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“If you build it, they will come.” On December 18, 2003, the Bealeton branch library opened its doors to the southern Fauquier community. A beautiful building, the 10,000 sq. ft. library took its architectural cues from the “roofy” Bealeton depot that a few years later would serve as its meeting room. From that December day 20 years ago, the branch library has served as the hub of the community. Folks have gathered to light a community Christmas tree, visit with Santa and marvel at the intricate trains as part of the Piedmont Railroaders exhibition. We have hosted youngsters for story hour, National Honor Society tutors, people seeking their GED or learning English as a second language. Older Wiser Learners (OWLS) have gathered to discuss a myriad of topics and share fellowship. And through it all we have checked out thousands of books, magazines, CDs and DVDs. Join us the week of January 22-28 as we mark this important milestone. There will be activities for children and historical displays of the library’s construction. An open house on January 24 will feature a 20-year book display and children’s crafts. Of course, refreshments will be served. Now about that Field of Dreams quote. It should be “If you build, he will come.” But for our purposes, it works for the message this month. We built it and they sure came. Maria Del Rosso Director, Fauquier Public Library

Read. Shop. Buy smart. We recycle plastic food containers but few of us realize chemicals from those plastics are being recycled through us.  In this issue CR describes how chemicals from plastics, called bisphenols and phthalates, get into our food and why they are dangerous. The chemical DEHP, which CR notes has been linked to "insulin resistance, high blood pressure and reproductive issues," is found at higher levels in fatty foods.  For example, cream may have 5-10 times higher levels of DEHP than milk due to the fact that DEHP is a fat-soluble chemical and tends to bond with the fat in cream.  Find out about regulations aimed at reducing phthalates and other chemicals picked up by food during processing and packaging and find out why CR experts believe those regulations fall short.  Take a look at CR's list of popular foods rated by phthalate level to help you reduce your exposure. Are you concerned about the risks of managing your money online?  In this issue CR experts examine various financial tech tools to try.  For those who are new to this, they say that once you try these tools, you'll wonder how you ever got along without them.  CR also pinpoints the risks of using tech tools to manage your money and explains how to protect your privacy. Headaches are a common experience for all of us but for some they are a weekly nuisance.  Whenever they occur, we want them gone as quickly as possible!  What causes them, what works to relieve them, and when is it time to see a doctor?  Read "Know Your Headache" to get a grip on what factors contribute to the pain and what to do when a headache coming on.  Various treatments are suggested for each type of headache and CR provides a list of supplements that may help, noting that early action dramatically improves the outcome of any treatment.  Read "When Head Pain Is an Emergency" to find out if your symptoms are more serious. Other topics in this issue include: "The Best Relief for a Bad Cold" "4 Surprising Things Your TV Can Do" "What Makes a Pie Pan Great" "Which Peanut Butter Tastes Best?" "How to Stand Up Straighter" Consumer Reports magazine is available free in print and online to Fauquier Public Library card holders, providing access to articles, reviews and ratings on over 8,000 products and services. The library has copies of Consumer Reports dating back to 2019.

In March, watch for special displays as we celebrate Women's History Month, the Academy Awards, St Patrick's Day (and all things Irish!), the beginning of spring, and Easter.  Stay tuned for a BOGO sale on children's books in March as well! There’s a lot happening in April too! We will be highlighting National Library Week, Virginia's Historic Garden Week, Earth Day and Arbor Day with in-store displays. If you're planning your summer vacation, we'll also feature displays of travel guides and travel stories to inspire you! Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Book Cellar news! John Barton Payne Bldg., WarrentonFridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

(Warrenton, VA) February 14, 2024 – World-renowned muralist and artist Craig McPherson of Orlean will discuss his 50-year professional career with veteran journalist Lou Emerson, Sunday, February 25 at 2 p.m. in the John Barton Payne Community Hall in Warrenton. McPherson’s work has been exhibited in shows around the world and major museum collections. This is the latest installment of Sundays at Two, a Fauquier Public Library series that brings together distinguished local writers, artists and scholars for conversations about their work and life. Emerson and conservationist Doug Larson combine their experience and in-depth knowledge of Fauquier County to plan the popular series. About McPherson, Larson says, “He’s done a series of murals at the New York City American Express building. I’ve seen it.  It’s absolutely breathtaking. He’s the perfect example of people living in this community who have flown under the radar.” McPherson’s work includes “Yankee Stadium at Night,” an atmospheric yet detailed nighttime vista of the sports icon.  Since the mid-90s, McPherson has been working on a broad range of imagery including landscape, natural phenomenon, near abstraction and the human figure. The next Sundays at Two program will be Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m. featuring Sir Peter Crane. Crane is President of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation, an organization dedicated to scholarship and public dialogue on the uses, history and future of plants. Known internationally for his work on the diversity of plant life, he was previously Director of The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, one of the most prestigious and influential botanical gardens in the world. Visit https://fauquierlibrary.org/ for information about Sundays at Two and other services and resources available from Fauquier Public Library. Contact: Lisa Pavlock Public Information Coordinator 540.422.8518 lisa.pavlock@fauquiercounty.gov

Read. Shop. Buy smart. In this issue CR asks, “What’s in your water?” and tells you how to conduct the necessary tests to find out.  They contend that industries are releasing new chemicals at a rate difficult for the EPA to keep up with, and that it is questionable whether the limits EPA sets will be strict enough to protect consumers.  If tested water shows problems, what remedies exist to fix it?  CR provides a handy list of regulated and unregulated contaminants and explains the related risks.  Guidance on how to clean up your water supply and tips on what to do to protect your health if you’ve been consuming poor quality water are also included.  Read, “Filters That Work Best” for advice about what filter you’ll need to help remove specific contaminants. During these long winter evenings and dark winter mornings it may seem too dark in the house even with all the lights on.  This issue of CR has some great advice for finding “The Right Lights for Your Home.”  Old incandescent bulbs are being phased out and store shelves are now full of energy-saving LED bulbs.  Learn how to shop for LEDs to meet your needs for brightness, effect and long-lasting performance.  Check out the handy Room-by-Room Lighting Plan to make the right selections. Do you have a dog or cat you love as if it were a son or daughter?  Insurance can help cover the costs of certain kinds of pet care or medication yet many pet owners do not have insurance for their pets.  In this issue CR rates eight pet insurance companies. If you received a cookbook as a gift this holiday season, you may have noticed that olive oil is a common ingredient in many dishes.  With the wide array of brands and grades of olive oil on store shelves, it can be hard to decide which to buy. Check out “Best (and Worst) Olive Oils” before you start cooking. Other topics in this issue include: “Toaster Ovens” “Cordless Vacuums” “Paper Shredders” “Blood Pressure Monitors” “Prevent Frozen Pipes This Winter” Consumer Reports magazine is available free in print and online to Fauquier Public Library card holders, providing access to articles, reviews and ratings on over 8,000 products and services. The library has copies of Consumer Reports dating back to 2019.

In St. Peter’s Square, if you stand on one of two iron circles and look towards the colonnade, you will see one row of perfectly aligned columns instead of four.  Step to the left or right and all the columns appear again. A shift in perspective can produce some surprising results. Books, said renowned historian David McCullough, can change the way we look at the world or inspire us to make a change in our own life. Interested in looking at things differently? Check out one of these life changing books. What you read may make you stop and wonder or inspire you to try something new. While we’re at it, why not encourage youngsters to consider how others might feel? After reading The Day the Crayons Quit, crayons may never look the same again. Duncan’s crayons are on strike. Red is tired. Beige is bored. Black is misunderstood. Peach is naked! Children can help Duncan figure out a way to make his crayons happy to be back at work again. Or, how about a simple lesson in perception versus reality? In Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School, Ike the dog writes letters about how terrible he is being treated, while the pictures show what is really going on. Perspective, Point of View, Perception. Summed up easily enough in advice Atticus Finch gave to his daughter, “If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it.” How about that.  Not too early to start; never too late to learn. Maria Del Rosso Director, Fauquier Public Library VIEW THE COMPLETE FEBRUARY EDITION OF BOOKMARKS, OUR ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER,  OR CHECK OUT OPPORTUNITIES @ THE LIBRARY, FEBRUARY 2023 FOR A THE FULL SCHEDULE OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES GOING ON AT THE LIBRARY THIS MONTH.

November is Family Stories Month, a great time to learn about your family’s history. Where to begin? Start with AncestryLibrary, the library version of the popular and extensive genealogy database, Ancestry.com. It is available for in-library use only at any Fauquier County Library location and provides access to thousands of databases, including: US Census records Vital records such as birth, death, and marriage records Land records Military records and much more Can’t make it to the library? Access HeritageQuest Online from home to search unique primary resources, local and family histories and finding aids. If you have family members who served in the US military, Fold3 Library Edition contains an ever-growing collection of US military records, including the stories, photos and personal documents of service members. Still have questions? Stop by the reference desk at any Fauquier Public Library location or visit our full listing of genealogy and local history resources online. Access is free with a Fauquier Public Library card.

Rebecca Serle, One Italian Summer Wednesday, Jan. 10 | 8 p.m. Register Join us as we kick off the New Year talking to Rebecca Serle about her journey writing epic love stories to span generations. We’ll chat with the author about her New York Times bestselling novels, One Italian Summer, In Five Years, The Dinner List and many more. Additionally, in a special preview, Serle will briefly discuss her forthcoming novel (due out on March 5, 2024) Expiration Dates. Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, on the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for. Start your year with love and register now! Additionally, in a special preview, Serle will briefly discuss her forthcoming novel (due out on March 5, 2024) Expiration Dates. Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, on the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for. Start your year with love and register now! Dr. Robert Lustig, Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern MedicineTuesday, Jan. 30 | 2 p.m. Register Launch your New Year healthy with Dr. Robert Lustig, a pediatric neuroendocrinologist who has long been on the cutting edge of medicine and science. Dr. Lustig’s book, Metabolical: The Lure and the Lies of Processed Food, Nutrition, and Modern Medicine, weaves the interconnected strands of nutrition, health/disease, medicine, environment, and society into a completely new fabric by proving on a scientific basis a series of iconoclastic revelations, among them: Medicine for chronic disease treats symptoms, not the disease itself You can diagnose your own biochemical profile Chronic diseases are not “druggable,” but they are “foodable” Processed food isn’t just toxic, it’s addictive The war between vegan and keto is a false war—the combatants are on the same side Big Food, Big Pharma, and Big Government are on the other side Dr. Lustig insists that if we do not fix our food and change the way we eat, we will continue to court chronic disease, bankrupt healthcare, and threaten the planet. But there is hope: his book and this webinar explain what’s needed to fix all three. Dr. Lustig offers a doable plan to heal and restore our health and well-being and, in the process, boost our immunity to viruses like Covid-19. Meet the Author is sponsored by Friends of the Fauquier Library and made possible through the Library Speaker’s Consortium. Two to three programs are offered each month. Register for these author talks and check out other Meet the Author events online. All programs will also be available for on-demand viewing following the event.

If you’re looking for a great book to curl up with in the new year, stop by the Book Cellar, where we’ll be featuring Winter Reads throughout the store in January. In February, we’ll celebrate Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, and Presidents’ Day with special themed displays in the store. Happy Winter from the Book Cellar! Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Book Cellar news! John Barton Payne Bldg., Warrenton Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

In the movie The Way We Were longtime buddies Hubbell and J.J. while sailing recount the best Saturday afternoon, the best month, the best year. Perhaps not the whip and snap of sails but the stillness and quiet of winter evenings will invite you to contemplate the year’s best book, best meal, best time with family and friends. We’ve done our own little bit of reflecting and here are some highlights of our year serving you. Of course, the news is filled with those in the know who have compiled “best of” lists.  We’ve shared some with you –  best fiction, best non-fiction. In our Meet the Author series, Fredrik Backman, Geraldine Brooks and Amor Towles received high marks from our patrons.  You can still watch most interviews here. “Accidental activist” Hope Porter sat down with local editor Lou Emerson to discuss her work over 60 years to keep Fauquier rural. This was the first in our new series “Sundays at Two.” Old Rag Naturalists set up shop in our libraries to answer questions about Virginia flora and fauna. The Marshall branch got a much-needed facelift when very tall and crowded children’s shelving was replaced with shelving that makes it much easier for youngsters to browse. After boosting Brainfuse, a live homework assistance service, use skyrocketed. Non-fiction afficionados welcomed legendary history teacher Bob Jacobs who helped launch a new book club. A personal favorite – each week, bright and shiny Head Start children pile off their bus and fill our program rooms for a story hour.  Oh, the joy in seeing those beautiful rapt faces soaking in the tale of the day. And, last but not least. A library user survey this fall showed, to quote Sally Fields, “you like us, you really like us.” “Our library is the jewel in the crown of Fauquier County,” one patron wrote. Another said, “The staff is superb. They are limited by space and funds, nevertheless what they accomplish is amazing.”  And, here’s one to puff our chests out, “Best use of my tax dollars.” Thank you, dear library friends.  We return the sentiments in full measure.  We really like you, too. Maria Del Rosso Director, Fauquier Public Library

In December the Book Cellar will celebrate the year-end holidays with fun displays. And we have some exciting news for December. In addition to our normal hours, we will have extended hours in December: Sunday, Dec. 3, 10, and 17 1-4 p.m. Bring the kids to GumDrop Square then stroll downstairs to the cozy and festive Book Cellar for a visit. There will be plenty of stocking stuffers and other gifts available! We wish all of our customers a most happy holiday season! Follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all of the latest Book Cellar news.

Check out these Meet the Author talks coming later this month: Joy Harjo Thursday, Nov. 16  |  4-5 p.m. Register United States Poet Laureate and winner of the 2022 Academy of American Poets Leadership Award, Joy Harjo, joins us for a chat about her most recent memoir, Catching the Light and to discuss her rewarding lifetime as a writer and poet. In Catching the Light, Harjo examines the power of words and how poetry summons us toward justice and healing. In this lyrical meditation about the why of writing poetry, Harjo reflects on significant points of illumination, experience, and questioning from her fifty years as a poet. Comprised of intimate vignettes that take us through the author’s life journey as a youth in the late 1960s, a single mother, and a champion of Native nations, this book offers a fresh understanding of how poetry functions as an expression of purpose, spirit, community, and memory. Naomi AldermanThursday, Nov. 30  |  3-4 p.m. Register Bestselling and award-winning author Naomi Alderman will join us to talk about women in science fiction and writing dystopian worlds featuring her new book, The Future. This new novel delivers a dazzling tour de force where a handful of friends plot a daring heist to save the world from the tech giants whose greed threatens life as we know it. By turns thrilling, hilarious, tender, and always piercingly brilliant, The Future unfolds at a breakneck speed, highlighting how power corrupts the few who have it and what it means to stand up to them. The future is coming. The Future is here. What are you waiting for? Meet the Author is sponsored by Friends of the Fauquier Library and made possible through the Library Speaker’s Consortium. Two to three programs are offered each month. Register for this author talk and check out other Meet the Author events online. All programs will also be available for on-demand viewing following the event.