Message from the Director: March 2026

Too often, important stories don’t get told.

That was almost the case for Dr. Josephine Janina Mehlberg--a Jewish mathematician who saved lives in Nazi-occupied Poland by masquerading as a Polish aristocrat.  With guile, cajolery, and steely persistence, the "Countess" persuaded SS officials to release thousands of Poles from the Majdanek concentration camp.

Join us on March 15, when Dr. Elizabeth “Barry” White, recently retired from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, speaks about Mehlberg’s unpublished memoir and the research that went into writing the Counterfeit Countess.  A fitting program for Women’s History Month when we recognize famous and not-so-famous women.

Who knew that sliding stones could be so exciting?  Yet, curling, a relatively new official Olympic sport, captivated millions last month  Curling strategy can depend on angles and lines, so we decided to mark Pi Day (March 14) by focusing on geometry.  Nascent curlers may want to brush up since a sure win can be knocked away with a well-placed angle shot.  

With a nod to St. Patrick’s Day, check out these Irish films. Gosh, there are some good ones.

Animal behavior is front and center in March and April. 

Readers can check out Meet the Neighbors by Brandon Keim with no waitlists or holds in the Libby app from March 26-April 9. The book is about the science of animal intelligence and how we live with the wild creatures around us. 

And mark your calendars for Sy Montgomery, National Book Award finalist and bestselling author of The Soul of an Octopus and The Good Good Pig.  Montgomery, our guest for the 2026 Barbara and Keith Severin Lecture on April 29, will share what animals can teach us about persistence, loss and love. 

Final words go to untold stories.  Take time to remember the people in your life that have shown leadership, courage, and strength.  Tell the girls and boys you know about them.  It’s good fodder for inspiration to fulfill dreams.

Maria Del Rosso

Director, Fauquier County Public Library