Programs & Services
The following Library Foundation sponsored programs and services benefit the entire Fairfax County Public Library system. We also help individual branches. Each is made possible thanks to the generosity of donors like you!
ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program
A rising senior at the College of William and Mary, Liz Hanson has been selected as the Fairfax Library Foundation’s 2011 ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program Intern.
She is performing primary and secondary market research to evaluate the return on investment for programs the Foundation currently supports, as well as design materials to help the Foundation evaluate future programs. This internship was made possible by a grant from ExxonMobil.
Early Literacy Outreach
Read-a-thon
As part of National Library Week, the Fairfax County Public Library visited the Tysons Corner
Center shopping mall for a special Read-a-thon in the children’s literary themes play
area near the third-floor-level food court. Library Director, Sam
Clay introduced the musical entertainment provided by Mr. Knick
Knack. Mall patrons joined Fairfax County Supervisor Linda Smyth;
Library Board Chair, Charles Fegan; Foundation Directors Robin
Thurman and Susan Thorniley; Tyson’s Pimmit Librarian, Alicia
Easley; children’s author Janet Stoeke; Fire & Rescue
Captain John L. Leete; Police Officer Sabrina Gonzalez; Barnes & Noble’s,
Ramunda Young read from their favorite picture books.
The Fairfax County Public Library’s Read-a-thon was cosponsored by the Fairfax Library Foundation, Tysons Corner Center and Barnes & Noble. This is part of the library’s theme, ‘We’re everywhere you are!’
The celebration of National Library Week also included the presentation of miniature Art in the Pages statuettes to the Fairfax County Public School Board members, Superintendants, and school librarians from the Fairfax Library Foundation. Each Fairfax County Public School library received a miniature Art in the Pages statuette that may be custom painted to represent that school.
Fairfax Futures
The Fairfax Library Foundation is a proud member of Fairfax Futures, an investment in school readiness. The Foundation supports the Fairfax County Public Library's early childhood literacy outreach programs.
We know that parents and caregivers make the best role models for children; that children who are read to become successful students; that good reading skills enable families to be economically secure; and that strong families make strong communities.
Every Child Ready To Read
Fairfax County
Public Library’s Early Literacy initiative is primarily
based on the Public Library Association’s
Every Child Ready to Read model. The library offers The Virginia Foundation
for the Humanities Motheread®/Fatheread® literacy outreach program
to serve preschool children and their parents or caregivers.
To help ensure the long-term sustainability of early childhood literacy, the Library Foundation raises supplemental support through grants and public and private funds from individuals, foundations and corporations for Fairfax County Public Library literacy programs.
Supporting volunteerism
Boomers and seniors were invited to attend in the annual Venture into Volunteering fair at the Herndon Senior Center in May, 2008. Adults wanting to make a difference were matched with volunteer opportunities at library branches and our community that utilizes their expertise. This annual event was cosponsored by the Fairfax County Public Library, Department of Family Services' Fairfax Area Agency on Aging, Volunteer Fairfax, the Retires and Senior Volunteer Program. The Fairfax Library Foundation proudly provided the $100 gift certificate to the Great American Restaurants as the grand prize.
Summer Reading Program
Local businesses, Friends of the Library and many other sponsors encourage Fairfax County children to read during summer vacation through the annual Summer Reading Program. Organizations donated more than $1 million worth of prizes to kids who finished reading the required number of books.
“Sponsorships bring incentives that attract young readers to the program,” says Bobbi Longworth, executive director of the library foundation. Longworth threw the ceremonial first pitch at the at Potomac Nationals game in recognition of their support. The team donated tickets to Potomac Nationals games to Summer Reading Program participants.
These events were free to the public and primarily underwritten by the Friends of the George Mason Regional Library with a donation of $30,000.
Summer Reading Program Endowment
Friends of The George Mason Regional Library in Annandale generously
donate proceeds from book sales to the Fairfax Library Foundation The ultimate goal is to build a $500,000 endowment that
will fund the Library’s Summer Reading Program in perpetuity.
Putting on such successful book sales is no small task. Dedicated volunteers
put in more than 1,700 hours to prepare for one sale. Much of the work
to create the large endowment has been done by a core of long-time volunteers
that work year-round.
"Overall the George Mason Friends have been the single largest contributor to benefit the system, after the Board of Supervisors," says Library Director Edwin S. Clay, III. "This Library Foundation managed endowment ensures the future of our popular and outstanding Summer Reading Program."