The St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot County Free Library is currently closed, with staff including Branch Manager Shauna Beulah, left, and Library Associate Amy Wise packing books and more for the branch’s temporary relocation at the St. Michaels Village shopping center at 1013 S. Talbot Street, expected to open mid-November. The temporary closure and move are made while a $6.3 million expansion and renovation project gets underway, with new features including a large meeting room, exhibit and interactive outside spaces, quiet technology spaces, an early literacy children’s area, and ADA-compliant features.

The St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot County Free Library has temporarily closed its doors while staff pack and prepare to open a temporary space in the St. Michaels Village shopping center at 1013 S. Talbot Street this November.

The temporary closure and move are being made in preparation for a $6.3 million expansion and renovation project that includes a large meeting room, exhibit and interactive outside spaces, quiet technology spaces, an early-literacy children’s area, and ADA-compliant features.

“We are thrilled to begin this new chapter for the St. Michaels Library,” said Shauna Beulah, St. Michaels Branch Manager. “While the renovations will enhance the library for the future, it’s important to us that our patrons continue to have access to the resources they rely on. Our temporary location will allow us to do just that.”

She says the renovations will bring the community an expanded facility, modernized design, and creative new spaces for the community. During the interim, the library remains committed to serving the community’s needs beyond books, offering essential services such as free internet access, children’s programming, and community events.

“Libraries are a cornerstone of our community, providing a safe and welcoming space for people of all ages,” said Dana Newman, director of the Talbot County Free Library. “As we prepare for this exciting transformation, we are determined to continue supporting our patrons by offering access to technology, learning opportunities, and more.”

In preparation for the move, all items checked out from the St. Michaels branch before October 5 have been given a due date of December 16, 2024. Patrons are encouraged to return these items at the temporary location once it opens in November. The book drop at the St. Michaels Library will be closed during this time, though materials can also be returned to the Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library.

For assistance during the temporary closure, patrons can call 410-822-1626 or visit the Library’s Easton location. Updates on the project and services will be available on the Talbot County Free Library’s website at www.tcfl.org.

About Talbot County Free Library

The Talbot County Free Library has been serving the community for decades, providing access to information, technology, and community programs that enrich the lives of its patrons. The St. Michaels branch is a hub of activity and a vital resource for the St. Michaels and Bay Hundred communities, with more at www.tcfl.org.

Matt LaMotte, from Kent County, will be the guest speaker for the final Lunch & Learn at the St. Michaels Branch of the Talbot County Free Library on Monday, August 5, 2024, at noon.

LaMotte will share his love for Eastern Shore history with his talk about The Shore’s Role in the War of 1812. The Eastern Shore of Maryland played a significant role in the War of 1812, contributing both manpower and resources to the American efforts against British forces. 

Situated along the Chesapeake Bay, this region was strategically important due to its proximity to key waterways and its agricultural output. He will highlight key events, notable figures, and the impact of the conflict on the region.

LaMotte spent his youth between Baltimore, Chestertown, and Easton. After college, he delved in the world of insurance and finance, raising his two sons while honing his passion for history and lacrosse. He spent two decades teaching and coaching at independent schools across Virginia, New Hampshire and Ohio. 

In 2018, he headed the History Department at Saints Peter and Paul High School, Easton, until retirement in 2021. A reformed duck hunter, now bird enthusiast and conservationist, LaMotte is currently engaged in various outdoor education and community services organizations.

Friends of the Talbot County Free Library sponsor the Lunch & Learn Speakers Program at the St. Michaels Branch. The program is free but for this final Lunch & Learn, the Friends are raising funds to provide books and materials for the new St. Michaels library once the renovations and expansion are complete. Donations are greatly appreciated. 

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St.; and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, and digital devices, as well as free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community.  For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

St. Michaels Library has announced that The Fremont Street-St. Michaels Exhibit will officially open on Thursday, July 18 at noon. 

Fremont Street was the center of St. Michaels’ African-American Community from the 1850s well into the 20th century.  Located there was the first Union United Methodist Sunday School in 1852, the first African American School, and the first Odd Fellows lodge.  It was a commercial center for African American businesses as well as a residential center.

 Kate Fones, St. Michaels Museum curator, will give a presentation about the community from its first days when Samuel Alexander Harrison created a new street and lots to the west of Talbot Street out of his Canton Farm in the late 1840s.   

“We are fortunate and excited to exhibit a detailed model of the wide range of buildings located on the west side of Fremont Street created by local resident Leonard Palmer,” said Fones. “Many of these buildings are no longer there but thanks to Palmer, we can visualize what the street looked like in the latter years of the 19th century and the 1950s.  This model has never been exhibited publicly before. We invite and welcome all those to come and share your memories of Fremont Street and any photographs you may have of the Street.”

Refreshments will be served during the official opening.

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St., and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, and digital devices, as well as free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community.  For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Cooling Centers will be open on Tuesday, June 18th through Saturday, June 23rd for any community member in need of a cool environment. The Talbot County Public Library will be opening for use by the public, at times listed below.

Easton Library 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601

• Tuesday 9 AM – 6 PM
• Wednesday 9 AM – 6 PM
• Thursday 9 AM – 8 PM
• Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM

St. Michaels Library 106 Fremont St., St. Michaels, MD 21663

• Tuesday 9 AM – 6 PM
• Wednesday 9 AM – 6 PM
• Thursday 9 AM – 8 PM
• Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
• Saturday 9 AM – 5 PM

During this time period, Talbot County is expected to receive extremely hot temperatures, with heat indices exceeding 90 degrees. For latest weather information for our region: https://rb.gy/is3cf

During high temperatures, it is important to:

• Remain hydrated by drinking water before, during and after outdoor activities.
• Take frequent breaks while working or playing outdoors.
• Wear loose-fitting, light clothing; wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover the face, ears and neck if you’ll be outside.
• Apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) 15 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply at least every two hours.
• Drink plenty of fluids but avoid beverages that have caffeine or alcohol.
• Plan strenuous outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day; limit time outside during peak heat.
• Pace physical activities, starting slowly and picking up the pace gradually.
• Wear sunglasses that provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Chronic exposure to the sun can cause cataracts.
• Check on frail, elderly or home-bound individuals to make sure they are not affected by the heat.
• Move to a cooler location at first sign of heat illness (dizziness, nausea, headaches, muscle cramps); rest and slowly drink a cool liquid.
• Never leave a child or pet in a parked car or asleep in the direct sunlight.
• Take care of pets! Make sure they have plenty of shade and water to drink, walk dogs when the temperature is cooler.

For more information, please contact the Department of Emergency Services at 410-770-8160.

The Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) has been honored with a gift of $110,300 toward the expansion and renovation of its St. Michael’s branch.

The Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) has been honored with a gift of $110,300 toward the expansion and renovation of its St. Michael’s branch.

This contribution from a generous library patron will fund a naming opportunity in the library.  Numerous naming opportunities are available for donors to choose from to support the purchase of books, furnishings, and other resources.

“With wonderful donations like this one, the library will be able to purchase new books for patrons of all ages but especially for children and teens. With the expansion of the St. Michaels Library, there will be a new Quiet Reading Room, a Cafe space, and larger children’s and teen areas,” said TCFL Director Dana Newman. “These new spaces will need new books and furniture especially for youth. Kids need libraries more than ever now, not less. There will be fiction and non-fiction, picture books, series books like ‘The Princess in Black’ and ‘Dogman,’ chapter books, and novels.”

The St. Michaels library is a focal point of the Bay Hundred community, offering a myriad of resources, programs and activities for all ages, interests and backgrounds.  Its popularity and increased usage necessitate the planned expansion, which will add new technology, welcoming spaces for youth, increased accessibility for disabled individuals and quiet areas for those wishing to read or study.

Naming opportunities that are still available for supporters to fund include book shelves (in specific non-fiction subjects or genre areas), computers, study rooms, benches, the Quiet Reading room, youth spaces, the cafe space and others.

Talbot County is fortunate to have such a wonderful local resource and a community that honors and supports it. The St. Michaels expansion is planned for completion in 2025, in time for the 100th anniversary of the library.

To be able to celebrate both simultaneously is highly anticipated and will culminate in a new library that reflects the values of our community and the library’s mission to “connect our community to ideas and information to enrich and renew lives.”

The library greatly appreciates and looks forward to honoring supporters who donate a gift that will go toward the purchase of library materials and furniture that the entire community can enjoy.

For further information about the project, or how to donate, contact [email protected] or visit tcfl.org.

About Talbot County Free Library

It is the mission of the Talbot County Free Library to enrich and renew the lives of the people it serves. There are two locations: The main library in Easton is located at 100 W. Dover St.; and the St. Michael branch is at 106 Fremont St. The Maryland Room in the Easton branch holds a voluminous collection of genealogical resources and historical documents. Services at both locations include the circulation of books, DVDs, and digital devices, as well as free Wi-Fi, public computers, exhibits, and programs for both children and adults. Many of the Talbot County Free Library’s programs are made possible by the generous support of the local community.  For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.