Dive into summer reading at the county libraries

Friday, June 19, 2009

Board meeting

The next board meeting is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Sept. 17 at the La Plata branch.

Special events

At 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 20, "The High Strung, A Musical Performance" for all ages. Enjoy the quirky, carefree music of the High Strung. Known for their rousing Beatles-like jams, The High Strung will perform a full set and follow up by writing an improvisational song with help from the audience at P.D. Brown branch in Waldorf

My Gym is scheduled for Mondays June 29, July 6, and July 13; registration online.

Learn to draw at the Waldorf Branch 6:30-8 p.m. July 17, for 12 and up. Come and draw with our guest artist, Wesley Bullock. Hear his remarkable story and learn drawing basics.

Picture This! At the Waldorf Branch 10:30-11:30 a.m. July 18 and 25. For14 and up. Learn digital photography basics with Cinderella Studios. Learn professional picture composition, lighting, posing and managing digital cameras.

The Art of Writing, presented by National Geographic July 20 1:30 p.m. at La Plata and 3:30 p.m. at Potomac.

Jazzy Yarns at the Waldorf Branch 6-7 p.m. July 23. Discover the fun of crocheting or knitting in one easy lesson. Learn the basics or more advanced techniques with Cyndi Greene.

Spanish classes at P.D. Brown in Waldorf at 10 a.m. on June 20, June 25, July 2, July 9, July 16, July 23, July 30, August 6, August 13 and August 15.

Music with Adam Miller in La Plata 1 p.m. July 18.

Bach 2 Rock at P.D. Brown at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evenings.

At 1 p.m. July 24 at the Potomac Branch, a special visit from Pinch, the Blue Crabs mascot.

Love to read books, but just can't find the time?

The librarians at Charles County Library have just discovered the secret for finding the time to read a good book again: The library delivers portions of books to you in your e-mail. Each day, Monday through Friday, the library e-mails subscribers a portion of a book that takes about 5 minutes to read. By the end of the week, subscribers have read two to three chapters from the book and if they like it, they check it out at the library.

New books are featured every week.

There are 11 book clubs to choose from, something for every age and taste: fiction, non fiction, mystery, romance, science-fiction, good news, horror, business, teen and audio books (that you can listen to in your e-mail) and a special sneak preview Pre-Pub Club that lets you start reading books that aren't even published yet.

Just minutes a day and the books are delivered to you right in your e-mail, at your home, work or even in your PDA."

Currently subscribers are reading "Daemon," a novel by Daniel Suarez, "Furious Improvisation" by Susan Quinn, "Boot Camp" by Todd Strasser, " Habit: The 95% Behavior Marketers Ignore" by Neale Martin, "Rebel and the Lady" by Kathryn Albright, "Suspicious Minds" by Christy Barritt, "Off Armageddon Reef" by David Weber, "What Lies in Shadow" by Tim Wainscott, "Easy Innocence" by Libby Fischer Hellman, audiobook "Stalked" by Brian Freeman, and the prepublication selection, "Trust No One" by Gregg Horwitz.

You can sign up for the service at the library or at the library's Web site www.ccplonline.org.

Fuse your brain

We now have a tutoring service called Brainfuse. Students can get instant access to expert tutors who can help you tackle a homework problem, learn an academic skill or write a term-paper. Try this great, new online tutoring tool today. Hours for tutors are from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Dial-A-Story

Dial-A-Story is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 301-934-3552.

Teach your children the joy of reading with Tumblebooks. These animated, talking, electronic picture books and puzzles are wonderful to read or have read aloud. They are free for all Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's county library cardholders.

Used to books

Check out the Used Book Store operated by the Citizens for the Charles County Public Library Inc. The Book store is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. every Saturday on the lower level of the La Plata Branch. The store will be closed on July 4.

Answers here

ASK US NOW! Is a 24/7 live online interactive service. It uses the expertise of library staff to provide Maryland residents and students with answers to questions, research guidance, and help navigating the Internet — any time, day or night, 365 days, all the time. Connect through the library's Web site at www.ccplonline.org.

The library's Web site is available at any time at www.ccplonline.org Check your library account, use our databases, renew materials, place holds, and browse our catalog at your convenience.

Book discussions for adults

The book discussions in Waldorf will be July 11 on "Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck and Aug. 1 on "Tin Roof Blowdown" by James Lee Burke. If you are interested in joining the Waldorf book discussion, please call 301-645-2864 or e-mail mruss@somd.lib.md.us with your library card number and we will place a copy of the book on reserve for you.

La Plata book discussion group meets 7 to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of every month

The book discussion books for La Plata will be July 9 on "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger and Aug. 13 on "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

If you are interested in joining the La Plata Book Discussion, please call 301-934-9001 or email pfrere@somd.lib.md.us

A book discussion will be started at the Potomac Branch for those who express an interest. For more information, call 301- 375-7375.

Book discussions are held at the Richard Clark Senior Center, the Indian Head Senior Center, the Maples and the Waldorf Senior Center. Check out the Senior Center newsletter, the "Scoop", each month for further information.

Mother and child book clubs

Mother and daughter book clubs are held from 7 to 8 p.m. June 22, July 13 and Aug. 10 at La Plata branch and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the P.D. Brown branch in Waldorf on June 24, July 22 and Aug. 12.The parent and son book clubs meet at P.D. Brown from 7 to 8 p.m. on July 20 and Aug. 17. The clubs are for kids in grades 5 through 8.

Cooperation please

The Cooperating Collections are a nationwide network providing free public access to grant maker directories, books and newsletters on fundraising and nonprofit management, and the Foundation Center's electronic databases. The Foundation Center's mission is to strengthen the nonprofit sector by advancing knowledge about U.S. philanthropy.

Charles County Public Libraries are proud to have been designated a Cooperating Collection. Foundation Directory Online Professional, a database available at any of the Charles County Public Libraries, includes a wealth of information and features a comprehensive database of over 92,000 grant makers and 1.3 million grants. Also available at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch is the Foundation Grants to Individuals Online database, which allows individuals to quickly search through detailed descriptions of more than 6,000 foundation programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grant seekers. Call 301-645-2864.

Technically smart

Look for the library's technology showcase and breakfast 8 to 10 a.m. June 30 at the meeting room of the La Plata library. New products will be demonstrated with an opportunity to meet vendors. The showcase is co-sponsored by the Charles County Technology Council and the Charles County Public Library.

The writer is the executive director of Charles County Public Library.