George Mason Regional Library (7001 Little River Turnpike) will be out of commission starting next month while it undergoes a long-planned renovation.
Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) announced yesterday (Sept. 1) that the library’s last day of operations will be Oct. 23, leaving the Annandale area with limited access to library services for the next few months.
Culmore Library in Bailey’s Crossroads has been closed since January for HVAC repairs and isn’t expected to reopen until mid to late February, slightly later than the January 2027 reopening previously anticipated by FCPL.
As alternatives, the county library has offered the community branches of Kings Park in Burke, Richard Byrd in Springfield and Thomas Jefferson in West Falls Church. Thomas Jefferson Library will expand its hours to match those of a regional branch sometime in early 2027, meaning it will be open on Sundays and until 9 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday.
“Staff at any branch can assist customers with redirecting holds for pick up at nearby locations,” FCPL said in a press release. “Materials may be picked up at or returned to any FCPL branch. Digital library resources, including e-books, audiobooks, and online databases, remain available 24/7 to all cardholders via the library’s website.”
Prior to George Mason’s closure, the library’s Friends group will host a fall book sale from Sept. 24-27 at 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Book donations will stop being accepted this Sunday (Sept. 6), but the George Mason Friends will keep operating and accepting donations while the library is undergoing renovations.
FCPL says details about the temporary location “will be forthcoming.”
Other notable dates to prepare for:
- Oct. 9 — the last day to place holds for pick-up at George Mason Regional Library
- Oct. 13 — the last day holds will be delivered to the branch
- Oct. 23 — the final day to pick up any materials on hold
FCPL also noted that some items will be removed from the library’s shelves before its doors officially close, as staff start transferring the collection to storage or other branches.
Funded with $15 million from a library bond referendum approved by voters in 2020, the George Mason renovation project won’t expand the 28,000-square-foot library, but it will deliver needed updates for a building originally constructed in 1960.
“The building systems and infrastructure are nearing the end of their life cycle, and the layout does not meet the current and future operational needs of the library,” FCPL said in the release.
Planned improvements include additional gathering spaces and study rooms, a flexible meeting room that will be open during and after business hours, a maker space, and energy upgrades, including the installation of rooftop solar panels, a more efficient heating and cooling system, and electric vehicle charging stations.
In addition to providing critical services to the Annandale community, the library serves as the main meeting venue for FCPL’s Board of Trustees.
The board was already scheduled to convene at other sites for its next two monthly meetings, with a tour of Pohick Regional Library’s maker lab set for Sept. 9 and a visit to Chantilly Regional Library planned on Oct. 14 for the annual Friends Choice Awards, according to an FCPL spokesperson.
After a virtual meeting on Nov. 18, the board of trustees will begin holding regular meetings at the City of Fairfax Regional Library, starting Dec. 9.
According to the project page for the George Mason library renovation, construction is expected to begin this fall, and the revitalized library will open in fall 2028.
