The Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library

Welcome to the Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library

Dr. Larry Bussey began his lifelong commitment to education, diversity, and equity as a teacher in the New York City Public School System where he taught art to the city’s youth before bringing his passion for ensuring equal access to quality education to our nation’s youth to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), serving over 30 years as an enforcement officer conducting the program office’s core work of identifying, preventing, and resolving acts of discrimination against our nation’s students. 

Bussey was a founding member of the first Minority Student Achievement Joint Committee (MSAOC), an ad hoc committee established by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in 1992 that developed an action plan and made recommendations that included a re-examination of curriculum, modification of administrative structures, and improved outreach to parents. Bussey served as MSAOC Co-Chair through the 1995-1996 school year: as a community representative or staff liaison for MSAOC under six superintendents from its creation until his death in 2022. To support comprehensive family outreach and engagement, Bussey spearheaded the creation of the Parent Advocacy Handbook, which distributed 15,000 paperback copies and is currently available in multiple languages and online.

Very few, if any, have shown a greater, long-term commitment to minority student achievement and parent and family engagement in FCPS than Bussey. The Fairfax County School Board has proclaimed that the library located within the Family Resource Center be called the “Dr. Larry Bussey Family & Community Library” to serve as a lasting legacy of Bussey’s commitment to educate and equip families to effectively advocate for the educational rights and needs of their children. The Family Resource Center Lending Library contains over 10,000 books, eBooks, DVDs, and CDs on topics related to parenting and educating all children including those with learning challenges, mental health concerns, special needs, and disabilities.

The library is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• You can search our library online.
• Please email the FRC if you would like materials sent to your child's school or your FCPS office.

Our staff has curated top resources from our library, webinars, and digital resources on some of our most requested topics.  Please call 703-204-3941 or email [email protected] to reserve your pack. Packs can be picked up at the Family Resource Center or sent to your child's school for you to pick up.

What’s in an FRC Pack?

• 2-3 books for a caregiver or educator
• 1-2 books for a child (perfect for a read-aloud or independent reading for an older child)
• 1 resource guide with a list of eBooks, free webinars on YouTube, and other resources 
• Tote bag for easy return at any FCPS school

FRC Pack Offerings

Here is a list of our current FRC Pack offerings:

1. ADHD
2. Anxiety
3. Autism
4. Autismo (Spanish)
5. Back to School for Elementary Students
6. Back to School for Middle School Students
7. Back to School for High School Students
8. Big Emotions
9. Bullying
10. Eating Disorders
11. Executive Functioning with Children and Teens
12. Getting Ready for Kindergarten
13. Military-Connected Students
14. Motivation
15. Paternidad Positiva (Niños): Positive Parenting: Young Children in Spanish
16. Paternidad Positiva (Adolescentes): Positive Parenting: Adolescents in Spanish
17. Summer Survival