Library News | Library

Department Resources

STAY CONNECTED

The latest Library news releases and special events. For media queries, contact Marketing & Communications Director Sara Prohaska.

Stay connected to your library by following us on social media: Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram.
Check out Free with Your Library Fridays and all events at your library:

Visit the Library Events Calendar

4 million+ digital checkouts in 2025! tablet with The New Yorker page spread, tablet with Remarkably Bright Creatures book cover, phone with Troubled audiobook

Happy 4 Million from Fairfax County Public Library!

December 23, 2025

3,999,995...3,999,996...3,999,997...3,999,998...3,999,999...Happy 4,000,000 digital checkouts!We're a little over a week away from the New Year's Eve countdown to 2026 but on the evening of December 22, 2025, Fairfax County Public Library staff were waiting at their computers, watching and counting down to a different major milestone - over 4 million digital checkouts in a single calendar year! That’s a lot of eBooks, eAudiobooks and eMagazines! This is the first time our library system has exceeded the threshold since introducing Libby by OverDrive, the library's online digital catalog provider, in 2006. In 2024, only 29 libraries who use OverDrive surpassed the 4 million digital checkout mark.FCPL currently ranks #22 in digital circulation nationwide among standalone systems and is ranked #1 in Virginia.The busiest day in 2025 was December 2 with 15,268 digital loans.The 4-millionth digital loan was the eAudiobook Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class by Rob Henderson.Since introducing Overdrive in 2006, FCPL cardholders have borrowed nearly 30 million items.Stay tuned for FCPL's list of top books for 2025 and we look forward to a well-read and entertaining 2026!

Read full article

New Logo, New Look, New Library Cards!

December 12, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library is excited to share our new library cards with you! From Sept. 1-30, 2025, in honor of our new logo, FCPL accepted submissions for new library card designs. We received over 150 entries, and a committee of Library and Fairfax Library Foundation staff chose four winning designs from a selection of talented finalists. Through creativity and skill, these artists have turned a library card into a unique work of art that embodies the spirit of our community. The designs will now serve as a daily inspiration and reminder of the joy, knowledge and connection that libraries offer to everyone. Card #1 (bear and cat) - Alex from Fairfax Station Card #2 (read to the dog) - Carolyn from Fairfax Card #3 (native Virginia birds) - Shawna from Burke Card #4 (colorful drawn collage) - Neil from Fairfax Winners received a $500 prize from Fairfax Library Foundation and were honored at the December 10, 2025 Library Board of Trustees meeting at George Mason Regional Library. The new library cards will be available to the public for selection in our 23 branches in mid-January. We look forward to seeing these cards proudly carried by FCPL patrons across Fairfax County! We also would like to celebrate and thank the many artists that shared their creativity with us in this contest. We sincerely wish we had been able to turn all of your works of art into cards. Card Design Contest Finalists Gallery

Multicolored winter scenes with mountains, trees, a gold medal, a skier and a speed skater with text that reads Read for the gold Winter Reading Adventure December 1, 2025-January 31, 2026

Read For The Gold This Winter with FCPL!

December 1, 2025

By Tina Mraz, Program and Educational Services Director As the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisp, Fairfax County Public Library invites readers of all ages to warm up with a good book and join the 2025 Winter Reading Adventure - Read for the Gold! This exciting countywide challenge runs from December 1, 2025 through January 31, 2026, encouraging everyone from preschoolers to adults to set reading goals, discover new stories and celebrate their achievements along the way. Participation is easy through FCPL’s Beanstack platform. Readers can register online at fairfaxcounty.beanstack.org. Depending on the reader’s age, they can earn 10 or 15 virtual badges by reading or listening to books, reading for 20 or 30 minutes, completing activities or a combination of all three. Those who prefer an offline experience can visit their nearest FCPL branch to pick up paper reading logs. Once participants complete the adventure, they can visit any of our 23 branches to pick up a coupon sheet. Additionally, finishers will be automatically entered into drawings for $25 Amazon gift cards. Joining the Winter Reading Adventure helps readers maintain strong literacy habits year-round and provides a cozy opportunity to discover new favorites from the Library’s vast collection of print, digital and audio titles. Plus, with the added incentive of badges and prizes, there’s never been a better time to curl up with a good book. Additionally, throughout December and January, several branches will host special programs and activities. From storytimes and scavenger hunts to reading recommendations and themed events, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. These programs are designed to encourage creativity, literacy and community engagement while making reading a fun and rewarding adventure. This winter, challenge yourself, your friends and your family to read, learn and grow together. Visit bit.ly/FCPL_WRA for details and get ready to Read for the Gold with us!

Fairfax County Public Library + WETA = An Education and Entertainment Partnership for You

November 1, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library is excited to announce a new partnership with local PBS member station WETA to provide easy access to free video streaming services for FCPL’s visitors, customers and cardholders. The mission and vision of public television and public libraries are closely aligned – to inform, engage and inspire our communities with trusted sources of information and entertainment that respect a diversity of views, culture and heritage. Supporters of both organizations value education, creativity and curiosity, making the partnership a natural fit. WETA+ is a free and easy-to-use streaming service and app for all ages and interests. It offers thousands of on-demand hours of acclaimed PBS and WETA shows* that have been curated by WETA programming staff with local D.C.-area audiences in mind. Among the free local programming of interest to FCPL customers are programs exploring local and national history news, current affairs and documentaries, arts, food and travel, dramas, comedies and more. Live television streaming of every WETA channel is also available with WETA+, including WETA UK, WETA PBS, WETA Metro, WETA World and WETA PBS Kids. The WETA+ streaming app is available for download on Roku, Apple TV and iOS, fire TV, Samsung, LG, Google TV and Android.Throughout the year, Fairfax County Public Library will help viewers continue the adventure after watching WETA+ programs with specially curated book recommendations and in-person programming based on shows, themes and topics. To celebrate the partnership, FCPL and WETA will also host a series of events centered around the much-anticipated PBS premiere of “The American Revolution”, a six-part, 12-hour documentary series directed and produced by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. * Monday, Nov. 17 at 4 p.m. at Oakton Library* Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. at City of Fairfax Regional Library* Thursday, Nov. 20 at 2 p.m. at Dolley Madison Library* Friday, Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. at Sherwood Regional LibraryAt these events, attendees will be able to learn more about the WETA+ streaming service and app, be able to sign up for a free Roku streaming device and customer support, check out one of the recommended books and watch a portion of the documentary. We look forward to developing even more exciting ways that you can enjoy FCPL and WETA together! *Some premium programming offered on WETA+, such as select Masterpiece shows, require a paid PBS Passport membership not provided by FCPL or WETA. A select number of memberships may be distributed during the partnership. WETA+: The American Revolution

Show Your Appreciation For Veterans and Military Families at Your Local Library

November 1, 2025

Fairfax County is home to a large and thriving military community. According to 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. Write a Letter to a Soldier! – Herndon Fortnightly Library – November 3-26 Stop into the library and write an encouraging letter or draw a picture for a soldier. Letters will be sent to the Support Our Troops organization at the end of the month. All ages. Veterans Day Family Fun Fest – Kingstowne Library – Saturday, November 8 Join us in celebrating those who serve and their families! We will have presentations, performances, crafts, snacks, and an opportunity to share about your military family's journey. All ages. Letterboxing in the Library: National Veterans and Military Families Month – Chantilly Regional Library – Sunday, November 23 Ready for a different kind of scavenger hunt? Letterboxing is a hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art, and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small boxes in publicly accessible places (like the library or a park) and distribute clues to finding them. Each letterbox contains a hand-carved rubber stamp. A letterboxer stamps an image of it into the logbook each participant carries. Try out this fun hobby at Chantilly Regional Library where you’ll find a series of military-themed hand-carved stamps in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month. Drop by any time between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to get started, as hidden letterboxes will be removed at 4 p.m. Clues and logbooks will be available to participants. All Ages - children must be accompanied by an adult. For a complete list of related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_MilitaryFamilyAppeciation.

Vienna-Carter Library artist illustration of library with large windows, trees on corner of Maple Ave. in Vienna

Vienna-Carter Library and Parking Garage Project Update

October 29, 2025

Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the Hunter Mill District Supervisor’s Office and the Town of Vienna are pleased to share with the public the construction timeline for the Vienna-Carter Library and parking garage project, located at 101 Maple Ave. E, Vienna. The design and bidding phases were completed in July, and the construction contract was awarded on September 18, 2025, to Costello Construction of Maryland. Project Timeline: Construction fencing, permits and preparation of the site are scheduled for late Fall 2025. Demolition of the current Patrick Henry Library building will begin in early 2026. Project completion is anticipated in early 2028. About the Project: The project will replace the existing Patrick Henry Library with a state-of-the-art, approximately 19,000 SF one-story facility. This new library will feature modern amenities, including a children’s reading area, study rooms, a staff workroom, flexible community spaces, an outdoor reading area and a 209-space, four-level parking structure at the existing site. The Vienna-Carter Library and garage project aims to meet both the current and future needs of the Fairfax County Public Library system while addressing the growing needs of the community. This new library will offer: A comfortable and modern space for learning, reading and socializing. Features such as an outdoor reading and gathering area, a light-filled children’s reading corner, play and study spaces for young readers, and a flexible community assembly room available for events during and after library hours. Enhanced landscape features and wider sidewalks with indigenous vegetation to improve the pedestrian experience along the Maple Avenue streetscape. Sustainability is a cornerstone of this project, with plans to achieve LEED® Gold certification and incorporate Net Zero Energy design. Environmental features include a geothermal heating and cooling system, enhanced building envelope and energy-saving systems, solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, green materials promoting indoor air quality and improved stormwater management through underground chambers. For additional information about the project or to stay informed about updates, please visit: bit.ly/FCPL_Vienna-CarterLibrary Media Contacts: Sara Prohaska,Marketing and Communications Director,Fairfax County Public Library -sara.prohaska@fairfaxcounty.gov Sharon North,Section Chief, Communications,Department of Public Works and Environmental Services -sharon.north@fairfaxcounty.gov

Heart of the Library: Celebrating Fairfax County Public Library's Friends Groups

October 1, 2025

National Friends of the Library Week (October 19-25, 2025) is an opportunity for Fairfax County Public Library 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. We express our sincere appreciation to all of our Friends of the Library volunteers! Over the course of FY2025, our Friends groups donated more than $369,660 and provided 37,297 hours of support to our system. Our Friends Groups Include: Access Services Advisory Group Friends of Burke Centre Library Friends of Centreville Regional Library Friends of Chantilly Regional Library Friends of City of Fairfax Regional Library Friends of Culmore Library Friends of Dolley Madison Library Friends of George Mason Regional Library Friends of Great Falls Library Friends of Herndon Fortnightly Library Friends of Kings Park Library Friends of Kingstowne Library Friends of Lorton Library Friends of Martha Washington Library Friends of Oakton Library Friends of Patrick Henry Library Friends of Pohick Regional Library Friends of Reston Regional Library Friends of Richard Byrd Library Friends of Sherwood Regional Library Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library Friends of the Virginia Room 2025 Friends' Choice Awards The Fairfax County Public Library Board of Trustees and community members gathered on Wednesday, Oct. 8 at Chantilly Regional Library to celebrate the library’s Friends groups and recognize members nominated by their peers for their outstanding service. The full downloadable photo gallery can be found here. This year’s honorees are: • Karrin Lukacs, Friends of Burke Centre Library • Caitlyn Largent, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Morgan Mayernik, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Tiffany Tran, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Susan Vogel, Friends of Centreville Regional Library • Liz Critchley and Brian Critchley, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Helena Ferret, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Barbara Levermann, Friends of Chantilly Regional Library • Peggy Greenwood and Jack Greenwood, Friends of Culmore Library • Jennifer Lyons, Friends of Kingstowne Library • Jessica Jeffcoat Sanchez, Friends of Kingstowne Library • Susan Gantz, Friends of Oakton Library • Arnold Goldstein, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Cindy Richards, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Laura Stokowski, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Phyllis Talbert, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Nancy Vandel, Friends of Pohick Regional Library • Moira Doherty, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Lynda Ose, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Tom Radlick, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Arja Sahramaa, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Marge Shapira, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Ariel Welt, Friends of Reston Regional Library • Elizabeth Nelson, Friends of Richard Byrd Library • Barbara Kondash, Friends of Thomas Jefferson Library • Penny Anderson, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Alex Klein, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Cindy Shayne Magielnicki, Friends of Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library • Bobbie Leamer, Friends of Virginia Room Join your library's Friends group today! Community members wishing to become part of a Friends groups can find out more information on the library’s Friends website. This page includes a list of the different Friends groups throughout Fairfax County as well as details on membership and how to join. You can become actively involved or simply have the satisfaction of supporting a worthwhile cause. Consider donating your used books to the library for sale during Friends' book sales!

Library

Library Alert:

Department Resources

STAY CONNECTED

Fairfax Virtual Assistant

STAY CONNECTED