Varsity Force

Makerspace

La Plata Library STEM Makerspace, a planned makerspace intended to support STEM educational programs and local entrepreneurship

CCPL Discovery Lab, a mobile lab that brings technology, devices, and gadgets to patrons in their communities

At: La Plata

3D printing

Waldorf West Library offers an Introduction to 3D Printing program for teens using a new MakerBot 3D Printer; staff print participants’ simple, family-friendly designs for later pickup

The Waldorf West 3D-printing program also identifies the equipment as a Sketch Large 3D Printer and uses Tinkercad for design; participants share their designs with staff, who print approved projects

At: Waldorf West

Ages: Waldorf West Library offers an Introduction to 3D Printing program for teens using a new MakerBot 3D Printer

Recording studio

Drop the Mic Recording Studio at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch is a free, full-scale professional recording studio with a sound booth, microphones, recording equipment, and mixing equipment

Drop the Mic can be used for music recordings, podcasts, school projects, and audio for YouTube videos; it includes a PreSonus Studio 192 USB Audio Interface, Novation 49-key MIDI Controller, microphones, headphones, and Studio One software

The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

At: P.D. Brown

Cost: Drop the Mic Recording Studio at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch is a free, full-scale professional recording studio with a sound booth, microphones, recording equipment, and mixing equipment | The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

Ages: The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

Creative software

Studio One recording software is available in the Drop the Mic Recording Studio

Tinkercad is used for 3D-printing design programs at Waldorf West Library

Teen Space computers include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint

LinkedIn Learning provides online learning in business, technology, and creative skills

At: Waldorf West

Ages: Teen Space computers include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint

Kids' STEM

STEM Club is a monthly program for children ages 6–11 featuring hands-on experiments and interactive lessons led by CCPL staff; it is offered at Potomac, P.D. Brown, La Plata, and Waldorf West branches

Advanced STEM Club serves youth ages 9–18, is intended for sixth-grade or higher, and features more complex projects involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity

CCPL Astronomy Club meets virtually on Zoom at 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, with in-person sessions in January and February, led by astronomer and educator Josh Urban

The library offers STEM collections, hands-on activities, innovative technology, special programs, recurring clubs, and series for learners of all ages

At: La Plata, P.D. Brown, Potomac, Waldorf West

Ages: STEM Club is a monthly program for children ages 6–11 featuring hands-on experiments and interactive lessons led by CCPL staff | Advanced STEM Club serves youth ages 9–18, is intended for sixth-grade or higher, and features more complex projects involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity | The library offers STEM collections, hands-on activities, innovative technology, special pr

Homework help

HelpNow! Brainfuse provides free online tutoring for students from kindergarten through college, live tutors, a 24-hour writing lab, practice tests, FAFSA assistance, and resume review; access is free with a library card

Brainfuse offers online homework help every day from 1–11 p.m. through a library card

Ask Us Now is a 24/7 virtual reference service for research or homework questions

Cost: HelpNow! Brainfuse provides free online tutoring for students from kindergarten through college, live tutors, a 24-hour writing lab, practice tests, FAFSA assistance, and resume review | access is free with a library card

Career resources

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep supports undergraduate and graduate program research, tuition-assistance searches, career exploration, job searches, resume creation, cover letters, and websites using templates

Peterson’s provides personalized career recommendations and information about programs, knowledge, skills, abilities, and career preparation

Brainfuse eParachute provides a career assessment with job suggestions, potential salary information, educational pathways, and skills used on the job

CCPL provides dedicated job-search assistance and resume-help appointments through library staff

Library of Things

Each CCPL branch has a VR headset that can be checked out for on-site use in a branch meeting room through the SkillMill program

Proctoring and testing

The MVA Permit Practice Test helps users prepare before taking the permit test at the Maryland MVA and practice taking an online test

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep provides eBooks, online courses, and full-length practice tests for the GED, SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, U.S. citizenship, and other unspecified tests

HelpNow! Brainfuse provides lessons, practice tests, college-entrance-exam preparation, and ASVAB practice for students from kindergarten through college

Notary

Commissioned notary publics are available at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch and Potomac Branch, subject to staff availability; appointments are strongly encouraged for documents over five pages or with multiple signatures

Notary service costs $4 per signature, with a maximum charge of $40 for 10 or more signatures

Library staff cannot accommodate real-estate-based notarizations

At: P.D. Brown, Potomac

Cost: Notary service costs $4 per signature, with a maximum charge of $40 for 10 or more signatures

Teen space

Teen Central serves teens ages 12–18 and includes books, computers, a quiet space, a designated reading area, collaborative school-project space, and teen programs

The Waldorf West Teen Space has a dedicated study room for individual or group homework and special projects; computers are intended for teens in grades 6–12

Waldorf West Group Room 2 is designated as a Quiet Study/Teen Study room with maximum occupancy of three; Teen Study hours are provided on a drop-in, first-come, first-served basis

Teen programs include games, movies, film club, art, and entertainment; programs are free, although some require registration

At: Waldorf West

Cost: programs are free, although some require registration

Ages: Teen Central serves teens ages 12–18 and includes books, computers, a quiet space, a designated reading area, collaborative school-project space, and teen programs | The Waldorf West Teen Space has a dedicated study room for individual or group homework and special projects | computers are intended for teens in grades 6–12 | Waldorf West Group Room 2 is designated as a Quiet Study/Teen Study room

Gaming, esports and VR

The Waldorf West Teen Space Media Lounge includes a 60-inch television and PlayStation 4 for gaming

Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m.; it features retro and contemporary gaming consoles and requires advance registration or door registration for walk-ins

Each CCPL branch has a VR headset for on-site checkout and use in a branch meeting room as part of the SkillMill VR simulator; CCPL offers four free demonstrations per month without registration

The CCPL Discovery Lab includes Meta Quest 2 virtual-reality headsets and other devices and gadgets for patrons to try when the mobile lab visits their communities

At: Waldorf West

Cost: Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m. | CCPL offers four free demonstrations per month without registration

Ages: The Waldorf West Teen Space Media Lounge includes a 60-inch television and PlayStation 4 for gaming | Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m.

Makerspace

Bull Run Library Makerspace, designed for patrons age 13 and older; children age 12 and younger require direct parent or guardian supervision

Central Library’s Studio 8601, Prince William Public Libraries’ first Makerspace Lab, with machines, tools, technology, art supplies, textiles, jewelry-crafting supplies, and tech and coding toys

Makerspaces are available at Bull Run Library and Central Library; a new makerspace was planned for Chinn Park Library

Makerspace equipment and materials are free to use; staff are present during open hours

At: Bull Run, Central, Chinn Park

Cost: Makerspace equipment and materials are free to use

Ages: Bull Run Library Makerspace, designed for patrons age 13 and older | children age 12 and younger require direct parent or guardian supervision

3D printing

Central Library Studio 8601 has 3D printers, including a MakerBot Replicator+ and Ultimaker 2; staff operate the printers and print submitted designs free of charge

Central Library Studio 8601 offers independently usable 3D pens with filament provided by PWPL

Central Library 3D-print files must be STL files requiring no more than five hours of printing time

Bull Run Library offers a 3D printing service and an appointment-based 3D printer

At: Bull Run, Central

Cost: staff operate the printers and print submitted designs free of charge

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

Bull Run Library has a Cricut Maker, Cricut Joy, and appointment-based Glowforge Plus Laser Printer

Central Library Studio 8601 has Cricut machines and an appointment-based Glowforge Laser Cutter

Central Library’s Studio 8601 has one Cricut Maker and two Cricut Air machines; patrons bring their own paper, vinyl, or fabric

The Cricut Design app can be used to design projects before visiting Central Library’s makerspace

At: Bull Run, Central

Sewing and textiles

Bull Run Library has Brother CS7000s sewing machines, a Singer SO100 serger, a Brother PE800 embroidery machine, looms, fiber-arts tools, and a Moxie HQ Long Arm Quilting Machine available by appointment

Central Library Studio 8601 has sewing machines, embroidery machines, a serger, a rigid heddle loom, and circle looms

Central Library’s Studio 8601 has six Singer 4452 sewing machines and two Brother embroidery machines

Limited thread, yarn, fabrics, and other textile materials are provided in the makerspaces

At: Bull Run, Central

Recording studio

Central Library Studio 8601 has a Whisper Room sound booth

The Whisper Room supports audio, video, music, and podcast recording and includes a keyboard, microphones, mixer board, MacBook, and recording software

Visitors have recorded their own podcasts in the Whisper Room

Important Library Stuff is a PWPL podcast hosted by media specialist Emily Bickers, with new episodes released every other week

At: Central

Video production

The Central Library Studio 8601 Whisper Room supports video recording

Studio 8601 has audio/visual recording equipment

At: Central

Creative software

Central Library Studio 8601 provides Adobe Creative Cloud

The Digital Preservation Lab at Central Library provides full Adobe Creative Cloud for further editing of digitized materials

The Cricut Design app is available for designing makerspace projects

LinkedIn Learning offers videos covering computer skills, web development, music editing, and video editing

At: Central

Kids' STEM

Central Library Studio 8601 has Sphero, Ozobot, and Makey Makey coding equipment

Central Library Studio 8601 has Arduino, Chibi Chip, Ozobot Bits, Sphero Bolt, SNAP circuits, and other technology and coding equipment

A FROGbots Robotics Demonstration was offered at Haymarket Gainesville Library for children interested in robotics or technology

PWPL programs include STEM activities, arts and crafts programs, and book clubs

At: Central, Haymarket Gainesville

Homework help

Brainfuse HelpNow connects users with live educators for homework, writing, and research help and is free seven days a week from 2:00–11:00 p.m.

HelpNow is available for students in grades K–college

LearningExpress Library provides homework help and skill-building resources for math, reading, writing, social studies, and other subjects

Librarians can help users find sources, navigate databases, and get book recommendations

Cost: Brainfuse HelpNow connects users with live educators for homework, writing, and research help and is free seven days a week from 2:00–11:00 p.m.

Ages: HelpNow is available for students in grades K–college

Career resources

PWPL provides application-writing, résumé-writing, cover-letter-writing, job-search, and interview-practice help seven days a week from 2:00–11:00 p.m.

Career Online High School offers eligible residents at least age 20 a pathway to an online high school diploma and career certification; a free self-assessment is available

Universal Class provides instructional videos on vocational subjects, careers, personal finance, and self-improvement

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep includes e-books for careers and vocations and licensing resources for real estate and cosmetology/barbering

Cost: Career Online High School offers eligible residents at least age 20 a pathway to an online high school diploma and career certification | a free self-assessment is available

Ages: Career Online High School offers eligible residents at least age 20 a pathway to an online high school diploma and career certification

Nature and farm programmes

PWPL has four story trails at Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, and Independent Hill Libraries

Pollinator gardens are located at Bull Run, Central, Haymarket Gainesville, Independent Hill, Montclair, and Nokesville Libraries

Central Green at Central Library hosts hands-on nature exploration and conservation activities

Forest Magic for Kids is a nature book containing 50 activities for exploring the outdoors

At: Bull Run, Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, Montclair, Independent Hill, Nokesville

Library of Things

WhaZoodle is a portable audio device preloaded with podcasts, music, and other audio content and does not require Wi-Fi

PWPL lends I Love Virginia State Parks backpacks containing a free admission pass usable at any Virginia State Park, maps, and pocket guides

Juvenile Book Club to Go! Kits contain up to 10 copies of a librarian-selected juvenile title and may be checked out for six weeks and renewed

Cost: PWPL lends I Love Virginia State Parks backpacks containing a free admission pass usable at any Virginia State Park, maps, and pocket guides

Museum and park passes

I Love Virginia State Parks backpacks include a free admission pass usable at any Virginia State Park

Cost: I Love Virginia State Parks backpacks include a free admission pass usable at any Virginia State Park

Memory lab and digitisation

RELIC’s Digital Preservation Lab at Central Library provides free-to-use equipment for digitizing and sharing family photos, slides, Super 8 reels, and other cherished media

The Digital Preservation Lab is available by appointment, with reservations by phone at 703-792-8380, email, or the PWPL Online Events Calendar

RELIC offers a one-hour orientation and one-on-one patron appointments for the Digital Preservation Lab

Studio 8601 has scanners, photo scanners, and Media Conversion Technology

At: Central

Cost: RELIC’s Digital Preservation Lab at Central Library provides free-to-use equipment for digitizing and sharing family photos, slides, Super 8 reels, and other cherished media

Proctoring and testing

PWPL offers test-proctoring services at six libraries; the fee is $35 per test

Proctoring services are listed for Bull Run, Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, Montclair, and Potomac Libraries

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test Prep provides GED preparation, practice tests, and tutorials

PWPL provides print and digital test guides for citizenship, TOEFL, GED, and other areas

At: Bull Run, Central, Chinn Park, Haymarket Gainesville, Montclair, Potomac

Cost: the fee is $35 per test

Teen space

Bull Run Library has a dedicated tween area and children’s and young adult area

Central Library has a dedicated teen area

Chinn Park Library has a Teen Center

Nokesville Library hosts a monthly Tween and Teen Takeover night for grades 6–12; registration is required

At: Bull Run, Central, Chinn Park, Nokesville

Ages: Bull Run Library has a dedicated tween area and children’s and young adult area | Central Library has a dedicated teen area | Chinn Park Library has a Teen Center | Nokesville Library hosts a monthly Tween and Teen Takeover night for grades 6–12

Gaming, esports and VR

Montclair Library’s Gaming Lounge has a PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, games, and seating

Montclair Gaming Lounge reservations may be made 14 days in advance; users may schedule two two-hour reservations per week, and requests must be made by a library cardholder age 12 or older

Central Library Studio 8601 has virtual reality headsets

The Montclair Gaming Lounge has a maximum occupancy of four people

At: Central, Montclair

Ages: users may schedule two two-hour reservations per week, and requests must be made by a library cardholder age 12 or older