April 2025

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!

Join us for learning-based crafts, games, and activities as we play our way to developing valuable school readiness skills such as fine motor control, following directions, and group participation.

Activities are designed with preschoolers in mind and vary week to week. No registration required. 

Do you have an Android device and don't know what to do next? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card!

This in-person workshop is for those who have a new Android mobile device, or are considering getting one, and want to learn more about the basic functions. It will help learners get connected, identify common apps, and build confidence in using their device safely.

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. 

Can you win the challenge? Snacks and goodies as we play Nintendo Switch games and determine who's the best at games such as Smash Bros, Mario Kart, 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.

20331 Point Lookout Rd., Great Mills, MD 20634

Beacon of Hope Recovery Community Center team members will be on site to exchange positivity and engage on everyday wellness fun facts.

Upon request, team members will happily offer recovery information and resources for those who might be recovery-curious or recovery-ready.

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

Do you feel like you should have more money left over at the end of the pay cycle?

This in-depth workshop will help you determine and prioritize your spending, creatively reduce spending, and set financial goals. Learn what influences your spending habits and use that awareness to stop the cycle of overspending. We'll also touch on how to use credit and other strategies for long-term financial success.

Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange.

If you're worried about AI, you're not alone. Hear from two of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in AI, what you need to know about AI and how to defend yourself against bogus AI claims and products.

There is a lot of misinformation swirling around AI. Arvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, authors of AI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can’t Do and How to Tell the Difference, can help you make sense of it all. Cut through the confusion, misunderstanding and hype around AI and learn how you can make better decisions about whether and how to use AI at work and home.

This event is presented by Baltimore County Public Library in partnership with Maryland Libraries Together and will be streamed online on Baltimore County Public Library's YouTube channel. No registration required, but you can request a reminder/notification via the YouTube link.

This event is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services & Technology Act administered by the Maryland State Library Agency.

Join Barb Whipkey, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lexington Park and LaPlata, for this talk all about hummingbirds.

Barb will discuss nesting behaviors, attracting hummingbirds to your feeders, and more.  Barb will even give some of her tips for hand feeding the hummingbirds.  Make this your best hummingbird season ever!

Register with an email address to receive a link to join the online event.

Writing can be a lonely hobby, so why not attend the writing club to connect with other writers your age? Join us for our bi-monthly writing club, intended for teens!

During the club meetings, you'll be able to share your writing, meet new writers, learn about new genres, and have your writing critiqued by your peers! The club will be held virtually every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month

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.
Units 2-6 are online via Zoom on Tuesday nights from 6-9pm. The Zoom Room will open at 5:50pm.

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. 
See https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yscQM_QbAU6u9Yz9YSCOZwJy4SCaabP2/view?usp=sharing for details of each unit.

Register for any or all of these units:

• Sat, Feb 22, 9:15am-12:30pm at Leonardtown Library: Unit 1: The Basics*
• Tue, Feb 25, 6-9pm on Zoom: Unit 2- Factors Affecting Brain Growth & Development
• Tue, Mar 4- 6-9pm on Zoom: Unit 3- Communication and Language Development
• Tue, Mar 11, 6-9pm on Zoom: Unit 4- Cognition and Executive Function
• Tue, Mar 18, 6-9pm on Zoom: Unit 5- Social–Emotional Development
• Tue, Mar 25, 6-9pm on Zoom: Unit 6: Understanding Behavior
• Sat, April 5, 9:15am-12:30pm at Leonardtown Library: Unit 7-Play*

*If unable to attend Units 1 or 7 in person, contact jhutchison@stmalib.org to make arrangements for virtual participation.

Unlock your crafting potential by learning how to use the Cricut cutting machine and Cricut Mug Press to customize a ceramic mug!

This introductory, in-person class will cover how to use the Cricut Maker 3, an electronic die-cutting machine, 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. 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.

An all-ages chess social hang-out! Drop in and out to play as needed, no experience required. Staff will be available to assist those who haven't played before.

Small chess guides will be available for each player for reference. Chess boards will be provided by the library, but feel free to bring your favorite set.

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.

Plant your own pizza garden! Learn about the herbs and vegetables used to make pizza.

Expert gardeners and beginners alike are invited to step into the world of gardening! Kids of all ages will choose their own seeds to plant and complete a craft to explore the things that plants need to grow. Basil, oregano, thyme, tomato, and bell pepper seeds will all be available to plant!

Master Gardeners will be present to assist families through the planting process and instruct families on proper plant care. Additional resources will be available to take home.

Registration is required for this event. 

The St. Mary's Co. UMD Extension Office on Family and Consumer Science will be in our lobby to share information on food safety, financial management, home & work safety, and more!

The Family and Consumer Science Educators want to help the communities they serve live happier and healthier lives through improved health, well-being, and resiliency to life’s challenges.

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. 

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.

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 esta presentación virtual para aprender los requisitos de elegibilidad de medicare, los períodos de inscripción, el proceso de solicitud y los recursos.

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 Medicare 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.

This event is cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date. Have you ever wanted something 3D printed at the library, but weren't sure how? Now is your chance to learn!

This introductory course will cover the basics of how a 3D printer works and how to use PrusaSlicer software. Learn how to find ready-to-print files online and submit them to the Library for printing. No prior experience is needed. This is an in-person class held in the Computer Lab Makerspace.

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
44720 Lighthouse Rd., Piney Point, MD 20674

Join us for learning-based crafts, games, and activities as we play our way to developing valuable school readiness skills such as fine motor control, following directions, and group participation.

Activities are designed with preschoolers in mind and vary week to week. No registration required. 

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.
If needed, basic supplies available.
All skill levels welcome.
Walk-in’s welcome!
Registration recommended for news and updates.

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

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

Beacon of Hope Recovery Community Center team members will be on site to exchange positivity and engage on everyday wellness fun facts.

Upon request, team members will happily offer recovery information and resources for those who might be recovery-curious or recovery-ready.

That WIP you said you'd finish would love to come to the Maker Space!

It's a Teen Takeover in the Makerspace!

From 5:30-7 pm on 3/12 and 4/09, the Makerspace will be open for teens to hang out, make art, and vibe! You can work on your own project or make a zine, a tiny painting, or just chill for a bit. Bring your own materials or utilize the Makerspace for your art.

No registration required. Walk-ins welcome! 

2025 is our 75th Anniversary! April is also National Library Month!

We're celebrating all things St. Mary's County Library this month to kick off our celebratory year. Curious about the inner workings of your local Library? Want to learn more about what the St. Mary's County Library offers? See behind the scenes on a comprehensive tour and help us kick off our celebratory year with a special crafternoon!
Tours include a visit to the back rooms to see how we get your books to you, where all the awesome librarians work, and where that book drop leads!

Have you ever heard of Book of the Month? What about OwlCrate?

The Lit Kit is just like those boxes - except it's FREE! The Lit Kit is a free customized box for teens ages 14-17 filled with 3-4 goodies AND up to 2 YA library books that we'll choose for you (please note: the library books must be returned).

Registration begins on the 28th of the previous month and will close on the 5th of the month, or when registration reaches the maximum amount of registrations. 

On the 10th of the month, The Lit Kit will be available to be picked up at the Library location of your choosing. This can be picked up inside of the branch, or via curbside appointment. If more than one location is closed on the 10th, the Lit Kit will be available the next day all three building locations are open.

Lit Kits will be held for a week before the items are returned to the library.

Visit the St. Mary's County Health Department in the Leonardtown Lobby to get free information. Fun promotional items will be provided, too!

Information will be provided about tobacco cessation programs, free colon cancer screenings, colonoscopies, and mammograms programs, health insurance/Medicaid information, and information about 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. 

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 their 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

Teens and tweens are invited to join us at themed hangouts, the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month! Main activities will rotate between art and STEAM options.

No registration required! Stay a little or awhile. Snacks, activities, and good vibes provided.

2nd Thursday: Art

April 10: Tiny Art

May 8: Button Making

4th Thursday: STEAM

April 24: Lego Challenge

May 22: 3D Pens

Interested in learning how to research your African American family history? Learn tips for how and where to begin your research.

We will explore several popular online genealogy sites and discuss a variety of books, databases, and other resources available through the Library.

This program will be led by Christine Iko, a Librarian with the African American Department of the Enoch Pratt Free Library/State Library Resource Center. Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Each month we will discuss a different fantasy or science fiction novel. April's book is A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Find the eBook and eAudio book in our catalog. 

Are you new to the internet or want to build more confidence finding information online and navigating websites? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card!

Attendees at this in-person workshop will learn about web browsers and search engines, build skills to navigate the internet, and discover tips and tricks for basic and advanced searching online.

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. 

This film explores the history and impact of public libraries in shaping our lives. Join us for an engaging discussion about the incredible ways the library helps us learn, connect, and grow together.

Leonardtown's film discussion will feature Everlyn Holland, local historian; Dr. Janice Walthour, former library board member, educator, local historian, and activist; and Carolyn Guy, former library board member and current Friends of the Library volunteer to discuss women, segregation, and racial justice in the library movement.

The film, Free for All: The Public Library, tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen – to create a place where anyone can enter and encounter a universe of ideas, free of charge. From the pioneering women behind the “Free Library Movement” to today's librarians who serve the public while navigating a world experiencing library closures and book bans, meet those who created a civic institution where everything is free and the doors are open to all.

Refreshments provided!

Watch the Free for All: The Public Library trailer. 

Register to receive reminder text/emails. Walk-ins Welcome! 

Free for All: The Public Library will premiere on MPT on April 29, 2025. 

We'll learn some basic coding concepts, build mazes, and code instructions for our Botley robots to find their way through. Please register each child attending.

No coding experience required; this program is intended for beginners in the lower elementary grades.

Have you ever heard of Book of the Month or Stitch Fix? This is a personalized package like those, but for Library books!

Similar to our teen Lit Kit program, the Adult Lit Kit is a customized, packaged surprise for any adult (18+) who loves to read that comes with two Adult Library books that we will choose specifically for you. When you are finished with the books, just return them to the nearest library!

Fill out the registration and interest form between the 1st and 8th of the month (or until all registration spots are full). Please answer honestly in order to help our staff select a book that suits your literary tastes. You will then be notified on the 12th of the month that your Adult Lit Kit package is ready for pickup at the Leonardtown Library.

Please note that the Adult Lit Kit has now moved to every-other-month to match our Teen Lit Kits.

Looking for the Teen Lit Kit? Please click here.

This event has been rescheduled for May 3, 2025 due to inclement weather.

Saddle up and test your cycling know-how!

Whether you're new to biking or a seasoned cyclist, all ages can practice riding right with our series of challenges. From bike safety and street smarts to skills tests and agility exercises, each activity is designed to build your confidence on two wheels - or three! 

Bring your bike, helmet, sense of adventure, and passion for making Southern Maryland safer for cyclists - and join the stampede!

Note: This event is weather-dependent. This event has been rescheduled for May 3rd, 10am-2pm. Register to receive a reminder email or notice of cancellation due to weather. Walk-ins (and bike-ins!) welcome

If you have questions about the event, or if you’d like to volunteer in any capacity, please contact Jake Stergio at jakestergio1@gmail.com

Piscataway historian Mario Harley will explore Piscataway Indigenous history from pre-European contact through the present day.

This insightful presentation offers a Tribal perspective on the rich history of the Piscataway People. Through the lens of his Piscataway ancestors, Mario will explore the survival strategies shaped by cultural values and inter-tribal relationships.

This presentation highlights the resilience and adaptability of the region's Indigenous communities, emphasizing their ongoing presence and dedication to preserving traditions on their ancestral lands in the Nation's Capital, Northern Virginia, Southern Maryland, and the Chesapeake Bay.

Mario Harley is a citizen of the Piscataway Indian Tribe, and a member of the Wild Turkey Clan. Since childhood, he has embraced and lived his culture. He is a graduate of the American University in Washington DC with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Since 1991, Mario has been a lifetime “Sequoyah" member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). Beginning in 2013, Mario has been the lead volunteer instructor for the Charles County Indian Education program for Native American students. In collaboration with the University of Maryland leadership team, Mario served as the Piscataway lead in implementing various Tribal themes and history displays within their Yahentamitsi (Yah-hen-tah-mit-si) Dining Hall. He led a team of Piscataway citizens in developing a curriculum and teaching Piscataway history to Honor Course students at the University of Maryland, College Park campus which was first offered for the Fall 2023 semester. Mario is currently serving as the Piscataway Tribal representative to the Mallows Bay – Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council.

He has been an active member in perpetuating the Piscataway culture, teaching the youth, educating the public, and advocating for the lands and waterways that make up the traditional Piscataway homeland which includes most of the western shore of Maryland, northern Virginia and Washington DC. The tribal history that is being shared belongs to all the Piscataway people. He views his tribal knowledge as a gift bestowed upon each generation from the elders.

* This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland 250 Commission, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the State or Maryland 250 Commission.

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

Explore the interconnected relationships between the Dutch, Swedes, English and Algonkian peoples in their respective regions during the early colonial period of the late 1600s.

Track the adaptation of Native American life to European settlement and trade goods, including the importance and use of wampum through this critical period along the mid-Atlantic region. Understand the magnitude of the earliest American culture clashes through customs of war, adoption, captivity, alliance, friendships and marriages between Natives, Europeans, and Africans.

* This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland 250 Commission, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the State or Maryland 250 Commission.

Drew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas MakataweU “Black Corn”) holds a cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Western Connecticut State University and a Certificate Degree in Archaeology from Norwalk Community College. A true American of the mid-Atlantic region, his family includes indigenous Pocomoke heritage, Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, Swiss, English, Scots Irish, Boyko Ukrainian and Ashkanazi/ Sephardic Jewish, he honors all of his ancestors as a practicing living historian and regularly participates in colonial era reenactments, interpretations and public educational events. He works diligently in the research and preservation of the Eastern Woodland languages, particularly Renape, southern Unami and Nanticoke and is educated in the many European languages at use in the Colonial Period. He was the first garden manager of Western Connecticut State University’s Permaculture Garden, and practices Native horticulture. In July 2021, Drew was elected by his Paramount Chief Norris Howard Senior and Council member Norris Howard Junior as Cultural Ambassador of the Pocomoke Indian Nation of Maryland. In June of 2023, Drew was hired as a contractual research and preservation specialist with Maryland State Archives where he worked to record oral histories, life ways and traditions of Maryland’s eastern shore tribal communities, this contractual work concluded in June of 2024. Drew also serves as the Algonkian historical consultant for the New Amsterdam History Center of NYC where he writes numerous articles on 17th century Algonkian culture.

It's National Library Week! Bring the family and celebrate the magic of libraries with classic tales of royalty, magical spells, talking animals, and other whimsy!

Enjoy tea and light snacks while making crafts, listening to music, and playing games. Costumes encouraged!

Please register each person attending (children and adults).

Dive into the fascinating world of Indigenous art with us! Discover the rich traditions and evolving practices of the Indigenous Peoples of Southern Maryland.

We'll explore braintan, wampum, quillwork, clay pots, tree bark and animal pelts. You'll see amazing finished products on display and get answers to questions you’re wondering about!

Kids will have the chance to learn about the importance of maize, make their own corn necklace to take home, and also create a paper design for clay pots. This program is intended for upper elementary aged children through adults. 

Ayanna Proctor is an enrolled citizen of the Piscataway Nation Turtle Clan and a descendant of the Susquehannock Nation. She is an award-winning quillwork artist as well as a cultural preservationist and knowledge keeper. Her artwork focuses on contemporary creations of flora and fauna. Ayanna practices traditional woodland farming, hide tanning, wild-crafting and other ancestral skills. Her artwork has been exhibited in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Her mural painting, Èlikhatink (In the Village), is on permanent display in the Maryland Room of St. Mary’s County Library in Leonardtown, Maryland. 

* This project has been financed in part with State funds from the Maryland 250 Commission, an instrumentality of the State of Maryland. Project contents or opinions do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the State or Maryland 250 Commission.

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

Do you have an Android device and don't know what to do next? Complete this workshop to get a $10 gift card!

This in-person workshop is for those who have a new Android mobile device, or are considering getting one, and want to learn more about the basic functions. It will help learners get connected, identify common apps, and build confidence in using their device safely.

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. 

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!

Registration is full.

Join us for a Nature Walk and Citizen Science Adventure, a fun partnership between Historic Sotterley and St. Mary's County Library!

Explore the beauty of nature on a guided walk with one of our local experts. Afterward, head to the Mobile Library to discover the Library’s Citizen Science Kits to learn how you can contribute to real-world science from your own backyard. End the day with a relaxing stroll through the Colonial Garden, observing pollinators and putting your new Citizen Science skills to work!
Perfect for nature lovers, future scientists, and families—don’t miss out on this exciting, hands-on adventure! 

This event will take place at Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Lane, Hollywood, MD 20636.

Registration is now full. Please register once per family group and remember to bring hats and sunscreen. 

Play your own way with an hour of Play-Doh fun! Create fantastic scenes on custom Play-Doh mats, stamp a design on your Doh, or just Doh it yourself!

Toddlers, Preschoolers, and Elementary Aged Play-Doh creators are invited to Play-Doh it their way in the Lexington Park Library's Meeting Rooms A&B! Throw on some clothes that won't mind some mess and come Play! Want to invite someone special? Click the "add more people" option during registration!

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 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 April, our art activity will be coffee filter flowers. Our game will be Blokus. 

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.

Join us as we explore the abstract art by Washington D.C. artist Alma Thomas! Then, welcome spring with us as we try to recreate some of her art!

Alma Thomas's abstract works, featuring bright colors and interesting patterns, were inspired and connected to the natural world. The pieces we will look at and take inspiration from are Pansies in Washington (1969), Spring Grass (1973), and Red Azaleas Singing and Dancing to Rock and Roll Music (1976).

Registration is full.

Step back in time at Historic Sotterley and discover the history of pottery and clay. Then build your own clay pot to paint and take home!

In partnership with Historic Sotterley, families will learn how clay pots were crafted and used in the past. The St. Mary's County Library will provide materials and guide children as they hand-build their own clay pots and decorate them with naturally pigmented paints. This hands-on program blends history and creativity for a memorable family experience!

This event will take place at Historic Sotterley, 44300 Sotterley Ln, Hollywood

Registration is now full. Families must register for this limited participation event