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

...that MCPL has free downloadable songs and streaming music? With Freegal you can download five songs each week and the music is yours to keep. We also offer a wide variety of streaming music:
  • Music Online,
  • American Song,
  • Classical Music Library,
  • Classical Scores Library,
  • Contemporary World Music
  • Jazz Music Library, and
  • Smithsonian Global Sound

Find your musical beat at MCPL today!

From Our Collection
Fortune Smiles: Stories by Adam Johnson, the author of The Orphan Master's Son, was a 2015 National Book Award Finalist. The National Book Foundation said of the book: "In six masterly stories, Johnson delves deep into love and loss, natural disasters, the influence of technology, and how the political shapes the personal."
Save the Date

Library Closed

 

Veterans Day

Wednesday, November 11 

 

Thanksgiving Day

Thursday, November 26  

 

Joint Meeting

November 18, 6:30-8:30 PM
Rockville Memorial Library
Reception 6:30 PM, First Floor Meeting Room
Meeting 7 PM, Second Floor Meeting Room

 

MCPL Director Parker Hamilton will present on the state of the library and its strategic initiatives. The purpose of the event is to learn about these issues and the County's financial landscape as library supporters strategize methods to unify advocacy efforts. Come out to connect with the Library Board, Library Advisory Committees, FOLMC, and FOL chapters. Please RSVP to (240) 777-0033 or [email protected].

 

Maryland STEM Festival

November 6-15

We are participating in Maryland's first STEM Festival. Find an event.

 

International Games Day

November 21

Find a game event near you.

 

Native American Heritage Month

 

Noa Baum Storyteller

November 21, 11 AM - 12 PM
Germantown

 

Noa Baum will share tales in honor of Native American Heritage Month. Ages 3 and Up. Limited Seating. Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Germantown Chapter.

 

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

Your Monthly Inspiration

nazarian quote
"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light."
-Vera Nazarian
County Events

Flu Shot Clinics

November 6 & 17, 8 AM - 4 PM
Silver Spring Health Center
8630 Fenton St, 10th Fl
Silver Spring

 

November 12, 8 AM - 4 PM
Germantown Health Center
12900 Middlebrook Rd, 2nd Fl
Germantown

 

For anyone 6 months of age and older. By appointment only. Schedule online or call 311.

 

Montgomery County Thanksgiving Parade

November 21, 10 AM
Georgia Avenue from Ellsworth Drive to Silver Spring Avenue
Silver Spring

From the Director

 

MCPL and the County's Office of Public Information, Division of Cable Programming, have launched an exciting quarterly cable program called, Check Us Out! The program is an excellent opportunity for MCPL to highlight the variety of services available to residents of all ages and to give residents a look at the inner workings of the County's library system.

 

The inaugural show aired on October 11 and featured information on the behind-the-scenes work that goes into opening a new library; how children develop pre-reading skills; and the ACE (All Children Excel) Go! Kits for children, parents, and caregivers.

 

The show will air on County Cable Montgomery (CCM). Comcast and RCN customers can watch it on channel 6 and Verizon customers can find it on channel 30. The 15-minute program is scheduled as follows:

  • Sunday: 2:30 and 10:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday: 9:15 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9 p.m.
  • Friday: 1:45 p.m.
  • Saturday: 4:45 p.m.

 

Additionally, the show is available on demand on the County Cable website. 

 

I encourage everyone to take time to regularly tune in to learn about all that our public libraries have to offer.

 

check us out logo  

Your portal to the world!

 

  B. Parker Hamilton signature

 

 

B. Parker Hamilton, Director  

  

Meet MCPL

Tim Hendricks is a new Children's Librarian II at the Quince Orchard branch. Prior to joining MCPL, Tim worked at libraries in the Baltimore and Harford County areas. He also has experience working in academic libraries and as a Media Specialist in an elementary school. Originally from Pennsylvania, Tim enjoys all that Maryland has to offer and he likes to explore cultural events in the Baltimore/Washington area. His interests include art, music, and reading. Tim is a strong believer in the mission of public libraries and feels fortunate to be able to help people. Through the years, he has done hundreds of storytimes and looks forward to providing a great storytime experience at the Quince Orchard branch.
 
LaKrista Prather is the Office Services Coordinator in the MCPL Administrative Offices, which means she may be the first voice you hear on the phone or the first face you see when you walk in the door. She is a writer at heart and loves to allow her imagination to take form on lines of paper (with the help of several pens). LaKrista lives with her 19-month-old son, 14-year-old dog, and her husband, who is a master barber. She loves to work out and to eat. LaKrista is a youth pastor at her church. She loves to create movies and commercials on iMovie and to laugh, saying: "I smile, and I like it!"
 
Anita Vassallo is the branch manager at the Davis branch. She began working for MCPL as a library page in high school and worked as a circulation staff member before getting her Masters in Library Science in 1978. She has loved watching the library system grow and evolve over the years as technological changes and demographic shifts have impacted the Library mission. Anita lives outside of Boonsboro, MD (which is now on the map, thanks to author Nora Roberts) and spends her spare time with four ponies, four cats, a dog, and one long-suffering husband.

MCPL Moving Forward

Kensington Park Branch Closes for Building Project  

 

The Kensington Park branch of MCPL closed on Saturday, October 10 at 6 PM so the facility can be refreshed. The project is expected to take approximately 4 1/2 months.

 

During this closure, customers may use other nearby branches, including the Chevy Chase and Davis branches, or any branch that may be convenient. Kensington Park will not be available as a pickup location for holds during the entire period of the closure. Customers should select another library pickup location when placing a hold in the catalog. For assistance in managing accounts during the closed period, customers can call Ask-A-Librarian at 240-777-0001 or any MCPL branch

 

All residents are encouraged to check the Kensington Park branch page for progress updates. 

 

Partial funding for the project was provided by the County Library Capital Grant Program, Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Library Development and Services.

FOL Happenings

November Literary Luncheon with Bestselling Author Mary Jo Putney

 

Join Friends of the Library, Montgomery County on Thursday, November 19, at the Strathmore Mansion for a Literary Luncheon with fantasy and romance author Mary Jo Putney.

 

Putney's latest novel Not Always a Saint, is a New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestseller. She is the author of over 40 historical, contemporary, and fantasy romance novels. In 2013, Putney was awarded the Romance Writers Association's Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award.

 

During the Literary Luncheon series, authors discuss their works and literary lives in the intimate Strathmore Mansion Music Room. Lecture begins at 11:30 AM and will be followed by a book signing and luncheon catered by Ridgewells. Ms. Putney's books will be available to purchase at the event.

  

Sign up today! For more ticket information, call 240-777-0020 or visit www.folmc.org.

 

Library Board Happenings

County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill three vacancies on the Library Board. Two incumbents are eligible to apply for reappointment.

 

The 12-member Advisory Board gives community input to the County Executive on matters affecting the public library system.

 

Members serve three year terms without compensation, but are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Department of Public Libraries, Administrative Offices, 3rd Floor, Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Avenue, Suite 310, Rockville. Each Board member serves as liaison to assigned Library Advisory Committees, which may involve additional meetings each month.

 

Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability and ethnicity are encouraged to apply. Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Leggett's appointments are subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of those selected for appointment are made public as part of the confirmation process.

 

The deadline for application is November 16, 2015.

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