Our annual food drive runs April 19-27!

April 16, 2025

Help your fellow Loudoun neighbors in need by donating shelf-stable foods at any Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) branch from Saturday, April 19, through Sunday, April 27.

Donations will be distributed by Loudoun Hunger Relief (LHR), which serves approximately 3,400 people each week. This year, LHR is collecting whole-grain, low-sugar and low-sodium foods to offer their customers healthy options. Items must be unopened and unexpired.

“The LCPL Food Drive is not just about providing meals; it's about showing our neighbors we care,” said Jennifer Montgomery, President and CEO of LHR. “Together, we can help lift those in need, one food donation at a time. We’re grateful for the support."

During the 2024 food drive, LCPL customers donated 5,072 pounds of food, enough for 4,227 meals. That year, LHR served an average of 850 households every week, rivaling their pandemic service levels.

“Part of our mission as a public library is to build community,” said Chang Liu, Director of LCPL. “By participating in this event, you’re helping foster a sense of community in Loudoun County.”

To view a list of requested items and other ways to participate, visit library.loudoun.gov/fooddrive. For those seeking assistance, go to loudounfeeds.org to find food for today and groceries for tomorrow, all free of charge.

What do you want from LCPL?

March 31, 2025

LCPL is seeking community input to help determine the goals and priorities of its new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030.

Loudoun residents are invited to attend a community input session featuring group discussions and exercises led by senior LCPL staff. Refreshments will be served.

All members of the public are also invited to take a short online survey to provide feedback that will help LCPL prioritize which services, programs and resources to focus on over the next several years. The survey is a key part of the process.

“By sharing your feedback, you’re helping LCPL continue to evolve and meet the needs of all community members,” said Chang Liu, Director of LCPL. “Whether you visit our branches regularly or have yet to explore all we have to offer, we want to hear what is most important to you.”

LCPL’s 10 branches welcome approximately 2 million visitors per year. In addition to traditional library materials, LCPL offers a variety of services, such as notary appointments, Makerspaces (e.g., 3D printing, sewing equipment, laser engraving, etc.) and free online streaming and learning resources.

Our Poetry Contest for teens and adults begins April 1!

March 27, 2025

Loudoun County Public Library (LCPL) customers can win cash prizes in the 12th annual Poetry Contest, which runs April 1 through May 18. This year, the contest is open to teens and adults in Loudoun County and the nearby regions listed on the contest homepage.

Poems can be entered into one of three categories: Spoken Word, Free Verse or Poems that Rhyme. Entries must be original and unpublished and should be submitted online by Sunday, May 18.

Winners will be announced at an award ceremony Friday, June 13, hosted by Poet Laureate Emerita of Arlington County Holly Karapetkova. Winning poems will be published in a free eBook on LCPL’s Poetry Contest webpage.

"We’re thrilled to give both teens and adults a platform to share their talent this year,” said Susan VanEpps, LCPL’s Division Manager of Programming and Community Engagement. “We hope this contest sparks creativity and camaraderie among the local community of writers."

For submission guidelines, visit library.loudoun.gov/poetrycontest.

Libby hold limit changing from 15 to six

May 2024

Starting Wednesday, May 29, the maximum number of holds that can be placed on eBooks and eAudiobooks in Libby will reduce from 15 to six. The good news is that you can still borrow up to 15 titles at a time!

If you have more than six holds now, don’t worry — you won’t lose them.  You’ll be able to manage those holds in the same way you always have, to include delaying the delivery date. You just won’t be able to place more until you are within the new limit.

How can I keep track of books I want to read?

  • In the app, you can tag books to add them to your wish list.
  • If you find a book through the catalog, you can use the Add to List feature to create your own reading lists.

How do I find books with no wait time?

  • The Available Now filter will pull up thousands of titles you can read right away.
  • You can also browse Libby’s collection of eMagazines. They’re always available and don’t count towards your 15 checkouts.

Why has LCPL made this change?

  • The popularity of eBooks and eAudiobooks has skyrocketed. Prices for digital books are significantly higher than print materials. To keep wait times to a reasonable level, LCPL buys additional copies of digital books based on the number of holds. By limiting the number of holds, LCPL can offer a wider selection of reading materials.