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Montgomery County Public Libraries Partners with Washington Wizards to Promote Youth Reading and Literacy Through ‘Reading Challenge’ Running from Jan. 3–March 20


Per Montgomery County: “Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) and the Washington Wizards have teamed up with the D.C. Public Library, Prince George’s County Memorial Library System, Alexandria Library, Arlington Public Library and Fairfax County Public Library to get kids and teens reading this winter with the “Wizards Winter Reading Challenge.” The free challenge, designed for kids and teens ages 3-19, will run from Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Wednesday, March 20.

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Montgomery County Public Libraries to Celebrate ‘Just for the Record–A Vinyl Day’ on Saturday, Aug. 12, With Focus on 50 Years of Hip Hop Culture and a DJ Scratch Battle

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), on Saturday, Aug. 12, will host its annual “Just for the Record–A Vinyl Day,” a celebration of music on vinyl records that will feature popular DJs from around the country and a special celebration of 50 years of hip hop. The free, family-friendly festival will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring.

Attendees can participate in workshops about music production, songwriting, breakdancing and more. They also will be able to purchase vinyl records and CDs organized by the Friends of the Library Montgomery County (FOLMC). The festival’s concluding event, “FADERATION: United Cuts & Scratches Mid- Atlantic Scratch Battle for DJ Supremacy,” will feature well-known DJs from around the country vying for top “scratch” honors and cash prizes.

“For the last five decades, hip hop has given a voice to communities that were historically disenfranchised and discriminated against, allowing them to express their hopes, aspirations and concerns,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “As we celebrate the anniversary of this important American music artform, I appreciate MCPL’s efforts to educate and engage our community with this history. Events such as ‘Vinyl Day’ help showcase the wonderful offerings available in our County libraries to people of all ages and backgrounds. We are trying to make our libraries a destination that is inclusive and offers something to all our residents.”

The event is being conducted in partnership with FOLMC, Mid-Atlantic Scratch League, Levine Music and Classroom 2 Community.

“We are very pleased to partner with these organizations to bring this in-person event to the community again to delight our customers,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “Music, in its various forms, brings people together, and the library is the perfect space to provide this type of event. This year, we are very excited to host the ‘FADERATION: United Cuts & Scratches Mid-Atlantic Scratch Battle for DJ Supremacy,’ the first hosted by a public library.”

The activities scheduled for “Just for the Record–A Vinyl Day” will include:

*Registration required.

Visit the Vinyl Day 2023 website for more information.

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‘Just for the Record – A Vinyl Day’ Will Be Celebrated by Montgomery County Public Libraries on Saturday, Aug. 12

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), in partnership with Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC), Mid-Atlantic Scratch League (MASL), Levine Music and Classroom 2 Community (C2C) will have a full day of free events on Saturday, Aug. 12, to celebrate music on vinyl records and the DJ culture. Just for the Record—A Vinyl Day, geared toward all ages, will take place from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library in Silver Spring.

The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library is located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring. Throughout the day on Aug. 12, it will host workshops, activities and the concluding “FADERATION: Mid-Atlantic Scratch Battle.” The event will include the sale of vinyl records, CDs and books by FOLMC.
“We are very pleased to partner with these organizations to bring this in-person event to the community again to delight our customers,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “Music, in its various forms, brings people together, and the library is the perfect space to provide this type of event. This year, we are very excited to host the FADERATION Mid-Atlantic Scratch Battle, the first hosted by a public library.”

The activities scheduled for Just for the Record—A Vinyl Day will include:

* Registration required

For more information about Just for the Record -A Vinyl Day, visit Vinyl Day 2023

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Free Animation, Graphic Novel and Mini Comic Book Programs Will Be Offered at Wheaton and White Oak Branches of Montgomery County Public Libraries in July and August

Per Montgomery County: The Wheaton and White Oak libraries of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will offer several free animation, graphic novel and mini comic book programs for ages 10 to 50-and-over in July and August. The animation workshops explore the history, science and creative possibilities of animation. Participants will create three optical toys: a thaumatrope, a zoetrope strip and a flip-book.

The graphic novel classes teach participants to create a graphic novel page using all the conventions of graphic novel storytelling: narration, dialogue, character design, dynamic page layouts and cinematic techniques. The mini comic book workshops teach participants to write and illustrate a brief fictional, factual or a combination of both that will become six-to-eight-page narratives using one folded sheet of paper.

Registration for all programs is limited and required. Arts supplies to be used during the programs will be provided. The programs will be facilitated by cartoonist, illustrator and animator Leila Cabib. Programs at the Wheaton Library are:

Wheaton Library is located at 11701 Georgia Ave. in Silver Spring.

The program at White Oak Library is:

The White Oak Library is located at 11701 New Hampshire Ave. in Silver Spring.

The programs at the Wheaton Library are funded in part by a Wheaton Cultural Project Grant from the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. The program at the White Oak Library is funded in part by an Arts in Education Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.

For more information about the programs, contact Clotilde Puértolas at [email protected].

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Montgomery Committee Against Hate Violence Panel Will Discuss Hate/Bias/Violence/Bullying-in County Public Schools on Monday, June 12

Per MCPD: The Montgomery County Committee Against Hate Violence (CAHV) of the County Office of Human Rights, at 7 p.m. on Monday, June 12, will sponsor a “Second Conversation” panel discussion focusing on “Hate/Bias/Violence/Bullying” within the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).  The program will be held at the Gaithersburg Library and also will be livestreamed. The Gaithersburg Library is located at 18330 Montgomery Village Ave. in Gaithersburg. There is no charge to attend and audience participation will be welcomed.  The discussion will be streamed at https://www.facebook.com/CountyCableMoCo.

Scheduled to be on the panel are Attorney Guila Siegel, the associate director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Washington, D.C.; Stephanie Sheron, the chief of strategic initiatives of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS); Demon Monteleone, the associate superintendent of MCPS; Ryvell Fitzpatrick, the ombudsman of the Montgomery County Board of Education; and Lisa Taylor, chair of the Montgomery County Committee Against Hate Violence.

The “First Conversation” of the CAHV series, which was held in March, focused on “Anti-Semitism in Montgomery County.”

For more information on the event, contacts  Richard W. Allen, the CAHV moderator/coordinator, at [email protected] or 301-366-9361©; Craig Simon, the CAHV vice president, at [email protected] or 818-406-4953; or James Stowe, the executive director of the County’s Office of Human Rights, at 240-888-5502 or [email protected].

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Summer Reading Challenge Pre-Registration By Montgomery County Public Libraries

Per Montgomery County Public Libraries: It’s time to pre-register for MCPL’S Summer Reading Challenge: All Together Now! Children ages 0-12 and teens ages 13-17 can pre-register (or log in) online or at your local library, and on June 17 you can pick up your free book at your local branch and start logging your reading and activities online!

At the same time, you’ll be helping our community be kind to animals, to one another, and to the planet this summer, while working together with several Montgomery County organizations to strengthen our community! Much more to come on that!

Pre-register and learn more here: https://mcpl.link/read-squared

Mark your calendar for the 6/17 SRC kickoff and bookmark that, plus other events, here: https://mcpl.events/SRC-kickoff

And keep up with all of our events at: https://mcpl.link/events

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‘The Man Behind the Stations on the Metropolitan Branch Railroad’ Presentation May 20 in Germantown

Per the Germantown Historical Society: On Saturday, May 20 at 3pm at the Germantown Library Susan Cooke Soderberg will be giving a PowerPoint presentation on: The Man Behind the Stations on the Metropolitan Branch Railroad as part of the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Branch of the B & O Railroad. 150 years ago on May 25, 1873 trains began running across Montgomery County. The coming of the railroad changed the agriculture, the economy and the society of the County. By 1893 the line had 18 stops between Washington D. C. and Point of Rocks.

Most of these stops had a station house for the ticket master and waiting passengers – some large and fancy, some small and plain. All but one of these station houses were designed by noted architect E. Francis Baldwin. Five of these buildings still exist and are preserved with historic designation on what is now known as the MARC Brunswick Line. The Architect E. Francs Baldwin is renown for designing many buildings in a variety of styles from the Catholic Cathedral in Savannah, Georgia to the Power House in Baltimore. His attention to detail extended even to the waiting shelters at the train stops. Free tickets available at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-man-behind-the-stations-on-the-metropolitan-branch-railroad-tickets-628856475647, but Walk-ins are welcome.

The presenter is Susan Cooke Soderberg, who has a Masters degree in American Studies from George Washington University and is the author of The MET: A History of the Metropolitan Branch of the B & O Railroad (2017).

This presentation, sponsored by the Germantown Historical Society, is part of the County-wide celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Branch of the B & O Railroad. For information on other events happening with this celebration, go to https://www.montgomerypreservation.org.

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County Executive Elrich to Join Montgomery County Public Libraries for Reopening of Potomac Branch on Saturday, April 15

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will join Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), other officials and community members at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 15, for ceremonies reopening the Potomac Library. The branch has been closed since May 22, 2022, for significant renovations. The Potomac Library is located at 10101 Glenolden Dr. in Potomac.
“The Potomac Library is an important epicenter for local residents to learn, meet and have access to critical resources, such as computers, classes, events—as well as free COVID rapid tests and facemasks,” said County Executive Elrich. “This re-opening has been eagerly anticipated, and we are thankful for the patience and understanding of the library’s patrons during this renovation. I want to thank Montgomery County Public Libraries, the Department of General Services and the Friends of the Library for their work to improve this library for the next generation.”

The renovation work included the replacement of all flooring, reconfiguration and updating of shelving, painting throughout, a new service desk, new lighting, redesign of the children’s reading nook, installation of security equipment, the addition of lounge seating and study areas, replacement of the entry doors, creation of a family restroom and the updating of interior and exterior signs.

Work was also performed to bring the building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
“We are so excited to reopen our Potomac branch to its community members, who we know have been anxiously anticipating this day,” said MCPL Director Anita Vassallo. “I hope they will be as pleased as we are about all the refurbishments.

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Montgomery County Public Libraries to Host Dental Health Fair, with Free Oral Screenings, at Long Branch Library on Saturday, April 22

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will host a Dental Health Fair at the Long Branch Library from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. The Dental Health Fair will provide free oral health screenings for all ages (from young children to older adults) and general information about dental care, hygiene and dental services. The Long Branch Library is located at 8800 Garland Ave. in Silver Spring. No registration is required to attend.

The Dental Health Fair is part of the Narratives and Medical Education (NAME) Project. NAME is an experimental National Institutes of Health funded project that brings together different disciplines focusing on the role of racism in health care, specifically in dental care disparities. The free screenings will be provided by students of the Dental Hygiene Program at the University of Maryland (UMD) School of Dentistry.

The Dental Health Fair is a collaboration between UMD School of Dentistry, UMD College Park, UMD Libraries at the Universities at Shady Grove and MCPL. For more information, visit https://mcpl.libnet.info/event/8213238 or contact Clotilde Puértolas at [email protected].

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Animation Workshops for Tweens and Teens Will Be Available Free During MCPS Spring Break April 3-7 at Montgomery County Public Libraries

Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will offer several free animation workshops geared toward ages 10-15 during the week of April 3-7, which will be spring break for Montgomery County Public Schools. The workshops will be facilitated by cartoonist, illustrator and animator Leila Cabib. Registration is required to attend each workshop. Art supplies for use during the workshops will be provided to attendees.
Workshops times, dates and locations:

The workshops are funded in part by an Arts in Education Grant from the Maryland State Arts Council.For more information contact Clotilde Puértolas at [email protected].

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