Book Discussions and Author Visits
Join us for monthly book discussions and special author visits! See the schedule.
St. Mary’s County Library Anime Club
If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible. Join musician & educator Jim Gill to learn how to use musical play to support healthy development,
pre-literacy & math skills, &
self-regulation. Discover ways music can create an inclusive environment for children of all abilities. FREE Professional Development Institute for licensed child care providers. Earn 3 Core of Knowledge Hours (2 in Curriculum, 1 in Special Needs). Offered by St. Mary’s County Library. Sponsored by the Early Childhood Advisory Council of St. Mary’s County, with grant support from the Maryland State Department of Education. Learn how to create colorful, multi-layered, textural collage prints using Gelli plates, paint, book and magazine pages and scrapbook paper! Gelli printing is a type of mono printing that uses a flexible gelatin plate to create prints with textures and layers of color. A book discussion series for veterans led by Vietnam veteran Wayne Karlin. Registration required; space is limited. For more information contact Kimberlé Fields at 301-863-8188 or kfields@stmalib.org. Monthly Reading List Book descriptions from Amazon unless otherwise noted February 01 - Uncertain Ground by Phil Klay From the National Book Award-winning author of Redeployment and Missionaries, an astonishing fever graph of the effects of twenty years of war in a brutally divided America. When Phil Klay left the Marines a decade ago after serving as an officer in Iraq, he found himself a part of the community of veterans who have no choice but to grapple with the meaning of their wartime experiences—for themselves and for the country. American identity has always been bound up in war—from the revolutionary war of our founding, to the civil war that ended slavery, to the two world wars that launched America as a superpower. What did the current wars say about who we are as a country, and how should we respond as citizens? Unlike in previous eras of war, relatively few Americans have had to do any real grappling with the endless, invisible conflicts of the post-9/11 world; in fact, increasingly few people are even aware they are still going on. It is as if these wars are a dark star with a strong gravitational force that draws a relatively small number of soldiers and their families into its orbit while remaining inconspicuous to most other Americans. In the meantime, the consequences of American military action abroad may be out of sight and out of mind, but they are very real indeed. This chasm between the military and the civilian in American life, and the moral blind spot it has created, is one of the great themes of Uncertain Ground, Phil Klay’s powerful series of reckonings with some of our country’s thorniest concerns, written in essay form over the past ten years. In the name of what do we ask young Americans to kill, and to die? In the name of what does this country hang together? As we see at every turn in these pages, those two questions have a great deal to do with each another, and how we answer them will go a long way toward deciding where our troubled country goes from here. March 01 - The Women by Kristin Hannah From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah's The Women―at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided. Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets―and becomes one of―the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam. The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era. April 05 - The Genizah by Wayne Karlin In the novel The Genizah, Wayne Karlin enters its pages as a character in his own novel, reimagining his family's lives―and fate―if they had not come to America but stayed in his mother's village in Poland where the rest of her extended family were murdered by the Nazis in 1941. Karlin commemorates and mourns that unutterable loss by making it present, in the spirit of the words from the Passover Seder, which asks those at the table to recount the story of oppression as if they had lived it. It is a phrase that calls upon the people at the table to feel, not just to know, what happened, as good fiction calls us to do. How can anyone who had not been through the Holocaust share even a little part of such experiences? How can anyone who has not felt some of that horror reverberate in their own bones try to understand the terrible massacres of our own days, sparked by hatred of the Other, in Syria, in Myanmar, in Israel, in Gaza, in Charleston, and in Pittsburgh―in so many other places, they overwhelm our ability to empathize. Karlin's answer to that question is to personalize the impersonal, to imagine what could have happened if his grandparents, and mother, and her brothers and sisters and his father and his family, had not torn themselves away from a place they and their ancestors had lived for hundreds of years, in a town and on a continent where they had always been unwelcome guests. May 03 - For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway's masterpiece on war, love, loyalty, and honor tells the story of Robert Jordan, an antifascist American fighting in the Spanish Civil War. In 1937 Ernest Hemingway traveled to Spain to cover the civil war there for the North American Newspaper Alliance. Three years later he completed the greatest novel to emerge from “the good fight” and one of the foremost classics of war literature. For Whom the Bell Tolls tells of loyalty and courage, love and defeat, and the tragic death of an ideal. Robert Jordan, a young American in the International Brigades, is attached to an antifascist guerilla unit in the mountains of Spain. In his portrayal of Jordan’s love for the beautiful Maria and his superb account of a guerilla leader’s last stand, Hemingway creates a work at once rare and beautiful, strong and brutal, compassionate, moving, and wise. Greater in power, broader in scope, and more intensely emotional than any of the author’s previous works, For Whom the Bell Tolls stands as one of the best war novels ever written. June 14 - The Heart That Fed by Carl Sciacchitano A brilliant graphic memoir debut, this is a loving son’s exploration of his tumultuous relationship with his father, told through the lens of the Vietnam War and its lasting effects long after returning home. As a college dropout amidst the tumult of the 1960s and the Vietnam War, David Sciacchitano enlisted in the Air Force and volunteered to be sent overseas. An aircraft mechanic away from the front lines, David nevertheless experienced the chaos of war during the Tet Offensive and the 1975 evacuation. But although David returned home from the war with no physical injuries, it would be as if a part of him was forever left behind. Set against one of the most tumultuous events of the 20th century, The Heart That Fed is a beautifully illustrated and moving story of trauma and love—told by a son seeking to understand a father forever changed by PTSD and the horrors of war. Come hear all about the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Garden and learn the fundamentals of gardening from a Master Gardener! All are welcome! Come join us for all or just part of the afternoon's activities. We will first learn about how to use the LMPP Community Garden! Renters, volunteers, and interested community members alike are invited to learn about this fantastic community resource. After the garden orientation, there will be a Gardening 101 Class taught by a Master Gardener. The schedule for the afternoon is as follows: 2 - 3 p.m.: Orientation. Learn how the Community Garden works, review the rules, and ask questions. 3 - 3:30 p.m.: Gardening 101 Class. Learn from the experts how to make your garden a success! Whether this is your first growing season or you're just looking for a refresher, your garden will thank you. 3:30 - 4 p.m.: Meet & Mingle. Can't get enough? Stick around to chat with the Community Garden's Planting Committee and meet your Community Garden neighbors! Learn the basics of threading and operating a sewing machine to make your own mini St. Patrick's Day or Spring themed pillow to take home with you! No experience needed and all materials provided. Classes are a way to get started but are not required before using our sewing machines. Visit our Makerspace during open hours to use one of the sewing machines available for self-guided customer use. We have the sewing machines and all the tools you'll need, just bring your own material and pattern! Note for minors: Teenagers are welcome in our Makerspace classes! Customers aged 14+ can use the Makerspace without an adult accompanying them but must have a waiver on file signed by their legal guardian. Customers under 14 must be accompanied by an adult while in the Makerspace and have a waiver on file signed by their legal guardian. Waivers are available in the Makerspace and are needed for minors to participation in this class. Are you new to using email or just wanting to build more confidence using email? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card! This in-person email training workshop will be using Gmail, one of the most common email platforms. Attendees will create a Gmail account, and perform basic email functions, such as sending, receiving, and replying to email. Attendees will learn to recognize and deal with spam, organize and delete emails, and search for messages. Gift cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. Representatives from SMC Recreation & Parks will be in the lobby with information about their programs, facilities, services, and events, as well as to answer any questions you may have. St. Mary's County Recreation & Parks strives to provide an enriched quality of life for the community through preservation of natural, cultural and historical resources, enhancement of parks and outdoor spaces, and promotion of a variety of leisure experiences. Come talk to them about their current events, programs, parks, trails, and more! Do you like anime or manga? Join us for this month’s anime club meeting. We will watch a movie, then have a brief discussion after. Refreshments will be provided. Ages 16+; under 16 permitted with parent or guardian. Drop in during this open session to get all your tech and computer skill questions answered! Whether you have a phone, tablet, or computer, we're here to help you build more confidence using your device. Refreshments will be provided. No registration required. Topics include, but aren’t limited to: This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. FREE Core of Knowledge training for childcare providers. The Growing Brain is an innovative course from Zero to Three that provides a toolkit of how the brain develops step-by-step, neuron-by-neuron. Units 1 & 7 are in-person at Leonardtown Library on Saturdays from 9:15am-12:30pm; doors open at 9am. Licensed childcare providers will receive 3 Core of Knowledge Hours for each unit completed. Units 1-6 provide 3 hours in Child Development; Unit 7 provides 2 hours in Child Development & 1 hour in Curriculum. Register for any or all of these units: *If unable to attend Units 1 or 7 in person, contact jhutchison@stmalib.org to make arrangements for virtual participation. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 20331 Point Lookout Rd., Great Mills, MD 20634 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21895 Pegg Rd, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 46472 Admiral Lane, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Find your puzzle people! Join us for casual group jigsaw puzzles and puzzle swap. Bring any puzzles you're ready to part with and find a new one! Ages 16+. Each month we'll have a 1000 piece on-going jigsaw puzzle to work on plus a rotating puzzle activity. This month we'll try out several kinds of paper and pencil puzzles. Register to let us know you're coming and to get reminder emails before the event. Walk ins are also welcome. Free R.A.D. Self Defense Program for Women & Girls (ages 13-80 yrs. old). Taught by Darlene Gentry. Co-sponsored by Lexington Park Baptist Church. Meets 2 consecutive days: Saturday, March 8th 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Women and Teens invite your friends to come learn some new skills and proactive strategies to help protect yourself and others! The class is fun, energetic, and interactive. Class includes 9 hours of instruction & practice, a training manual, and light refreshments. About the Instructor: Darlene Gentry has over thirty years’ experience in martial arts, women’s self-defense, and self-defense education for the public. She teaches self-defense part-time at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and has instructed women's self-defense courses in many different venues. Darlene also regularly teaches R.A.D. courses for free at Lexington Park Baptist Church. Parental consent required for participants ages 13-17. Registrants e-mail addresses will be shared with the course instructor. She will provide participants with the registration forms and details about the class like: what clothes to wear, how strenuous the activities are, etc. For more information on RAD programs, visit The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense Any R.A.D. graduate from any class in the U.S. and Canada can attend another instructor’s class for practice free of charge for the rest of her life! St. Mary’s County Library makes every effort to make events and programs accessible and inclusive. More information about how we do this is provided on our website’s Event Accessibility page. Come learn more about the library's Cricut Maker and practice cutting Infusible Ink to create a fun floral mug! This introductory, in-person class will cover how to use an electronic die-cutting machine called the Cricut Maker to decorate a ceramic mug by cutting an infusible ink design and using the Cricut Mug Press to transfer the design through a process called sublimation. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs compatible with Cricut cutting machines. No experience necessary, all materials provided. NOTE: This program will be repeated later in the afternoon on the same day at 2:00pm. Please register for only the morning session or the afternoon session. ¡Aprende a manejar las reuniones de Zoom como un profesional! ¡Únase a nosotros para aprender todo sobre la popular plataforma de videoconferencias Zoom! Los asistentes aprenderán cómo crear una cuenta y generar confianza al utilizar las funciones de la plataforma en una reunión en línea. ¡Completa este taller para obtener una tarjeta de regalo de $10! Los talleres y módulos de DigitalLearn.org fueron creados por la Asociación de Bibliotecas Públicas, con el apoyo de AT&T. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. Intersection of Suburban Drive and Pleasant Drive, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21691 Eric Road, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Come learn more about the library's Cricut Maker and practice cutting Infusible Ink to create a fun floral mug! This introductory, in-person class will cover how to use an electronic die-cutting machine called the Cricut Maker to decorate a ceramic mug by cutting an infusible ink design and using the Cricut Mug Press to transfer the design through a process called sublimation. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs compatible with Cricut cutting machines. No experience necessary, all materials provided. NOTE: This program is a repeat of the same event earlier in the morning the same day at 10:00am. Please register for only the morning session or the afternoon session. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 46075 Westbury Blvd, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Free R.A.D. Self Defense Program for Women & Girls (ages 13-80 yrs. old). Taught by Darlene Gentry. Co-sponsored by Lexington Park Baptist Church. Meets 2 consecutive days: Saturday, March 8th 10:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Women and Teens invite your friends to come learn some new skills and proactive strategies to help protect yourself and others! The class is fun, energetic, and interactive. Class includes 9 hours of instruction & practice, a training manual, and light refreshments. About the Instructor: Darlene Gentry has over thirty years’ experience in martial arts, women’s self-defense, and self-defense education for the public. She teaches self-defense part-time at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and has instructed women's self-defense courses in many different venues. Darlene also regularly teaches R.A.D. courses for free at Lexington Park Baptist Church. Parental consent required for participants ages 13-17. Registrants e-mail addresses will be shared with the course instructor. She will provide participants with the registration forms and details about the class like: what clothes to wear, how strenuous the activities are, etc. For more information on RAD programs, visit The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense Any R.A.D. graduate from any class in the U.S. and Canada can attend another instructor’s class for practice free of charge for the rest of her life! St. Mary’s County Library makes every effort to make events and programs accessible and inclusive. More information about how we do this is provided on our website’s Event Accessibility page. Community health advocates will be in the lobby to talk about health and wellness services through the hospital. Learn about ways that AccessHealth can help with overcoming barriers such as transportation, housing, food insecurity, insurance, benefit applications, and more! Do you enjoy arts and crafts? Do you enjoy games? Do you want to make new friends? Connect and Converse might just be the event for you! Join us at the Charlotte Hall Library for an opportunity to connect and converse with others. During this monthly program, we will gather in the meeting room to either create artwork or play a game. For the month of March, our art activity will be glow-in-the-dark jars. Our game will be jigsaw puzzles. This event is intended for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities as well as their friends, family, and caregivers. Connect and Converse usually meets on the second Monday of the month. Please register with an email address to receive a reminder email about this event. Walk-ins are welcome. Are you new to using a PC or want to build more confidence using the Windows 10 operating system? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card! During this in-person workshop, attendees will learn how to navigate the Windows 10 operating system, manage applications using the task manager, find and manage files and folders, save and delete files, and more. Gift cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. Register with an email address to receive the link to a trivia game and test your knowledge! The game is multiple choice questions and speed matters! Registration for each week ends at 5 p.m. on Mondays. After 5 p.m., registrants will be emailed a link to that week's trivia. You will have until Thursday at 5 p.m. to complete the game, then you'll receive an email with the full results. Trivia uses Kahoot, accessible through any internet browser, no account needed. Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Administración del Seguro Social provee protección para los trabajadores y sus familias. El programa provee ingreso mensual a las personas mayores de edad, los trabajadores que sufren de una incapacidad, niños con incapacidades y las familias en las que fallece un cónyuge o padre. Le invitamos a una presentación virtual para que aprenda más sobre los requisitos para obtener beneficio de jubilación. Presentado por Diana Varela, Especialista en Relaciones Publicas, Administración del Seguro Social. Preguntas y respuestas después de la presentación. Este evento no será grabado. The Social Security Administration provides protection for workers and their families. Programs provide monthly income to seniors, workers with a disability, children with disabilities, and families in which a spouse or parent has died. We invite you to this virtual presentation to learn about Retirement eligibility requirements, enrollment periods, the application process, and resources. Presentation by Diana Varela, Public Affairs Specialist for the Social Security Administration followed by Q&A. This event will not be recorded. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. Maritime Building Whether you have been creating for years or just started on your journey, join fellow crafters who love all things fabric and fiber. Open to knitters, crocheters, quilters, embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and any other kind of needleworkers. Bring your current project, mingle with like-minded makers, and swap patterns, ideas, and tips. When did Maryland really begin? Henry M. Miller, Ph.D., has worked at Historic St. Mary's City for several decades trying to answer this very question! Although we teach about the colonies in early America, the founding of Maryland began far before the landing, or even the voyage. Learn how critical the "Idea of Maryland" was to the beginning of our state. FREE Core of Knowledge training for childcare providers. The Growing Brain is an innovative course from Zero to Three that provides a toolkit of how the brain develops step-by-step, neuron-by-neuron. Units 1 & 7 are in-person at Leonardtown Library on Saturdays from 9:15am-12:30pm; doors open at 9am. Licensed childcare providers will receive 3 Core of Knowledge Hours for each unit completed. Units 1-6 provide 3 hours in Child Development; Unit 7 provides 2 hours in Child Development & 1 hour in Curriculum. Register for any or all of these units: *If unable to attend Units 1 or 7 in person, contact jhutchison@stmalib.org to make arrangements for virtual participation. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 24400 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood, MD 20636 The St. Mary's Health Department Outreach Team will be in the lobby of the Charlotte Hall Library to provide resources and information - Fun promotional items too! The St. Mary's Health Department will be providing community members with a variety of health department resources for programs, such as information about our tobacco cessation programs, as well as our free colon cancer screenings, colonoscopies, and mammograms programs, health insurance/medicaid information, and information about our asthma programs and so much more. We will also provide community members with COVID-19 resources and will also offer on site registration for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for anyone who is interested/eligible. Fun promotional items will be provided, too! Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 23154 Wetstone Ln., California, MD 20619 Learn how to make the most of your resources with practical tips for shopping smart and cooking delicious, nutritious meals without breaking the bank! This program is designed to help participants develop essential skills such as meal planning, budget-friendly grocery shopping, and preparing simple, healthy recipes. Whether you're a student, a professional, or anyone looking to save money in the kitchen, this course will empower you to eat well while staying within your budget. Key Learning Outcomes: This interactive program includes practical demonstrations, budget planning exercises, and access to easy-to-follow recipes. Perfect for individuals or families seeking to eat smarter and save money! This program is made possible with support from the Family & Consumer Sciences program of the University of Maryland Extension and will be hosted by Family & Consumer Sciences Extension Agent Dr. Deon Littles. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21905 Chancellors Run Rd., Great Mills, MD 20634 The Maryland Food Bank’s Mobile Market is coming to visit! Stop by to shop from our “grocery store on wheels” and receive free nonperishable food items, fresh produce, and other non-food necessities while supplies last. The Three Oaks Center will connect those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to resources in the tri county that can help them with benefits, mental health, substance abuse, housing, and more. They will also be completing referrals for service on site and collecting paperwork to enroll in our programs and/or offer shelter if available. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 22611 Franklin Delano Roosevelt Blvd., Lexington Park, MD 20653 Looking for new books to read? Have a great book that you can't stop recommending to others? Come join us for our first Book Show & Tell for adult readers! Anyone who would like to share a book they've enjoyed is invited to speak for up to 5 minutes on a book of their choosing. Participants are also free to just listen and jot down new titles for their TBR list. No one is required to share if they do not want to. This program is perfect for extroverted and introverted readers of any genre looking to find new books to seek out. Please keep in mind that this program is for adults, not children, but Library-appropriate language must be used at all times. Registration is not required, but a list of all books discussed will be emailed to all registered participants after the event. Each month we will discuss a different fantasy or science fiction novel. March's book is Fortune's Pawn by Rachel Bach
Find the Book in our catalog Enjoy a Saturday morning with Southern Maryland Astronomical Society (SMAS)! The members of SMAS volunteer their talent, time, and telescopes to spread a love of astronomy to Lexington Park Library. We will have an observing start time of 10:00 AM. The SMAS Program Coordinator will review "Daytime Star Party Tips." This event will be outside the whole time for solar and/or terrestrial views. Please prepare for spending the entire time outside. If it is actively raining, we will do indoor hands-on activities. "Citizen science project topics span astronomy to zoology but they have one thing in common: they all need your help to answer questions no scientist can answer alone." - Scistarter.org Find more Astronomy & Space Citizen Science projects on SciStarter! Want to try speed puzzling? Form a team of two or three, and see how fast that team can be! All teams will go head-to-head to see who can complete a 500 piece puzzle first! All teams will have a copy of the same library supplied puzzle for this competition and prizes will be awarded. Teams are made up of 2-3 people, all of which need to be age 16 or older, and registration is required for the team event. Registration will open at 9am on March 1 so check back then to reserve a spot for your team! Only one team member should register for the team. In addition to the competition, we'll be having a puzzle swap and casual puzzle games and activities for all ages. Bring any puzzles you're ready to part with and pick up a new one here. (Please make sure any puzzle you bring to swap has all the pieces.) No registration is required for the puzzle swap, just drop in when you can. Afternoon Tabletop Gaming Hangout! Open tables to play card games, TTRPGs, tabletop games and more!
The library will provide a small amount of games, but you can bring your own and play with folks new and old! All games and adventures run by attendees are subject to any and all applicable library conduct policies. Come join us for an opportunity to learn how to fold origami creations out of paper! Learn how to fold cats, cranes, frogs, hearts, and more. Origami paper and instructions will be available. Registration is required for this event. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Join Williams, McClernan, & Stack LLC for an overview of estate planning basics and to have your questions answered. Have you ever wondered about the difference between a will and an estate? Or what a power of attorney or advanced directive is? This seminar will go over what these estate planning tools are and how to best use them. And make sure you bring your questions! FREE Core of Knowledge training for childcare providers. The Growing Brain is an innovative course from Zero to Three that provides a toolkit of how the brain develops step-by-step, neuron-by-neuron. Units 1 & 7 are in-person at Leonardtown Library on Saturdays from 9:15am-12:30pm; doors open at 9am. Licensed childcare providers will receive 3 Core of Knowledge Hours for each unit completed. Units 1-6 provide 3 hours in Child Development; Unit 7 provides 2 hours in Child Development & 1 hour in Curriculum. Register for any or all of these units: *If unable to attend Units 1 or 7 in person, contact jhutchison@stmalib.org to make arrangements for virtual participation. Have you heard of Zoom? Want to learn more? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card! This in-person workshop is for those who have some experience setting up personal accounts online and are interested in video conferencing. It will support attendees to create an account on the popular video conferencing platform (Zoom) and build confidence when using features of the platform in an online meeting. Gift cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is provided with support from AT&T, Public Library Association, and Maria Barga, Tech Educator with the University of Maryland Extension. MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Community Health Advocates will be in the lobby to talk about health and wellness services throughout the hospital, and to provide blood pressure and other screenings. They will also provide information about ways that Access Health can help with overcoming barriers such as transportation, housing, food insecurity, insurance, benefit applications, and more. The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.
Come for a one-on-one session with an attorney to discuss matters such as custody, visitation, divorce, child support, name change, guardianship, and domestic violence. First Come First Serve. No appointments - walk-ins only. Contact Person: Claire Langeluttig, Family Services Coordinator Email: claire.langeluttig@mdcourts.gov NOTE: Dates are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact Claire Langeluttig to confirm dates. We recommend getting to the library by 5:30pm to sign in. Please note that the attorney must leave by 7:30pm Learn to create polished posters and flyers like a pro! Join us for this introductory class to learn how to use Canva, a free, web-based graphic-design tool. We'll get you started with Canva and cover the basics of creating your own promotional flyer. Computer Skills needed for this class: Advanced mouse and keyboard abilities. Register to reserve your spot and receive a reminder email. Walk-ins welcome as space allows. CareFirst will have information on Medicaid, including how to sign up for Medicaid in Maryland, helpful resources, and free giveaway items. Join us to discuss a different cozy mystery on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Leonardtown Library. Be ready to talk about a genre that puts us all at ease while keeping us on our toes. As we do every 3 months, this meeting will be BYOB - Bring Your Own Book! Come ready to talk about a cozy mystery that you have been reading recently, a go-to favorite/recommendation, or one that you’re excited to read this year! It can be any cozy book, series, or author that you enjoy. Just come prepared to share and get some good recommendations from your peers. Something you suggest may even be selected for a future book club meeting! A list of all the books that we discuss will be sent out after the meeting. Looking for possible books to read and bring to discuss? Try searching for cozy mysteries in our catalog or look for digital downloads on Libby and Hoopla! Come learn more about the library's Cricut Maker by using it to create vinyl stencils. This introductory, in-person class will cover how to use the Cricut Maker 3, an electronic die-cutting machine, to make clean and precise cuts on adhesive vinyl which we'll use as a stencil for a painting project for you to take home with you. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs. No experience necessary, all materials provided. Everyone is welcome to visit the Leonardtown Library Makerspace during open hours to use the Cricut to create whatever you can imagine! Customers need to have their own Cricut Design Space online account and bring their own material, but we have all the equipment and tools you'll need! Visit the Makerspace webpage to see open hours and learn about all the Makerspace has to offer. Note for minors: Teenagers are welcome in our Makerspace classes! Customers aged 14+ can use the Makerspace without a guardian present but must have a waiver signed by their guardian. Waivers are available in the Makerspace and are needed for minors to participation in this class. SMCDAHS will be providing community members information regarding programs and services available to the county's senior residents, as well as other segments of the population in need. Department representatives will provide information about programs such as: Home Delivered Meals, congregate meals, in-home services, ombudsman services, caregiver support, Senior Rides, social and recreational programs, health promotion, community outreach, volunteer opportunities for older adults, and much more! For more information about the Department of Aging & Human Services, visit https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/aging/ Register with an email address to receive the link to a trivia game and test your knowledge! The game is multiple choice questions and speed matters! Registration for each week ends at 5 p.m. on Mondays. After 5 p.m., registrants will be emailed a link to that week's trivia. You will have until Thursday at 5 p.m. to complete the game, then you'll receive an email with the full results. Trivia uses Kahoot, accessible through any internet browser, no account needed. Bring your ereader and join us for a hot drink and sweet treats! From downloading ebooks & audiobooks to adjusting reading setting to searching & borrowing titles on the 3 library apps (Palace, Libby, and Hoopla), and more!!! Sit down with us and get cozy with your ereader for 2025. Registration is recommended to receive notes from the workshop via email. The U.S. Federal Census has been conducted every 10 years since 1790. Federal, state, and other census records contain valuable information about your ancestors. Learn about locating census records, what information was collected, and how that information can help you piece together your family history. Have you heard of Zoom? Want to learn more? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card! This in-person workshop is for those who have some experience setting up personal accounts online and are interested in video conferencing. It will support attendees to create an account on the popular video conferencing platform (Zoom) and build confidence when using features of the platform in an online meeting. Gift cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. FREE Core of Knowledge training for childcare providers. The Growing Brain is an innovative course from Zero to Three that provides a toolkit of how the brain develops step-by-step, neuron-by-neuron. Units 1 & 7 are in-person at Leonardtown Library on Saturdays from 9:15am-12:30pm; doors open at 9am. Licensed childcare providers will receive 3 Core of Knowledge Hours for each unit completed. Units 1-6 provide 3 hours in Child Development; Unit 7 provides 2 hours in Child Development & 1 hour in Curriculum. Register for any or all of these units: *If unable to attend Units 1 or 7 in person, contact jhutchison@stmalib.org to make arrangements for virtual participation. A representative of the Maryland Dept. of Labor will be in the lobby to connect veterans and the general public to employment services. Learn about connections to employers, connections to the DVA, health services, veterans resources, assistance for homeless veterans, and more! Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 13723 Point Lookout Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 47720 College Dr., St. Mary's City, MD 20686 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 13270 Point Lookout Rd., Ridge, MD 20680 The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.
Come for a one-on-one session with an attorney to discuss matters such as custody, visitation, divorce, child support, name change, guardianship, and domestic violence. First Come First Serve. No appointments - walk-ins only. Contact Person: Claire Langeluttig, Family Services Coordinator Email: claire.langeluttig@mdcourts.gov NOTE: Dates are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact Claire Langeluttig to confirm dates. We recommend getting to the library by 5:30pm to sign in. Please note that the attorney must leave by 7:30pm The Three Oaks Center will connect those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to resources in the tri county that can help them with benefits, mental health, substance abuse, housing, and more. They will also be completing referrals for service on site and collecting paperwork to enroll in our programs and/or offer shelter if available. Get a FREE headshot photo taken at our Library! Headshots are a unique service for entrepreneurs, nonprofit professionals, job seekers, and more. Use your digital photos to enhance your professional portfolio and make your LinkedIn profile stand out among the selfies! Registrants will receive a set of FREE digital high quality headshots. Recommended attire includes neutral colors and to avoid clothing with logos. By appointment only. Registration will open March 6. Each month we will discuss a different romance novel. March's title is The Duke Gets Desperate by Diana Quincy Are you new to using email or just wanting to build more confidence using email? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card! This in-person email training workshop will be using Gmail, one of the most common email platforms. Attendees will create a Gmail account, and perform basic email functions, such as sending, receiving, and replying to email. Attendees will learn to recognize and deal with spam, organize and delete emails, and search for messages. Gift cards are available on a first-come, first-served basis. This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. Learn about Pointillism, an Impressionist art style using dots of color to show a new perspective. We'll have an example art piece to talk about and then we'll each paint our own version of the piece! No experience needed and all materials will be provided. This program is intended for adults with cognitive disabilities and their caregivers. You will only need to register the adult participant not the accompanying caregiver. Join us as Ben Beale, the local St. Mary’s County Extension Agriculture Agent with UMD, shows us how to plan for and install an affordable and efficient drip irrigation system for your home garden. Learn how to save time, energy and water with a well-designed drip system. Weather permitting, we'll take a tour of the newly installed drip system in the Front Yard native plant garden in front of the library. Beale currently serves as the Extension Educator for Agricultural Sciences with the University of Maryland Extension office in St. Mary’s County. He focuses his programming efforts in crop production, farm management and alternative crop development. Beale holds a BS degree in Agricultural Sciences and MS degree in Management and Marketing. Beale grew up on a tobacco and vegetable farm in Southern Maryland and enjoys working on the family farm in his spare time. It’s a family event! All ages can have fun learning Spanish while playing Lotería, a fun Bingo game. Fun prizes for the winners! Join us for a morning of Lotería (Mexican Bingo) for all ages! The bingo boards have colorful pictures with Spanish words labeling the picture. Pictures will be called in Spanish and translated to English, giving you an opportunity to learn new Spanish or English words! Únase a nosotros para una mañana de Lotería para todas las edades! Los tableros de bingo tienen imágenes que se llamarán en español y se traducirán al inglés, ¡dándote la oportunidad de aprender nuevas palabras en español o inglés! Registration is Recommended. Walk-ins welcome as space allows. Se recomienda registrarse. Se admiten personas sin cita previa según lo permita el espacio. Drop in during this open session to get all your tech and computer skill questions answered! Whether you have a phone, tablet, or computer, we're here to help you build more confidence using your device. Refreshments will be provided. No registration required. Topics include, but aren’t limited to: This event is provided with support from AT&T and the Public Library Association. Stephen Godfrey, Calvert Marine Museum Curator of Paleontology, will discuss the recent discoveries of active predation, scavenging, and failed predation by sharks in the fossil record! This presentation will not only feature fossils showing a variety of interactions between sharks and cetaceans, seals, crocodiles, and other sharks, but will also give participants a look into the nearly 200 years of study conducted at Calvert Cliffs. Did you know being a Lighthouse Keeper was the first non-clerical government job opened to women in Maryland? Learn their stories! In the United States lighthouse keeping history, a total of 173 women served as keepers or assistant keepers. Twenty of these women served in Maryland! Learn the stories of these women who served here in Southern Maryland - at Piney Point, Blackistone, Upper Cedar Point, and Point Lookout Lighthouses. Also learn about the last female keeper in the U.S. and the only female keeper in the U. S Coast Guard Service, who served at Turkey Point on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. About the Presenter: Karen Stone has been the Museum Division Manager for St. Mary’s County since 2017. She did her undergraduate work at Gettysburg College and obtained her master’s degree at Penn State University. She got her first museum job while still in middle school and has been working in the museum field ever since. Stone has published many articles and has been a frequent lecturer on U.S., Maryland, and local history. She recently wrote her first book: Shipwreck on the Potomac: Disaster in pursuit of Lincoln’s Killer, which will be released by The History Press this April. Stone lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia with her husband. In her spare time she sings with the Chamber Chorale of Fredericksburg and at as many Fredericksburg Nationals baseball games as she can. Therapy animals from Pets on Wheels are visiting the library! Friends of all ages are invited to practice reading with a furry friend, or just enjoy some pets and snuggles. Looking to learn more about the American Revolution? Join us for a virtual presentation! Dr. Jim Gibb will continue to discuss specific events that contributed to the French & Indian War. In this series of presentations, we'll uncover the stories of the American Revolution! From January through June, we will explore the individual actions and events leading to the Continental Congress declaring independence from Great Britain. Living conditions in Colonial Maryland on the eve of the Seven Years War (French & Indian War) provides our starting point. Presentations will include some archaeological findings in Maryland and elsewhere, but most of our discussions will examine specific events and documents, including shots fired at Lexington and Concord, removal of French Canadians from Acadia, paintings of the Anglo-American assault on French Canada, and the Declaration. Most military action during the Seven Years War after 1755 occurred in the northern theater, particularly in New York, Lower Canada, and the maritime province of Acadia. This second part of “The French & Indian War” examines sites in New York and events in Acadia. This presentation will be held live over Zoom. It will also be recorded and uploaded to the St. Mary's County Library YouTube channel. If you would like to attend this event live and/or watch the recording, please register with an email address to receive the Zoom link the day before the event. The YouTube link to the recording will be emailed to everyone who registers for this program.
Music Play is Learning Play: Childcare Provider Workshop
Collage and Gelli Printing Class
Veterans Book Group
Garden Orientation + Gardening 101
Sewing Machine 101: Spring Themed Mini Pillow
Introduction to Email Basics with Gmail
St. Mary's County Recreation & Parks
Anime Club
This month's show:Get Tech Smart: Drop-In
The Growing Brain: Childcare Provider Workshop Series
Units 2-6 are online via Zoom on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm. The Zoom Room will open at 5:50pm.
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yscQM_QbAU6u9Yz9YSCOZwJy4SCaabP2/view?usp=sharing for details of each unit.
Mobile Library Stop at St. Mary's Caring Soup Kitchen
Mobile Library Stop at Lexington Park Senior Apartments
Mobile Library Stop at Patuxent Cove Apartments
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
Puzzle Club
R.A.D. Women & Teens' Self Defense Class
Sunday, March 9th 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Cricut Crafts: Floral Mug - MORNING SESSION
Videoconferencia
Mobile Library Stop at Suburban Estates
Mobile Library Stop at Patuxent Crossing Apartments
Cricut Crafts: Floral Mug - AFTERNOON SESSION
Mobile Library Stop at Westbury HOA Clubhouse
R.A.D. Women & Teens' Self Defense Class
Sunday, March 9th 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
AccessHealth at St. Mary's County Hospital: Lobby Visit
Connect and Converse
Introduction to Computer Basics (Windows)
Trivia Mondays
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
Administración del Seguro Social: Información de jubilación
Social Security Administration: Retirement Info
Mobile Library Stop at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum
44720 Lighthouse Rd., Piney Point, MD 20674Common Thread
If needed, basic supplies available.
All skill levels welcome.
Walk-in’s welcome!
Registration recommended for news and updates.
Maryland Day History Talk: The Story of Maryland's Beginning
The Growing Brain: Childcare Provider Workshop Series
Units 2-6 are online via Zoom on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm. The Zoom Room will open at 5:50pm.
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yscQM_QbAU6u9Yz9YSCOZwJy4SCaabP2/view?usp=sharing for details of each unit.
Mobile Library Stop at St. Mary's Adult Medical Daycare
St. Mary's County Health Department Outreach
Mobile Library Stop at Wildewood Village Event Center
Shopping & Cooking on a Budget
Mobile Library Stop at Loffler Senior Center
Maryland Food Bank Mobile Market
Three Oaks Center Outreach: Lobby Visit
Mobile Library Stop at Victory Woods
Book Show & Tell
Virtual Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club - Fortune's Pawn
Daytime Star Party by Southern Maryland Astronomical Society: Citizen Science
Southern Maryland Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization that has created a series of COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS as part of its promise to promote the science of astronomy. The programs are free to the public but tax deductible donations are graciously accepted.
For more information about Citizen Science at your library, please visit the library’s Citizen Science event page.
Puzzlemania! Jigsaw Puzzle Competition & Swap
Tabletop Hangout
Origami Workshop
Estate Planning
Please note: This event is not a legal consultation. Williams, McClernan, & Stack LLC will answer general questions, but cannot provide legal advice during this seminar.The Growing Brain: Childcare Provider Workshop Series
Units 2-6 are online via Zoom on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm. The Zoom Room will open at 5:50pm.
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yscQM_QbAU6u9Yz9YSCOZwJy4SCaabP2/view?usp=sharing for details of each unit.
Introduction to Videoconferencing Basics on Zoom
Community Health Advocates - MedStar St. Mary's
St. Mary's County Court Help Clinic
Phone: 301-475-4200 ext 4110 Introduction to Canva - A Graphic Design Tool
CareFirst Community Health Plan MD Medicaid
Cozy Mystery Book Club
Cricut Crafts: Vinyl Stencils on Wood
Department of Aging and Human Services
Trivia Mondays
Kindles, cookies & cocoa
Genealogy: Using Census Records
Introduction to Videoconferencing Basics on Zoom
The Growing Brain: Childcare Provider Workshop Series
Units 2-6 are online via Zoom on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm. The Zoom Room will open at 5:50pm.
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yscQM_QbAU6u9Yz9YSCOZwJy4SCaabP2/view?usp=sharing for details of each unit.
Veterans' Services: Lobby Visit
Mobile Library Stop at First Saints Community Food Pantry
Mobile Library Stop at St. Mary's College of Maryland
Mobile Library Stop at Dollar General (Ridge, MD)
St. Mary's County Court Help Clinic
Phone: 301-475-4200 ext 4110Three Oaks Center Outreach: Lobby Visit
Headshots at the Library
Virtual Romance Book Club - The Duke Gets Desperate: by Diana Quincy
Introduction to Email Basics with Gmail
Adaptive Art Studio for Adults with Cognitive Disabilities
Drip Irrigation Systems : For Easier, More Efficient Watering of Your Garden
Lotería - Bingo for Everyone!: Bilingual (Spanish & English) Bingo
Get Tech Smart: Drop-In
Smartphone Basics
Computer Basics
Internet Basics
Email Basics
Cybersecurity Basics
Videoconferencing Basics Fossil Talk: Predation by Sharks in the Fossil Record
Ladies of the Lights - Women Lighthouse Keepers in Maryland: Women's History Month Program
Paws to Read
The French & Indian War, Part 2: On the Eve of the American Revolution - A Series
Please note that library staff may be taking photos of any or all events to use for future library publications. Event participants’ photos may be used without notification or compensation. If you do not feel comfortable having your photo taken, please inform library staff when you arrive to an event.
