Book Discussions and Author Visits
Join us for monthly book discussions and special author visits!
Upcoming Events
If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible. Free R.A.D. Self Defense Program for Women & Girls (ages 13-80 yrs. old). Taught by Darlene Gentry. Co-sponsored by Lexington Park Baptist Church. Meets 2 consecutive days: Saturday, February 28, 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Women and Teens invite your friends to come learn some new skills and proactive strategies to help protect yourself and others! The class is fun, energetic, and interactive. Class includes 9 hours of instruction & practice, a training manual, and light refreshments. About the Instructor: Darlene Gentry has over thirty years’ experience in martial arts, women’s self-defense, and self-defense education for the public. She teaches self-defense part-time at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and has instructed women's self-defense courses in many different venues. Darlene also regularly teaches R.A.D. courses for free at Lexington Park Baptist Church. Parental consent required for participants ages 13-17. Registrants e-mail addresses will be shared with the course instructor. She will provide participants with the registration forms and details about the class like: what clothes to wear, how strenuous the activities are, etc. For more information on RAD programs, visit The R.A.D. Systems of Self Defense Any R.A.D. graduate from any class in the U.S. and Canada can attend another instructor’s class for practice free of charge for the rest of her life! St. Mary’s County Library makes every effort to make events and programs accessible and inclusive. More information about how we do this is provided on our website’s Event Accessibility page. New to Google Sheets? Or would like to learn to use spreadsheets? Then this is the class for you! Google features much more than just a search engine with Google Sheets you can keep track of finances, make lists, and calculate columns of numbers. We will get you started with the basics like creating, saving, and formatting the spreadsheets. Please bring your Gmail address, password, and cell phone. Register to reserve your spot and receive a reminder email. Walk-ins welcome as space allows. A whimsical hands‑on workshop where you’ll transform ordinary cotton balls into enchanting, spun‑cotton toadstools—perfect décor for any space. Guided by friendly, approachable instruction, participants will learn simple techniques to shape, paint, and finish charming fungi, all while enjoying a relaxed, creative atmosphere. Bring your curiosity and leave with a unique, handcrafted piece that adds a touch of magic to your home. This program is for adults. Everyone is talking about AI, but how does it even work? Learn the very basics of how Artificial Intelligence works, what can go wrong, and how you can use AI tools like NotebookLM in your latest research project. This class does not result in a AI certification. Are you new to genealogy or just need a refresher on how to improve your research? This three-part series is aimed at helping you form a good foundation to build upon throughout your journey. Over the course of these programs you will learn methodology, what is available online and what repositories have information that can help answer your genealogical questions. Throughout these sessions you will: Please note: this is part one of a three part series. You must register for each session separately: Part 2: Birth, Marriage, Death and Probate – Mon., March 9th, 6-7:30 About Our Presenter Want to discover more about what our government's founding documents actually say? This presentation from Dr. Jim Gibb covers Article II of the Constitution, which outlines the role of the president. Convention delegates understood legislatures and legislation, but the office of president was novel, different even from state governors. They addressed the matter early in the Convention, tabled it, and then rushed through the details at the end of the Convention. In this presentation we will explore what the Constitution has to say about the presidency and why. We’ll also look at the Presidential Succession Acts of 1886 and 1947, and the 22nd and 25th amendments. This presentation will be held live over Zoom. It will also be recorded and uploaded to the St. Mary's County Library YouTube channel. If you would like to attend this event live and/or watch the recording, please register with an email address to receive the Zoom link the day before the event. The YouTube link to the recording will be emailed to everyone who registers for this program. Representatives from SMC Recreation & Parks will be in the lobby with information about their programs, facilities, services, and events, as well as to answer any questions you may have. St. Mary's County Recreation & Parks strives to provide an enriched quality of life for the community through preservation of natural, cultural and historical resources, enhancement of parks and outdoor spaces, and promotion of a variety of leisure experiences. Come talk to them about their current events, programs, parks, trails, and more! Bring your ereader and join us for a hot drink and sweet treats! Learn all about downloading ebooks & audiobooks to adjusting reading setting to searching & borrowing titles on the library app, Palace and Libby, and more!!! Sit down with us and get cozy with your ereader for 2026. Registration is recommended to receive notes from the workshop via email. Are you a parent who is homeschooling? Want some support from others in the community or looking to build your support community? Join the parent chat while your kids work on their assignments. Join us for an open, drop-in chat on what is working in your home classrooms and learn the ways that the library can help support you. Lend your creativity to a bigger cause! Do you have a fiber arts project you are working on, but need some extra motivation? Bring your project to this event, talk with your fellow yarn-heads, and contribute to our community weaving project! Throughout the program—and all month long—you can contribute to our second Community Loom Project. We're setting up a standing loom in the Leonardtown Makerspace to create a collaborative, large-scale wall hanging. Help us see how large we can make this unique piece of community art! No experience necessary! Looking for a space to work on your art? Bring your writing, drawing, and other art materials and come work with us! The following makerspace machines will be available for open use during this time: Cricut Maker, a button maker, Cricut Mug Press, 3D pens, and our Memory Lab. This program is intended for ages 16+ This mini-painting workshop offers a chance to paint a miniature fantasy character provided by the library for decoration or creative use, or bring your own and paint with others! Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 20331 Point Lookout Rd., Great Mills, MD 20634 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21895 Pegg Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 46472 Admiral Lane, Lexington Park, MD 20653 Learn the basics of threading and operating a sewing machine to make your reusable, terry lined dish cloth! No experience needed and all materials provided. Classes are a way to get started but are not required before using our sewing machines. Visit our Makerspace during open hours to use one of the sewing machines available for self-guided customer use. We have the sewing machines and all the tools you'll need, just bring your own material and pattern! Note for minors: Teenagers are welcome in our Makerspace classes! Customers aged 14+ can use the Makerspace without a guardian present; younger customers need an adult present at all times while visiting the Makerspace. What caused the wave of witch trials? Were the accused really believed to have supernatural powers? Who were the accused witches of Maryland? And who was Moll Dyer? Between about 1580 and 1630, witchcraft trials swept across Europe in a wave of fear and suspicion. Although accusations occurred as early as the 1400s and continued into the 1700s, this fifty-year period saw the height of mass hysteria, accusations, and executions. Historians estimate that at least 60,000 people, most of them women, were put to death for the crime of witchcraft. In Maryland, thankfully, such hysteria was far less common. Unlike Massachusetts, the colony saw relatively few accusations and even fewer executions. Yet Maryland was not entirely untouched. There were individuals accused of witchcraft here, and their stories are both fascinating and revealing, offering a window into the fears, beliefs, and everyday struggles of early colonial life. This presentation explores the history behind the legends, separating myth from documented fact, and examining what these stories tell us about the people and communities who lived here centuries ago. Presented by Adam Tremper of Spooky Solomons. Spooky Solomons Historical Ghost Tours is a year round tour company dedicated to exploring the history, legends, and folklore of Solomons Island, Southern Maryland, and beyond. Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Stop the Bleed is a national public health campaign initiated by the U.S. Department of Defense to empower everyday people to act as immediate responders in life-threatening bleeding emergencies. The campaign encourages bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. It aims to inform the general public about basic trauma care techniques to stop or slow bleeding during emergencies. You will be taught different methods of tourniquet application and bleeding control to stop massive hemorrhage and life-threatening bleeding. This class is provided in partnership with the Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Patuxent River. Examine the life events of Frederick Douglass as his journey takes him from being an enslaved boy on the Eastern Shore of MD to one of the highest ranking African American men of the 19th century. Douglass' story is fascinating from how he learns to read and write to become an editor of two newspapers during the 19th century and how his talents and skills enabled him to become a United States diplomat, serving a country that once considered him chattel property. This program is being presented by Vivian Fisher of the Maryland State Library Resource Center & the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Each month we will discuss a different fantasy or science fiction.
March's book is Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots. Find the book in our catalog by clicking on the title above. Register for Puzzlemania! Jigsaw Puzzle Competition & Swap Want to try speed puzzling? Form a team of two or three, and see how fast that team can be! All teams will go head-to-head to see who can complete a 500 piece puzzle first! All teams will have a copy of the same library supplied puzzle for this competition and prizes will be awarded. Teams are made up of 2-3 people, all of which need to be age 16 or older. Registration is required and only one team member should register for the team. (We'll also have a Puzzlemania! Family Edition competition in the summer for all ages.) Register for Veterans Book Group A book discussion series for veterans led by Vietnam Veteran Wayne Karlin. Registration required; space is limited. For more information contact Kimberlé Fields at 301-863-8188 or kfields@stmalib.org. This book discussion series is tailored for veterans and their families. Service members of all eras, their spouses, and adult children are welcome. Author and retired college professor Wayne Karlin will lead us through conversations about books written in very different styles but connected by themes of war, courage, love, honor, and trauma. Meetings will be held at Lexington Park library on the first Saturday of the month from 2-4 p.m. Supplies are limited; participants may pick up a copy of the book one month before the meetings. The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with St. Mary’s County Library. Veterans Book Group is supported this year by St. Mary’s County Library. BOOK LIST February 07 - With the Old Breed: at Peleliu and Okinawa by Eugene Sledge Based on notes Sledge secretly kept in a copy of the New Testament, With the Old Breed captures with utter simplicity and searing honesty the experience of a soldier in the fierce Pacific Theater. Here is what saved, threatened, and changed his life. Here, too, is the story of how he learned to hate and kill—and came to love—his fellow man. “In all the literature on the Second World War, there is not a more honest, realistic or moving memoir than Eugene Sledge’s. This is the real deal, the real war: unvarnished, brutal, without a shred of sentimentality or false patriotism, a profound primer on what it actually was like to be in that war. It is a classic that will outlive all the armchair generals’ safe accounts of—not the ‘good war’—but the worst war ever.”—Ken Burns March 07 - Seeking Quan Am: A Dual Memoir by Susan R. Dixon and Mark Smith What happens when a two-tour Vietnam veteran tries to talk to an anti-war activist decades after the war has ended? Will buried memories, simmering resentment, and divisive stereotypes sabotage their effort? Has too much time passed? Mark M. Smith chose to enlist in the Army after his high school graduation in 1966 and to serve in Vietnam as an infantryman with the First Air Cavalry. He wanted to experience war directly, to feel what it was like to come under fire—and he got his wish. His high school classmate Susan R. Dixon had seen the physical effects of world wars, the Six Day War in Israel, and even the French Revolution during her travels in Europe and the Middle East. She also witnessed the emotional effects of the Civil War and world wars in generations of her own family. She opposed the war Mark chose to fight in. When Mark and Susan reconnected in 2012, Mark needed an editor for the writing he had done immediately after the war. Susan had become interested in how the trauma of the Vietnam War had affected not just the veterans, but those who witnessed the war indirectly. Together they journeyed into memory and toward modern Vietnam, with no guarantees where that journey would take them. April 04 - Street Without Joy: The French Debacle in Indochina by Bernard Fall First published in 1961 by Stackpole Books, Street without Joy is a classic of military history. Journalist and scholar Bernard Fall vividly captured the sights, sounds, and smells of the brutal— and politically complicated—conflict between the French and the Communist-led Vietnamese nationalists in Indochina. The French fought to the bitter end, but even with the lethal advantages of a modern military, they could not stave off the Viet Minh insurgency of hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, booby traps, and nighttime raids. The final French defeat came at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, setting the stage for American involvement and a far bloodier chapter in Vietnam‘s history. Fall combined graphic reporting with deep scholarly knowledge of Vietnam and its colonial history in a book memorable in its descriptions of jungle fighting and insightful in its arguments. After more than a half a century in print, Street without Joy remains required reading. May 02 - An Artist's Legacy by Khanh Ha Amid the raging Indochina War war blossoms a love story when an artist/reporter meets a singer/performer who travels with an entertainment troupe to the valley of Dien Bien Phu for the climactic confrontation between the Viet Minh and the French Union. The lovers become separated after the victory of Đien Bien Phu when the artist is sent to South Viet Nam to fight the American Viet Nam War. They meet again 40 years later in that valley called Đien Bien Phu. His solitary soul is reunited with his truelove. It is a simple love story that transcends cultural barriers. An Artist's Legacy is a lush, evocative, epic journey, from a love story amid the horror of war to the muted anguish of death and destruction. It carries the quality of Tree of Smoke in a foreign historical setting and an epic sense of Love in the Time of Cholera. June 06 - Robert E. Lee and Me: A Southerner's Reckoning with the Myth of the Lost Cause by Ty Seidule Ty Seidule grew up revering Robert E. Lee. From his southern childhood to his service in the U.S. Army, every part of his life reinforced the Lost Cause myth: that Lee was the greatest man who ever lived, and that the Confederates were underdogs who lost the Civil War with honor. Now, as a retired brigadier general and Professor Emeritus of History at West Point, his view has radically changed. From a soldier, a scholar, and a southerner, Ty Seidule believes that American history demands a reckoning. In a unique blend of history and reflection, Seidule deconstructs the truth about the Confederacy—that its undisputed primary goal was the subjugation and enslavement of Black Americans—and directly challenges the idea of honoring those who labored to preserve that system and committed treason in their failed attempt to achieve it. Part history lecture, part meditation on the Civil War and its fallout, and part memoir, Robert E. Lee and Me challenges the deeply-held legends and myths of the Confederacy—and provides a surprising interpretation of essential truths that our country still has a difficult time articulating and accepting. Photo by Ron Carver Join the Intro to 3D Printing Waitlist Learn how to make your own 3D items using free software and submit them to the library to be created for free! Community health advocates will be in the lobby to talk about health and wellness services through the hospital. Learn about ways that AccessHealth can help with overcoming barriers such as transportation, housing, food insecurity, insurance, benefit applications, and more! Register for Connect and Converse Do you enjoy doing arts & crafts, playing board games, and making new friends? Connect and Converse might be the event for you! We meet on the second Monday of the month to make a craft, play a game, and listen to music. Our activities for this month are picture frame decorating and Zingo. This event is intended for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities as well as their friends, family, and caregivers. Registration is required for attendees. Please use the Add More People button to register every person who will be attending. Registration Full Register with an email address to receive the link to a trivia game and test your knowledge! The game is multiple choice questions and speed matters! Registration for each week ends at 5 p.m. on Mondays. After 5 p.m., registrants will be emailed a link to that week's trivia. You will have until Thursday at 5 p.m. to complete the game, then you'll receive an email with the full results. Trivia uses Kahoot, accessible through any internet browser, no account needed. Therapy animals from Pets on Wheels are visiting the library! Friends of all ages are invited to practice reading with a furry friend, or just enjoy some pets and snuggles. Join the Art to Unwind Waitlist Art doesn't have to be intimidating, or time consuming. Instead, it can be a chance to explore creativity, the ability to make mistakes, and an opportunity to try something new. Each session will feature a small art and/or craft project that can be completed in an hour to an hour and a half. Join the Introduction to Genealogy Waitlist Are you new to genealogy or just need a refresher on how to improve your research? This three-part series is aimed at helping you form a good foundation to build upon throughout your journey. Over the course of these programs you will learn methodology, what is available online and what repositories have information that can help answer your genealogical questions. Throughout these sessions you will: Please note: this is part one of a three part series. You must register for each session separately: Part 1: Charts, Census Records, Software & Websites - Mon., March 2nd, 6-7:30 pm About Our Presenter Register for Kwame Alexander LIVE! Join Kwame Alexander, Emmy-winning producer and #1 NYT bestselling author, for an engaging conversation with Mt. Harmony Elementary School's Dr. Melaney Sánchez at Calvert High School! Together, they'll explore literacy, self-advocacy, and the power of community. Celebrate the launch of Alexander's new book, The Mighty Macy, and his upcoming TV series, America’s Next Great Author. As we approach America's 250th anniversary, this event honors our shared values of freedom, independence, and the joy of learning. Books will be available for sale and signing. Please register to attend in person. Doors open at 6 p.m. If you cannot attend in person, this event will be livestreamed on Calvert Library's YouTube channel. Registration is not required to watch the livestream. Maryland Libraries Together is a collaboration of Maryland libraries to engage communities in enriching educational experiences that advance an understanding of the issues of our time. Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. SMCDAHS will be providing community members information regarding programs and services available to the county's senior residents, as well as other segments of the population in need.
Department representatives will provide information about programs such as Home Delivered Meals, congregate meals, in-home services, ombudsman services, caregiver support, Senior Rides, social and recreational programs, health promotion, community outreach, volunteer opportunities for older adults, and much more! Have questions about growing vegetables, soil conditions, mystery insects, invasive weeds, or heirloom plants? Ask a Master Gardener! Stop by with your plant samples and questions. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. Maritime Building We invite you to bring your current crocheting, embroidery, cross-stitch, or any other needlework project to share with fellow crafters. Whether you're a seasoned stitcher or just starting, this event is open to all skill levels. Feel free to mingle, swap patterns, ideas, and tips with like-minded makers. Come share your love for fabric and fiber crafts with the community! Basic supplies will be available if needed, and no registration is required. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 24400 Mervell Dean Rd, Hollywood, MD 20636 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 23154 Wetstone Ln., California, MD 20619 Visit the St. Mary's County Health Department in the Leonardtown Lobby to get free information. Fun promotional items will be provided, too! Information will be provided about tobacco cessation programs, free colon cancer screenings, colonoscopies, and mammograms programs, health insurance/Medicaid information, and information about asthma programs and so much more. We will also provide community members with COVID-19 resources and will also offer on-site registration for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for anyone who is interested/eligible. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21905 Chancellors Run Rd., Great Mills, MD 20634 The Maryland Food Bank’s Mobile Market is coming to visit! Stop by to shop from our “grocery store on wheels” and receive free nonperishable food items, fresh produce, and other non-food necessities while supplies last. Enter a calm, welcoming space where mindfulness meets creativity! Guided by instructor Jinna Lee. Learn simple, step‑by‑step techniques for drawing intricate spirals and patterns—an easy, meditative practice that reduces stress and sharpens focus. All supplies are provided; just bring an open mind. No artistic experience required—just a desire to unwind and create. Register for Who's Nesting in My Backyard? Join Barb Whipkey, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lexington Park and LaPlata, as she shares information about the birds who may be nesting in our yards. Barb will give tips on helping to create successful nesting habitats and feeding tips for these birds. Register with an email address to receive a link to join the event online. Zoom links will be sent out the day before or day of the program. Register for Intro to 3D Printing Have you ever wanted something 3D printed at the library, but weren't sure how? Now is your chance to learn! This introductory course will cover the basics of how a 3D printer works and how to use PrusaSlicer software. Learn how to find ready-to-print files online and submit them to the Library for printing. No prior experience is needed. This is an in-person class held in the Computer Lab Makerspace. Join the Book Arts: Make a Reading Journal Waitlist Learn a traditional bookbinding technique as you sew and customize a reading journal that reflects your personality.
Registration required If you enjoy this event, be on the lookout for our upcoming "DIY: Pockets for Journals" program and the "Advanced Book Arts" workshop to further enhance your bookmaking skills and personalize your journaling experience! Join the Journal Joy! Pressed Flower Journals Waitlist Decorate a journal with pressed flowers and leaves grown in Southern Maryland! Select from an assortment of pressed flowers and leaves grown in Southern MD and pressed by Holly, our workshop leader. Learn a bit about pressing, choose a journal, lay out your design. Holly will provide a spread of over 35 different types of native plant material (and some non-native pressed flowers too) for you to select from, and guide you on adhesive tips. Finish your journals with clear panels of transparency film to protect, and finish off with washi tape borders and a tassel page marker if you wish. ALL MATERIALS PROVIDED. Holly Dilatush lives in Charles County and grows over 400 different plants for her pressed flower art and workshops. She is a proud member of the WorldWide Pressed Flower Guild (WWPFG.com), has shown and sold her work at various local galleries and venues, facilitated several pressed flower workshops, and even won two ribbons at the Philadelphia Flower Show. Presented by the Southern Maryland Folklife Center. Register for Lexington Park Chess Tournament A special edition chess day, featuring a chess tournament with a formal ruleset utilizing chess clocks and judging. Registration is required for competitors, format will be in quads, with a potential winner's group with enough participants. Prizes will be available for quad winners, as well as small participation prizes. There will be a 14 and under division and a 15+ division, maximum of 24 participants per division.
Tournament Rules- Clock Rules Matches have a 10 minute clock timer. You must hit the clock with the same hand you move a piece with. Black decides which side of the board the clock is on. No Taking Back Moves Once you let go of a piece, the move is final. If you make more than 3 illegal moves in a game, further illegal moves have a 10 second penalty. Want a book club, but without the pressure of discussion? Love to read, but are super shy around new people? Join us for a Silent Book Club! Bring your own book or check out something you've been eying and then come hang out with others and just read quietly. After the first hour, people can share about what they are reading with other attendees or dig in to get through just a little bit more. Celebrate Pi Day with the Mobile Library and the Town of Leonardtown! Special highlights include a pie eating contest at 2:30 p.m., hula hoop fun at 3:00 p.m., and a festive Pi-rade at 3:30 p.m. Enjoy activity stations throughout the event offering creative and engaging ways to connect with the spirit of 3.14. Register to reserve your spot. Please use the Add more people button when registering to register every person who will be attending the event. If you want to participate in the pie eating contest, visit the Mobile Library upon your arrival to sign up. First come, first served. Limited spaces available. Please be aware that any available food items may contain common allergens, and anyone with food allergies or dietary sensitivities should exercise caution. As the event will take place outdoors at the Port of Leonardtown Park, it is weather dependent! Bring your friends and your love of circles for this community celebration! 23190 Newtowne Neck Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Join the Cricut Crafts: Wall Hanging - AFTERNOON SESSION Waitlist Learn more about the library's Cricut Maker and practice cutting and applying heat transfer vinyl! This introductory, hands-on class will cover how to use an electronic die-cutting machine called the Cricut Maker to create a fabric wall hanging using simple tea towels and iron on material, also called heat transfer vinyl or HTV. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs compatible with Cricut cutting machines. No experience necessary, all materials provided. NOTE: This program will be repeated later in the evening on the same day at 5:30pm. Please register for only the afternoon session or the evening session. Join the Cricut Crafts: Wall Hanging - EVENING SESSION Waitlist Learn more about the library's Cricut Maker and practice cutting and applying heat transfer vinyl! This introductory, hands-on class will cover how to use an electronic die-cutting machine called the Cricut Maker to create a fabric wall hanging using simple tea towels and iron on material, also called heat transfer vinyl or HTV. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs compatible with Cricut cutting machines. No experience necessary, all materials provided. NOTE: This program is a repeat of the same event earlier in the afternoon the same day at 1:30pm. Please register for only the afternoon session or the evening session. Join the Introduction to Genealogy Waitlist Are you new to genealogy or just need a refresher on how to improve your research? This three-part series is aimed at helping you form a good foundation to build upon throughout your journey. Over the course of these programs you will learn methodology, what is available online and what repositories have information that can help answer your genealogical questions. Throughout these sessions you will: Please note: this is part one of a three part series. You must register for each session separately: Part 1: Charts, Census Records, Software & Websites - Mon., March 2nd, 6-7:30 pm About Our Presenter Join Community Mediation of St. Mary's County for a community conversation about AI. We know that people have different comfort levels about the use of AI. How can we as a community talk together about the benefits and risks of using AI? How do we navigate this new tool while remaining true to our values? We'll talk together about how each of us can shape the narrative about using AI in school, the workplace, and at home. SMCDAHS will be providing community members information regarding programs and services available to the county's senior residents, as well as other segments of the population in need.
Department representatives will provide information about programs such as Home Delivered Meals, congregate meals, in-home services, ombudsman services, caregiver support, Senior Rides, social and recreational programs, health promotion, community outreach, volunteer opportunities for older adults, and much more! Representatives from the Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative will be here to provide information on their Residential Program and free Energy Efficiency Kits Are you interested in researching the lives of your ancestors? Do you watch "Finding Your Roots" and wonder how they find all that information? Members of the St. Mary's County Genealogical Society will be available to give beginners guidance on how to get started. Or if you've already begun they can assist on planning the next step to expand your research. MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Community Health Advocates will be in the lobby to talk about health and wellness services throughout the hospital, and to provide blood pressure and other screenings. They will also provide information about ways that Access Health can help with overcoming barriers such as transportation, housing, food insecurity, insurance, benefit applications, and more. The Parents’ Place of Maryland (PPMD) is a statewide nonprofit organization that supports families of children with disabilities, special healthcare needs, and behavioral health challenges. PPMD offers free one‑on‑one guidance, special education and healthcare navigation support, family advocacy training, and access to a wide range of educational resources. A representative from PPMD will be visiting to provide information about these free services. Register for Cricut Crafts: Tote Bag with Iron-On Vinyl Unlock your crafting potential by learning how to use the Cricut cutting machine to make your own custom tote bag! This introductory, in-person class will cover how to use the Cricut Maker 3, an electronic die-cutting machine, to make clean and precise cuts on Iron-on Vinyl (also known as Heat Transfer Vinyl, or HTV) as well as the Cricut Heat Press to apply the vinyl onto fabric. Participants will also learn the basics of Cricut Design Space, the software used to create endlessly customizable designs. No experience necessary, all materials provided. Everyone is welcome to visit the Leonardtown Library Makerspace during open hours to use the Cricut to create whatever you can imagine! Customers need to have their own Cricut Design Space online account and bring their own material, but we have all the equipment and tools you'll need! Visit the Makerspace webpage to see open hours and learn about all the Makerspace has to offer. Note for minors: Teenagers are welcome in our Makerspace classes! Customers aged 14+ can use the Makerspace without a guardian present; younger customers need an adult present at all times while visiting the Makerspace. The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.
Come for a one-on-one session with an attorney to discuss matters such as custody, visitation, divorce, child support, name change, guardianship, and domestic violence. First Come First Serve. No appointments - walk-ins only. Contact Person: Claire Langeluttig, Family Services Coordinator Email: claire.langeluttig@mdcourts.gov NOTE: Dates are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact Claire Langeluttig to confirm dates. We recommend getting to the library by 5:30pm to sign in. Please note that the attorney must leave by 7:30pm Register for Virtual Romance Book Club - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid Each month we will discuss a different romance novel. Representatives will be here to educate and assist those who are seeking low-cost or free health insurance options through Maryland Health Connection. Seedco enrollment counselors will be available to educate and assist with Maryland Health Connection accounts. Call Seedco at 1-855-339-3007 for more information. https://seedco.org/marylandhealth/ https://www.marylandhealthconnection.gov/ Do you have a preschool-aged child? Come learn about the St. Mary's County Head Start Center-Based Program, which focuses on preparing children for kindergarten. Representatives from Head Start will be available to talk about their services, enrollment, and answer any questions you may have. Register for Make Your Own Merch: Buttons Want to showcase your love for your fandom? This series will show you how to make your own fan merch for whatever it is you love! This session will be about designing and making pinback buttons. Register for Cozy Mystery Book Club Join us to discuss a different cozy mystery on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Leonardtown Library. Be ready to talk about a genre that puts us all at ease while keeping us on our toes. As we do every 3 months, this meeting will be BYOB - Bring Your Own Book! Come ready to talk about a cozy mystery that you have been reading recently, a go-to favorite/recommendation, or one that you’re excited to read this year! It can be any cozy book, series, or author that you enjoy. Just come prepared to share and get some good recommendations from your peers. Something you suggest may even be selected for a future book club meeting! A list of all the books that we discuss will be sent out after the meeting. Looking for possible books to read and bring to discuss? Try searching for "cozy mysteries" in our catalog or look for digital downloads on our Libby and the Palace Project apps! Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 13820 Point Lookout Rd, Ridge, MD 20680 Register for Headshots at the Library Get a FREE headshot photo taken at our Library! Want to give your personal branding a boost? Here's your chance to get a free, polished digital headshot to use your way: LinkedIn, Teams, work email, personal and business marketing, announcements, and social media. Grab an appointment time while they last! Recommended attire includes neutral colors and to avoid clothing with logos. Registration will open on March 6. Register for Thanks! It Has Pockets! Have a skirt, dress, or kilt that you love, but it doesn’t have pockets? Learn how to add your own! Bring a garment to work on and we’ll provide the rest! We will go over all the steps needed to add your own pockets to your clothing so that you will never find yourself lacking somewhere to put your phone, wallet, keys, etc. Needles, thread, and fabric for the pockets will be provided. Just be sure to bring your own clothing item to work on. We highly recommend you select a garment that you are not extremely attached to, incase of any accidents. Items with side-seams may be easier to maneuver your first time, though we will go over how to add pockets to items with or without them. This will be a hand-sewing based program, rather than a machine-sewing one. Prior sewing skills are not necessarily required, though they will help you with the process. Registration will open on March 7, 2026 We will be making blackout poetry by using existing text to create new pieces! All materials will be provided. Writers of all experience are invited to attend. Registration will give you a reminder email but is not required to attend, walk-ins are welcome! Register for Transplanting - The Roots to Success Eager to start your spring planting? Master Gardeners will teach you the proper methods for transplanting seedlings into the garden or containers, whether you winter sow them yourself in milk jugs, grow them indoors or buy from nurseries. A colorful presentation will be followed by a hands-on chance to transplant seedlings into pots you can take home. This program is made possible with support from the Lexington Manor Passive Park Community Garden and the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs. This workshop may qualify for continuing education hours for Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists. Registration Full Register with an email address to receive the link to a trivia game and test your knowledge! The game is multiple choice questions and speed matters! Registration for each week ends at 5 p.m. on Mondays. After 5 p.m., registrants will be emailed a link to that week's trivia. You will have until Thursday at 5 p.m. to complete the game, then you'll receive an email with the full results. Trivia uses Kahoot, accessible through any internet browser, no account needed. Register for Article III: The Judiciary Interested in learning about how our American federal government was created? Speaker Dr. Jim Gibb will discuss Article III of the Constitution, which explains the judicial system. Article III concerns the federal judiciary, including the creation of the Supreme Court and such “inferior” courts as Congress deemed necessary. How many justices? “Inferior” courts? The Constitution is remarkably vague, the delegates leaving it to Congress to fill in the details. This presentation explores the federal judicial system and, unlike other presentations, reaches beyond the Convention to later developments including the landmark Marbury v. Madison case establishing judicial review. This presentation will be held live over Zoom. It will also be recorded and uploaded to the St. Mary's County Library YouTube channel. If you would like to attend this event live and/or watch the recording, please register with an email address to receive the Zoom link the day before the event. The YouTube link to the recording will be emailed to everyone who registers for this program. Have questions about growing vegetables, soil conditions, mystery insects, invasive weeds, or heirloom plants? Ask a Master Gardener! Stop by with your plant samples and questions. Learn about how early settlers shaped the foundations of Maryland! Although we teach about the Big 3 colonies in early America – Jamestown, Virginia, Plimoth, Massachusetts, and St. Mary’s City, Maryland –as three distinct places, the reality was that they had a lot of interaction. That is to be expected of Virginia and Maryland – they can see each other after all, but there was some with Plymouth as well. This presentation will take a look at who knew who, and how they knew each other, in the early days of Maryland. This history seminar is presented by Karen Stone, of the St. Mary's County Museums Department. This event is part of the Southern Maryland 250th Semiquincentennial, Maryland 250th, and America 250th celebration, commemorating Southern Maryland's contributions to our nation's founding. Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 13723 Point Lookout Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 47550 Mill Field Dr., St. Mary's City, MD 20686 Register for Introduction to Google Docs Learn to use Google Docs, the free word processing software included with your Gmail account! Join us for this introductory class to learn how to use Google Docs. We'll get you started with Docs and cover the basics of creating documents. This class does not result in a certification. Computer Skills needed for this class: Mouse and keyboard Register to reserve your spot and receive a reminder email. Please use the Add More People button to register every person who will be attending. Walk-ins welcome as space allows. Please have your Gmail address, password, and cellphone with you to facilitate log in. Don’t have a Gmail account? No problem! We’ll help you set one up in class but you will need to bring a cellphone with you. The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.
Come for a one-on-one session with an attorney to discuss matters such as custody, visitation, divorce, child support, name change, guardianship, and domestic violence. First Come First Serve. No appointments - walk-ins only. Contact Person: Claire Langeluttig, Family Services Coordinator Email: claire.langeluttig@mdcourts.gov NOTE: Dates are subject to change without prior notice. Please contact Claire Langeluttig to confirm dates. We recommend getting to the library by 5:30pm to sign in. Please note that the attorney must leave by 7:30pm Everyone needs a bit of time to relax and create. Come and paint with your fellow library users. Chat and make friends, or paint on your own - however you feel that day. Registration will open on March 12, 2026 Enter a calm, welcoming space where mindfulness meets creativity! Guided by instructor Jinna Lee.
Learn simple, step‑by‑step techniques for drawing intricate spirals and patterns—an easy, meditative practice that reduces stress and sharpens focus. All supplies are provided; just bring an open mind. No artistic experience required—just a desire to unwind and create. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. 21078 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653 Start off the new year by exploring a new hobby. Drop in to try a variety of arts and craft mediums provided by the library. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. The following mediums will be available to try: Aprons will be available for use, but please wear clothing that can get messy. Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. Intersection of McCool Dr. and Clark St., California, MD 20619 Library services on the Mobile Library include Wi-Fi access, library card services, crafts to go, and materials for checkout! While the Mobile Library collection is unavailable for holds, staff are able to assist with requests for books and materials from other Library locations. The Mobile Library can accept returns from any location, and materials checked out from the vehicle may be returned to any location. Intersection of Smith St., and Scobee St., California, MD 20619 Registration will open on March 14, 2026 Take your tastebuds to the next level with the ultimate cookies and cream challenge! Calling all snack judges to sample a range of store-brand cookies-and-cream sandwich cookies alongside the iconic Oreo in a blind taste test. Does the name brand truly reign supreme or can your tongue be tricked? Evaluate flavor, texture, and crunch before recording your observations to compare with the rest of group. We might even learn a little bit about survey science along the way! Register to reserve your spot--walk ins welcome as space allows. Register for Medieval Banners and Pennants Workshop Discover the colorful world of medieval heraldry and the banners and pennants that once decorated castles, marketplaces, and battlefields. This program introduces participants to real historical examples and explores how these vibrant symbols helped people identify families, communities, and military groups in the Middle Ages. No artistic experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to explore a bit of history. We’ll look at how banners were made in the past and discuss simple, modern ways to create them today. Participants will also be invited to experiment with designing their own personal heraldry, using the same principles that guided medieval artists and storytellers.
R.A.D. Self Defense Class for Women/Teen Girls
Sunday, March 1, 1:30 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
Introduction to Google Sheets
This class does not result in certification.
Computer Skills needed for this class: Mouse and keyboard
Spun Cotton Toadstool Art
Research with AI: NotebookLM for your next Project
Computer Skills needed for this class: Mouse and keyboard
Register to reserve your spot and receive a reminder email. Walk-ins welcome as space allows.Introduction to Genealogy: Part 1: Charts, Census Records, Software & Websites
Part 3: Land Records and Migration Patterns – Mon., March 16th, 6-7:30
Eve Love, a native of St. Mary’s County, is an ardent student of history and genealogy. Her interest in family history began as a young adult listening to family stories. She has been conducting personal genealogy research for approximately forty years. Eve is a Member of the St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society and has served as President, 1st Vice President and Secretary. She has attended numerous seminars to expand her knowledge and research techniques and has taught Genealogy Classes at the College of Southern Maryland. Eve is also a member of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, a volunteer member of the St. Mary’s County Historic Preservation Committee and a volunteer at Historic St. Mary’s City. 
Article II: The President: Towards a More Perfect Union: A Series
St. Mary's County Recreation & Parks
Kindles, Cookies & Cocoa
Homeschooling Parents Community Conversation
Community Fiber Arts
Artist's Workspace
Mini-Painting Workshop
Mobile Library Stop at St. Mary's Caring Soup Kitchen
Mobile Library Stop at Lexington Park Senior Apartments
Mobile Library Stop at Patuxent Cove Apartments
Sewing Machine 101: Eco-Friendly Dish cloth
The Witches of Maryland: Moll Dyer History
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
Stop The Bleed Training
Frederick Douglass: From Enslaved to Diplomat!
Virtual Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Club - Hench
Puzzlemania! Jigsaw Puzzle Competition & Swap
Don't want to compete? We'll also have a puzzle swap in the room, so bring a complete puzzle you're ready to part with and look for a new-to-you one!Veterans Book Group
Intro to 3D Printing
AccessHealth at St. Mary's County Hospital: Lobby Visit
Connect and Converse
Trivia Mondays
Paws to Read
Art to Unwind
Introduction to Genealogy: Part 2: Birth, Marriage, Death & Probate
Part 3: Land Records and Migration Patterns – Mon., March 16th, 6-7:30
Eve Love, a native of St. Mary’s County, is an ardent student of history and genealogy. Her interest in family history began as a young adult listening to family stories. She has been conducting personal genealogy research for approximately forty years. Eve is a Member of the St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society and has served as President, 1st Vice President and Secretary. She has attended numerous seminars to expand her knowledge and research techniques and has taught Genealogy Classes at the College of Southern Maryland. Eve is also a member of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, a volunteer member of the St. Mary’s County Historic Preservation Committee and a volunteer at Historic St. Mary’s City. Kwame Alexander LIVE!
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
St. Mary's County Dept of Aging & Human Services: Lobby Visit
For more information about the Department of Aging & Human Services, visit https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/aging/. Master Gardeners Plant Clinic
Mobile Library Stop at Piney Point Lighthouse Museum
44720 Lighthouse Rd., Piney Point, MD 20674Common Thread
Mobile Library Stop at St. Mary's Adult Medical Daycare
Mobile Library Stop at Wildewood Village Event Center
St. Mary's County Health Department
Mobile Library Stop at Loffler Senior Center
Maryland Food Bank Mobile Market
Mindful Spirals: Therapeutic Art Class
Who's Nesting in My Backyard?
Intro to 3D Printing
Book Arts: Make a Reading Journal
Journal Joy! Pressed Flower Journals
Lexington Park Chess Tournament: The Shamrock Showdown
Silent Book Club
Pi Day
Cricut Crafts: Wall Hanging - AFTERNOON SESSION
Cricut Crafts: Wall Hanging - EVENING SESSION
Introduction to Genealogy: Part 3: Land Records, Immigration and Migration Patterns
Part 2: Birth, Marriage, Death and Probate – Mon., March 9th, 6-7:30
Eve Love, a native of St. Mary’s County, is an ardent student of history and genealogy. Her interest in family history began as a young adult listening to family stories. She has been conducting personal genealogy research for approximately forty years. Eve is a Member of the St. Mary’s County Genealogical Society and has served as President, 1st Vice President and Secretary. She has attended numerous seminars to expand her knowledge and research techniques and has taught Genealogy Classes at the College of Southern Maryland. Eve is also a member of the St. Mary’s County Historical Society, a volunteer member of the St. Mary’s County Historic Preservation Committee and a volunteer at Historic St. Mary’s City. Working Collaboratively with AI
St. Mary's County Dept of Aging & Human Services: Lobby Visit
For more information about the Department of Aging & Human Services, visit https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/aging/. SMECO: Lobby Visit
St. Mary's County Genealogical Society
MedStar St. Mary's Community Health Advocates
The Parents' Place of Maryland: Lobby Visit
Cricut Crafts: Tote Bag with Iron-On Vinyl
St. Mary's County Family Law Court Help Clinic
Phone: 301-475-4200 ext 4110Virtual Romance Book Club - Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid
March's title is Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid.
Find Heated Rivalry in our catalog
Get Covered Clinic: Maryland Health Connection Enrollment Assistance
If you need assistance, don't forget to bring these items:
Head Start
Make Your Own Merch: Buttons
Cozy Mystery Book Club
Mobile Library Stop at Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
Headshots at the Library
Thanks! It Has Pockets!: An Introductory Sewing Course
World Poetry Day: Blackout Poetry
Transplanting - The Roots to Success
Trivia Mondays
Article III: The Judiciary: Towards a More Perfect Union: A Series
Master Gardeners Plant Clinic
Maryland Day: History Talk
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
Mobile Library at First Saints Community Food Pantry
Mobile Library at St. Mary's College of Maryland
Introduction to Google Docs
St. Mary's County Family Law Court Help Clinic
Phone: 301-475-4200 ext 4110Open Art Hour
Mindful Spirals: Therapeutic Art Class
Mobile Library Stop at Home Grown Farm Market
Arts and Crafts Day for All
Mobile Library Stop at Columbia Colony
Mobile Library Stop at Challenger Estates
The Great Cookies and Cream Face-Off
Medieval Banners and Pennants Workshop: presented by Barony of Dun Carraig, SOMD chapter of SCA
Walk- in's Welcome!!! Register for text/email reminders.
Presenter: Leesa Marie Orton aka Mary Isabel of Heatherstone, Minister of Arts & Sciences
Orton is an experienced educator and operational professional with a strong background in historical studies, leadership, and community engagement. She holds an MBA from the University of Maryland Global Campus and currently works as an Electrical Maintenance Scheduler at Constellation Energy, where she specializes in coordination and complex problem‑solving. Her academic focus on medieval culture is complemented by more than fifteen years of teaching, program development, and service across military, academic, and nonprofit settings. Leesa also brings hands‑on experience from her leadership roles in the Society for Creative Anachronism, enriching her classes with both scholarly insight and practical medieval knowledge
Please note that library staff may be taking photos of any or all events to use for future library publications. Event participants’ photos may be used without notification or compensation. If you do not feel comfortable having your photo taken, please inform library staff when you arrive to an event.
