Libraries provide a safe space and “third place” for community members to engage in meaningful programs, access vital information, and connect with their neighbors. Each day, we see the real impact that the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) has across the county. The Library Check-In is a seasonal newsletter that tells the stories of that impact.
On this page, you will read about news, events, and happenings from across the library system over the last several months. These feature stories highlight the ways in which PGCMLS serves the entirety of Prince George’s County. Click here to read stories tailored to individual communities and neighborhoods served by PGCMLS’ 19 branch libraries.
To stay up to date on all things PGCMLS, be sure to follow us on social media (@PGCMLS) by clicking the icons at the bottom of this newsletter.
Thank you for being a part of our Library story — dive in and enjoy!
PGCMLS honors the life and legacy of Dolly Parton — not only a talented artist, but a generous philanthropist and literacy champion who the world lost on August 25.
Because of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, PGCMLS’ Books from Birth program has delivered more than 1.3 million books to children in Prince George’s County ages 0-5 free of charge, providing our littlest community members with books — and memories — to last a lifetime.
Through Books from Birth and Dolly Patron’s Imagination Library, the next generation of Prince George’s youth will be well on their way to exploring stories, friends, and cultures through the expansive worlds of books.
Dolly's family has requested that donations in her memory be made to the Imagination Library. Should you find yourself chatting with neighbors about Dolly and about PGCMLS’ Books from Birth program, you can share with them that they can directly support Imagination Library families in Prince George's County by donating to the PGCMLS Foundation's Books from Birth fund: pgcmls.info/donate
To read about Dolly’s impact on one PGCMLS family, read The Banner's coverage (“‘Dolly Parton wants to give you a gift’: How the country music icon helped Marylanders learn to read”), then check out the Glenarden Branch Library story on this season’s Local Look-Backs page!
As appointed by the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System Board of Library Trustees, Catherine E. Hollerbach joined PGCMLS as the system’s new Library Director, effective July 13, 2026.
A nationally respected public library leader with nearly 40 years of experience, including a previous role as West Area Director with PGCMLS, Hollerbach comes to this role from Anne Arundel County Public Library, where she served as Chief Operating Officer for 16 branches and more than 400 staff. Her career is distinguished by strategic leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to meeting the evolving needs of diverse communities.
“Catherine is an exceptional leader with a strong record of guiding large organizations through growth and change,” says Sylvia Bolivar, Chair of the PGCMLS Board of Library Trustees. “Rooted in Maryland public institutions, she brings a deep understanding of the communities we serve. We are excited to welcome her back to PGCMLS and confident her experience will lead the library system into its next chapter with vision, integrity, and a strong commitment to public service.”
In her first months, Hollerbach has prioritized visiting each of PGCMLS’ 19 branches, listening to and learning from staff, and identifying where the Library can make operational changes to improve efficiency and align services with both funding levels and community needs.
“I am grateful for the warm welcome that I have received upon my return to PGCMLS!” Hollerbach says. “As I enter my third month on the job, and continue to learn about the good work that staff is doing, I am even more honored and excited to lead this wonderful organization as we continue to provide impactful programs, services, and safe spaces to the community.”
Hollerbach’s goals over the next few months are to continue to meet with and get to know Library staff, build relationships with funders and partners, and advocate at the county level for more funding so that PGCMLS can provide staff with negotiated raises, fill open positions, purchase more materials (both digital and hard copy), and improve buildings. Additionally, she will be working to ensure the branches are safe and well maintained, that PGCMLS continues to protect intellectual freedom, and that staff are supported on a day-to-day basis.
A two-part CTV interview with Director Hollerbach is available here: Part 1 | Part 2.
[As] sociologists and psychologists warn of the decline of so-called “third places” — social spaces that are neither home nor work — libraries stand out for their ubiquity and lack of an entry fee.
“One of my favorite things about libraries in general is that loitering is allowed,” [PGCMLS Library Director Cathy] Hollerbach said. “You can come and you can stay as long as you want, and we will be able to find something for you.”
— from “How many library cards can a book lover like me collect?” The Banner. Arts & Culture. July 30. Ginny Bixby.
In collaboration with the offices of Prince George’s County Council Chair Krystal Oriadha (District 7) and Prince George’s County Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford (District 5), PGCMLS is proud to host two free grocery store spaces inside the Spauldings (District 7) and Fairmount Heights (District 5) branch libraries.
On May 28, Fairmount Heights Branch Library staff welcomed a standing-room-only crowd for the grand opening of the Fairmount Five Market, a free grocery store initiative hosted by the branch and spearheaded by County Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford (District 5) in collaboration with Goodr. Dozens of elected officials, community leaders, and Fairmount Heights neighbors, — including Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore — gathered in the branch’s lower-level meeting room for a brief program ahead of the ceremony, celebrating the initiative that was developed to provide no-barrier access to free groceries for up to 175 families in the District 5 community.
“Public libraries are truly miraculous,” said Deputy Library Director Megan Sutherland in her May 28 remarks. “Everyone is welcome here. We are both a beacon of hope and a refuge during challenging times. I can think of no better place than this most trusted of public spaces to help ensure equitable access to food, the most vital of all resources.”
This event was followed on June 8 by a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Spauldings Branch Library for Council Chair Krystal Oriadha’s District 7 Fresh Market, a free grocery store for District 7 residents that serves up to 100 families each week and was developed in partnership with local organizations The StoreHouse and Community on the Front Line. Maryland State Comptroller Brooke Lierman joined Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy and PGCMLS Interim Director Megan Sutherland in giving remarks and touring the market space, after which community members were invited to shop.
“The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System is more than just the books on our physical and digital shelves,” Deputy Director Sutherland said at the Spauldings Branch Library opening. “Our library workers are truly committed to serving our residents, day in and out.”
After noting to the gathered crowd that PGCMLS’ nineteen branches saw more than 1.5 million visits last fiscal year — or, put into perspective, over double the attendance for our local NFL team — Megan underscored how both newly opened markets in PGCMLS branches demonstrate the breadth of the library system’s service to our neighbors:
“At a time when far too many in our community don’t have easy access to fresh and nutritious food, they will be able to come to a trusted and familiar place, their neighborhood branch library, to shop for what they and their families need. The District 7 Fresh Market joins the Fairmount Five Free Grocery Store as the newest examples of responsive and innovative use of partnerships and library spaces to better serve our residents.”
Both spaces are managed and operated by their respective County Council offices. Shopping is available by appointment only; more information can be found here.
On the last Saturday of March, the Hyattsville Branch Library played host to the Library’s fourth annual Geek Out Expo, an all-day, all-ages event devoted to all things “geeky” in games, books, and pop culture.
Nearly 1,200 community members joined staff from across the system — more than the event’s total 2025 attendance of 800 customers, and nearly double the Hyattsville Branch Library’s average Saturday traffic. PGCTV coverage of the event can be found here.
At the Expo, attendees enjoyed crafts, tabletop and indie game demos, a Super Smash Bros. contest, face painting and balloon animal art, a Pokémon drawing class, a lecture on the rise of K-pop, and a costumed “Bibliobop” dance party. There was even a rainbow-arcade-themed photo wall available for attendees to take pictures in front of, with a balloon arch constructed with the help of teens from Hyattsville’s Teen Action Group (TAG).
“This is my most fun day of the year,” says lead Geek Out Expo organizer Isaiah West (Teen Services Specialist, PM). “The fact that we nearly doubled Hyattsville’s average Saturday door traffic goes to show how much the PGCMLS community likes events like this.”
As reported by Library staff who organized the event, attendees at this year’s Expo included:
“Some people got sucked in even when they had no idea what was going on when they first walked through the doors, and then they would be followed in by a mom and her teen dressed in full cosplay!” says Pam Hamlin (Family Literacy Specialist, PM). A lot of attendees also left and came back, she reports. “Just a lot of we’ll be, back we’ll be back, we’re just going to get some lunch!”
Audrey Lau (Adult Services Specialist, PM) was particularly taken with the community reaction to one of the organizations who participated this year for the first time, Boba Studios, whose founders gave a presentation on what it takes to develop an indie videogame from scratch.
“They were talking about color theory, narrative development, start-up funding, really technical details about how to achieve the outcomes you want — all of the stuff that’s so great for people interested in a career in game development,” she says. That audience was filled with young people who were artists themselves, including two kids who were drawing throughout the presentation, and a teenager whose dad was able to use it to make a real connection with his kid’s interests.
“At the end, the dad asked, did you get anything out of it? And his kid’s eyes were so bright, you could see the enthusiasm,” Audrey says. “He was really invested in learning everything he could to apply himself to a practical outcome, asking the Boba Studios team about what classes he should take, what programs he should learn, all of that. It was the perfect way for kids like that to learn, this is where it starts.”
To see all the fun photos from this year's Geek Out Expo, check out the PGCMLS Flickr.
On Thursday, April 9, families who completed the Wizards Winter Reading Challenge and earned free tickets to a late-season game went out to Capital One Arena to watch their local NBA team take on the Chicago Bulls.
“My family had a blast, even though the Wizards did not win,” shares Hillcrest Heights Branch Library customer Katrina Randolph, parent of Blake, 10, and Riley, 5. “Riley enjoyed being able to read the program at the game last night. I was so proud of him… I think they are both encouraged when they use their skills in real life applications!”
Blake and Riley are both homeschool students, so the Library is a big favorite. In addition to the non-fiction books about Minecraft, LEGO, baking, and cooking that both kids check out regularly, Katrina shares that Riley loves the “Press Start!” series by Thomas Flintham, while Blake was introduced to Julie Murphy (“Camp Sylvania” and “Dear Sweet Pea”) during Winter Reading this year.
“We also recently incorporated learning about astronomy and space in line with Artemis II, and fell in love with Stacy McAnulty, who wrote 'Moon! Earth's Best Friend,'” Katrina shares. “This was an amazing experience! Thank you PGCMLS and the Washington Wizards!”
The 2026 Summer Reading Challenge is right around the corner — this year's theme, Unearth a Story. To learn more about signing up and how to complete Library tasks to earn prizes (including tickets to a Washington Nationals game!), talk to your local PGCMLS Librarian.
In this section of the Library Check-In, we shine a light into the Library’s wider community. These profiles spotlight people whose work inspires and supports the PGCMLS mission.
This time, we are highlighting Patrick Washington, poet and founder of Dialect of Prince George’s County, a local poetry and civic engagement organization for young people that collaborates regularly with PGCMLS.
“A poem is always happening to you, no matter what, no matter what you’re doing,”
Patrick Washington likes to tell the young poets who participate with Dialect.
When Patrick Washington was ready to retire from his 30-year career as a Prince George’s County 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher, he knew that he wanted to step into the teaching realm. He had spent twenty odd years touring the DMV region as a teaching artist — essentially a “hired pen” who would go into various schools and organizations to help elevate young folks in finding their voice — and he was ready to make that work more central to his daily creative practice.
Inspired by the performance of a youth poet at New York Mayor Bill DiBlasio’s 2014 inauguration, Washington ended up launching Dialect of Prince George’s in 2015 — and alongside it, the Prince George’s County Youth Poet Laureate (YPL) program, which he describes as the “leadership wing” of the project. Through the YPL program, Washington works with local teens to help them find their voice and get involved in their community.
“Dialect is my baby,” says Washington. “Almost every state created a Youth Poet Laureate program around the same time, but the difference here is that we are a county. I saw there was so much talent here, I knew we could get the same amount of energy [in Prince George’s County] as well.”
All of the students who go through Dialect share similar goals: to learn to take accountability in their artwork, to create a network amongst their peers, to heal through their poetry, to reflect on experiences that happened to them, and to find different ways to express themselves. Basically — to learn to be more comfortable with themselves and make their voices stronger.
“I wanted to make it comprehensive enough that we would find someone who can deal with adults and speak truth to power — someone who knows how to express themselves,” Washington says. “As talented as these young people are, they are really civic minded. They care about what’s happening in the world, they come with ideas, their poetry speaks to everybody. They want to represent their generation in a positive light.”
As a distinct initiative within Dialect, the Youth Poet Laureate program is structured to function more like a traditional “job.” To win the title of YPL, each young poet must complete three scored application phases, the last of which is a slam poetry performance at the annual YPL naming ceremony. (This year's event was held at the Oxon Hill Branch Library on April 22.) Once appointed, the YPL then has a year of service touring around the county — including, over the past three years, to branches throughout the library system, in a series of “Fresh Voices” open mic nights for teens and young adults.
“The goal is for the Youth Poet Laureate to spend a year spreading the good word of poetry, having them perform at ribbon cuttings, town hall events, and organizations such as the Library,” Washington says. “That’s one thing I’m really proud of; [PGCMLS] has been really great about setting our YPL up with a performance tour where they get to engage with the public, perform, and host writing workshops. You just make them feel valuable. So often, young people are told to be seen and not heard; this is a chance for them to stand up and speak for themselves.”
For his own part, Washington describes himself as a lifelong library lover.
“I’m a PG County boy, and have been in and out of the libraries my entire adult life — I have my library card right here!” he says. “I love working with all the wonderful people at [PGCMLS], obviously because these are people who are great servants to the county, but also because they are people who really care, and who really love the written word. They love the spoken word! And they love the creative spirit that comes out of these kids.”
Washington is particularly proud of the opportunity that the 2021 Youth Poet Laureate, Sainey Ceesay, was given to perform an ode to libraries at the grand opening of the new Hyattsville Branch Library in 2022.
“Every time I hear that poem, I realize that is what the Youth Poet Laureate program is all about — that idea of spreading literacy, making a personal connection that really resonates with everyone, and making it part of a well written, well performed piece, that will live for a long time,” Washington says. “Moments like that really make me so proud of the connection we’ve built with the Library. I love the idea of creating something that is going to continue on even after I stop. This is something I hope will sustain and be sustainable, no matter who takes the helm.”
As part of their Black History Month observance, Employ Prince George’s honored PGCMLS CEO Mark Winston as a notable leader in the Prince George’s County community.
From Employ Prince George’s:
“Today, we honor Dr. Mark Winston, Chief Executive Officer of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, whose appointment marked a historic milestone as the system’s first African American CEO in its 78-year history. His leadership advances equity, access, and opportunity across the county.
Employ Prince George’s is proud to partner with PGCMLS to connect residents with vital resources and pathways to success.”
The Maryland Library Association (MLA) has awarded three PGCMLS initiatives with statewide recognitions of excellence:
An evolution of a project originally started by Spanish-speaking PGCMLS staff during the pandemic, Biblio Consulta enhances PGCMLS’ ability to provide the Prince George’s County community with friendly service, relevant information, and equitable access to core Library resources. The 2026 MLA Libraries Change Communities Award recognizes a “successful collaborative effort to promote innovative library-based initiatives involving the community.”
Running weekly through July and August of 2025 and presented by Upper Marlboro-based Olympic artist Jesse Raudales, the “Therapy Through Art” program was crafted to provide professional training to artistic emerging adults (aged 16-22), and to foster a welcoming space where participants could feel safe expressing their emotions. The 2026 MLA Project of the Year Award “honors a team project exemplifying the highest level of achievement and professional standards.”
A targeted communication initiative that publishes every few months, “The Library Check-In” allows PGCMLS to share news, event highlights, and happenings from across the Library system with customers, staff, elected Prince George’s officials, and other community stakeholders. The 2026 MLA Excellence in Marketing Award recognizes “outstanding achievement in library marketing, innovation, and community engagement.”
Two exciting arrivals showed up in branch libraries across the county in later winter: print copies of the PGCMLS 2025 Annual Report, and posters bearing the message “Libraries are for Everyone,” both of which celebrate the broad reach of PGCMLS in the Prince George’s County community.
Read more about PGCMLS’ recent accomplishments in the 2025 Annual Report here.
The Library is excited to welcome to the team Amy Gardner, the new Executive Director of Advancement. In this role, Amy will be responsible for fundraising, donor engagement and relations, as well as management of the PGCMLS Development and Communications Departments.
Additionally, Amy will serve as the Executive Director of the PGCMLS Foundation, which provides critical philanthropic support to the Library system.
“As a nonprofit leader and lifelong learner who believes deeply in the power of access and community, I’m delighted to step into this role with the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System.” Amy says. “It's a privilege to partner with staff, board members, and supporters to champion the Library’s mission and help write its next chapter of impact.”
Already, Amy has already facilitated two successful philanthropic initiatives. First, she led a fundraiser with Libro.fm for “Library Lovers Month,” where a $15 donation earned donors a free audiobook — an effort that raised $2,118.55. Most recently, she managed the 2026 Library Giving Day campaign, which brought in $25,344.59 in unrestricted giving — far ahead of the Foundation’s campaign goal of $20,000!
The funds raised by the PGCMLS Foundation help the Library expand the ways it serves the community. From Summer Prince George’s T-shirts to makerspace equipment to a substantial order of fun new STEM kits, gifts made to the Library through campaigns like Library Giving Day make your library stronger.
To contribute to the PGCMLS Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support the work of the Library, you can make a one-time or recurring donation here.
With Reference Solutions, small business owners in Prince George’s County have free access to the information they need to be both responsive to their community’s needs, and competitive in their respective industries. It is an excellent way for business owners to conduct market research, target new customers, locate suppliers, and analyze competitors, using data that is reviewed and updated every 6 months.
The funds raised by the PGCMLS Foundation help the Library expand the ways it serves the community. From Summer Prince George’s T-shirts to makerspace equipment to a substantial order of fun new STEM kits, gifts made through the PGCMLS Foundation make your Library stronger!
As one of PGCMLS’ smallest locations, the Mount Rainier Branch Library puts a special focus on building relationships and creating programs with organizations directly in the community. In April, this included hosting a seed- and garden-themed storytime and craft program as part of the Mount Rainier Nature Center’s annual Seed Swap Festival.
“As a small neighborhood library, building partnerships with organizations like the Mount Rainier Nature Center is a great way to increase our reach and take our library services outside of the building,” says Mount Rainier Branch Librarian Caitlin Clark, who has been representing the Library at the Seed Swap Festival for a number of years. “Every year, I meet new people and new families there that I can tell about our programs and encourage to come into PGCMLS branches to get connected to the library.”
Photo by: M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George's County
Caitlin saw a full house for the storytime part of this year’s program, where she read “Are You a Cheeseburger?” by Monica Arnaldo, “Here are the Seeds” by JaNay Brown Wood, and “Up Down & Around” by Katherine Ayres. A number of families stayed after for the papercraft, while others moved outside to engage with local environmental organizations and take advantage of the native seed and plant seedling giveaway. As Caitlin reports, more than 2,000 baby plants found new homes!
“The Mount Rainier Nature Center is such a wonderful community partner for us,” Caitlins says. “They welcome our library programs whenever we need a space that is larger than our building will allow, and invite us to participate in programs and festivities year round to bring [PGCMLS] out into the community.”
In addition to the version that goes out to all PGCMLS cardholders (linked in PDF form above), the Library Check-In is further tailored to reflect "local look-back" stories within the specific geographies of the nine County Council and eight Maryland General Assembly Districts that cover Prince George's County. PDF versions of those targeted newsletters can be found below.
