Book Discussions and Author Visits
Join us for monthly virtual book discussions and special author visits! See the schedule.
LexiCon Returns!
Save the date for LexiCon at Lexington Park Library on Saturday, October 8! We’ll have author talks, trivia, a cosplay contest, workshops, and prizes!
Author Fair 2022
If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible. The Southern Maryland Community Network will visit the lobby of the Lexington Park branch to discuss their mental health resources and services with the community. The Southern Maryland Community Network, Inc. provides a range of expertly and uniquely delivered behavioral health services that are predicated on the belief that each person's strengths hold the keys to their recovery. 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. Do you like anime or manga? Join us for this month's anime film: The Place Promised in Our Early Days by Makoto Shinkai! We will have time for a brief discussion after the movie. Learn to play the ukulele! Local music teacher Nani Lowery will lead a 2-part virtual workshop for beginners to get your started on your musical journey. No ukulele? No problem! Borrow one from the library before the first session. We have 20 ukuleles available, with tuners and cases. Have your own ukulele? That's great! Make sure it's in working order, and that you have a tuner (or download a tuner app for your smartphone). This workshop is open to adults, teens, and tweens who are in 6th grade and up. A class packet with instructions and music will be emailed to all participants, or can be picked up at the library prior to the workshop. The Grim Readers is a book club that meets on the first Tuesday of every month for an hour to discuss a horror book. This month's pick is Old Bones by Preston and Child. Nora Kelly, a young but successful curator with a series of important excavations already under her belt, is approached by the handsome Historian, Clive Benton, to lead an expedition unlike any other. Clive tells his story—one involving the ill-fated Donner Party, who became permanently lodged in the American consciousness in the winter of 1847, when the first skeletonized survivors of the party stumbled out of the California mountains, replete with tales of courage, resourcefulness, bad luck, murder, barbarism—and, finally, starvation and cannibalism. Captivated by the Donner Party, Nora agrees and they venture into the Sierra Nevada in search of the camp. Quickly, they learn that the discovery of the missing starvation camp is just the tip of the iceberg—and that the real truth behind those long-dead pioneers is not only far more complex and surprising than they could have imagined...but it is one that puts them both in mortal danger from a very real, present-day threat in which the search for the lost party, and its fabled fortune in gold, are merely means to a horrifying end. Join us with a discussion with Martha Wells, author of the incredible series, Murderbot Diaries! Martha Wells has written many fantasy novels, including The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The Harbors of the Sun), and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction. Her New York Times and USA Today-bestselling Murderbot Diaries series has won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards. Register to receive the link to the Zoom meeting the day before the event. If you require any accommodations for the event, please fill out the form here: https://www.stmalib.org/about-us/accessibility/request-an-accommodation/ Photo credit: Igot Kraguljac Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Join us each month as we discuss a different mystery novel. The book for May Open and Shut (Andy Carpenter #1) by David Rosenfelt. Learn to play the ukulele! Local music teacher Nani Lowery will lead a 2-part virtual workshop for beginners to get your started on your musical journey. No ukulele? No problem! Borrow one from the library before the first session. We have 20 ukuleles available, with tuners and cases. Have your own ukulele? That's great! Make sure it's in working order, and that you have a tuner (or download a tuner app for your smartphone). This workshop is open to adults, teens, and tweens who are in 6th grade and up. A class packet with instructions and music will be emailed to all participants, or can be picked up at the library prior to the workshop. 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. We are privileged that is led by Vietnam veteran, author, and College of Southern Maryland professor Wayne Karlin. Service members of all eras, their spouses, and adult children are welcome. This year we will read and discuss four non-fiction books: a former infantryman exploring how to be a parent; a former Navy pilot struggling with the tug between pride and guilt about his service; a journalist discussing in detail the erosion of honor in an elite force; and a former nurse’s very personal memoir of loss and trauma from World War I. Each book is written in a very different style but connected by themes of war, courage, honor, and trauma. Meetings will be held the first Saturday of the month 10 am - 12 pm via ZOOM. Participants should plan to attend all sessions. Materials provided. Book descriptions are from Amazon The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with St. Mary’s County Library. It is supported in part by Lockheed Martin, David Bruce Smith, and the Wawa Foundation. June 4th: Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain Wayne’s note: I think this is one of the most devastating accounts of World War One. It is told not by a soldier but by a woman from a sheltered background who volunteered as a nurse and suffered the severe losses that marked her generation. In 1914, Vera Brittain was 20; when war was declared she was preparing to study at Oxford. Four years later, her life - and the life of her whole generation - had changed in a way that would have been unimaginable in the tranquil pre-war era. Testament of Youth, one of the most famous autobiographies of the First World War, is Brittain's account of how she survived those agonizing years. Brittan recounts how she lost the man she loved; how she nursed the wounded and how she emerged into an altered world. A passionate record of a lost generation. It made Vera Brittain one of the best-loved writers of her time. This book has lost none of its power to shock, move, and enthrall readers since its first publication in 1933. It's back! Join us again for our 2nd Smartphone Photography Contest! Do you take the best pictures in St. Mary's County? Do you love showing your photography skills off on Facebook and Instagram? St. Mary's County Library invites submission of photographs taken with a smartphone for entry into our Smartphone Photography Contest. The contest is open to anyone in our community in the following age groups: Teens (ages 13 to 17), and Adults (ages 18 and older). Please read all guidelines before submitting entry materials. Enter the Smartphone Photography Contest!! Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division of St. Mary's County Health Department will be at the library to offer information for National Prevention Month. Trained voter registration volunteers will be in the lobby to assist with registering to vote. 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. Interested in learning about your family's history and ancestry? Join us with Christine Iko, a librarian at the Enoch Pratt Library, who specializes in African American History and Genealogy. African American genealogical research is different from other ethnic backgrounds. Due to slaves being considered property, they were prohibited from reading, writing, attending school, legally marrying, owning land, owning a business, voting, and participating in many other activities that generate records on which much genealogical research is based. Citizenship was granted in 1868 to slaves, an action that had an impact on records like letters, diaries, wills, census records, land deeds, voter registrations, and school records. However, like people of that time, written documents were sometimes segregated. These records might be kept in separate files or listed in the back of record books. Finding aids may also have these complications. For example, many military records of African Americans are indexed separately. Finally, African American genealogy and history has not been widely researched. When Alex Haley wrote his best-selling book Roots, many people began to question their elders about their past and research their own family histories. But this has only occurred in the most recent past. There’s a lot of history to try to catch up with! If you are interested or intrigued on where to begin, how to start, where to research, we hope to see you with us in this great program as we welcome Christine in discussing all there is about African American Genealogy. Seedco Navigators will be on site to educate and assist those who are uninsured as well as those currently insured through Maryland Health Connection. Navigators will be providing information on new lower premiums, access to financial assistance for those who qualify, as well as scheduling appointments for application and enrollment in health coverage. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division of St. Mary's County Health Department will be at the library to offer information for National Prevention Month. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. 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. Join fellow crafters who love all things fiber! Open to knitters, crocheters, quilters, embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and any other kind of needleworkers. Bring your current project, mingle with like-minded makers, and swap patterns, ideas, and tips. All skill levels welcome. No registration required. 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. Join fellow crafters who love all things fiber - virtually! Registration is required (with an email address). You'll receive an email with a link to join the Zoom meeting before the program. Open to knitters, crocheters, quilters, embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and any other kind of needleworkers. Work on your current project and chat with like-minded makers. All skill levels welcome. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division of St. Mary's County Health Department will be at the library to offer information for National Prevention Month. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division of St. Mary's County Health Department will be at the library to offer information for National Prevention Month. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. Explore your local roots. Learn about the resources in the Maryland Room at the Leonardtown Library to research your local ancestors from St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles counties. Our friends Karen, Frankie, and April from the St. Mary's County Genealogical Society and the St. Mary's County Historical Society will be here to teach about the resources available in the Maryland Room at the Leonardtown Library. The Maryland Room holds collections on Maryland history, local and Maryland genealogy, and a Daughter's of the American Revolution collection. Please bring any names, dates, and locations you are interested in researching. All skill levels are welcome. This is part 1 of a 2 part class. Part 2 is scheduled for May 19, 2022. This is an in-person class held in meeting room 1. Join us each month to discuss Martha Wells's Murderbot Diaries series. This month, we will be discussing book three, Rogue Protocol Listen to the audiobook on Hoopla Checkout the ebook or print book in our catalog Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division of St. Mary's County Health Department will be at the library to offer information for National Prevention Month. Staff from the Behavioral Health Division with the SMC Health Department will be available in the lobby to speak with visitors. 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. The Southern Maryland Community Network will visit the lobby of the Charlotte Hall branch to discuss their mental health resources and services with the community. The Southern Maryland Community Network, Inc. provides a range of expertly and uniquely delivered behavioral health services that are predicated on the belief that each person's strengths hold the keys to their recovery. Registration Full 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 and Makerspace. St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles Counties are collaborating on a joint partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor. Join us for monthly virtual classes relating to employment and training. Offered by the Maryland Department of Labor, American Job Center, this is an interactive workshop for resume and cover letter writing help. Looking for a job, or a better job? Don't miss this free class. Registration closes the Monday before the event. Job search help is available at https://mwejobs.maryland.gov/ By registering for this class, you are agreeing that your contact information will be shared with the Maryland Department of Labor, American Job Center (AJC). AJC staffer, Jasmine McCain, will contact you with initial materials and explain the MWE registration process. If you have questions or do not wish to register on MWE, you can contact Ms. McCain directly at jasminet.mccain@maryland.gov to get help on this topic. Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help, search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange. Employees from the St. Mary's County Health Department will be available in the lobby to answer your questions about Narcan and Opioid overdose. No appointment necessary. St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles Counties are collaborating on a joint partnership with the Maryland Department of Labor. Join us for monthly virtual classes relating to employment and training. Hone your interview skills with the Maryland Department of Labor, American Job Center! This is an interactive workshop with mock interviews and advice for in-person as well as virtual meetings. Registration closes the Monday prior to the event. Job search help is available on https://mwejobs.maryland.gov/ By registering for this class, you are agreeing that your contact information will be shared with Maryland Department of Labor, American Job Center (AJC). AJC staffer, Jasmine McCain, will contact you with initial materials and explain the MWE registration process. If you have questions or do not wish to register on MWE, you can contact Ms. McCain directly at jasminet.mccain@maryland.gov to get help on this topic. Each month we will discuss a different romance novel. All books will be available in both eBook and audiobook format on Hoopla. May's title is "Whiteout by Adriana Anders Angel Smith is finally ready to leave Antarctica for a second chance at life. But on what was meant to be her last day, the remote research station she's been calling home is attacked. Hunted and scared, she and irritatingly gorgeous glaciologist Ford Cooper barely make it out with their lives...only to realize that in a place this remote, there's nowhere left to run. Isolated with no power, no way to contact the outside world, and a madman on their heels, Angel and Ford must fight to survive in the most inhospitable-and beautiful-place on earth. But what starts as a partnership born of necessity quickly turns into an urgent connection that burns bright and hot. They both know there's little chance of making it out alive, and yet they are determined to weather the coming storm-no matter the cost. Listen to the audiobook on Hoopla Read the eBook on Hoopla Explore your local roots. Learn about the resources in the Maryland Room at the Leonardtown Library to research your local ancestors from St. Mary's, Calvert, and Charles counties. Our friends Karen, Frankie, and April from the St. Mary's County Genealogical Society and the St. Mary's County Historical Society will be here to teach about the resources available in the Maryland Room at the Leonardtown Library. The Maryland Room holds collections on Maryland history, local and Maryland genealogy, and a Daughter's of the American Revolution. Please bring any names, dates, and locations you are interested in researching. All skill levels are welcome. This is part 2 of a 2 part class. Part 1 is scheduled for May 5, 2022. This is an in-person class held in meeting room 1. Join Chip and Barb Whipkey, owners of Wild Birds Unlimited in Lexington Park and LaPlata, as well as experienced beekeepers, to learn what to plant in your yard to attract the birds and the bees. 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. This session will review Ancestry: Library Edition on a more detailed level and build upon the foundations discussed from the April program. The first Library: Ancestry Edition session discussed a basic approach to the platform. This one (while beginners and anyone interested are still welcome!) will go through actually searching on Ancestry. Results will be examined, discussed, and analyzed. The purpose is to understand: (1) how to filter search results, (2) understanding documentation and citation, and the root source, (3) identifying the different types of sources and best practices behind searching on Ancestry. The majority of this program will be spent on the Ancestry website, walking through, step-by-step, a search process, from a generic search to a more advanced one. If you have enjoyed the genealogical sessions offered, and wanted to learn more about Ancestry, we look forward to seeing you! Do you ever wonder what your local librarians are reading? Find out each month when a different librarian selects a book and leads a discussion group. This book club will have something for everyone! Join Christine, one of the librarians from Leonardtown, to discuss "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram for the Staff Picks Book Club! (May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this book explores some related topics.) Darius feels he's not that great. He doesn't fit in at his high school, he's a disappointment to his father, he's on medication for depression, and being from a mixed race family makes him not really sure where he belongs. When his Iranian grandfather's health deteriorates, he takes his first trip ever to Iran to visit the extended family. Darius meets a neighbor there, who might just possibly become a real friend. Author Adib Khorram tells a fun, first person narrative where we get to know Darius, who has a lot in common with all of us. This story will let us explore the social stigmas of mental illness, interracial relations, cultural norms, and the value of true friendship. Please join us! Dr. James Gibb will discuss Governor Tasker's Mansion. In the middle of the “Levittown” portion of Bowie in Prince George’s County is a stately 1747 mansion built for the royal governor Benjamin Tasker. The surviving building, now a museum, embodies many of the principles of Georgian architecture and landscapes eagerly espoused by the wealthiest and most powerful families in pre-Revolution Maryland. This illustrated presentation reveals some of the buildings, landscape features, and artifacts that no longer survive above ground. 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. Join fellow crafters who love all things fiber! Open to knitters, crocheters, quilters, embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and any other kind of needleworkers. Bring your current project, mingle with like-minded makers, and swap patterns, ideas, and tips. All skill levels welcome. No registration required. 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. Join fellow crafters who love all things fiber - virtually! Registration is required (with an email address). You'll receive an email with a link to join the Zoom meeting before the program. Open to knitters, crocheters, quilters, embroiderers, cross-stitchers, and any other kind of needleworkers. Work on your current project and chat with like-minded makers. All skill levels welcome. Seedco Navigators will be on site to educate and assist those who are uninsured as well as those currently insured through Maryland Health Connection. Navigators will be providing information on new lower premiums, access to financial assistance for those who qualify, as well as scheduling appointments for application and enrollment in health coverage. Trained voter registration volunteers will be in the lobby to assist with registering to vote. Join Allison, a librarian at Charlotte Hall Library, as she leads participants through a guided meditation for stress relief. Guided meditation, the practice of being led by another person’s voice to help one achieve a relaxed, mindful state, has many benefits. These include stress reduction, helping one focus more on the present moment, and increased self-awareness. Additionally, registered participants can pick up a DIY stress ball kit at any of the three St. Mary’s County Library branches. Wearing life jackets save lives! This seminar will explain the importance of wearing them, and when you should wear one. In addition, you will learn the different types of lifejackets for various water vessels and water sports. The new life jacket labeling format will also be addressed. This is a classroom course, not an on-the-water course, and does not provide actual underway experience. Presented by The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Solomons Flotilla. USCGA website All St. Mary's County Library locations are closed today.
The Southern Maryland Community Network: Lobby Visit
Trivia Mondays
Anime Movie Night
Snacks will be provided.
Ages 16—99.
Beginner Ukulele Workshop
The Grim Readers: Book Club
Virtual Author Talk with Martha Wells
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
Virtual Mystery Book Club
Beginner Ukulele Workshop
Veterans Book Group
Smartphone Photography Contest
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
SMCHD: National Prevention Month
Voter Registration
Trivia Mondays
African American Genealogy
Seedco Navigators: Connecting Families to Health Care
Seedco is a non-profit organization under a grant funded contract with the state of Maryland, through the Maryland Health Exchange. We work to educate and assist Maryland residents, free of charge, in understanding their health coverage options, potential for financial assistance, and how to select the best plan within the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange marketplace that suits their needs. Additionally, we work to provide resources and other options for those who do not qualify or are unable to get the coverage they need.
Social distancing and safe COVID protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of Seedco staff, Library staff, and the general public.
For more information please contact :
Christie Taylor
Seedco Navigator
chtaylor@seedco.orgSMCHD: National Prevention Month
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
Master Gardeners Plant Clinic
Common Thread: In Person!
Common Thread Online
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
SMCHD: National Prevention Month
SMCHD: National Prevention Month
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
Researching Your Local Ancestors: Part 1
Murderbot Diaries Book Club : Rogue Protocol
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
SMCHD: National Prevention Month
St. Mary's County Health Department: Behavioral Health Division
Trivia Mondays
The Southern Maryland Community Network - Lobby Visit
Introduction to 3D Printing
Maryland Workforce Exchange Workshop: Resumes and Cover Letters
Southern Maryland JobSource Mobile Career Center
St. Mary's County Health Department
Maryland Workforce Exchange Workshop: Professional Interview Skills
Virtual Romance Book Club: "Whiteout" by Adriana Anders
Researching Your Local Ancestors: Part 2
Planting to Attract Birds and Bees
Trivia Mondays
Ancestry Library Edition: Advanced Session
All Books Considered Book Club: Darius the Great Is Not OKay by Adib Khorram
Governor Tasker’s Belair Mansion : Before the American Revolution
Master Gardeners Plant Clinic
Common Thread: In Person!
Common Thread Online
Connecting Families to Health Care
Seedco is a non-profit organization under a grant funded contract with the state of Maryland, through the Maryland Health Exchange. We work to educate and assist Maryland residents, free of charge, in understanding their health coverage options, potential for financial assistance, and how to select the best plan within the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange marketplace that suits their needs. Additionally, we work to provide resources and other options for those who do not qualify or are unable to get the coverage they need.
Social distancing and safe COVID protocols will be in place to ensure the safety of Seedco staff, Library staff, and the general public.
For more information please contact :
Christie Taylor
Seedco Navigator
chtaylor@seedco.orgVoter Registration
Virtual Guided Meditation for Stress Relief
Let's Talk Life Jackets: Presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Library Closed
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.
