Timeline

1922

County Homemakers Clubs and County Extension Agent P.D. Brown establish first county library. Occupying a single room on the 2nd floor in the old county jail on Washington Avenue in La Plata, its book collection on loan from Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library.

1942

Library closes during World War II.

1949

Library reopens, occupying entire old jail building; supported through private donations and Homemakers Clubs’ fundraising.

1950

State governor appoints first Board of Library Trustees for Charles County. P. D. Brown elected president of Board. Library organized and head librarian hired.

1951

Plans for new facility begin. Bookmobile is purchased and Outreach services established under Board’s direction with assistance of Supervisor of Public Libraries for the State of Maryland.

1954

Library moves to east wing of La Plata courthouse.

1955

Citizens group plans for library in Indian Head area. Waldorf “book station” is established in new Garretson’s Jewelry Store on corner of Routes 5 and 925.

1956

Library Services Act makes federal funds available to improve library services in rural areas.

1959

Glymont Branch Library opens in Potomac Heights, Indian Head. Bookmobile services replace book station in Waldorf. Southern Maryland Regional Library Association (SMRLA) is formed with Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert County libraries under its directorship. SMRLA facilities shared with La Plata Library.

1964

New bookmobile is purchased. Old bookmobile, placed on cinder blocks near Waldorf Drug Store (present location of Tri-County Federal Savings and Loan Bank), becomes Waldorf Branch Library.

1966

Present-day La Plata Branch Library at corner of Charles St. and Garrett Ave. opens.

1973

Waldorf Branch Library moves to larger space in Annapolis Federal Building on Rt. 301.

1975

Bryans Road Branch Library is established in storefront on backside of the new Bryans Road Shopping Center.

1977

Waldorf Branch Library moves to larger spaces in St. Charles Office Building on Post Office Road.

1981

Present-day P.D. Brown Memorial Branch Library opens in Waldorf’s Smallwood Village Shopping Center.

1982

Glymont Branch Library moves to storefront on corner of Glymont Road and Rt. 210.

1983

Bryans Road Branch Library moves to storefront on front side of Bryans Road Shopping Center.

1986

Present-day Outreach Van Services to daycare providers and homebound customers are initiated.

1989

New SMRLA facility in Charlotte Hall opens.

1990

Automated catalog and circulation systems are initiated.

1991

Glymont Branch Library closes. Card catalog system is discontinued.

1992

Non-profit Friends of the Library support group incorporates.

1993

Bookmobile retires.

1995

Charles, St. Mary’s, and Calvert Counties appoint individual Directors to head their libraries and reaffirm their association with SMRLA as the Southern Maryland Resource Center for the three counties.

1996

Bryans Road Branch Library closes. Outreach van is replaced. Cobb Island “book station” is established on volunteer basis. Internet access becomes available at all branches.

1997

Potomac Branch Library on Ruth B. Swann Dr. opens; replaces Glymont and Bryans Road branches.

2001

PD Brown Memorial Branch undergoes renovation.

2002

Citizens for the Charles County Public Library, Inc (C4CCPL) is established. Since their inception in June, 2002, they have provided more than a quarter of a million dollars in funds to the Charles County Libraries.

2012

The Waldorf West Branch opens.

2017

The current Mobile Library vehicle is put into service. The Mobile Library vehicle purchase was made possible by support from the Charles County Commissioners, our Board of Trustees, and a generous donation from the Citizens for the Charles County Public Library, Inc.

2018

The SOAR Space opens at Waldorf West. SOAR stands for “Securing Opportunities, Aspirations Realized” and is a meeting space designed for entrepreneurs and small businesses filled with equipment and software to help them reach their goals.

2019

The Drop the Mic Recording Studio opens at the PD Brown Memorial branch. The studio is a full scale professional recording studio with a sound booth, microphones, and recording and mixing equipment.

2022

CCPL celebrates a century of public service!