Varsity Force

Makerspace

FCPL has three Maker Labs: Maker Lab @ Herndon Fortnightly Library, Maker Lab @ Pohick Regional Library (The POD), and Maker Lab @ Sherwood Regional Library (The TechLab)

Maker Lab @ Herndon provides a 3D printer, sewing and embroidery machines, Cricut and Cameo cutting machines, Snap Circuits, Sphero Robots, Keva Planks, and additional unspecified equipment

The POD at Pohick provides a 3D pen, 3D printer, Cricut cutting machine, crocheting, jewelry-making, knitting, paper-crafting, sewing, serger, and spinning-wheel supplies

The TechLab at Sherwood is a workshop and classroom with iPads and Apple Pencils, microscopes, 3D printers, Snap Circuits, a digital display, computers, Sphero robots, and Cubelet robots

At: Pohick, Sherwood, Herndon Fortnightly

Cost: Everything in the FCPL Maker Labs is free

Ages: Maker Lab @ Herndon is self-directed during drop-in hours and serves makers age 12 and older | children under 12 should ask at the information desk about opportunities

3D printing

FCPL has purchased more than 30 public-use 3D printers located at branches around the county

3D printing is free for valid Fairfax County Public Library cardholders; an adult with a valid Fairfax County card must submit each job, with a limit of one item per week per card

3D-printing submissions must be made by a cardholder age 18 or older; the card must have no fines or fees, the design must not be copyrighted, and the print must fit the build plate and finish within eight hours

FCPL offers monthly beginner-friendly 3D-printing classes for teens and adults and a class for children ages 7–12

At: Pohick, Sherwood

Cost: 3D printing is free for valid Fairfax County Public Library cardholders | the card must have no fines or fees, the design must not be copyrighted, and the print must fit the build plate and finish within eight hours

Ages: 3D printing is free for valid Fairfax County Public Library cardholders | an adult with a valid Fairfax County card must submit each job, with a limit of one item per week per card | 3D-printing submissions must be made by a cardholder age 18 or older | FCPL offers monthly beginner-friendly 3D-printing classes for teens and adults and a class for children ages 7–12

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

Maker Lab @ Herndon has Cricut Explore Air 2, Cricut Explore 4, Silhouette Cameo 4, and Silhouette Cameo 5 machines

Sewing and textiles

Maker Lab @ Herndon provides sewing machines and Brother NS1750D, Brother PE800, and Brother PE900 embroidery machines

The Pohick POD provides sewing machines, a serger, crocheting supplies, knitting supplies, paper-crafting supplies, and a spinning wheel

At: Pohick

Creative software

Public library computers provide Internet access and Microsoft Office; more than 300 public computers are available at 23 branches

Memory Depot equipment includes Epson Scan 2 software for the Epson Expression 12000XL scanner and Elgato Video Capture software for VHS digitization

LinkedIn Learning is available as a library resource for online 3D-printing tutorials; a library card number and PIN are required

Tinkercad is listed as a free online design site for creating 3D-print designs

Cost: Tinkercad is listed as a free online design site for creating 3D-print designs

Kids' STEM

FCPL branch programming includes STEM-related children's activities, technology workshops, and other programs listed for kids, teens, and young adults

Maker Lab @ Herndon offers interactive science-learning tools for children ages 5–12 with adult supervision, including Snap Circuits, Sphero Robots, and Keva Planks, plus occasional robotics demonstrations and 3D-design workshops

FCPL offers a beginner-friendly 3D-printing class for kids ages 7–12

Kids outreach programs for ages 5–12 include crafts and STEM activities, Pop-Up Libraries, and literacy activities

Ages: FCPL branch programming includes STEM-related children's activities, technology workshops, and other programs listed for kids, teens, and young adults | Maker Lab @ Herndon offers interactive science-learning tools for children ages 5–12 with adult supervision, including Snap Circuits, Sphero Robots, and Keva Planks, plus occasional robotics demonstrations and 3D-design workshops | FCPL offers a b

Homework help

Brainfuse HelpNow provides live online tutoring and homework help for students in grades K–12 every day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. in English and Spanish; a library card is required for use outside the library

Many FCPL branches host free GIVE tutoring sessions for K–7 students, provided by high-school student volunteers from Growth and Inspiration through Volunteering and Education; users should call a branch for dates

FCPL provides access to LearningExpress Library online practice tests and tutorials for students

FCPL states that it does not provide tutoring, while also identifying Brainfuse HelpNow and GIVE as available tutoring resources

Cost: Many FCPL branches host free GIVE tutoring sessions for K–7 students, provided by high-school student volunteers from Growth and Inspiration through Volunteering and Education

Ages: Brainfuse HelpNow provides live online tutoring and homework help for students in grades K–12 every day from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. in English and Spanish

Career resources

Job Search & Career Resources and Job Search & Career are listed as FCPL resources or interests; LinkedIn Learning is also listed under A-Z Online Resources

Ages: LinkedIn Learning is also listed under A-Z Online Resources

Nature and farm programmes

I Love Virginia State Parks nature backpacks support hands-on exploration with binoculars, a dip net, a port-a-bug field observation container, star maps, naturalist guides, and outdoor-skills cards

The nature backpacks are designed for families, scout groups, homeschoolers, and other groups to explore nature and learn science concepts while visiting Virginia State Parks

Nature backpacks can be used at Virginia's 36 state parks, local parks, or in a backyard; contents include binoculars, pocket guides, a port-a-bug container, a dip net, and activity sheets created by Virginia State Parks and the Science Museum of Virginia

Library of Things

FCPL lends I Love Virginia State Parks nature backpacks for two weeks; they may be renewed if no one is waiting and placed on hold for pickup at any branch

Nature backpacks include naturalist tools and educational materials such as binoculars, pocket guides, a map compass, paracord, Leave No Trace cards, a port-a-bug field observation container, a dip net, a star map, and a Virginia State Parks pass

Museum and park passes

I Love Virginia State Parks nature backpacks include a free pass to any Virginia State Park

Nature backpacks include a pass to any state park in Virginia and are designed for families, scout groups, homeschoolers, and other groups

Cost: I Love Virginia State Parks nature backpacks include a free pass to any Virginia State Park

Memory lab and digitisation

Memory Depot DIY digitization stations are located at Centreville Regional, City of Fairfax Regional, George Mason Regional, Pohick Regional, Reston Regional, and Sherwood Regional libraries

Memory Depot equipment includes an Epson Expression 12000XL scanner with Epson Scan 2 software for photos, slides, negatives, and legacy documents; files can be saved to DVD, an external hard drive, or a USB flash drive

Memory Depot provides VHS video cassette digitization using Elgato Video Capture, with output to DVD or an external hard drive

Memory Depot provides 8mm Video8 and Hi8 camcorder conversion to MP4 on a USB flash drive or SD card using a ClearClick 2.0 Converter

At: George Mason, Pohick, Reston, Sherwood, Centreville

Teen space

Several Teen Advisory Boards operate throughout the county; teens advise library staff about teen interests and help produce teen programs

The Teen Advisory Board and volunteer page lists 23 branch entries with Teen Advisory Board contacts, including Access Services, Burke Centre, Centreville, Chantilly, Culmore, Dolley Madison, City of Fairfax, George Mason, Great Falls, Herndon Fortnightly, John Marshall, Kings Park, Kingstowne, Lorton, Martha Washington, Oakton, Patrick Henry, Pohick, Reston, Richard Byrd, Sherwood, Thomas Jeffers

FCPL offers monthly beginner-friendly 3D-printing classes for teens and adults

Maker Lab @ Herndon crafting equipment is available to teens and adults

At: George Mason, Pohick, Reston, Sherwood, Herndon Fortnightly, Centreville, Access Services

Cost: FCPL virtual reality programs are intended for teens and adults and are free

Ages: Several Teen Advisory Boards operate throughout the county | teens advise library staff about teen interests and help produce teen programs | The Teen Advisory Board and volunteer page lists 23 branch entries with Teen Advisory Board contacts, including Access Services, Burke Centre, Centreville, Chantilly, Culmore, Dolley Madison, City of Fairfax, George Mason, Great Falls, Herndon Fortnightly, J

Gaming, esports and VR

FCPL offers free virtual reality programs with consoles, headsets, and software for teens and adults

VR games listed by FCPL include Battlezone, Eagle Flight, Moss, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin, Star Trek: Bridge Crew, Rigs, Robinson: The Journey, VR Karts, and WipEout; game ratings range from E to T for Teen

Cost: FCPL offers free virtual reality programs with consoles, headsets, and software for teens and adults

Ages: FCPL offers free virtual reality programs with consoles, headsets, and software for teens and adults | game ratings range from E to T for Teen