Best Fairfax County Library?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fairfax libraries are pitiful.

They should designate one computer-free and have an old school childrens section.

+1
To this suggestion. I would not say they are pitiful though - just perfunctory. Ours are Kings Park, Pohick and Burke Centre. All had fine selections for kids but no cool spots for hanging out with kids there like our old one did in silver spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, honestly, the Fairfax County libraries are poor, especially given the sheer amount of money that exists in this county. I’m originally from Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County libraries are amazing in comparison. And they have a lot fewer resources there. But they invest a lot in their libraries and it shows.

I’ve had the best success here with Fairfax Regional and Kings Park, but even those are just average.

In case you're interested, the reason the libraries here in FFX county are "poor" when the county itself is very wealthy is due to state politics. The state of Virginia gives more than 70% of our FFX county taxes to other counties in Virginia. Not even kidding...we don't even keep half. It makes sense to me to help other counties and give them a bit of a boost. But "helping" would be more like 18-35%...not robbing us of MOST of our tax dollars. Makes no sense.

This is what happens when you vote blue. Isn’t that the point?

[Anonymous]

I’m an adult and appreciate the selections of nonfiction books and audiobooks on the Libby app🤷🏼‍♀️

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, honestly, the Fairfax County libraries are poor, especially given the sheer amount of money that exists in this county. I’m originally from Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County libraries are amazing in comparison. And they have a lot fewer resources there. But they invest a lot in their libraries and it shows.

I’ve had the best success here with Fairfax Regional and Kings Park, but even those are just average.

In case you're interested, the reason the libraries here in FFX county are "poor" when the county itself is very wealthy is due to state politics. The state of Virginia gives more than 70% of our FFX county taxes to other counties in Virginia. Not even kidding...we don't even keep half. It makes sense to me to help other counties and give them a bit of a boost. But "helping" would be more like 18-35%...not robbing us of MOST of our tax dollars. Makes no sense.

This is what happens when you vote blue. Isn’t that the point?

The Virginia state legislature has historically been red. You have it the wrong way around.

[Anonymous]

Please, FCPL are not pitiful. They have decent overall selection, good ILL. The kid areas aren't as fancy as one might expect for Fairfax, but the book variety is fine. All the libraries around here have reciprocity, so we have cards at FCPL, Arlington, DC, Falls Church, and Alexandria. MLK Library downtown is my favorite kids section.

[Anonymous]

Falls Church has the best kids section and is reciprocal with FFX.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, honestly, the Fairfax County libraries are poor, especially given the sheer amount of money that exists in this county. I’m originally from Cleveland, and the Cuyahoga County libraries are amazing in comparison. And they have a lot fewer resources there. But they invest a lot in their libraries and it shows.

I’ve had the best success here with Fairfax Regional and Kings Park, but even those are just average.

+1 to this comment. I visited relatives over Thanksgiving and was pleasantly surprised at the interesting setup in the children's play area and lovely story time room. I wish the libraries here would invest less in tech and more in those things

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have good luck finding holiday titles and have fun at George Mason Regional. We live closer to several others, but drive to George Mason because they have blocks and a better book selection. But I agree...I am a school librarian and the FCPL libraries are totally underwhelming!

I am really frustrated with George Mason because of the vertical blinds in the kids' area. My two-year-old is obsessed with them, and I've basically stopped checking out children's fiction books since he tries to make a run for the blinds every time we go into the fiction area. At least the children's non-fiction section is decent...

[Anonymous]

I love the Oakton library for the great kids' play area/checkout toy boxes. That said, every time I visit my hometown in the Midwest, I marvel at the great selection of children's books available... just row after row of great books my kids really are interested in. I don't know what it is about the libraries here, but the children's book selections are odd and non-engaging. And the Baby Board Books are just all "Baby's first Ramadan! Baby's first Social Justice Book!" I agree with the political viewpoint of all these books, but they aren't things a toddler wants to read about. Please give me more Richard Scarry and truck picture books, and stop trying to make a "statement."

[Anonymous]

I guess the thing is that the library's should be more focused on offering books KIDS want to read, rather than offering books that PARENTS want to pat themselves on the back for having their kids read.