newsletter logo
September 2015
Where the County Reads, Where the County Meets, Where the County Learns 
In This Issue
Quick Links
MCPL Website
Resources For You

...that September is National Library Card Sign Up Month? It's one of the most important cards to have in your wallet! It's an access card to a wealth of free information, services, and resources, both in person at our branches and online. Check out these 25 library services you may not know are available for free from MCPL. Let your family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors know just how awesome a library card is!
Save the Date

Library Closed

 

All MCPL locations will be closed Sunday and Monday, September 6 and 7, in observance of Labor Day.

 

All MCPL locations will be closed Monday, October 12, for Staff Development and Training.

 

African Heritage Month

 

Baba Jamal Koram

September 5, 2 PM
Rockville Memorial Library

 

In honor of African Heritage Month, "Gather around the StoryMan and prepare to be enchanted. . . Baba Jamal Koram unfolds tales filled with the warmth of the African sun." No registration required.

 

Ethiopia Day and Coffee Ceremony

September 12, 11:30 AM
Silver Spring Library

 

Join us for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. National clothes, arts, musical instruments will be on display as well. Coffee ceremony begins at 1 PM. All ages.

 

National Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15

 

The Passion and Inspiration of the Drum

September 20, 3 PM
Gaithersburg Library

 

Excitement, energy and inspiration abound in this highly interactive program introducing children to the world of percussion with Luis Garay Percussion World Ensemble. All ages. Sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc.

 

Find more events happening around the County on our Calendar of Events.

Your Monthly Inspiration

"Walking into the library is like being in a train station or an airport, with innumerable vessels ready to carry [you] away. Places to go, an enchanted version of the world."
-Quote and photo, Silver Spring Library Customer
County Events

Friendship Picnic

September 20, 1-5 PM

2000 Shorefield Rd
Wheaton

Montgomery County is hosting its third annual Friendship Picnic on Sunday, September 20 at Wheaton Regional Park. RSVP by email or by calling 240-777-8456 by September 17, 2015. See News Release for more info. 

 

 

Clergy and Faith Leaders Town Hall Meeting

September 16, 7-9 PM

Council Office Builing
100 Maryland Ave, 3rd Floor
Rockville

The Montgomery County Council will hold a town hall meeting with clergy and faith leaders to gain greater insights into the current issues facing the County's clergy and faith community. For more information or to RSVP, email Walton Harris or call 240-777-7945.

From the Director

 

Summer Reading @ MCPL was fantastic! Congratulations to the 14,288 "heroes" who "escaped the ordinary" by reading over 70,149 books! Keep reading!

 

MCPL is pleased to add Flipster to our selection of electronic resources. We strive to provide the broadest content and best user experience possible for our customers, and Flipster is a great addition. Flipster, a digital magazine service that allows customers to browse the latest issues of digital versions of popular magazines, offers an easy, browsable reading experience. Visit our website to learn more about accessing digital magazines through Flipster.

 

Do you have questions about public libraries in Montgomery County? Join the Live Discussion with County Executive Isiah Leggett on September 22, 1 - 2 PM. This online interactive forum will allow residents in Montgomery County to send questions directly to County Executive Isiah Leggett. You may submit questions anytime, and questions will be answered during the scheduled discussion time. Your voice matters!

 

MCPL bids a fond farewell to Bonnie Ayers. Bonnie has retired from the County's Office of Public Information where she served as Public Information Officer for a number of departments including Public Libraries. Throughout the years, she has provided MCPL with expert public relations advice and assistance, while playing a major role in groundbreakings and grand openings of County libraries. Bonnie also served on MCPL's Marketing Committee and on ad hoc committees for special events. Not only will we miss her skills and guidance, we will miss her professionalism and enthusiasm.

 

 

  B. Parker Hamilton signature

 

 

B. Parker Hamilton, Director  

  

Meet MCPL

Christine Christine Felix is the new Librarian II at the Noyes Library for Young Children. Christine relocated to Maryland from California in January and is enjoying the different seasons. Before joining MCPL, she worked for the Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library as a children's librarian and branch manager. She enjoys reading Young Adult fiction and exploring the beautiful East Coast. She loves children's programming, especially storytime, and looks forward to providing storytimes to the families visiting Noyes.

  

Kathy Kathy Gower has been with MCPL since January 1999. She started as a part-time Adult Services librarian at the old Silver Spring Library. She has also worked at the Quince Orchard, Rockville Memorial, and Germantown libraries. Currently she is a full-time Children's Librarian at Twinbrook Library, but she is on a temporary assignment at Silver Spring Library while Twinbrook is closed so the facility can be refreshed. Her favorite thing about being a librarian is being able to help so many people. She believes that helping with even apparently minor tasks, such as finding a book or answering an informational question, can make a big difference for customers by caring for the person's needs with warmth and a smile. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, prayer, reading, knitting, hiking and walking. The most important things to her are family, friends, and faith!  

 

Demeke Demeke Seyoum began working for MCPL in May 1997. He has worked in many different MCPL branches including Bethesda, Little Falls, Aspen Hill, Quince Orchard, Twinbrook, Davis, and Germantown. He has also worked in MCPL's Collection Management unit and Central Administration. Demeke is currently the Library Assistant Supervisor at Kensington Park Library. Originally from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in East Africa, Demeke moved here 19 years ago with his wife, Hirut Demisse and their two children, Chris and Sarah. Demeke's hobbies include a love of gardening, walking, and traveling to different places. His passion is being involved in and volunteering for local community issues.

MCPL Moving Forward

Join the Conversation

Help Us Create the Library of the Future

 

Thursday, September 24, 2015, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Silver Spring Civic Building
1 Veterans Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Register online today! 

 

 

FOL Happenings

Calling all senior spelling enthusiasts! The next annual Seasoned Spellers Bee will take place Saturday, October 17, 2015, 11 AM, at Rockville Memorial Library. Adults, age 55 years or older, are invited to compete in an official spelling bee before an audience of friends, family, and fellow spelling enthusiasts. The registration deadline is Monday, October 12. Please visit the FOLMC website for registration information.

 

Sounds fun but don't want to spell? The Bee is free and open to the public to watch. Contestants are encouraged to invite friends and family to attend and cheer them on. Join the audience and witness the nail-biting excitement as you watch seniors spell their hearts out.

 

Questions? Call 240-777-0020 or email for more information.

Library Board Happenings

The Montgomery County Library Board was established on May 31, 1950 and authorized by Montgomery County Code 2 43 governing the Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). According to Montgomery County Code 2006, Section 2 46 et seq., the Board is established as an advisory board, but it has authority on its own motion, or on reference from the County Executive, to inquire into matters affecting the County public library system and to provide guidance and advice on a wide range of library matters.

 

Such matters include:

  • the acquisition, need for, and location of new library facilities;
  • the adequacy and quality of book and materials collections;
  • library policies and practices;
  • MCPL's capital and operating budgets; and
  • services to outlying districts and personnel needs of MCPL.

The Board usually makes recommendations on these issues to the County Executive through the MCPL Director.

 

The Library Board serves as one of the advocacy group for public libraries in Montgomery County on both local and statewide levels and is the voice of the community on library issues in the County. Even though individual Board members may use specific library facilities, the Board's mission is to be an advocate for all libraries County-wide inclusive of the library of individual preference. Visit our website to learn more about the Board and its mission. 

Montgomery County Public Libraries | 240-777-0001 [email protected]