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.

Eric Carzon has been appointed director of Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL), effective Monday, Nov. 4. Carzon brings over 27 years of experience in library management, having most recently served as regional manager for Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). He succeeds Jessica Hudson, who left the position earlier this year.

In his role at MCPL, Carzon oversaw various leadership positions, including business manager and branch manager, before advancing to regional manager. He played a significant role in launching MCPL’s first Library of Things Music in 2018, a project that expanded access to diverse resources. Additionally, he contributed to numerous capital projects aimed at enhancing library services and facilities across the region.

Carzon has been a leader on several initiatives that received national recognition. Notable among these is the Library Refresh Capital Improvements Program, which focused on modernizing library spaces to better serve community needs. He also helped establish a successful partnership with KIDMuseum, which provided innovative educational programs for local youth. 

Carzon holds master’s degrees in library information science and public management from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Library Association and the Public Library Association.

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 planned in shaping the United States since the beginning of the county. From September 15 to October 15, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) 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.   

Create a Yarn Doll – Thomas Jefferson Library – September 20-21 
Celebrate Hispanic heritage by making a Guatemalan “worry” doll out of yarn, clothes pin and other craft supplies that will be available all day on both Friday and Saturday. 

Hispanic Heritage Celebration - Herndon Fortnightly Library – Saturday, September 21 
Enjoy a traditional Bolivian dance performance featuring members of the local dance group Tinkus San Simón Filial Virgina. Then make Puerto Rican vejigante masks and watch the short documentary, “Ramona.” 

Flamenco Performance with Furia Flamenca – Culmore (Woodrow Wilson) Library – Saturday, September 21 (registration required) 
Join us for an afternoon filled with the fiery footwork and passion of flamenco through dance numbers as well as musical solos. Performers include dancers Estela Velez de Paredez and Daniel Pardez, and guitarist and singer Juan L. Romero. 

Amate Art – John Marshall Library – Monday, September 23 (registration required) 
Partake in the Mexican tradition of making and decorating tree bark paper! We'll mimic using bark paper and create art inspired by amate paintings while we learn about traditional folk art. 

Hispanic Heritage Month Trivia – Richard Byrd Library – Friday, September 27 
Test your knowledge of the achievements of Hispanic Americans in this afternoon trivia program for all ages.  

Mr. Lilo – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Saturday, September 28 
Dance along with Mr. Lilo, a singer and songwriter who has touched the lives of people with his fun, thoughtful music, as he shares a message to adults and children of all cultures to unite to build a better world for all. 

¡Presente! A Latino History of the United States – Sherwood Regional Library – Tuesday, October 22 
Hear a presentation about the inaugural exhibition of the National Museum of the American Latino. The exhibition tells our national history from the perspectives of the diverse Latinas/os who lived it. Learn more about Latino identity, immigration, historical legacies, and how Latinas and Latinos have shaped the nation. 

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. 

After a brief closure to refresh the facility, Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) Reston Regional branch will welcome back cardholders and visitors when it reopens its doors to the public on Monday, September 16. During the branch’s eleven-week closure, the building underwent many necessary and important facility modernizations to ensure its longevity, including: 

• Full ADA updates and refurbishment of the main public restrooms; 

• Updates to all public and staff area lighting fixtures; 

• Replacement of carpet in key areas such as the entry way and teen area; 

• Cleaning and updates to the public meeting rooms; 

• Paint, cleaning, blind repair, etc; and 

• Replacement of the drinking fountain and addition of a bottle filling station. 

The Reston Regional staff, which had been relocated to other branches and FCPL offices during the closure, will return the week prior to the public re-opening to ensure all is ready on September 16. Upon its return to regular service, the branch will resume regular hours for FCPL’s regional branches: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday through Sunday.  

FCPL thanks the public for their patience during this process. Staff looks forward to welcoming the public back and hopes many will stop in to enjoy the newly-refreshed building in addition to the same great services and programs offered by all of FCPL’s 23 branches. 

Woodrow Wilson Library is now Culmore Community Library.

In their July 10, 2024 meeting, the Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the Woodrow Wilson Library the Culmore Community Library.

At several Board of Trustees meetings, residents of the Mason District where the library is located testified during public comment that a name change for this branch location at 6101 Knollwood Drive, Falls Church, was desired and warranted. The Library Board recently amended its Policy P to strengthen the recommendation that “all new or renamed branch libraries shall be named for the geographical area in which they are located.” The current name of this location, Woodrow Wilson Library, did not convey its location, possibly causing confusion among FCPL users who are new to the county and the library system.

During its March 13 meeting, the Library Board then established a committee to investigate the Woodrow Wilson Library name change as requested by residents. That committee convened in May to discuss budget impacts, as well as review information gathered by local history expert Christopher Barbuschak, manager of FCPL’s Virginia Room, regarding the history of the area and possible naming conventions. The recommendation from the committee was to consider Culmore Community Library as the new name for this facility. The report was presented to the entire board as part of their June 12 board package and is publicly available on-line.

This library is located in the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads. The origins of the Culmore name are traced to John N. Campbell (1898-1958) a Washington area real estate developer and building contractor. In 1947, he began construction on the first section of a planned 1,000-unit apartment complex he christened “Culmore Apartments”.  Campbell, a native of Culmore village in Londonderry, Ireland, named the project after his birthplace. Culmore comes from the Gaelic An Chúil Mhór, which means “big corner”.

In 1938, the Campbells moved to Fairfax County and rented a farm on Lee Highway in Centreville. Around this time Campbell established John N. Campbell, Inc., a building and development firm based in Arlington. Over the next decade, he built housing developments in Arlington and Fairfax. In October 1945, Campbell purchased 118 acres on Leesburg Pike near Bailey’s Crossroads from the Alexandria Water Company. He planned to build an extensive apartment project of 1,000 one- and two-bedroom units that he named Culmore Apartments. In 1949, Campbell announced he would build a $300,000 10-store shopping center on Leesburg Pike to service the Culmore Apartments. The Culmore Shopping Center opened in early 1951, and the Woodrow Wilson Library later called it home from 1961-1966.

In 1950, Campbell gave six acres of his Culmore property to Fairfax County Public Schools for the future construction of Bailey’s Elementary School which opened on September 2, 1952. To the right of the school property was an additional six acres owned by Campbell. Eventually, 1.6 acres of the property was given to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in July 1964 for the construction of the present Woodrow Wilson Library which opened in 1967. Before the Library Board voted to name the Woodrow Wilson Library in 1960, it was originally referred to as the “Culmore-Bailey’s Crossroads Library” or “Culmore-Bailey’s Library”.

This name change was reflected across the library starting September 1, 2024, but exterior signage installation is still in process. An official sign unveiling with Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez is set for October 19, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.

Tracing its origins to a Congressional Resolution in 1977, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month was officially established in 1992 to honor people of AANHPI ancestry in the United States, their history and culture, and their many contributions to our country. To celebrate, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) is hosting presentations, workshops, storytimes, crafts and more throughout the month, highlighting members of the AANHPI 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.    

Learn To Play the Ukulele – Lorton Library – Tuesdays, May 7-21 (registration required) 
Celebrate Hawaiian culture and learn to play the ukulele in this three-week series taught by a professional instructor from Potomac Music. Ukuleles will be provided for use in class.  

AANHPI Stories: Ginger, Bok Choy, Soy Sauce, Oh My! – Burke Centre Library – Tuesday, May 7 (registration required) 
Join cookbook author and Asian cooking expert Pat Tanumihardja as she demystifies the ingredients comprising popular Asian dishes like Pad Thai, Kung Pao chicken, Bulgogi and more. 

Tangram Puzzling – Sherwood Regional Library – Monday, May 13 (registration required) 
What can you make with only seven pieces? Design and play with your own tangram puzzles, a type of puzzle invented in China in the 3rd century. 

Batik Workshop – Thomas Jefferson Library – Friday, May 17 (registration required) 
Learn this Indonesian technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to the fabric to create exclusive patterns and designs. Participants will use this technique to create their own batik scarf. 

Intergenerational Japanese Folding Fan – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Saturday, May 18 
Embrace the diverse cultures, heritage and traditions inspired by AANHPI Heritage month as we introduce you to the history and art of the Japanese folding fan. Participants will then make and decorate your own paper folding fan. 

Sticky Fingers Cooking – Dolley Madison Library – Friday, May 24 (registration required) 
Experience an immersive experience where participants will learn to craft dishes and beverages, culminating in a shared meal and stimulating conversations on pertinent AANHPI/Jewish Heritage themes. 

Pellet Drums – John Marshall Library – Saturday, May 25 
Make some noise and learn about the pellet drum, a popular instrument used throughout East Asia. Then stick around to make one of your own with paper plates and beads 

For a complete list of AANHPI-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_AANHPIHeritage. 

You can also celebrate by participating in our AANHPI Genre Bingo Challenge on Beanstack! Learn more about the challenge and sign up to participate here.

RESTON, VA -- Fairfax County Public Library’s Reston Regional Library branch will close for an anticipated ten-week facility renovation this summer. The last day of service to the public will be Friday, June 28, with work beginning on Monday, July 1. This brief and necessary refresh will enhance library visitors’ experiences and complete important facility modernizations to ensure that it remains usable, clean and safe for the duration of the building’s lifespan.

Work anticipated as part of this refresh includes:

• Full ADA updates and refurbishment of the main public restrooms;
• Updates to all public and staff area lighting fixtures;
• Replacement of carpet in key areas such as the entry way and teen area;
• Cleaning and updates to the public meeting rooms;
• Paint, cleaning, blind repair, etc; and
• Replacement of the drinking fountain and addition of a bottle filling station.

Reston Regional Library staff will be shifted to other locations during this closure. While this library is closed, customers are invited to visit a nearby branch – close options include Herndon Fortnightly Library, Great Falls Library and Chantilly Regional Library. Staff can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations and materials may be picked up or returned to any Fairfax County Public Library branch.  

A new Reston Regional Library facility, previously approved in a bond referendum, is moving forward and it is planned to be constructed in the next few years. Land acquisition and design of the new facility is in the development phase.

For more information on what your Fairfax County Public Library has to offer, and to find a list of library locations, please visit fairfaxcounty.gov/library.