Stay Connected
 
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During the month of December, all across the nation, people will be giving gifts to family and friends in observance of various holidays; many will donate to charities; coats, mittens and scarves will be provided to those who need them; and special packages will be shipped to our military personnel overseas. It is the season for giving - - - and MCPL has a lot to give!
- Group Meeting Rooms
- Wi-Fi
- Public Computers
- Language Learning Material
- Quiet Study Programs
- Books, E-books, Audiobooks
- CDs and DVDs
- Downloadable Popular Music (Freegal)
- Programs for All Ages
- Early Literacy Materials
- Book Discussions
- Author Events
All this and more with an MCPL library card - it's free! Visit us on the web or stop by one of our branches - our newly renovated Gaithersburg branch will be reopening January 4, 2014.
Come check us out!
Season's Greetings!
B. Parker Hamilton, Director |
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Holiday Closings
All MCPL branches and offices will be closed on December 25 in observance of Christmas.
Grand Reopening of the Gaithersburg Library
The Gaithersburg Library will reopen on January 4, 2014 at 9:30 a.m.
NIH Chamber Singers
Back by popular demand! The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Chamber Singers return to Marilyn J. Praisner Library on December 7, 3 PM, for their holiday concert with delightful music from around the world and through the ages. All ages are welcome!
Music with Christiana Drapkin
Christiana Drapkin and her trio return to Davis Library on December 14, 11 AM to add some swing to your holidays. Bring the whole family!
Teen and Tween Scrabble Club
Join the Little Falls' Scrabble Club! All levels of Scrabble knowledge and experience welcome! Every Monday in December from 3 PM - 4:30 PM. Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Little Falls Chapter.
Downloading e-books for Seniors
On December 13 and 27, Aspen Hill Library is offering one-on-one sessions for adults/seniors to learn about downloading free e-books to your Nook, iPad, iPhone, Kindle Fire or Android-based device. Registration begins at 3 PM. Space is limited, so come early. For more information, please call the Aspen Hill Library at 240-773-9410. Check out our Calendar of Events for e-reader training at other MCPL branches.
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Did You Know . . .
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...that you can download free audiobooks from MCPL? It's another great way to enjoy books. We have two audiobook services, Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium (OverDrive) and OneClickDigital Audiobooks. There you'll find audiobooks for all ages and genres. They are great for traveling during the holidays. Download an audiobook today. Happy listening! |
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Children are invited to a miniature puppet theatre at Quince Orchard Library!
Quince Orchard Library presents The Penny Theatre for children ages 3 to 6! Children and parents are encouraged to practice proper theatre etiquette while two favorite festive folk and nursery tales, Corduroy and Gingerbread Boy, are performed by volunteers with miniature puppets! Come see the beautiful wooden set crafted by Hardwood Artisans, a local furniture maker. The showings are on Thursday, December 19, 10:15 AM, 11:15 AM and 4:15 PM. Registration is required as there is limited space available. Please call 240-777-0200 or visit the Quince Orchard Library to register.
The Quince Orchard Children's Book Club is for children in grades 4 through 6. Two books are selected that have a common theme or genre and the students read either one or both books ahead of the book discussion. The Quince Orchard Children's Book Club meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7 - 8 PM; the next meeting dates are December 4, 2013 and January 8, 2014. Titles for December include Hatching Magic by Ann Downer and Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson. All titles may be picked up at the Information Desk at Quince Orchard Library. For more information, please call Quince Orchard Library at 240-777-0200.
Quince Orchard's eReader program offers adult customers one-on-one instruction on how to download eBooks onto their devices using Overdrive/Maryland Digital eLibrary Consortium! Each participant walks out of the library confident that they will be able to successfully download eBooks to their device. The program is every Tuesday until December 10, 9 - 11 AM, on first-come-first-served basis. All participants must bring their own device and library card.
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"One of the greatest gifts my brother and I received from my mother was her love of literature and language. With their boundless energy, libraries open the door to these worlds and so many others. I urge young and old alike to embrace all that
libraries have to offer."
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Guide for Recreation and Parks Programs is Out: Sign Up for Winter Classes, Programs
If you're looking for ways to keep active during the cold weather months ahead, the winter issue of the Montgomery County Guide for Recreation and Parks Programs features hundreds of activities and programs for all ages, interests and abilities. Check out the wide range of classes, special events and sports offered, as well as many activities for adults age 55 and older.
Register online, by mail, fax or in person at the Montgomery County Recreation Administrative Offices at 4010 Randolph Road, Silver Spring. Print copies of the guide are available at Montgomery County Public Libraries, Recreation centers, Park facilities and government buildings.
To view the guide online, register for an activity or to sign up for a subscription, go to www.montgomerycountymd.gov/rec.
For more information, call 240-777-6840.
The Affordable Care Act: Education and Enrollment Continue
Education and outreach for the Affordable Care Act continue, and residents can enroll until March 31, 2014.
Sign up in any one of three ways:
1) Go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov and complete the online enrollment process;
-OR-
2) Call the Maryland Health Connection and sign up on the phone
* 1-855-642-8572 (toll free)
* 1-855-642-8573 (TTY) ;
- OR -
3) Meet in-person with a navigator to complete enrollment (see calendar of events for navigators' locations)
For additional information about enrollment, see the Affordable Care Act Enrollment Flyer: English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF) The flyer is available in other languages as well. |
| Library Lovers Month
The Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC) and MCPL will be kicking off Library Lovers Month on February 1, 2014 at the newly opened Gaithersburg Library.
The featured performer this year will be the nationally renowned bilingual Mister G, whose genre hopping music was awarded a Parents' Choice Gold Award and has been nominated for a 2013 Latin Grammy for Best Children's Recording. This event is free and open to the public. For ticketing information or venue questions please contact Gaithersburg Library after it opens on January 4, 2014.
Spring Literary Luncheon Series
It's not too early to reserve space for the next round of the Literary Luncheon Series at the Strathmore Mansion. The spring session begins on Thursday, March 20, 2014 with author and BBC correspondent Kim Ghattas who will discuss her latest book, The Secretary: a Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power, and her experiences as an international journalist. Ms. Ghattas will be followed with Marvin Kalb on Thursday, April 17, 2014. Journalist Marvin Kalb will discuss his new book, Road to War: Presidential Commitments Honored and Betrayed, an analysis of how easy it is for an American President to go to war and just how hard it is to end one.
To reserve your space, please visit www.folmc.org and click on the Literary Luncheon Series. |
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The Montgomery County Library Board (MCLB) has been very busy!
On October 9, MCLB, in partnership with MCPL and the Friends of the Library, sponsored Snapshot Day 2013; an opportunity to "showcase" what is done within Montgomery County Public Libraries on a daily basis.
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MCLB Chair, Jill Lewis (R), at Kensington Park Library on Snapshot Day
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 | | Library Board Member Jeanette Cotter reads to children at Little Falls Library (Snapshot Day) |
Annual Joint Meeting of MCLB, Library Advisory Committees and Friends of the Library Held
In November, the Annual Joint Meeting of MCLB, Library Advisory Committees and Friends of the Library featured a meet and greet reception with County elected officials and decision makers; MCPL cohorts/committees/units table presentations; a state of the MCPL address by Director Parker Hamilton; a presentation on new MCPL initiatives; and a brainstorming breakout session.
 | | County Executive Isiah Leggett addressing Joint Meeting |
 | | Councilmember Craig Rice, Lead for Libraries, visits the Children's Steering Committee Table |
 | | Library Board Chair Jill Lewis (L) and Ellen Berman (R), President of Friends of the Library, Montgomery County |
 | | Library Director Parker Hamilton |
Maryland Library Trustees and Citizens for Maryland Libraries (CML) Annual Conference
On November 16, Board members attended the Maryland Library Trustees and Citizens for Maryland Libraries (CML) Annual Conference. CML works to build public awareness of the need for and services of Maryland libraries; it is a partnership between library professionals and the public.
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Lois Neuman (former MCLB Chair), Art Brodsky (Immediate Past MCLB Chair), Jill Lewis (MCLB Chair), Irene Padilla, Assistant State Superintendent for Libraries |
Keep watching for information on the brainstorming session scheduled for January 2014!
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