our Technical Operations division ordered and prepared new books, and Library IT transferred technology to the new building from mid-February to early-March. At the new location, materials have been unboxed and shelved. Public computers, printers, Wi-Fi and copiers have been installed, chairs and tables arranged, and more!Let's do the math - 36,802 items were moved from the community location to the new regional library + 18,500 new items that were purchased to expand the branch's collection for the larger location = over 55,000 items that are now on the Kingstowne Regional Library's shelves, waiting for customers, including some in-demand titles.During Kingstowne Library's ClosureCustomers are invited to visit a nearby branch until the grand opening celebration – 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.Questions? Need help?For staff assistance, please contact the library by calling 703-324-3100 or emailing WWWLIB@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Find Your Joy with Fairfax County Public Library!

April 1, 2026

Celebrate National Library Week • April 19-25, 2026 "I love libraries enthusiastically every week! To serve as Honorary Chair for National Library Week takes that enthusiasm to a whole new level. Celebrating libraries, thanking library workers, visiting libraries is how I find my joy. There are so many library kids and library grown-ups who have yet to fully embrace their library joy, and I am so excited for them! When they enter the world of libraries and stories, I am confident they will find not only their library joy but their courage to believe in their own story and maybe even share it with others." —Mychal Threets Award-winning librarian, author, and new host of the children’s program “Reading Rainbow” Mychal Threets is this year's honorary chair of National Library Week 2026. “Find Your Joy” is an invitation for people of all backgrounds to explore and discover what sparks joy in them at the library. The theme amplifies a message that is ever-present in Threets’ recurring viral videos about the innumerable ways people can find joy in the library, and in his debut picture book, I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy, published earlier this year in English and Spanish (and available to borrow from FCPL today!).Here are some of the amazing FREE ways you can FIND YOUR JOY with Fairfax County Public Library: Escape into a story with books and audiobooks Attend programs and events for all ages Learn a new skill with online courses Listen, sing and rhyme in a storytimeDiscover new technology at a MakerLab Borrow from the Library of ThingsVolunteer to help your local branch Speak a new language with groups and classes Meet your favorite authors Connect with helpful library staffSo much more!Share with us what you love about your library by visiting your favorite FCPL branch during the week and fill out a paper flower to be added to our colorful garden display, just ask library staff.National Library Week EventsMonday, April 20: Right to Read Day, a day for readers, advocates, and library lovers to take action to protect, defend and celebrate the right to read. The American Library Association (ALA) kicks off National Library Week with the release of its State of America's Libraries Report, including the list of Top Ten Most Challenged Books.Tuesday, April 21: National Library Workers Day, a day for library staff, users, administrators, and Friends groups to recognize the valuable contributions made by all library workers.Wednesday, April 22: National Library Outreach Day (formerly National Bookmobile Day), a day to celebrate library outreach and the dedicated library professionals who are meeting their patrons where they are.Thursday, April 23: Take Action for Libraries Day, a day to rally advocates to support libraries. About National Library WeekRecognized yearly by the American Library Association, National Library Week is a celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. In the mid-1950s, research showed that Americans were spending less on books and more on radios, televisions and musical instruments. Concerned that Americans were reading less, the ALA and the American Book Publishers formed a nonprofit citizens organization called the National Book Committee in 1954. The committee's goals were ambitious. They ranged from "encouraging people to read in their increasing leisure time" to "improving incomes and health" and "developing strong and happy family life."In 1957, the committee developed a plan for National Library Week based on the idea that once people were motivated to read, they would support and use libraries. With the cooperation of ALA and with help from the Advertising Council, the first National Library Week was observed in 1958 with the theme "Wake Up and Read!"

From Sea to Shining Sea: Celebrating America’s Natural Legacy

March 31, 2026

As one of the world’s most climatically diverse countries, the United States is home to countless natural wonders. From the beaches to mountain ranges, grassland and prairies to ice caps, explore all of these beautiful landscapes from the comfort of your local library with programs and presentations honoring America’s natural legacy this April.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.Scavenger Hunts | Herndon Fortnightly Library and Kings Park Library |All Month Explore the library and see if you can spot a variety of landscapes from our National Parks with scavenger hunts at two of our branches throughout the month. Stop by the information desk upon your arrival to Herndon Fortnightly and Kings Park libraries to start your hunt. Wonder Wagon | Multiple Branches | Multiple Dates Step into the world of environmental exploration with the Wonder Wagon, the Fairfax County Park Authority's innovative mobile nature center. Recycling Pirates Puppet Show | Great Falls Library and Reston Regional Library | Saturday, April 4 Enjoy a rollicking musical about puppet characters created from trash. Led by Captain Jack Sparetire, they sail the urban seas looking for things to recycle, reuse, reduce and repair. Monarch Butterflies: One of America's Favorite Natural Resources | Martha Washington Library | Saturday, April 11 Meet virtually with scientist and butterfly expert, Nadya Muchoney, to learn about the Monarch Butterfly’s migration through many U.S. states and regions on their way to and from Mexico. Make a Layer Landscape | John Marshall Library | Monday. April 13 Let America's diverse landscapes inspire you. Create a layered landscape with foreground, mid-ground and background panels out of paper. Reptiles and Amphibians of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park | Chantilly Regional Library | Sunday, April 19 Enjoy a meet and greet with reptiles and amphibians that are native to Fairfax County. Nature Talk and Walk | Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library | Saturday, April 25 Get tips on managing invasive plants and native plant restoration from members of the Fairfax Invasive Removal Alliance. Then take a brief nature walk in Tysons Pimmit Park behind the library where you can put your new skills to the test. Poetry and Our National Parks | Lorton Library | Saturday, April 25 Take some time to reflect, then write about a time you visited a beautiful landscape or imagine a place you would like to visit one day. Watercolor 101: Classic American Trees and Succulents | Sherwood Regional Library | Monday, April 27 Learn to paint classic American trees and succulents with accomplished artist Anne Heising.For a complete list of our theme-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_250Events. Earth Month and Day Activities From FCPLIn honor of Earth Month, Fairfax County Public Library is also partnering with Sustain Fairfax to host an Earth Month Reading Bingo Challenge. FCPL cardholders can participate by logging books or minutes read and activities completed on Beanstack to earn badges and fill in their Bingo boards. Get five in a row, column or diagonal and you will be entered into a drawing for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards. More information about this Challenge can be found here .Additionally, several of our branches will be hosting events to celebrate Earth Day on or near April 22. A full list of Earth Day events can be found on our events calendar at bit.ly/FCPL_EarthDayEvents .Related BooksLooking for something to read related to this month’s theme? Check out this list from our collection team for suggestions.

Fairfax County Public Library Receives 2026 Virginia Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award

March 24, 2026

Richmond, VA – Ever wonder what happens to out-of-date or unneeded copies of the books on our shelves? What about a book that’s been returned irreparably damaged by an accidental coffee spill? Libraries actually have a lot of fascinating behind-the-scenes practices to handle books and materials that are no longer in service.We’re excited to announce that for one of those practices, Fairfax County Public Library has received an Honorable Mention at the 2026 Virginia Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards for our book reuse and recycling project. The project began as a two-year pilot in May 2025, as a way to give old library books new life and help manage our unneeded materials in a sustainable way. Instead of paying to recycle books that have reached the end of their library service, these books are now delivered to our new partner, ThriftBooks. The company evaluates and sells these books on the secondary market or to a recycler to be transformed into paper pulp. The income received from this pilot program is then returned to the collection budget to purchase more books for library customers.By the NumbersFairfax County Public Library is committed to doing our part to make an impact towards the County's Zero Waste initiative goals. In partnership with Fairfax County’s Department of Procurement and Material Management, from May 2025-February 2026, FCPL sent more than 185,000 books to ThriftBooks for recycling or resale. About 121,000 of those were recycled and 63,000 were put up for sale – about half of which have sold so far. This has provided substantial environmental impact avoidance –119 cu yd landfill avoided624,800 gallons of water saved366,000 kwh saved5,300 lbs. greenhouse gases not producedOver 2,000 trees were saved via pulpingAbout the Governor’s Environmental Excellence AwardsThese awards recognized the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in five categories: sustainability, environmental project, greening of government, land conservation, and implementation of the Virginia Outdoors Plan. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations, and government agencies. The awards program is run annually by DEQ in partnership with the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

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.

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

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