City of Fairfax Regional Library

Beautiful library with a huge selection of books. They have a «new book» section and I was pleasantly surprised when I found a book I’ve been meaning to read for a few months now. They also have multiple copies of some titles. There were plenty of self check out so there was no wait for me. They also had multiple computers but most of them were taken, so either go early or bring your own laptop for free WiFi. Check out the book sale if you want to help out the community!

The location can be in your favor if you use it. Parking is hard around this area but you can park across the street in the retail garage. My friend told me this location has a lot more books on hand because not a lot of people venture here compared to the local libraries due to the busy streets. Anyway, I found what I wanted and it was nice inside

Pros– Large library, multi level. Great place for quiet study on the upper level! Easy garage parking.
Cons– As with most public libraries, can’t eat any food inside. But closed drinks are welcomed!

It’s quiet and you’ll be productive here. It’s quite large as well with multiple floors and each floor serves different purposes. The second floor is where I spent my time to study and get work done. There’s free wifi and there’s a station for printing and scanning.
I would strongly recommend you be respectful of others. People here are serious about their reading and quietness. Even a sneeze or cough could get you glares. Just saying!

My favorite destination. Close to my house and ever so welcoming.

I wish there was free internet for visitors. I had to pay $ 2 to use a computer. It’s free for members but I didn’t want to apply because I’m here for a few days only. Most libraries provide free computer/​internet for visitors at least for 15 minutes. Staff was kind and helpful though. My overall experience is average.

Great library — terrific selection — well-​maintained — convenient location in the heart of Fairfax City.

First time here and had a great experience. There is a parking garage with elevators which is great. Free scanning of documents that can be saved to a storage device copies are .15 a page not bad. Many computers to use and tables to do work if needed. The wireless internet is fast and free to use on any personal electronic devices. I planned to pay $ 2 for visitor fee to email documents I scanned but was given the suggestion to get a library card with is and proof of local address which I had with me anyway. The lady at the full service checkout counter was very nice and explained to me all the services provided and other locations. She also informed me of the rent and check out procedures this didn’t take long but she covered everything and added me to the data base and allowed me to pic what design I wanted my card to be. I haven’t had a library card in decades so it felt weird but the experience was great. When I first arrived I asked a lady behind one of the counters about scanning capabilities and she left the counter and walked me over to the machine to show me how it’s set up. I came in contact with 4 different people working at this library in my hour yet very productive visit to this library and everyone amazed me with the helpfulness and courtesy rendered. I will definitely use this library again!!!

This is my favorite place to find peace and read the books I am interested. The librarians are so helpful and ready to help as needed. I forgot my membership card one day and needed to use their computer, the lady assisted me till the computer desk, it’s so great environment!
Wide range of books in this room!

Great assortment of books, and places to sit. Also conveniently located by a shopping mall.

My go-​to place for studying. Huge library, but is usually full. Finding a seat can be a mission.

This is my to-​go place for reading. Its quiet and peaceful. Personally, I cant read at home because I always fall asleep when I grasp the book. So I come here, usually 3 – 4 times a week. Plus, there are some restaurants nearby like Mcdonal, Japanese food, Thai food and Starbucks. If you are hungry just walk down the street and grab something to eat and drink. Come check it out! Your gonna love it.

Clean library, helpful staff, great events and programs for the whole family!

Great city Library. Tons of books, papers, magazines and a super friendly staff. Love the wide isles and easily accessible for the handicapped.
Fairfax library is well beyond most local libraries. Check it out.

I love having this place so close to my office. It’s such an inviting space that provides an ENORMOUS selection of books, newspapers, videos, and even comics. They have their own parking garage which makes the whole experience even better.
Seriously — libraries are a beautiful thing! The Fairfax Library has got to be my favorite of them all.
Be sure to check their hours before you go, as the vary from day to day.

I love you, I love you, I LOVE YOUUUU!!!
It’s fairly new. Self check-​out new.
It’s clean. Even the bathrooms.
It’s well lit and in no ways damp, smelly, or creepy.
Two floors and easy to get around.
They have cool special visitors (like the balloon animal artist… I was so tempted to get one and they probably would have let me too.)
Oh, and my favorite: The private study rooms. Sure you’ll have your occasional [insult of your choice here] in here who thinks it’s okay to whisper at the top of their lungs, or even better have a cell phone conversation, but that only really happens once a week. No, the evil glare/​stink eye and clearing your throat method won’t shut them up, you will verbally have to tell them to cram it.
The librarians are actually NICE. Stick around until closing time, they even play music when they kindly kick you out :)
Parking? Easy. Two level garage. Location? So convenient. Across the street from Starbucks and plenty of places to eat (such as the always delicious Bollywood Bistro and Caribbean Corner.) I think the only thing that could make this place better would be more comfy seating. I could sit here all day… every day!
AND free wi-​fi. Oh, happy day!

This is the nicest public library that I’ve been to personally. Has free wifi and its own parking garage. I have never not been able to find a seat at a table.
My only caveat being the hours of operation. Monday and Wednesday the library opens at 1pm.

By far my favorite library. I agree with Yan W’s review. It’s in an über convenient location and I love the fact that there is a parking garage so there is never any issue with weather. I also like the drive up book drop o that’s also in the garage. Easy Peasy.

4.5 stars
Welcome to the borders bookstore of libraries!
This is one of the few libraries that doesn’t smell «old.» Maybe because it is newer… It’s in the heart of Fairfax City, extremely convenient, easy to get in and out of, (just look for the blazing green sign and the ramp into the parking garage underneath the library), parking is a dream, and best part… it’s right next to a McDonald’s and other good eats. In fact, if you have a snack attack in the middle of studying you can prance on out and grab a snack and be back within 15 minutes.
The library has two open-​concept floors, with many tables, quiet rooms, meeting rooms you can reserve, and «leather study chairs» (like what you get in school with the swing arm except more comfortable than your home recliner. All that’s missing is the massage button). You can bring covered drinks into the library, but I don’t think you can bring them upstairs.
The reason why it only garners 4.5 stars instead of 5: (I’m a picky jerk)
1) I sharked around and finally got a leather study chair. To my disappointment, there was leftover food on the swing arm… gross
2) I got yelled at once by the mean librarian bc I stepped up to the counter to check out a CD before she was «ready.» «NOT READY!,» She yelled in a thick Indian accent. It hurts more b/​c she had an accent. Trust me. Good thing she wasn’t an old lady, being yelled at by a «Golden Girl» would kill me. Eppps!
3) Space is so darn limited. I can understand high school students, or other students in need of weekend study space because their schools are closed, but there seems to be a large ratio of snarky George Mason University students. Love ya, but you have pretty awesome libraries that are open on the weekend (The school is literally a few streets down) True, it’s a public library and all, but please leave some space for us «less fortunate.»
4) Did i mention the space? If you don’t get there when the library opens, be prepared to wander around aimlessly for a space to study. Worst yet, if you need space for your laptop/​or an outlet — good luck. For those macophiles with the mac laptop plug, I recommend sitting next to the wall, since the plugs on the tabletop lamps don’t work well with the powerbricks.
5) The «abusers.» I don’t mind the dude who is hard on his luck, and just in need of a quiet place to read, but I do mind the dude who is so cheap, he comes into the library to recharge his laptop, his cell phone, you name it. Free interweb is great, but seriously, folks, don’t mooch. Even though it feels «free,» us taxpayers are fitting the bill for cheapos to recharge all of their peripherals…
6) Are you sure I didn’t mention the space? If you get up from your chair and not «mark it» with a jacket, a laptop, a book, etc., don’t expect to come back from a book search or a trip to the bathroom and still have the seat.
Overall, a great library, but it’s so good it gets packed!

If puppies and kittens had babies, they would be made of this library.
Let me list the ways that I love thee:
1. New, clean, and fantastic.
2. Can has computers, with the internets, for free.
3. Historic records for your local ancestry research.
4. Historic records of the local area in general, buildings, maps, etc.
5. The creepy homeless guy that gives away Mancala Stones (they are magic).
6. An abundant supply of those things that have words on pages, as well as the readily available of movies (Some on VHS! The only real kind of movie watching experience there is).
7. Lots of parking, even if it is a pain to get too.
8. A donation bin — GMU has sucked thousands of dollars out of my pocket over the years on books alone, and this enables me to easily (and lazily, thank god), drop off said overpriced books to donate to this wonderful library.
9. It doesn’t smell like a library (good point yvoone k., stealing this one from you, MUAHAHAHA).
10. It’s a library, no matter how much technology there is, you can’t put a price on a nice, air conditioned, quiet place to curl up with your book and/​or e-​reader. Sure, you can get «free» books by reading on your nook in Barnes&Noble, but you’re stuck in a loud book store listening to espresso machines chugging away all day.
If you don’t like this place, well, then you seriously need to re-​evaluate your priorities in life.