Speak up for your library!
The community dialogue meetings were an opportunity for the public to express themselves about the Fiscal Year 2011 budget.
You may also use the e-mail links below to write to your Fairfax County Supervisor. Simply find your library branch below, click on the appropriate Supervisor's name, and your e-mail program will open. The subject line will already be filled in -- either use that or delete it and draft your own.
News articles may be found on the Fairfax Library Foundation's Blog and detailed information about the county budget process is available on the Fairfax County Governement Web site.
Status of the Library Budget
Thank you to the many loyal Fairfax County Public Library customers who have inquired about the library budget and recent changes based on information in the media, on blogs and elsewhere. The county is still facing a budget gap for Fiscal Year 2011 which begins on July 1, 2010. All county agencies were asked to provide a reduced Fiscal Year 2011 budget to the County Executive. The library was asked to prepare a budget based on a 15 percent budget cut in addition to the 18 percent cut that was realized in last year's Fiscal Year 2010 budget. The County Executive, Tony Griffin, is scheduled to present his advertised budget to the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 23, and the Board will vote on a final budget in April.
Some of the changes that customers are just now experienceing in library branches are the result of the reduced Fiscal Year 2010 budget. Certain databases and periodical subscriptions were up for renewal as of Jan. 1, 2010, and due to the cuts in this year's budget, were not renewed. The cost of other services has increased to such a level as to make them no longer affordable even with the generous support of the Fairfax Library Foundation or library branch Friends groups. The following services have been eliminated as of December 31:
- Subscriptions to many magazines
- Tutor.com's Learning Suite, including Homework Help
- Virtual Reference Services (customer services via e-mail, text and live chat)
- Membership as a Foundation Center cooperating collection
Library hours and staffing were reduced July 1, 2009; additional changes to hours and staffing are likely to occur after July 1, 2010, depending on the library's final budget and will be announced in May.
Branches |
District | Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| Kings Park Burke Centre |
Braddock | John C. Cook |
| Dolley Madison Great Falls Herndon Fortnightly Tysons-Pimmit |
Dranesville | John W. Foust |
| Patrick Henry Reston |
Hunter Mill | Catherine M. Hudgins |
| John Marshall Kingstowne Richard Byrd |
Lee | Jeff C. McKay |
| George Mason Thomas Jefferson Woodrow Wilson |
Mason | Penelope A. Gross |
| Lorton Library Martha Washington Sherwood |
Mount Vernon | Gerald W. Hyland |
| Oakton | Providence | Linda Q. Smyth |
| Pohick Regional | Springfield | Pat Herrity |
| Centreville Chantilly Access Services |
Sully | Michael R. Frey |