Library Closed
Monday, October 12, Staff Development and Training.
Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day.
A Wireless Library
October 6, 2-3:30 PM Aspen Hill
Join us at this free event to find library e-resources you can access from home, school, or work. Get connected to Smart Technology. Download library apps to your handheld devices at this event.
An Evening with Frederick Forsyth
October 7, 7-9 PM Gaithersburg
An Evening with Frederick Forsyth. The Master Storyteller will be speaking about his new memoir, The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue, and doing a signing afterward. Books will be on sale at the event. Sponsored by the Gaithersburg Book Festival and Politics & Prose.
Teen Read Week
October 18-24
Get Away @ Your Library with programs, clubs, books, and more.
Find more events happening around the County on our Calendar of Events.
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"The library is inhabited by spirits that come out of the pages at night." - Isabel Allende
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Taste of Bethesda
October 3, 11 AM - 4 PM
Woodmont Triangle Bethesda
More than 50 restaurants and five stages of entertainment. Produced by the Bethesda Urban Partnership, downtown Bethesda's famous food and music festival celebrates 24 years of diverse and delectable cuisine offered by Bethesda's local restaurant community. More information.
Community Service Week
October 16 - 25
Find a volunteer opportunity to celebrate the 29th annual County-wide service event. This is a perfect opportunity for families, friends and groups - small or large - to help their community. Volunteers can sign up now at the Montgomery Serves website.
Honor and Gratitude: Montgomery Salutes Vietnam Veterans
October 24
Universities at Shady Grove 9630 Gudelsky Drive Rockville
Montgomery County honors the men and women who served the nation during the Vietnam War. Register.
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From the Director

"Libraries need to change not simply because technology changes, but because people change. We are here today to look ahead," said County Executive Isiah Leggett as he opened his Library of the Future Summit on Thursday, September 24. "Libraries matter."
Mr. Leggett addressed a crowd of nearly 200, which included those who participated virtually from the satellite location at the Gaithersburg branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL). The audience was composed of community residents; representatives from other library systems; State and County elected officials; MCPL partners; Montgomery County Public Schools' representatives; Montgomery County Library Board and Library Advisory Committee members; and library advocates.
County Council President George Leventhal gave remarks on behalf of the County Council, stating that, "Libraries exemplify the values we as a community share." Libraries, he told the gathering, touch lives, bring communities together, and make a difference.
The keynote speaker for the Summit was Susan Benton, CEO and President of Urban Libraries Council. "Books are our brand, not our business," said Ms. Benton. "Knowledge is our business."
Ms. Benton's address gave a national view of the importance of public libraries. She included inspiring stories from around the country about how public libraries are facilitating active learning and innovation. Libraries also allow us to come together as people. She concluded with the question, "How do we take what we have today and make it even bigger and better tomorrow?"
Following the afternoon discussion groups, Mr. Leggett shared some of the common themes emerging from the group participants. These, and all others, will be compiled and shared on the Library of the Future Summit website.
On behalf of County Executive Leggett, I thank all who were able to provide information to help Montgomery County Public Libraries to prepare for the future.

B. Parker Hamilton, Director
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 David Delgado is the IT Technician at the new Silver Spring branch. David has recently joined the MCPL family. He has enjoyed having the opportunity to help get the newest library building up and running, and is enjoying getting to know the rest of MCPL branch by branch. He has been very impressed and surprised by the important role MCPL plays in the community. Before joining MCPL, he worked for the M-NCPPC Parks and Recreation Help Desk in Prince George's County. David's interests include computers (of course), writing, cars, and enjoying the great outdoors - he is an avid camper! Betty Denne, Library Assistant I, has been with MCPL for 19 years. All of these years have been at the Damascus branch. Betty shows great enthusiasm in her work and that enthusiasm has earned her both an Annual Leave Award for customer service and a Recycler of the Year county award. Betty is an avid gardener and traveler and especially enjoyed her trip to Alaska. When Betty was asked to tell a little about herself for this profile, she said, "I like children, animals, and flowers, but not necessarily in that order." She also has a good sense of humor. Adrienne Miles Holderbaum is an Adult Services Librarian I at the Gaithersburg branch. She has been with MCPL since 2012 when she started as an Outreach Library Associate at the Rockville Memorial branch. Adrienne grew up in Montgomery County and visited the Gaithersburg branch as a child and teen, which greatly influenced her decision to pursue a career in librarianship. Adrienne's focus in librarianship includes new media, technology, and programming. Adrienne enjoys reading mostly nonfiction (usually business and tech books), some fiction and children's picture books (which she reads to her seven-month old daughter). In her free time, Adrienne can be found spending time with her family and friends, exploring local treasures, going for walks with her dog, and writing. Elizabeth Root worked for the Federal government ending her career there as the Director of the International Trade Commission library. Her blood pressure dropped twenty points after she retired and began working for MCPL! She enjoys working at MCPL, where she began as a page and now works as a Library Aide at the Marilyn Praisner branch. Commuting for fifteen minutes instead of an hour and a half is great, too. Her favorite hobby is reading (she doesn't even have a TV!), and she reads almost anything. |
Charging Stations
MCPL is offering customers a way to "power up" at the Silver Spring branch. The new station offers charging for up to eight devices. It charges most models of mobile device. The charging station has been in operation for nearly a month. It is reported to be very user friendly and "working like a charm."
Chevy Chase 50th Anniversary
The Chevy Chase branch opened in 1964, which means it celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year! Staff, customers, and friends marked the occasion with a special ceremony on September 26, and the celebration continues with local authors and children's performers on October 3.
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Call for nominations!
Do you know someone who has made a positive difference for libraries in Montgomery County this year? Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc. (FOLMC) is now accepting nominations for the 2016 Charles W. Gilchrist Award.
The award is given in memory of former Montgomery County Executive Charles W. Gilchrist, who sought to encourage community participation in Montgomery County. It is presented to an individual or group that has demonstrated exceptional service to Montgomery County Public Libraries through volunteer or philanthropic support.
The 2015 Gilchrist Award was presented to the FOL Silver Spring Chapter for demonstrating incredible dedication to its newly opened branch by raising more than $250,000 for a new Early Literacy Center, Connection Corner, and Digital Innovation Lab. Past Gilchrist Award winners also include United for Libraries President-Elect Susan Schmidt and Twinbrook branch volunteer Dave Scalzi.
For full award criteria and nomination guidelines, visit www.folmc.org. Nominations are due by November 30, 2015. The Charles W. Gilchrist Award will be presented at FOLMC's annual Library After Dark fundraiser on April 9, 2016.
Questions? Call (240) 777-0020 or email awards@folmc.org.
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Library Board and Library Advisory Committee members participated in the County Executive's Library of the Future Summit held on September 24 at the Silver Spring Civic Building and the Gaithersburg branch satellite site. This was the County Executive's second summit on the future of libraries. This summit, as the summit convened in 2009, provided valuable information needed by Montgomery County Public Libraries in preparing for the future. |
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