Goodbye Patrick Henry Library Event Planned As Renovation Project Nears

VIENNA, VA — Once Patrick Henry Library closes for a renovation and expansion project, it won't carry the same name in the reconstructed library. Patrick Henry Library will hold a community farewell event Saturday ahead of construction.

The library, which has been around for 54 years, is expected to close in late spring or early summer for the renovation and expansion project. Construction for the library project is expected to begin in June, with occupancy aimed for mid-2027.

When the library does reopen, it will be renamed Vienna-Carter Library to honor the multiracial Carter family with historical significance in Vienna and Fairfax County. One member of the family, William McKinley Carter, was a charter member of the Fairfax County NAACP and helped establish an integrated county library branch in the Town of Vienna.

The project will provide a larger 19,000-square-foot library as well as a 209-space, four level parking garage. The current Patrick Henry Library building opened in 1971 and was last renovated in 1995. The county government says Patrick Henry Library is one of its busiest community libraries and runs at the level of a smaller regional library. The new library will provide a layout to meet the library's needs, as well as replace building systems and infrastructure that are well beyond their life cycles.

Fairfax County is funding the library renovation through a bond referendum approved by Fairfax County voters in 2020. It is sharing the cost of the parking garage with the Town of Vienna to provide 125 parking spaces for library visitors and 84 public parking spaces for the town.

A temporary library is being set up for early summer 2025 at the Cedar Park Shopping Center (262 Cedar Lane, Vienna) to provide limited services during the project. The location will provide a small browsing section, pickups of holds and returns of books, public Wi-Fi, and some programs such as story times. There will not be public computers at the temporary location.

The county says there will be a three-week transitional period where the current and temporary location will not be open. Other nearby Fairfax County Public Library locations are Oakton Library and Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library.

The farewell event for Patrick Henry Library will be held Saturday, March 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will include remarks from local leaders, a photo opportunity, history activities, crafts, performances and more activities for all ages.

Here is the schedule for the event:

• 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Outdoor Bubble Dance Party, Courtyard outside the Meeting Room
• 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m.: Remarks from Supervisor Walter Alcorn and Mayor Linda Colbert, Patrick Henry Library Meeting Room
• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Silent Disco, Patrick Henry Library Meeting Room
• 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Face Painting & Temporary Tattoos, Courtyard outside the Meeting Room
• 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.: School of Rock Concert, Patrick Henry Library Meeting Room and Courtyard
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Patrick Henry Library Through the Years slideshow TV across from the Checkout service desk
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Commemorative bookmarks at Checkout and Information service desks
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Commemorative pins and keychains
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Patrick Henry Library coloring pages at tables in the Children's area
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Post memories of Patrick Henry Library on our service desks at Checkout and Information service desks
• 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: "Design your dream Vienna-Carter library!" art contest in the Picture Book area