Welcome to Stories in Motion, where we celebrate the Library stories your generosity helps set in motion every day.
At the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS), stories aren’t confined to the pages of books. They come alive in our libraries and communities in the child learning to read, the teen finding their voice, the family discovering new opportunities, and the neighbors building connections. With your support, these stories keep moving forward, creating ripple effects that strengthen our entire community.
In each issue, we’ll share the people, programs, and moments that bring our mission to life and highlight the impact we're making together. Thank you for being part of the PGCMLS story and for helping ensure that our libraries continue to inspire, empower, and transform lives across Prince George’s County.
The PGCMLS Foundation executed two successful philanthropic initiatives earlier this year: a small-scale fundraiser with Libro.fm for “Library Lovers Month,” where a $15 donation earned donors a free audiobook — an effort that raised $2,118.55 — and then the 2026 Library Giving Day campaign, which brought in $25,344.59 in unrestricted giving. This total came out far ahead of the Foundation’s initial campaign goal of $20,000 — all thanks to your generous donations!
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 campaigns like Library Giving Day make your library stronger.
With 19 branch library locations and a number of standalone initiatives, PGCMLS hosts on average more than 600 vibrant community programs each month. Your donations support all of that programming; here are a few highlights from the recent season!
One of the Library’s flagship seasonal initiatives, the Summer Prince George’s (SPG) challenge invites community members to celebrate exploration and creativity through free events, community connection, and, of course, plenty of books.
Each year, the PGCMLS Foundation provides critical support that helps expand the programs, resources, and prizes the Library is able to provide Summer Prince George’s participants. This summer, funds from the Foundation allowed the PGCMLS Programming team to purchase marble runs, microscopes, and rock and gem kits for branches to use as part of 2026’s fun “Unearth a Story” theme. They also made it possible for the Library to give free SPG T-shirts to every challenge participant who earns 10 points.
The Summer Prince George’s seasonal library challenge has a big impact on literacy outcomes for PGCMLS families. This impact might look like encouraging kids to practice their reading skills, learn new STEM concepts, or try out more challenging books. It might also look like encouraging adults to get out to their local branch and learn a new language, participate in a writers’ group, or challenge themselves to explore different genres or try out new genres and discuss with community members at a Library book discussion program.
As one parent shared in July following a particularly exciting “STEM Fun: Ozobots” program at the Greenbelt Branch Library, these Summer Prince George’s memories are ones that endure. “My two children would not stop talking about the program on the drive home,” he shared. “They can't wait for the next one!”
On the last Saturday of March, the Hyattsville Branch Library hosted PGCMLS’ fourth annual Geek Out Expo, an all-day, all-ages event devoted to all things “geeky” in games, books, and pop culture.
At the Expo, attendees enjoyed crafts, game demos, a Super Smash Bros. tournament, a Pokémon drawing class, and even a lecture on the rise of K-pop. Expo participants were also able to attend engaging and informative presentations from a few exciting local community partners, including independent videogame developer, Boba Studios.
In their presentation, Boba Studios’ founders talked through everything it takes to create a new game from scratch. Their audience was packed with young people who were artists themselves — including a couple of 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.
“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,” says PGCMLS Adult Services Specialist Audrey Lau, who assisted with the event.
“When they finished, the teenager’s dad asked, did you get anything out of it? And his kid’s eyes were so bright, you could just see the enthusiasm — he was really invested in learning everything he could to apply himself to a practical outcome. It was the perfect way for kids [with those interests] to learn: This is where it starts.”
By the end of the day, nearly 1,200 community members had joined Geek Out Expo from across the county — 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.
In late April, the PGCMLS Books from Birth program surpassed 18,000 registered families — the highest active participation rate in the Library’s history!
The impacts of the Books from Birth program are felt across the Prince George’s community well past the five years that an individual child is enrolled — including through the Library’s ongoing relationship with Bowie High School (BHS), where a cohort of students have spent the last two years adapting and staging beloved Books from Birth titles into miniature traveling productions as part of the school's “Theater for Young Audiences” (TYA) program. For two years running, these students have brought their production to the storytime audience at Bowie Branch Library, right next door.
“I really appreciate the fact that we could bring something like this [to the library] because it gives us the ability to not only just tell stories and give kids a fun time, but also introduce them to theater at such a young age,” said Isabella, one of the BHS student performers who brought the 2025 performance of “Dandelion Magic” (by Darren Farrell) to the Bowie Branch Library auditorium.
This year, the students adapted “The Rabbit Listened” by Cori Doerrfeld, a title in regular rotation for Books from Birth families since 2019.
“We had to think about how we could do justice to the book,” said BHS student Maya ahead of the performance. Maya was cast as the Elephant in this year’s production, and, as a veteran of the TYA program, used her experience from “Dandelion Magic” to help make sure that this year’s script would be ready to meet the real-world unpredictability of their young audience. “We added a lot of space for breaks for them to react, [and] had to remind everybody that kids are going to say things on the fly that might throw you off, so you have to be able to improv your way through it.”
This turned out to be important prep, as members of the young audience remained on stage participating enthusiastically with the teens’ animal characters throughout the entire production — something that they had not originally foreseen.
An enthusiastic child who lingered on stage for its full run gave the theater students a chance to demonstrate their improv skills. Joining the students in a debrief interview, she shared that she thought they did a great job making a book she had read feel real. Indicating enthusiastically that Hyena was her favorite character (“Yeah!” said the teen actor under the Hyena ears), she got a fist bump, then headed back offstage.
“It was really refreshing to see all the people that come to things like this,” said Maya, about getting to bring another performance to the Bowie Branch Library this season. “You don’t always expect there to be a lot of people, but there were a lot here today. It’s nice to see that there’s that community, that it’s just a fun thing to do! Having that connection with the library, with it right next to our school where we can just come right over, is so nice.”
In early July, nearly 30 teens from across the DMV joined Library staff at the Laurel Branch Library for an energizing week of fun, critical engagement, and personal growth at the Library’s annual Social Justice Camp (SJC). Started in 2022, SJC helps local teens build the context and skills they need to make an impact in their community. SJC alumni have gone on to study social justice in college, work with boots-on-the-ground social change groups in the county, and even get jobs with organizations dedicated to social justice.
The PGCMLS Foundation financially supports the entire Camp, funding everything from lunches and snacks to Social Justice Camp-branded T-shirts, workbooks, reusable water bottles, and all of the learning materials needed for the 27.5 hours of programming provided by PGCMLS staff throughout the week. This support makes the teens feel not just that Social Justice Camp is a serious program worth them investing their own time and energy into, but also that they are being taken seriously by the adults in their community. And thanks to all the resources the Library was able to put behind this year’s camp, 2026 might have been the Library’s most successful SJC yet!
“This is the brightest, most engaged of any group we’ve had in years,” said Bowie Branch Library Public Services Specialist Chris Herrmann midway through the week, on the afternoon the teens were conducting mock interviews with visiting community partners from across the local social justice space. “They just genuinely seem to have a real interest in discussing issues, listening to each other, and sharing different viewpoints.”
“It’s actually been really, really fun,” said Max, one of this year’s teen participants, who came to SJC following a year serving as chair of a civic action committee in student government. “I thought we were just going to be talking all day about issues — I didn’t know we’d be so engaged, and it’s just been so fun.”
“I was kind of reluctant at first, because I didn’t know if I would want to do something like this over the summer,” said Treuth, a student from Crofton who made his way to Social Justice Camp after his mom heard about it and suggested it for him. “So far, I’ve really liked it. I’ve gotten to talk to a lot of different people, and everyone has been really nice. Just in general, I’[m] really interested in how things impact us, especially things like immigration, gun violence — things that are going on right now. I want to know how I am going to be impacted, [and] what can I do to make it better, so that I know that other people around me, and all my friends and everyone I care for, are going to be okay.”
“It’s honestly been really enlightening,” said Lisa Potillo, Community Relations Specialist from Maryland Wellness, one of the camp’s community partners. Potillo first engaged with the library through tabling to pass out comfort kits for local unhoused neighbors, and shared how great it was for her to get this chance to spend some time with local teens. “I love being able to talk to the youth. It’s very rare that I have the opportunity to do outreach specifically to [that group] and see what they’re thinking. One of them asked me, How do you know if you’re making an impact in the community? And I was like, woof, that’s a spicy one!”
“It’s so great to be here with teens doing this community work!” said another partner from Wednesday’s community organization fair, following a particularly energizing conversation with a participating teen. “I want to see social justice camps EVERYWHERE.”
Despite budgetary limitations, the PGCMLS Collections team works hard every day to ensure that the Library is meeting the needs of our community. Donations made to the PGCMLS Foundation earmarked for the Digital Collections Fund help support these efforts — and their impact in the lives of PGCMLS cardholders.
Community members now have free access to The Banner through their PGCMLS library card. This new digital news resource can be found on the Library’s Online Resources page.
The Banner (baltimorebanner.com) — a recent addition to Maryland’s local news landscape — officially added a Prince George’s County bureau earlier this year. By providing PGCMLS customers free access to The Banner through their PGCMLS library card, the Library is facilitating greater media literacy and engagement with local issues for all Prince George’s County community members.
Note: PGCMLS-facilitated passes to The Banner expire every seven (7) days. Cardholders can renew their free access an unlimited number of times. Ad-block and pop-up blockers may interfere with the authentication process.
The Library’s agreement with The Banner will guarantee cardholder access to this independent local news source through June 30, 2028.
Hello! I’m just writing to commend your staff for some truly outstanding service. This morning I read about a new title — “The Housewives Underground” — in the New York Times. It wasn’t available through Overdrive on the Libby app, so I tagged it to request consideration for purchase. Within six hours of placing this request, I was notified that the title was purchased — and I was able to check it out on the Libby app immediately! I truly appreciate this wonderful customer service.
Additionally, I’m able to read the New York Times every day thanks to free access through the PGCMLS website. I’m a retiree, so this money-saving service is also very much appreciated. Thank you, PGCMLS friends, for all that you do!
As a PG Country digital collections user I wanted to pass on my praise for the collections development team. I am a sci-fi aficionado and have been surprised and delighted time and time again by what I now have access to thanks to your team. I just finished Peter Watts’ ‘Echopraxia’ on audio via Libby. It's one of all time favorites and I never thought I'd be able to find it at a library. Earlier this year, Calvert County put out a hard sci-fi book list to highlight their own collection. Ironically, I've read nearly every book from that list via the PG County digital collection because the Maryland digital library consortium had very few of the books on audio.
To reiterate, thank you thank you thank you to whoever maintains and develops this wonderful collection.
The programming and resources offered by PGCMLS is so exceptional that it regularly receives external recognition at both the state and the national level. The PGCMLS Foundation is proud to support such outstanding service!
In May, the Maryland Library Association (MLA) awarded three PGCMLS initiatives with statewide recognitions of excellence:
PGCMLS provides a variety of engaging, intentional programs and services for immigrant communities in Prince George’s County throughout the year, including dedicated programming in September during Welcoming Week and at the annual PGCMLS Festival of Cultures, which is sponsored in part by the PGCMLS Foundation.
“This festival is where the Library’s diverse community can come together to recognize our common humanity and to celebrate all of our different traditions, languages, dances, food, and stories,” says Maribel Rodriguez, PGCMLS Bilingual Program and Outreach Associate.
The Library’s work in this arena was featured at this year’s American Library Association annual convention, as part of a presentation titled “From Commitment to Action: How Libraries Support Immigrants, Refugees, and Newcomers.”
“[PGCMLS’] contributions were wonderful and added so much to the presentation,” said presenter Lonna Vines, a librarian from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library system who is also working on a book-length project on the same subject. “Through my work on this session and my research for the book, I can say with absolute confidence that [the PGCMLS] team is making a meaningful difference for immigrants, refugees, and newcomers. Not only for your community but on a national scale through your willingness to collaborate with me, as well as your work with Smithsonian — and probably thirty-two other ways that I don't even know about!”
Welcoming Week runs this year from September 10-19. The fifth annual PGCMLS Festival of Cultures will take place on Saturday, September 19.
