Varsity Force

Makerspace

LCPL has four makerspaces at Brambleton, Gum Spring, Rust, and Sterling libraries. They are free, hands-on spaces; a library card is not required, and trained staff provide assistance.

Children are welcome in the makerspaces, and patrons age 12 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

Makerspaces are generally open during regular library hours without appointments; appointments are required for the Brambleton Recording Studio and Sterling Glowforge.

Makerspace equipment and technologies include laser cutters, 3D printers, sewing machines, and other creative technologies.

At: Brambleton, Gum Spring, Rust, Sterling

Cost: LCPL has four makerspaces at Brambleton, Gum Spring, Rust, and Sterling libraries. They are free, hands-on spaces

Ages: Children are welcome in the makerspaces, and patrons age 12 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian.

3D printing

LCPL makerspaces offer staff-operated 3D printers. Customers submit a print request, receive a design review and cost estimate, and are charged $0.10 per gram.

Cost: LCPL makerspaces offer staff-operated 3D printers. Customers submit a print request, receive a design review and cost estimate, and are charged $0.10 per gram.

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

The makerspaces have a Glowforge 40-watt CO2 machine that can cut, engrave, and score materials. Sterling requires an appointment, booked by selecting “Sterling Glowforge.”

Sterling Library requires appointments to use its Glowforge machine.

Makerspaces offer a Silhouette Cameo Cutter for cutting vinyl and other thin materials; vinyl is available for purchase.

At: Sterling

Sewing and textiles

Makerspaces provide sewing machines, thread, and stabilizer for making, mending, and customizing fabrics.

LCPL makerspaces include sewing equipment, and Rust Library has offered sewing programs.

Sterling Library lists a Teen Sewing Club program: “Cat-Shaped Hanging Organizer.”

At: Rust, Sterling

Ages: Sterling Library lists a Teen Sewing Club program: “Cat-Shaped Hanging Organizer.”

Recording studio

Brambleton Library has a soundproof Recording Studio with professional-grade recording and editing software and equipment; appointments are required.

Sterling Library has a small sound booth with audio recording and editing software and a microphone.

Brambleton Library hosted a Recording Studio Open House for patrons to tour the studio and see available equipment.

At: Brambleton, Sterling

Ages: Brambleton Library has a soundproof Recording Studio with professional-grade recording and editing software and equipment

Creative software

The Brambleton Recording Studio has professional-grade recording and editing software.

Sterling’s sound booth has audio recording and editing software.

A LCPL makerspace program introduced FreeCAD at Brambleton Library.

Public computers at branches include Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint.

At: Brambleton, Sterling

Ages: The Brambleton Recording Studio has professional-grade recording and editing software.

Kids' STEM

Makerspace equipment includes Makey Makey, Little Bits, Spheros, Ozobots, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and microscopes at Rust Library.

Children’s makerspace activities may include lacing boards, Perler beads, bracelet making, and other periodically changing crafts.

Children’s events include LEGO Creators at Ashburn, Builders Free Play at Middleburg, Puzzles and Games at Brambleton, and Little Artists at Lovettsville.

Gale Virtual Reference Library provides complete-text books in STEAM and coding fields for all ages.

At: Brambleton, Rust, Lovettsville

Cost: Children’s events include LEGO Creators at Ashburn, Builders Free Play at Middleburg, Puzzles and Games at Brambleton, and Little Artists at Lovettsville.

Ages: Gale Virtual Reference Library provides complete-text books in STEAM and coding fields for all ages.

Homework help

HelpNow provides tutoring for students of any age, homework assistance, self-study tools, collaboration tools, a 24/7 live tutoring service, and practice tests including the SAT.

HelpNow’s Online Learning Hub resources support students from kindergarten and older with live tutoring, interactive self-study tools, and academic practice tests.

Ages: HelpNow provides tutoring for students of any age, homework assistance, self-study tools, collaboration tools, a 24/7 live tutoring service, and practice tests including the SAT. | HelpNow’s Online Learning Hub resources support students from kindergarten and older with live tutoring, interactive self-study tools, and academic practice tests.

Career resources

JobNow provides live, on-demand assistance from expert Job Coaches for interview preparation, resume creation, cover letters, and job searching; live assistance is available seven days a week from 2–11 p.m.

VetNow helps veterans update resumes for civilian life, navigate the VA system, and find local resources and support for veterans and their families.

Nature and farm programmes

Paws to Read is listed as a children’s program at Lovettsville Library.

The library hosted “Discover Sweet Run State Park,” featuring information about checking out a Virginia State Parks pass and avoiding the park’s $10 parking fee.

The Summer Reading Program offers participants a complimentary weekday child’s pass to Great Country Farms after online registration.

At: Lovettsville

Cost: The library hosted “Discover Sweet Run State Park,” featuring information about checking out a Virginia State Parks pass and avoiding the park’s $10 parking fee.

Museum and park passes

A Virginia State Parks pass is available to check out at the library and can help avoid the $10 parking fee at Sweet Run State Park.

Summer Reading Program participants can receive a complimentary weekday child’s pass to Great Country Farms after registering online.

Cost: A Virginia State Parks pass is available to check out at the library and can help avoid the $10 parking fee at Sweet Run State Park.

Memory lab and digitisation

LCPL makerspaces offer VHS-to-digital conversion, photo scanning, and additional digitization services.

Proctoring and testing

LCPL branches provide test proctoring for Loudoun County residents. Students must contact the desired branch in advance and confirm that the testing institution accepts LCPL’s guidelines.

LCPL can receive exams by mail or email, store them securely, verify identity with photo ID, certify completion, and return exams by email or prepaid mail.

LCPL cannot provide a private testing room, continuously monitor an exam, reserve Internet use, grade exams, or retain copies after return.

Students pay $0.10 per page for printed examination materials and must provide postage if a prepaid return envelope is not supplied.

Cost: LCPL branches provide test proctoring for Loudoun County residents. Students must contact the desired branch in advance and confirm that the testing institution accepts LCPL’s guidelines. | Students pay $0.10 per page for printed examination materials and must provide postage if a prepaid return envelope is not supplied.

Ages: LCPL cannot provide a private testing room, continuously monitor an exam, reserve Internet use, grade exams, or retain copies after return.

Notary

LCPL offers limited, free notary services by appointment at most locations; Middleburg and Purcellville customers should call ahead.

Customers must bring unsigned documents, valid current photo identification, and any required witnesses; library staff and other patrons cannot serve as witnesses.

Notaries cannot notarize wills, trusts, gun sales, deeds, real estate transactions, titles, I-9 forms, depositions, documents requiring fact verification, or documents in languages other than English.

Ashburn provides free notary services by appointment or walk-in availability, subject to notary staffing; appointments are not taken within one hour of closing.

Cost: LCPL offers limited, free notary services by appointment at most locations | Ashburn provides free notary services by appointment or walk-in availability, subject to notary staffing

Teen space

The A.V. Symington Teen Center at Rust Library is designed for and by middle- and high-school students and includes thousands of books, 24 computers, two Macs, gaming systems with widescreen TVs, board games, and a maker station.

After Hours Teen Center is held at Cascades Library every Friday from 6–9 p.m. for students in grades 6–12, with crafts, computers, games, weekly activities, free pizza, and required registration.

Brambleton, Gum Spring, and Sterling libraries have dedicated teen areas with video gaming sections, craft space, and study-group space.

The Loudoun Youth Advisory Council is identified as a presenting organization for the Novel Expressions Art Contest.

At: Brambleton, Gum Spring, Rust, Sterling, Cascades

Cost: After Hours Teen Center is held at Cascades Library every Friday from 6–9 p.m. for students in grades 6–12, with crafts, computers, games, weekly activities, free pizza, and required registration.

Ages: The A.V. Symington Teen Center at Rust Library is designed for and by middle- and high-school students and includes thousands of books, 24 computers, two Macs, gaming systems with widescreen TVs, board games, and a maker station. | After Hours Teen Center is held at Cascades Library every Friday from 6–9 p.m. for students in grades 6–12, with crafts, computers, games, weekly activities, free pizza

Gaming, esports and VR

Rust Library’s A.V. Symington Teen Center includes gaming systems with widescreen TVs and board games.

Dedicated teen areas at Brambleton, Gum Spring, and Sterling include video gaming sections.

After Hours Teen Center activities include games with friends and computers for students in grades 6–12.

At: Brambleton, Gum Spring, Rust, Sterling

Ages: Rust Library’s A.V. Symington Teen Center includes gaming systems with widescreen TVs and board games. | Dedicated teen areas at Brambleton, Gum Spring, and Sterling include video gaming sections. | After Hours Teen Center activities include games with friends and computers for students in grades 6–12.