A new library is taking shape in Vienna, though services in the town will remain limited.
Fairfax County Public Library will open a temporary branch in the Cedar Park Shopping Center next Monday, July 21, about a month later than originally anticipated as a result of some permitting delays.
Staff are now working to build out and move books and furniture into the 2,800-square-foot retail space at 262C Cedar Lane SE. A mailbox-style bin for book returns has already been set up outside the storefront.
Once it opens, the facility will offer a “small” selection of books and other materials for browsing. Patrons will also be able to pick up and place holds, use free WiFi and Chromebooks, and enjoy limited programming, such as story times.
Intended to support quick visits, rather than extended stays, the branch will have different hours from other FCPL locations, opening at 10 a.m. and closing at 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
FCPL will celebrate the launch with a ribbon-cutting and open house on Wednesday, July 23 at 9:30 a.m. Members of the public are invited to attend.
“We look forward to showing off this new space and celebrating with you,” an FCPL spokesperson said.
The temporary library will remain in place until the new, permanent Vienna-Carter Library opens at 101 Maple Avenue East. Replacing Patrick Henry Library, which closed on May 9 after more than 50 years, the 19,000-square-foot facility will be better suited to supporting current and future operational needs, according to FCPL.
It will also bring a long-awaited public parking garage to the Town of Vienna. The four-level garage will have a total of 209 spaces, 84 of them available for general public use.
Overseen by the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services, the new library project will cost approximately $28 million to construct, with $23 million coming from a Fairfax County bond referendum approved in 2020 and the Town of Vienna contributing $5.64 million.
Construction on the Vienna-Carter Library is now expected to start this fall, DPWES Assistant Director Emma Gutzler says. FCPL anticipates that it will open for occupancy in early to mid-2027.
