Summer Reading 2025: Southern Maryland Libraries Invite Readers To “Color Our World”

Jessica Jennings

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

Photo Credit: Envato | Wavebreakmedia

SOUTHERN MARYLAND — This summer, libraries across Charles, St. Mary’s and Calvert counties are inviting families, friends and neighbors to come together through the joy of reading with the launch of the 2025 Summer Reading Challenge—all under the theme “Color Our World.”

Using the shared digital platform Beanstack, each county’s library system is making it simple and fun for readers of all ages to track their progress, unlock rewards and connect with their communities. Whether you’re completing Bingo squares in Charles, earning badges in St. Mary’s or logging reading minutes in Calvert, this regionwide celebration is about more than just books—it’s about bringing people together, sparking imagination and building a brighter, more colorful Southern Maryland.

Spring Book Bazaars Return To Southern Maryland Libraries

Jessica Jennings

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

SOUTHERN MARYLAND — Book lovers in Southern Maryland have two opportunities this spring to stock up on affordable reads while supporting their local libraries. The annual Spring Book Bazaars hosted by the Citizens for the Charles County Public Library and the Friends of the St. Mary’s County Library are set to offer books at unbeatable prices.

Charles County Spring Book Bazaar

The Citizens for the Charles County Public Library will host their Spring Book Bazaar from April 26 to May 3 at the La Plata Branch. The book bazaar raises funds that directly benefit programs, resources and events offered throughout the Charles County Public Library system. The Citizens group has supported the library for over 20 years through volunteer and fundraising efforts.

Schedule:
April 25: Members’ Day with exclusive early access
April 26 to May 3
Monday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
May 2 and 3: Bag Days – fill a grocery-sized bag for $3 (larger bags cost more)

CSM Headline

Velocity Center Hosts STEAM-Powered Community Festival

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

INDIAN HEAD, Md. – The weather may have been cool and damp, but inside the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) Velocity Center at Indian Head on April 12, things were heating up with science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics at the fourth annual Art of Innovation STEAM Festival.  

“It is so important to give children access to a broad scope of STEAM programming at a young age,” explained Lesley Quattlebaum, executive director of the Velocity Center. “Including the arts is important, because often individuals who do well in technology have a creative side to them. One of the things we are trying to do with this event is to help our children see what that looks like; we talk about it, but to make it into a hands-on experience makes it so much more approachable.”  

Families used solar telescopes for a detailed look at the sun with the Southern Maryland Astronomical Society, took a virtual tour of the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary, and got hands-on experience assembling electronic components with the Charles County Amateur Radio Club in the CSM Makerspace. They enjoyed visits to the Charles County Public Library’s Mobile Discovery Lab, heard performances from CSM musicians, and even met live reptiles at a herpetologist demonstration.  

Leonardo Da Vinci is credited with saying, “To develop a complete mind: Study the science of art; study the art of science. Learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”  STEAM education brings that advice into the 21st century, helping students to build the creative problem solving, critical thinking, and connection-making skills they need to succeed. CSM’s Velocity Center is a hub for this future-facing way of thinking.  

“I received great feedback from attendees today,” Quattlebaum shared. “The community seems to really value this event, and many of our partners are repeat ones that come annually in full force and are always excited.”  

The Velocity Center will continue to offer a variety of engaging programs to the public throughout the spring. Later this month, Troy A. LeMaile-Stovall, CEO of TEDCO,  will present an “Innovation @ the Velocity Center” lecture sharing his insights on innovation, investment, and global entrepreneurship. The center’s Makerspace offers memberships and classes that give local makers the knowledge and tools they need to bring their ideas to life. And this May, the Velocity Center will host Spark! Places of Innovation, a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street (MoMS) program that dives into innovation and invention happening in rural America.  

For more information, visit https://www.csmd.edu/about/locations/velocity-center/index.html.  

March 31, 2025

Maryland Literacy Faces Threat from Federal Library Cuts

David M. Higgins II, Publisher/Editor

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

BALTIMORE, Md. — As “National March Into Literacy Month” concludes on March 31, 2025, Maryland confronts a dual challenge: persistent literacy struggles and looming federal funding cuts to libraries. An executive order signed by President Donald Trump this month mandates staff and funding reductions at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary federal agency supporting libraries nationwide, threatening access to critical literacy resources just as summer approaches—a time when library usage often spikes for families seeking reading support.

Literacy Challenges in Maryland

Maryland’s literacy rates highlight the urgency of the issue. According to the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, one in five Maryland adults—approximately 20%—has low reading skills, defined as reading below a 5th-grade level. Additionally, 36% of fourth graders read below grade level, per 2023 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data, a slight improvement from 38% in 2022 but still alarming. Nationally, Maryland ranks 28th in literacy, placing it in the middle of the pack among states, per the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The NCES also reported a historic decline in national reading scores in 2022—the largest in over 30 years—with low-performing students, often from underserved communities, experiencing the steepest drops.

In Anne Arundel County, with 580,000 residents, 30% of fourth graders scored below basic on the 2023 Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP), per MSDE data. Charles County, home to 170,000 residents, fares slightly better at 28%, but rural schools like Indian Head Elementary struggle with limited resources. St. Mary’s County, with 113,000 residents, mirrors the state average at 36% below grade level, with schools like Great Mills High facing additional challenges due to a 15% poverty rate, per 2023 Census data.

Impact of Federal Library Cuts

The IMLS, which provided $15 million to Maryland libraries in 2024, supports programs like summer reading initiatives and literacy workshops, critical for counties like Anne Arundel, where the library system serves 200,000 users annually, per county records. Charles County’s 50,000 library cardholders rely on branches like the La Plata Library for free tutoring, while St. Mary’s County libraries, serving 30,000 users, offer storytime programs that boost early literacy. The executive order’s cuts—estimated at 20% of IMLS funding, per a 2025 Library Journal report—could reduce staff hours and program offerings, particularly during summer, when 60% of Maryland library visits occur, according to the Maryland State Library Agency.

Strategies to Boost Literacy

Sandy Keaton, 2025 conference chair for the State of Maryland Literacy Association, emphasized the role of families in fostering literacy. “The best way to promote literacy is for you to be a reader and for your children to see you being a reader,” Keaton said. She recommended shared reading: “You can have him or her read a page to you, then you can read a page.” For adults, Keaton advised starting with books tied to personal interests, leveraging librarians’ expertise to find level-appropriate reads. “Librarians are trained to help people pick books to match their reading level and interests,” she noted, a resource now at risk due to the cuts.

Keaton also highlighted the value of literacy events, where exhibitors and vendors offer books for all ages. However, with library access potentially limited, families may struggle to find such resources, particularly in rural Charles and St. Mary’s counties, where 20% of residents live over 10 miles from a library branch, per county data.

Critical Analysis

The IMLS cuts come at a precarious time. The NCES’s 2022 reading score decline—8 points for 4th graders nationally—hit low-performers hardest, with 60% of Maryland’s lowest quartile students losing ground, per MSDE. Libraries, which served 1.2 million Marylanders in 2024, are a lifeline, offering free access to books and literacy programs. The cuts could exacerbate inequities, as 70% of Baltimore City students—where only 10% are math-proficient—rely on libraries for summer reading, per city data. In Anne Arundel, where 15% of families live below the poverty line, library closures could widen the literacy gap.

Keaton’s advice is practical, but the policy’s impact may be limited without systemic support. Shared reading can boost comprehension by 25%, per a 2023 Reading Research Quarterly study, but parents with low literacy—20% of Maryland adults—may struggle to model reading. The cuts also threaten librarian availability, a critical resource, as 80% of Maryland library users report improved reading skills after librarian guidance, per a 2024 state survey. Without federal funding, counties like St. Mary’s, with a $2 million library budget, may face tough choices, potentially cutting hours or staff, further isolating rural communities.

Maryland’s literacy crisis demands urgent action, but the IMLS cuts risk undermining progress. As summer nears, families must lean on home-based strategies, while advocates push for state-level funding to offset federal losses, ensuring libraries remain a beacon for literacy in Anne Arundel, Charles, and beyond.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2025

Press Contact: Erin Del Signore, Associate Director, Community Engagement

Charles County Public Library

301.807.4539

edelsignore[at]ccplonline[dot]org

CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS THE CCPL BOOKS, BITES, & BEATS FEST!

(La Plata, MD) Charles County Public Library (CCPL) is excited to announce the first-ever CCPL Books, Bites, & Beats Fest, a community celebration and fundraising event on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Waldorf West Branch.

This vibrant festival brings the community together with author talks, book signings, live music, local artisans, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. Attendees will also have the chance to shop at the first-ever Citizens for the Charles County Public Library Pop-Up Book Sale tent.

All ticket sales from the CCPL Books, Bites, & Beats Fest will directly support CCPL’s mission to provide free programs, services, and resources to the Charles County community and help ensure that the library remains a cherished institution for generations to come. 

 Girl Crush performs at library

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

The band Girl Crush performed at the Charles County Library’s Potomac Branch Feb. 7 in Indian Head. The band performed almost 20 songs, including “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World, “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, “Your Love” by The Outfield and “Tennessee Whiskey” by Chris Stapleton. The concert was part of the Library After Hours series. For more information on Girl Crush, go to www.facebook.com/girlcrushacoustic.

February 3rd, 2025

Lessons on the life of a groundhog

Marty Madden

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

The day before the nation awaited the revelation about how much more winter weather is in store for us was a great time for Charles County children and their parents to learn about the life of the groundhog. Sharon Rabie and Shelia Khoury, community educators from the Charles County Humane Society presented a one-hour talk on groundhogs and other wildlife creatures found in the area. The presentation was held at Waldorf West Library. The educators, who make presentations to schools, daycares, clubs and even detention centers, gave an overview on groundhog habits, homes, diets and also explained the origins of Groundhog Day. Khoury showed the children attending the presentation a live guinea pig, a domesticated rodent. Groundhogs, Rabie stressed, are wild creatures who do not want to be picked up and cuddled by humans. For information on the local humane society’s education programs, call 301-645-8181.

January 30, 2025

Save It Or Demolish It? La Plata Officials Weigh Winkler House’s Fate

Jessica Jennings

Link to News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

LA PLATA, Md. — During the Jan. 28, 2025, Board of Commissioners meeting, officials discussed the fate of the Winkler House at 208 Washington Ave., which was once believed to require demolition to make way for the new La Plata Library.

Initial plans for a local road and stormwater construction project called for the removal of all existing structures in the area. However, project leaders have since determined that the historic Winkler House can remain intact with renovations.

“Our original estimates envisioned that all of the existing structures were going to need to be removed,” said Jenifer Elin, a spokesperson for the project. “But then we found out that the Winkler House does not technically need to be taken down in order to do the road or the stormwater or the construction.”

Community stakeholders had initially recommended demolishing the house to create a pocket park featuring native trees, plants, and green stormwater infrastructure. The park would align with town and county efforts to expand green spaces and provide a shaded reading area. A commemorative exhibit in the library was also suggested to honor the demolished homes.

Former resident and Town of La Plata ex-Councilman Wayne Winkler expressed interest in preserving the house in a letter, if feasible. Commissioner Thomasina “Sina” Bowling acknowledged his letter and proposed giving the Town of La Plata 30 days to decide whether to take over renovations, which are estimated at $582,000, as the county would not fund them.

Doria Fleisher, assistant chief of media and community engagement, emphasized that all stakeholders prioritize keeping the library project on schedule, whether by creating a park or preserving the house.

A September 2024 stakeholder engagement meeting revealed that while the house is not on the National Register of Historic Places, it was once deemed eligible by the Maryland Historical Trust.

The Board now awaits the town’s response before proceeding with a vote on the future of the Winkler House.

Contact our news desk at news[at]thebaynet[dot]com

News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

WALDORF, Md. — As temperatures drop and winter takes hold, parents in Charles County, Maryland, may be looking for indoor activities to keep their children entertained and active. From creative arts to high-energy play spaces, here are some family-friendly venues where kids can stay warm and have fun this winter.

Photo Taken By: Donnie Storms/Charles County Public Library

News Article in PDF Format

Direct Link to News Article

Sharon Rabie from the Humane Society of Charles County presents a turkey to children at the Charles County Public Library Potomac Branch in Indian Head on Nov. 19. During the “Turkey in the Stacks” presentation, children learned about the history of this American bird, its life cycle and behavior and the special characteristics of wild and domesticated turkeys. Rabie also read a children’s turkey story before getting to touch a live turkey.