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Winter Recap 2025
The Library Check-in is a newsletter that shares news, event highlights, and happenings from across the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS). This page showcases the programs and initiatives from across every one of the system’s 20 locations that made this past spring unforgettable.
General features from the Spring 2025 edition of the newsletter can be found here.
To stay up to date on all things relevant to the Library, be sure to follow us on social media (@PGCMLS), or by clicking the social icons in the footer of the webpage. Thank you for being a part of this wonderful community — dive in and enjoy!
Accokeek
At the Accokeek Branch Library, Geology Rocks!
As part of TeenTober and Maryland STEM Fest celebrations in early October, PGCMLS Library Associate Storm Carman put together a fun “STEM Lab: Geology” program at the Accokeek Branch Library.
Using a kit Storm ordered specifically for the program, participants were invited to practice the scientific method through hands-on tests of a wide variety of rocks, minerals, and even coprolite (fossilized dung). These tests included the use of a flashlight to measure luster, nails and glass to judge hardness, black and white plates to do streak tests, and a kitchen scale and water-filled yogurt cup to measure gravity.
The kids loved investigating the different properties of every individual rock, Storm reports — and they especially enjoyed the creative challenge of describing the precise color and luster for each. Many participants were also fascinated by the piece of pumice in the kit, and the fact that it is literally a “lava rock.” To their amazement, Storm told them that in some places like Oregon, you can drive past whole lava fields!
Baden
Fall Programs to Be Thankful for at the Baden Branch Library
Throughout the fall, the Baden Branch Library played host to a variety of engaging and educational programs that left both Baden branch staff and the wider Baden community feeling grateful.
In October, the branch hosted a turkey-themed “Ready 2 Read” storytime using a Wildlife Education Trunk from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as part of the Library’s system-wide MD STEM Fest celebrations. In November, the branch hosted a hands-on educational program about “The Science of Native Life,” organized in collaboration with staff from Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum. Kids of all ages came out in droves for both programs, and had a lot of fun learning about turkey calls, wigwam construction methods, and how to draw using natural materials like charcoal and clay.
The highlight for the community throughout the season, though, was the “Baden Gratitude Tree,” which customers were invited to hang leaves with handwritten notes of gratitude on in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.
“I know it’s really simple, but that tree started from nothing, and by mid-November it was almost starting to tip over!” says Baden Public Services Specialist Tiffany Dickerson. She notes that it was especially fun for Baden branch staff to see repeat customers come back to add new gratitude leaves and to see the “foliage” continue to grow.
“The tree showed how the Baden community felt [so many] things to feel grateful for,” says Tiffany.
Beltsville
“¡Puro Ritmo!” Presentation Brings Salsa and the Smithsonian to the Beltsville Branch Library
Last fall, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino (NMAL) collaborated with PGCMLS to bring a special sneak preview of their upcoming “¡Puro Ritmo!” exhibition as part of the museum’s local community engagement program.
Scheduled to open at the NMAL later this spring, the bilingual “¡Puro Ritmo! The Musical Journey of Salsa” exhibition explores how Afro-Cuban music evolved into a signature sound in the United States, tracing the roots and rise of salsa music through nearly 300 objects. For their special “Del Museo a la Biblioteca” (“From the Museum to the Library”) presentation at the Beltsville Branch Library, NMAL’s Natalia Febo and Gabriela Rios-Villegas shared an interactive slideshow previewing the exhibit, which highlighted all kinds of artists, from Tito Puente to more local legends, and even included a fun “Build Your Own Celia Cruz Shoe” activity.
“This was a wonderful opportunity to share with the community the highlights of influential musicians who made significant contributions to music,” says NMAL Community Engagement and Volunteer Program Manager Natalia Febo. Attendees were eager to dance, so we taught them some basic salsa steps. “We were excited to learn that, after the presentation, two attendees decided to join the volunteer program!”
Attendance at the “¡Puro Ritmo!” presentation was high, with everyone leaving in good spirits. “Muchísimas gracias por organizar la presentación anoche / Thank you so much for organizing the presentation yesterday evening,” wrote one participant after the event. “Me alegra ver actividades como esta que promueven el valor cultural y la riqueza de la gente que compone el condado de Prince George’s County / I am pleased to see activities like this that promote the rich cultural values and heritage of the people who make up Prince George’s County.”
Bladensburg
With Native Habitat Installation, Bladensburg Branch Library Deepens Roots in Community
Over the course of the past year, an exciting partnership has blossomed between the Cheverly-based Community Native Planting Project (CNPP) and the Bladensburg Branch Library.
Situated along the densely packed MD202/MD450 corridor, the Bladensburg Branch Library is perhaps a surprising site for a collaboration centered around native planting — but that’s the point of the partnership.
“Our goal was to enhance and augment what’s already here, and combine that with library programming to introduce more climate change and native planting education,” says CNPP President Diane Beedle. “When [our grant funders] came out to see the site, they were just gushing over how great the space is. There’s [not only] an immediate environmental advantage to everything we’re doing with this project, but also an [outreach] impact that is additive and compounding.”
This impact is already being felt in the Bladensburg community. Over the summer, while branch staff were collaborating with CNPP on the design of two new native plant habitats for the branch parking lot, Bladensburg Public Services Specialist Norman Lezama was so inspired by what he was learning that he requested one of CNPP’s official lawn consultations. Once he started implementing the changes CNPP suggested, removing invasive species to replace them with native ones, his neighbor asked for more information, and started making the same changes!
Then, on an early Saturday morning in late October, a crowd of thirty-four volunteers came together for a “STEM Fun: We’re Creating a Native Plant Habitat!” program. The helping hands in attendance ranged from absolute beginners to gardening buffs, with the experts giving tips and tricks to the novices, and everyone learning new things about native plants together.
Bladensburg Branch Librarian Debra Capponi was also delighted to use the program as an opportunity to bring attendees who traveled from other parts of the county on a tour of the branch, which was recently awarded LEED Gold certification. “The Bladensburg branch building is so beautiful,” Debra says, “we always love showing it off!”
Bowie
“Teen Zone” Grows at the Bowie Branch Library, Expanding Opportunities for Bowie Teens
Throughout the fall, the Bowie Branch Library — which is located next to Bowie High School (BHS), and serves as a safe hangout for BHS teens after school — was hard at work updating and expanding their “Teen Zone” space, using grant funding awarded by the City of Bowie and administered through the PGCMLS Foundation.
The space is not yet fully renovated, but already, Bowie branch staff have been able to use its new makerspace equipment and technology — including sewing machines, 3D printers, and a new recording studio — to provide teens and young adults with valuable learning opportunities that bolster their career readiness, college preparedness, and life skills literacy.
Thanks to the growth of the “Teen Zone” programming, teens are now volunteering more regularly as homework helpers with the library’s Kids Achieve Club, and are also providing technology assistance to neighbors at the branch’s Thursday ‘Tech Help’ programs. Bowie Branch Manager Kim Day reports that one “Teen Zone” regular who graduated from BHS last spring is so invested in the space that he now comes back regularly to volunteer in the recording studio, sharing the skills he first developed at the library.
“The ‘Teen Zone’ expansion is giving our teens a safe and comfortable space to grow and learn new skills,” Kim says. “It’s an outlet for their creativity, where they are able to make music, create poetry, and just be themselves.”
Fairmount Heights
Growing a Dungeons & Dragons Program at the Fairmount Heights Branch Library
This year, a fun new “Dungeons & Dragons” program for teens has started taking shape at the Fairmount Heights Branch Library. Organized by Fairmount Heights Branch Library Associate Louis Bondoc, this tabletop role-playing program was designed to welcome players at every level. Participants are invited to bring in their own fleshed out character if they had one, but Louis also prints out a number of pre-filled character sheets for anyone coming in fresh. Using the Fairmount Heights Branch Library’s DREAM Lab, he has also 3D-printed a number of character figures for the players to use.
The teens who came to the August 4 “Dungeons & Dragons” program were branch regulars, but tabletop novices. This meant that Louis got to introduce the game to some new future fans, and showcase how welcoming and involving tabletop role-playing games can be.
“They enjoyed it!” says Louis, who opened the session by comparing “Dungeons & Dragons” to a video game before launching the introductory game and combat encounter he had prepared. “They liked rolling the special dice, and liked picking characters to play.”.
Glenarden
Chess Club: A Big Draw for the Glenarden Branch Library
One of the most exciting multi-generational programs at the Glenarden Branch Library right now is the bi-weekly “Chess Club.”
Founded by Glenarden Branch Librarian Kiana White and currently led by Glenarden Branch Library Associate Thibault Raoult, the Glenarden Branch “Chess Club” program sees a healthy number of regulars and new faces every session.
“We run it as an all-ages, all-abilities, all-levels club, so it's very much a space in which all community members are welcome,” says Thibault.
“It's such a tactile game! With everyone on their screens so much, being able to offer this space where they can come for an hour, meet someone new, and get that tactile experience at work in their brain, that’s so important.”
Glenarden community members are invited to learn the game or hone their skills by joining the branch on the first and third Thursday of each month. Next program: October 2.
Greenbelt
Shooting for the Stars: The Greenbelt Branch Library’s “Storytime on Screen” Partnership with the Greenbelt Cinema Expands
One of the Greenbelt Branch Library’s most popular programs is a special monthly storytime for ages 5 and under done in partnership with the Greenbelt Cinema. Called “Storytime on Screen,” this program brings specialized library programming directly to the community, with a fun movie theater twist.
These Monday morning “Storytime on Screen” programs are a community favorite. At the pet-themed August program, more than 107 attendees came out for the show!
PGCMLS and the Greenbelt Cinema took this partnership to new heights in September, inviting local children’s book author Amy Hanson to read from her new book, “Wanda Hears the Stars.” Co-written with Puerto Rican astrophysicist Wanda Díaz Merced and illustrated by Rocio Arreola Mendoza, “Wanda Hears the Stars” is a non-fiction picture book that tells the story of how Wanda losing her sight didn’t stop her from studying the stars. Joining Amy at the special “Storytime on Screen” program were Wanda’s NASA colleagues Denna Lambert and Lenny Garcia, who shared stories about working with Wanda.
After Amy read from her book, she challenged the kids to practice “listening” like Wanda, using the different colored stars they had been given upon arrival. On a little xylophone Amy had brought along for the purpose, she assigned a note to each color, and had the kids raise their hands whenever they heard the color of their star.
“It was hard, because the notes are so similar!” says Pamela Hamlin, PGCMLS Family Literacy Specialist (and occasional “Storytime on Screen” presenter). “But this is how Wanda hears the stars, comparing the red dwarfs to blue supergiants.”
For any adults interested in learning more about Wanda, check out the “Lunch and Learn” conversation with Amy Hansen hosted on September 9 by PGCMLS and the Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights.
Hillcrest Heights
Crafting Stories at Hillcrest Heights
What is a story?
That’s the question Hillcrest Heights Public Services Specialist Kaneisha Matthews asked the 11 children who showed up for her first ever “Kids Create: Crafting a Story” program at the Hillcrest Heights Branch Library on June 30.
As a hip-hop artist herself, Kaneisha had previously done a program teaching kids the narrative craft of hip-hop. But for this new program, she wanted to move closer to traditional storytelling. To accomplish this, she developed a methodical road map for the kids to follow along with, first getting them warmed up with an “alliterative animal” introduction activity (e.g., “Koala Kaneisha”), and then asking them a series of open-ended questions along the lines of What is a story?
Taking the open-ended question approach helped the kids realize that they already knew how good stories work, and it also gave them the confidence to use those tools to create their own. Once the kids were ready, Kaneisha gave each participant a blank folded book and coloring tools, along with a “roll-a-story” worksheet with various characters, plot points, and setting options so that they could randomly pick the basic building blocks they’d be including in their stories. By the end of the hour, everyone had a completed storybook ready to take home!
Hyattsville
Olympic Artist Jesse Raudales Brings the Therapeutic Power of Art to Young Adults at Hyattsville
Throughout July, the Hyattsville Branch Library hosted an intensive “Therapy Through Art” program for teens and young adults. The series was led by Upper Marlboro’s own Jesse Raudales, an “Olympic Artist” who was commissioned by the U.S Olympic Committee to create a painting to commemorate the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team, and who now runs programs like these for young adults across the country.
Funded through an Urban Libraries Council grant, Raudales’ program was designed to give emerging adults in Prince George’s County the opportunity to get professional-level art instruction, for free, in an atmosphere designed to cultivate emotional support, camaraderie, and mutual respect. It also let the participating young artists push beyond their creative comfort zones, as it shifted mediums and subjects from one class to the next.
Atiya K., a rising Frederick Douglass High School senior, counted herself among this group. “Art is my life,” she shared during the watercolor landscape session. “I really wanted to push myself this summer to try new things and work on skills I’m not so familiar with, so I was excited to get to sign up for this class.”
Just as important as the artistic instruction was the feeling of calm and support that Jesse and his co-presenters cultivated in the room. Students also supported and encouraged each other.
One of the most notable things about this summer’s “Therapy Through Art” program, though, was how densely packed it was with genuine artistic talent.
“Most [of my] classes will have one or two good artists,” says Raudales, who has been doing this kind of work for decades, and who has been invited by PlayLA to organize the exact same program during the 2028 LA Olympics. “But this one, you can tell that at least 80 percent of them are just excellent. It’s so exciting to see their creativity [thrive].”
Raudales went all out to showcase his students’ final paintings at a gala opening at the Hyattsville Branch Library on August 2. Opening with a red carpet photo moment, the Saturday event included welcoming remarks from PGCMLS Chief Operating Officer Megan Sutherland and Ashanti Martinez, Maryland State Delegate (District 22). Following those remarks, Jesse presented each of the participants with certificates of completion, swag bags, and citations of excellence from Delegate Martinez.
After these official proceedings, family, friends, and community members were invited to tour the exhibit and engage with the artwork directly. The student artists got the opportunity to talk about their work with the public, and also to connect with the other local elected officials and community stakeholders who had come out to support them, including Betsy Ramirez, education liaison for new Prince George’s County Executive Aisha Braveboy; Hyattsville City Councilmembers Joanne Waszczak, Gopi Dhokai, and Kelson Nisbett; Omar Eaton-Martinez, senior vice president for Historic Sites at the National Trust for Historic Preservation; and Corey Lewis, assistant state archivist at the Maryland State Archives.
For more photos, check out the “Therapy Through Art” program and exhibit albums on the Library’s Flickr page!
Largo-Kettering
Nature Scavenger Hunt at the Largo-Kettering Branch Library
In the lead-up to the long July 4th weekend, the Largo-Kettering Branch Library organized an engaging outdoor scavenger hunt in the shade for little ones as part of their weekly summertime programming for kids in the 0-5 age range.
Library Associates Tamika Gaskins and Kelly Holley-Poole closed off the corner of the Largo-Kettering parking lot that includes a small grassy area with trees and bushes, and put together a card of “Patterns in Nature” for each child to carry around on their search.
The 18 items on the card included real things that the kids would be able to find in that particular patch of nature like rocks, leaves, and bugs, as well as a few “crafty” wild cards like a pom-pom caterpillar or a painted plastic sea turtle that Tamika and Kelly planted in out-of-the-way spots for the kids to discover. To add an extra level of engagement to the program, they also provided nature-themed coloring pages, and created stapled printer paper bags for the kids to etch the shape of a sweet gum tree leaf onto, and then carry the leaf home.
Laurel
Water Play Day at the Laurel Branch Library Splashpad
In early July, the Laurel Branch Library hosted its first “Water Play Day” of the season. To set things up, Laurel Branch Librarian Tracy Day spread wading pools, watering cans, buckets and shovels, sponges, beach balls, a variety of pool toys, and a brand new dinosaur sprinkler across the splash pad in the community park next door. The result? A water wonderland for the 36 children and 34 adults who came out for the fun.
“I also brought out a waterproof speaker that has good volume to it, and put on a kid-friendly summer playlist,” Tracy says. This playlist includes a variety of Disney songs, as well as some upbeat tracks in other languages that Tracy particularly enjoys.
The water feature built into the Emancipation Community Park splash pad doesn’t usually activate for public use until around noon, but the “Water Play Day” attendees lucked out that day, as the geyser-like sprinklers came on a couple hours early. This gave the “Water Play Day” attendees even more exciting water elements to race through!
Mount Rainier
Echoes of Nature Has Its Eyes on PGCMLS
At the Mount Rainier Nature Center in early July, all the (animal) stars were out: Tamika the turtle, Glinda the Argentine horned frog, Spectre the rock pigeon, and even Chupa the chinchilla, who garnered a collective awww when she was lifted from her travel box.
The “I Have My Eyes On You” animal meet-and-greet program was presented by Echoes of Nature, a Bowie-based environmental education organization who has returned to PGCMLS for another summer of fun, educational animal programs. Led by Echoes of Nature animal expert Jennie, “I Have My Eyes On You” ran once in the afternoon at the Mount Rainier Nature Center, and once again in the evening at the South Bowie Branch Library. Registration was maxed out for the afternoon program, where the audience included both Mount Rainier Branch Library customers and local summer campers.
“[The Mount Rainier branch] has worked with Echoes of Nature for the last three years, and their programs are always a hit for families and kids of all ages,” says Mount Rainier Branch Librarian Caitlin Clark. “I mean, who doesn’t want to touch a fluffy animal? Everyone who comes always leaves happy — it’s one of their favorite summer programs.”
New Carrollton
New Carrollton Branch Library Brings “Family Movie & a Craft” Sparkle to Summer Meals Program
At the New Carrollton Branch Library this past summer, New Carrollton Library Associate Claudia Parra organized a bonus treat for community members who came in for the “Summer Meals” program: a curated “Family Movie & a Craft” series!
Featuring a mix of animated films both new and old that Claudia paired with fun, simple crafts that kids and parents could do together, this programming series saw families return week after week, with kids excited to dive into whatever activity Claudia had planned. It also let the New Carrollton branch staff show off what makes public libraries so vital, facilitating access not just to resources and services like the county’s free summer lunch program, but also to interactive, socially engaging learning opportunities — and all of that in a safe and welcoming community space.
“I wanted the community to be able to make good use of [both] the summer meals and the resources we have [at the Library],” explains Claudia, who first developed the bonus program in 2024 as a way to entice more community members to come in during the summer months. “We know that people really need those lunches, but that they don't always know what's going on at the library, so I thought this would be a good way to promote both.”
Customers shared their appreciation of the program with Claudia throughout the summer. Everyone was happy for the free lunches, but they also appreciated how it was a nice cool break from the summer heat, or that it was somewhere they could bring grandkids who were visiting for the summer. Says Claudia, “I was happy to hold this safe space for them — to have the community making good use of our resources, making new friends, and just experiencing the joy of a simple craft, all in this shared space.”
Oxon Hill
The Oxon Hill Branch Library’s “Computer Basics” Program Meets Community Members at All Levels
Throughout his years running the Oxon Hill Branch Library’s intensive “Basic Computer Skills for Beginners” skill-building program, Oxon Hill Library Associate Jahmiel McBride has gotten to engage with a diverse group of participants.
“The whole idea of the program when we [OH staff] first developed it was to figure out the needs our community has, and how to provide [for] them,” says Jahmiel. And as Jahmiel has seen first-hand, it can be literally life-changing for participants to get to learn all of the skills he covers in this intensive four-day program, at the Library, for free.
“One gentleman who came in July told me that he had until just recently been incarcerated for 30 years,” Jahmiel shares. “He went to a local resource center to get more info about things he can do [to gain job skills], and they told him about my class. For him, the class reintroduced the basic functions of computer and technology terminology, which [he hopes] will provide him with better opportunities as he starts looking for employment.”
To meet the ever-evolving needs of the Oxon Hill community, Jahmiel is always iterating on and updating his course materials. To see the latest version, check out the next series, running from October 20-23.
South Bowie
Adult Crafting Time with Pressed Floral Bookmarks at the South Bowie Branch Library
The South Bowie Branch Library hosts engaging craft, art, and interactive STEM programs for kids and families on a regular basis. With this summer’s “Craft and Create: Pressed Floral Bookmarks” program, adults got in on the crafting action, too!
Using dried flowers and leaves, acrylic bookmark forms, and clear-drying Modge Podge crafting glue, participants at this program were able to craft unique bookmarks to take home for personal use or to gift to family and friends.
“I love crafting and doing DIY projects, [so I wanted] to host a program specifically for adults to enjoy, unwind, and vibe with,” says South Bowie Library Associate Paris Jackson, who designed this program. “Crafting is very calming, and I was hoping this easy three-step activity would be a great [way] to bring in [more] craft programs for our adults to enjoy without the kiddos.”
In fact, the pressed-flower bookmarks program was such a hit with attendees, it landed on TikTok!
“This was a free workshop that our tax dollars pay for, so this is why local libraries are so important,” says customer and content creator Naturally Shauniece in her video. “I was surprised, because when I think of the library, I always think of kid events, not events for adults [...], but this one was for adults, and it was super cute!”
Getting Crafty with Paper Plate Jellyfish at South Bowie
For a “Kids Create” program in early July, South Bowie Library Associate Brandon Adams organized a papercraft project focused on fun, colorful jellyfish.
“Since our Summer Prince George’s theme was ‘Color Our World,’ I wanted to do something color adjacent that was also summery,” Brandon says. “Jellyfish come in all types of colors, and you can do a lot with them [imagination-wise]!”
The energy at the program was great, Brandon reports. One mother liked it so much that when it was done, she declared she would be coming to the branch’s “Sip-n-Paint” program the following day — and the next day, there she was!
Most participants at this program seemed to be newer to the branch. Says Brandon, “I think that in general, even if people don’t use the library much outside of summer, this is a time of year where they’re looking for things to do and ways to connect with their community.”
Spauldings
A Short but Fruitful Summer at the Spauldings Branch Library
The Spauldings Branch Library was closed for most of June and July for building repairs, but that didn’t stop the branch from putting on a number of fun and engaging programs for the District Heights community once they were back in action starting in August.
Some highlights from the final month of the summer included a visit from the Science Guys of Baltimore for a STEM-themed “Color Our World” program geared toward kids ages 5-12, and a well-attended “Lawyer in the Library: Tenant’s Rights and Housing Clinic” presented by Maryland Legal Aid, where lawyers came to the branch to provide one-on-one legal services on matters related to housing, landlord/tenant disputes, and tenants' rights on a first-come, first-served basis.
Both programs were a big success, reports Spaulding Branch Librarian Precious Abujana.
“At the Science Guys of Baltimore program, [the kids] got to learn about light, prisms, and rainbows and the scientific concepts around color in an interactive setting,” she shares. “Everyone who came expressed really loving the hands-on learning experience, and the fact that it was both fun and educational.”
Surratts-Clinton
“Summer Prince George’s Kickoff: Truck-a-Palooza” a Huge Success for the Surratts-Clinton Branch Library
As a fun way to kick off their Summer Prince George’s programming, the Surratts-Clinton Branch Library hosted a “Truck-a-Palooza” in the branch parking lot. There, kids were able to get up close and personal with a Prince George’s County Fire Department truck, a Prince George’s Police Department squad car, a United States Postal Service mail delivery truck, a WSSC Water truck, a Pepco bucket truck, the Library’s “Curiosity Cube,” and a sno-cone truck.
The branch has long been wanting to host a “touch-a-truck” event like this, and so were excited this year to make it happen! Surratts-Clinton Branch Librarian Ryiesha Simms took the lead in securing partnerships with local businesses and civic organizations with vehicle kids might be interested in getting their hands on, using her connections in the community, including a bi-weekly community meeting called the “Clinton Coffee Club,” to get trucks of all kinds out for the afternoon.
All the vehicles were a hit on the day of the event, but with temperatures that day reaching 96° perhaps none was more popular than the sno-cone truck. A perfect way to kick off Summer Prince George’s 2025!
Upper Marlboro
“Game On: Kids Adventure Challenge” at the Upper Marlboro Branch Library
On Saturday, August 2, the Upper Marlboro Branch Library hosted the Get Fit Mobile Unit from the Maryland-National Capitol Park Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) for a fun “Game On: Kids Adventure Challenge” midday program.
Gathering in the parking lot behind the Main Street branch building, kids got to do ladders, speed hurdles, box jumps, push-ups, and sprints. They learned about how to motivate each other, and they also learned about the importance of daily stretching.
“After I’m done with my exercises, I should lay down on my bed, right?” called out one M-NCPPC presenter as she gathered the group together after their final sprints. “Nooo!” the kids called back. “You’ve got to stretch!”
