Library

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.

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.

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.

The Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) Board of Trustees on Wednesday evening honored several staff members with its annual Staff Excellence Awards.

Library users nominated their favorite staff members this February, and a board committee selected winners from nearly 150 nominations recognizing staff members from 12 branches and FCPL’s administrative services. Board members introduced each winner and shared an excerpt from their nomination during Wednesday’s virtual meeting.

2022 FCPL Staff Excellence Award Winners

• Vicki Corcoran, information assistant at Richard Byrd Library
• Renee Edwards, programming and educational services director at FCPL Administrative Services
• Kelly Gilbert, youth services assistant at Chantilly Regional Library
• Jane Girondo, early literacy assistant at FCPL Administrative Services
• Robert Harsher, reader’s advisor at Access Services
• Jill Johnson, branch manager at Burke Centre Library
• Christine Jones, branch manager at Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library
• Rebecca LaPlante, assistant branch manager at Pohick Regional Library
• Christine Lomax, page manager at Woodrow Wilson Library
• Elaine McRey, librarian at City of Fairfax Regional Library
• Kim Nguyen, library aide at Burke Centre Library
• Shazia Shehryar, page manager at Oakton Library
• Rebecca Takacs, youth services assistant at Reston Regional Library
• Anita Toth, youth services assistant at Burke Centre Library
• Erica Tran, library aide at John Marshall Library
• Maree Watkins, librarian at City of Fairfax Reginal Library
• Nora Wickert, information assistant at Dolley Madison Library

With 23 branches serving more than a million people, Fairfax County Public Library relies on many people to support the needs and interests of the community. In addition to the amazing staff who work tirelessly to provide services, programming and assistance to library visitors, there is another group whose contributions are vital to the success of FCPL’s mission. Last year, over 1,200 volunteers selflessly gave more than 78,000 hours of their time in service to our library. And beyond just the hours worked, they have served as ambassadors – reminding others of the importance of the public library within the community.  

To recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of library volunteers and community partners, FCPL annually hosts the Star Volunteer Awards. Employees nominate volunteers, who are honored for longevity and exceptional service. In honor of National Volunteer Month, the library and its Board of Trustees recognized 19 volunteers at its April Board meeting, held at George Mason Regional Library on Wednesday, April 9. 

A heartfelt congratulations to the 2025 awardees! 
 
Category: 1,000 Hours of Service 

Susan O’Boyle - Burke Centre Library 

Tarun Ramesh – City of Fairfax Regional Library, Patrick Henry Library, Technical Operations 

Elizabeth Adams – Richard Byrd Library 

Alison Duncan – Technical Operations 
 

Category: Exceptional Service 

Brandon Burrell – Burke Centre Library 

Anjali Ahuja – Chantilly Regional Library 

Claudia Johnston – City of Fairfax Regional Library 

Jacob Hallisey – Great Falls Library 

Elaine Michl – Kings Park Library 

Irene Marx – Lorton Library 

Peggy Jackson – Patrick Henry Library 

Anne Sween – Patrick Henry Library 

Samantha Goldberg – Pohick Regional Library 

Michael Carpenter – Reston Regional Library 

Ray Walser – Reston Regional Library 

Marion Glass – Thomas Jefferson Library 

Mathias Tsige – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library 

Philip Zettle – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library 

Steve Corley – Technical Operations 

More photos from the ceremony can be viewed here.

Officially designated in 2022 by President Joe Biden, National Arab American Heritage Month  honors people in the United States who are of Arab ancestry, as well as their history, culture and 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 Arab American 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.     

Arab American Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt – Centreville Regional Library – All Month  
Learn to read the numbers 1-10 in Arabic script as you search the library for the hidden clues to match up the correct numbers. Once your scavenger hunt sheet is completed, turn it in at the Information Desk for a small prize. 

Coloring Arabesque and Geometric Patterns – John Marshall Library – Monday, April 7 
Relax and listen to instrumental Middle Eastern music while coloring arabesque and geometric patterns. 

Family Storytime Extravaganza – Kingstowne Library – Saturday, April 12 
Bring your family to learn about Eid al-Fitr, a celebration of the end of Ramadan, with books and crafts. 

Arabic Stories and Calligraphy for Kids – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Thursday, April 17 
Enjoy a reading of The Proudest Blue by I. Muhammad, sing some songs and try your hand at Arabic calligraphy. 

Poetry Writing and Reading – Lorton Library – Tuesday, April 22 
Celebrate National Poetry & Arab American Heritage Months by creating poetry. Prompts, writing materials, tea and poetry books by classic and contemporary Arab American writers will be provided. 

Arab American Cultural Open House – Chantilly Regional Library – Saturday, April 26 
Learn about the rich and diverse cultures of Arab Americans in Fairfax County in this program for all ages. 

Moon Rock Painting – Sherwood Regional Library – Saturday, April 26 
Celebrate and learn about Farouk El-Baz’s contributions to NASA and the Apollo missions by creating a moon with "moon rock" paint!  

For a complete list of Arab American Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_ArabAmericanHeritage.

You can also celebrate by selecting a new read from our specially curated Arab American Heritage Month booklist found here. 

Beginning Saturday, March 8, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) will be hosting several focus groups with the aim of improving the County's 911 responsiveness. In partnership with the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications and George Mason University, several of our branches will hold sessions to explore community relationships with first responders, including identifying challenges, needs, and opportunities for improvement. These discussions will help first responders to better understand and anticipate community needs as well as evaluate the community's current understanding of how AI tools are developed to support community.

A schedule for sessions is as follows:

• Lorton Library - Saturday, March 15 - 4-7 p.m.
• Sherwood Regional Library - Sunday, March 16 - 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Culmore Library - Saturday, March 22 - 3-6 p.m.
• Richard Byrd Library - Saturday, April 5 - 3-6 p.m.
• Centreville Regional Library - Sunday, April 6 - 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• NEW DATE! Richard Byrd Library - Thursday, April 24 - 4-5 p.m.

Learn more about the project in this article from George Mason University.

Throughout the month of March, Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) will honor the many women who have played an important role over the course of American history. This Women’s History Month, celebrate the lives and stories of women who have made an impact on Fairfax County and beyond with presentations, workshops, 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.   

• The Artist and Me (Women's History Edition) - Martha Washington Library - Saturday, March 1 
  Read about a famous female artist or two and then create your own piece of artwork inspired by their styles. 

• Women in History Costume Party - John Marshall Library - Saturday, March 1 
  Dress as a celebrated woman from history and enjoy socializing, making paper dolls and playing a game of women's history bingo in this program for adults. 

• Storytelling through Women's Voices - A Celebration of Female Composers - City of Fairfax Regional Library - Sunday, March 2 
  Explore your musical imagination through the voices of female-identifying composers of the 20th and 21st centuries through the performances of two local musicians. 

• #MeToo Movement - Virtual Program - Friday, March 7 
  Trace the origins and evolution of the movement that has reshaped our understanding of gender relations and ignited a call for justice and accountability in this talk led by Dr. Cher Wexia Chen. 

• Women's History Month Bingo - Thomas Jefferson Library - Saturday, March 8 
  Enjoy a friendly game of Bingo for all ages while honoring and learning about the contributions of great women throughout history. 

• Jennie Dean: From Slavery to Visionary in the Field of Education - City of Fairfax Regional Library - Wednesday, March 12 
  Learn about Jennie Dean, a native of Prince William County, who founded the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth and was an early champion of women’s rights in this presentation from Marion Dobbins. 

• Early Herndon Female Leaders - Herndon Fortnightly Library - Saturday, March 15 
  Discover some of Herndon’s early female leaders and learn how they helped shape early life in the area in this talk from Barbara Glakas, Herndon Historical Society Historian. 

• American Girl Book Club: Women's History Month Edition! - Sherwood Regional Library - Sunday, March 16 
  Join this special book club meeting to chat about Julie, an American Girl who is passionate about equality and fighting for what she believes in, and do a craft based on her story. 

• Women's History Month Storytime! - Pohick Regional Library - Sunday, March 16 
  Celebrate Women's History Month by reading books and singing traditional storytime songs in this program led by Pohick’s Teen Advisory Board. 

• Escaping Detection - Burke Centre Library - Thursday March 27 
  Learn about women who were spies and soldiers during the Civil War in this program from local author Mary Lipsey. 

• Teen & Parent Craft: Weave Like Ruth - Sherwood Regional Library - Saturday, March 29 
  Wrap up Women's History Month by sculpting with wires in the style of artist Ruth Asawa! 

For a complete list of 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 here. 

“If you hear any form of popular music in the twentieth century, it will have, at its base, the blues,” says award-winning jazz singer and songwriter Alison Crockett.

On February 8, in celebration of Black History Month, Alison and bassist Obasi Akoto captivated audiences at Centreville Regional and Sherwood Regional libraries with soulful melodies and a rich history lesson that brought the evolution of jazz to life.

“One of the things about jazz, and Black American music in particular, is that it is, literally, democracy,” says Alison. “We all come together; we have an idea of what we want to do. There is a leader, for a minute, …and then everybody gets a chance to speak. And if we’re all not working together, and if we all don’t know what we’re supposed to do, it doesn’t work.”

A multifaceted jazz vocalist, Alison's extensive education and diverse performance experience have made her a luminary in the music world. With vocal training from Temple University and a master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music, she has seamlessly transitioned between genres, recording critically acclaimed projects ranging from jazz and neo-soul to electronica and Brazilian-inspired tunes.

To learn more about Alison, visit AlisonCrockett.com. 

Library visitors can experience Alison's presentation, "The Evolution of Jazz," in person as she performs at City of Fairfax Regional Library and Kings Park Library on Saturday, February 22 at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. respectively.

This November, Fairfax County Public Library is honoring the history, traditions and contributions of the United States’ indigenous peoples, including Native Americans and Alaskan Natives. According to the Culture Heritage of Fairfax County Residents Research Guide on the Library’s website:  

“Archaeological evidence shows that people have been living in what is now Virginia as far back as 16-22,000 years ago.” These tribes contributed significantly to the newcomers’ ability to survive those first few years upon their arrival to present-day Virginia. Over the four hundred years since the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown, Virginia’s native people have contributed greatly to the vitality of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the nation, and continue to do so.” 

To recognize these communities, as well as the other indigenous groups who originally inhabited the land that is now the U.S., our branches will be hosting educational presentations, dance 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.    

Explore Native American Life in Fairfax County – Multiple Branches – Multiple Dates 
Discover what life may have been like for Eastern Woodland Indians and the relationship they had with the land that is now Fairfax County. Explore replica artifacts, listen to a story from Native American lore, try out corn grinding, play a corn dart game and more. 

• Richard Byrd Library – November 2 
• Chantilly Regional Library – November 3 
• Great Falls Library – November 9 
• Thomas Jefferson Library – November 16 

“N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear” – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library – November 4 
Screen the documentary “N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear,” a biographical documentary about the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize in Literature, which Momaday won in 1969 for his novel, House of Dawn.  

Create Your Own Sand Painting – Culmore (Woodrow Wilson) Library – November 21 
Learn about Navajo Nation and their tradition of creating sand art for artistic and medicinal purposes, then create one of your own. 

Native American Heritage Celebration – Multiple Branches – November 23 and 24 
Celebrate Native American Heritage Month with an authentic cultural presentation and dance demonstration by the Eastern Woodland Revitalization. Performances include the Harvest Dance, the Eastern Blanket Dance and a craft for kids. 

• Reston Regional Library – November 23 
• Centreville Regional Library – November 24 

Native American Heritage Month Read Aloud & Craft – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library – November 25 
Enjoy a storytime featuring Native American tales, followed by a fun and educational activity where kids can learn the history of totem poles and create their own. 

For a complete list of Native American Heritage-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_NativeAmericanHeritage. 

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