Talbot County Free Library welcomes the community to provide input for the new three-year strategic plan by taking a survey and participating in an upcoming focus group meeting.

The strategic planning process will examine what the Talbot County Free Library needs to focus on to serve the evolving needs of residents. The first Strategic Plan Focus Group will aim to get feedback from teens (ages 12-18) on Thursday, April 28 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Talbot County Free Library’s St. Michaels Branch.

This event will give teens a chance to earn service-learning hours and help the Talbot County Free Library. Participants will answer questions in a small discussion group and provide their thoughts and opinions about library services for teens. Teens are encouraged to bring their service-learning papers. Free pizza will be provided.

“During each focus group session, we’ll ask participants about their needs and thoughts about what the library can do for them and how the library can better reach and support all of our residents,” said Dana Newman, Talbot County Free Library Director.

Another Strategic Plan Focus Group will take place at the St. Michaels Branch on Monday, May 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This focus group invites community members of all ages to answer questions designed to help the library plan for future services, and the upcoming expansion of the St. Michaels library.

Another focus group will then be held at the Easton Branch on Thursday, May 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The library will also hold one at the Chesapeake Multicultural Resource Center on Thursday, May 12, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A teen focus group is being planned for the Easton area, and it is highly encouraged for everyone to check the library’s website for more information.

Refreshments will be served at all of the focus groups sessions.

“From the feedback we receive, we hope to find ways in which the Library can more effectively serve both individuals and the community,” Newman said.

Talbot County Free Library not only encourages the public to participate in the focus groups, but also with the Strategic Planning Survey. The survey will be on the library’s website until Tuesday, April 19.

Talbot County Free Library encourages those who take the survey to share their insights about community needs that the library could help meet. The library also wants to know what services and programs patrons want to see in the library in the future.

“Library staff hopes the entire community will participate in the survey and let us know what they want to see at the library,” Newman said.

For more information, please call (410) 822-1626 or visit www.tcfl.org. Registration is not required for the Focus Groups.

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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Dana Newman, director of the Talbot County Free Library, announced that the library has been awarded a $10,000 grant to create “The Talbot Boys Collection,” which will be in the main library’s Maryland Room.

The collection will be a comprehensive compilation of materials related to the Talbot Boys statue and Talbot Boys. The collection will tell the story of the varied and changing impact the statue had on Talbot County for over twelve decades, told from all sides of the issue.

The anonymous donor expressed the hope that the grant “will demonstrate that our community was able to preserve Talbot history and remove the monument as well.”  The library has the sole authority over all aspects of the collection, but the donor’s wish is that “the library assemble and organize as much information and material of all varieties as it reasonably can, from a wide variety of sources and of varied types…that the collection preserve Talbot’s history by being a repository for the whole story of the statue, not any one story in particular.”

The library is currently in the process of hiring a graduate intern to collect, archive, and arrange the collection. The public is asked to hold items including letters, photographs, articles, personal communications, and any other documents related to the Talbot Boys statue that they wish to contribute.

An announcement will be made when the donations will be accepted.

“The discussions, printed material, presentations, etc. taking place within the past several years regarding the Talbot Boys statue have been quite emotional, and passionate – on both sides.  The work contributed by a focused scholar should allow future Talbot Countians and researchers the possibility to view all aspects, thereby being able to form their own conclusions,” said Becky Riti, Talbot County Free Library Maryland Room Librarian.

“During the pandemic, quite a few individuals directed their attention to researching the Talbot Boys statue.  It was discovered that there really was not a great deal of information readily available about the statue being erected,” said Riti. “If the scholar working on this project can uncover more information about the Talbot Boys statue around the time period of 1916, this would help to fill in a gap. Additionally, any further information pertaining to the statue throughout the 20th century will be, for the most part, new material. That would be exciting.”

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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Everybody has a COVID-19 pandemic story to tell, and the Talbot County Free Library wants to hear and record those stories starting on Wednesday, March 16.

Local residents can set up an appointment, for either a Tuesday or Wednesday, to tell their stories in the Frederick Douglass Meeting Room by calling (410) 822-1626 or in person at the Library. Interviews will be done until June 29 at the main branch, and will move to the St. Michaels branch in July. The statewide initiative will become a part of Enoch Pratt Free Library’s Digital Maryland and Maryland State Archives.

The project will be done in an interview style in the Frederick Douglass room with the help of Dick Peskin, a volunteer for the Talbot County Free Library. Peskin has been a part of a couple of oral history projects for the library’s Maryland Room in the past, and wanted to participate because there are many unique stories to tell during this pressing time in history.

“This is a recording of what has happened during this momentous time in our history, a time we have all participated in willingly or not” said Peskin. “I hope that we get a wide range of different stories. I would also hope that people who hear these stories see that we are in this together; this is a common experience that we are living through in similar and different ways.”

The Global Z Recording Project has partnered with the Talbot County Free Library as well as 14 other libraries across the state of Maryland. This project was made possible by a grant from Maryland Humanities, and through support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“The project empowers Marylanders, providing a rare and valuable opportunity for all citizens to tell their stories. These personal recordings will become a part of our history, collectively informing the world and future researchers how COVID-19 impacted individuals and our local communities,” Bill Lord, Founder and Executive Director of The Global Z Recording Project said in 2020.

For more information, call (410) 822-1626 or visit www.tcfl.org.

“When I first heard about the project, I thought that it was very important that the library be involved to help capture our residents stories, understandings, hopes, beliefs, and values about the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman. “These oral accounts will be a resource to help researchers, policy makers, artists, and communities interpret and respond to current and future pandemics.”

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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

The Talbot County Free Library has recently submitted their FY23 budget request to the county; and would like you to answer one question: How has the Talbot County Free Library made your life better? Your voice is important.

All you need to do is go on the website, www.tcfl.org, and click on the “How Has the Library Made Your Life Better,” to answer the question either in English or Spanish. You can also stop by one of the library branches and give us your response.

The final day to collect testimonials is Thursday, March 31. Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman would like the testimonials to be available in time for the upcoming Talbot County Council and Easton Town Council budget hearings.

“It is important that elected officials hear how library services help support people in our community to find information and jobs, overcome problems, and complete projects,” said Newman. “The library is a trusted community resource not only by helping individuals to better their lives but by partnering with other organizations to make improvements in the community.”

Your participation in this survey also allows the library to use your responses in promotion and advocacy materials for the library. Personal information included in the story will be removed to provide anonymity.

One of the items included in the Talbot County Free Library budget request is county funding for the design of the St. Michaels expansion and renovation project.

It is important for you to let everyone know how the library has impacted your life, whether the library staff has helped you with an urgent task, or improved your life in any other way.  The Talbot County Free Library is a busy community hub that aims to enhance the lives of anyone who enters one of our branches, with resources including books, e-resources, virtual and in-person events for children and adults.

“Our library at its heart is a service organization.  In addition to providing books, TCFL makes sure people in our community have access to the information, technology, and services they need.  We are in the process of exploring what the community needs from the library as a part of our strategic planning process over the next few months and want to hear from residents about how the library is serving them and how those services impact their life,” Newman said.

For more information, visit www.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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Talbot County Free Library has recently issued their FY21 Annual Report that demonstrated the high levels of resiliency that has characterized the nonprofit’s work over the past year.

“Through the pandemic, the library has shown that there are creative avenues that were followed to still get library materials out to county residents and tourists alike,” said Christina Acosta, Talbot County Free Library Communications Manager. “As you can see in the report, the reader will notice the impressive number of services, programs, collections, volunteer hours, and funding sources that the library had in FY21.”

While the library has had periods of restricted access during the pandemic, over 270,000 items were lent to patrons, over 5,000 books-to-go bags circulated to library card holders, and over 400 in-person and virtual programs were provided to over 16,000 adults and children.

The library also has a variety of funding sources including Talbot County, the towns, The Library Foundation, The Friends of the Library, and grant revenue from a number of organizations.

“Fiscal Year 2020-2021 was a time of inspiration and renewal for the Talbot County Free Library,” said Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman in the Annual Report. “Moving into the New Year, the library will continue to reflect the changing needs of our community with both innovative services and the basics. We are here for you no matter what happens. The library staff looks forward to serving you in the coming year.”

Community Program Highlights included Frederick Douglass Day 2021, during which the Talbot County Free Library and The Frederick Douglass Honor Society celebrated the life and legacy of Frederick Douglass virtually; The 6^th Annual Chesapeake Children’s Book Festival, a hybrid festival that featured award-winning children’s author and illustrator Bryan Collier, whose work includes “We Shall Overcome” and “Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington”; and the Virtual Heritage Concert series, which featured duo Rakish, violinist Maura Shawn Scanlin, guitarist Connor Hearn, and gospel singer Lea Gilmore.

Further progress was made in planning for the St. Michaels Branch Library Expansion & Renovation Project. In May of 2021, the Talbot County Free Library applied for matching funds from the Maryland Library Capital grant program to start design work in fiscal year 2023.

“This past year we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the St. Michaels Library,” said Newman. “If grant funding is received for all phases of the project, construction should be completed in 2025, in time for the Talbot County Free Library’s 100th anniversary.”

To read the FY21 Annual Report, please visit www.tcfl.org and click on the “About” tab. Physical copies are available upon request.

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.  For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

This month, share the love of reading with fun activities and book recommendations with Talbot County Free Library’s “For the Love of Reading” Challenge.

The challenge is open to children, teens, and adults from February 1st through the 28th. In order to participate in the challenge, the reader will need to download the Beanstack Tracker app to their mobile device, select Talbot County Free Library as the participating library, and set up the account.

To log the minutes that were read, the participant has to open the app, select “Log” and follow the prompts. Talbot County Youth Services Librarian Laura Powell decided on this reading challenge because she wants the community to maintain the spark of reading during the winter season.

“When we participate in a reading challenge, we open ourselves to the possibility of having a completely new thought, learning a new skill, understanding someone near and dear to us, and ultimately, sparking the joy of reading,” said Powell. “The purpose of the reading challenge is to kindle, literally, a warm, cozy feeling around reading books. February is a perfect month for sparking the love of reading.”

For every hour read, virtual badges will be earned. The key is to keep on reading to continue to earn badges. The Beanstack app also offers the reading suggestion to keep the participant on track.

Participants will then be entered into a drawing to win a gift card to Target or Rise Up. Winners will be notified by phone or e-mail after February 28.

Powell hopes that the readers take away the love and positivity that the challenge has to offer.

“Prizes make the journey fun, but the prize is not the reason for the challenge,” said Powell. “The point is to snuggle up to a book that makes you feel good. Stop by the Talbot County Free Library to find the perfect book for you!”

For more information, please call the library at 410-822-1626 or email Powell at lpowell@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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Talbot County Free Library and Talbot Family Network would to like invite the community to the second Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Book Club meeting.

The next book the club will be reading is “We Are Not Like Them,” by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza. The book club discussion will take place on Thursday, February 10 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom. Interested community members who did not register for the January session should sign up at www.tcfl.org to the get the Zoom link.

This novel tells the story of two lifelong best friends, one who is African-American, and one who is Caucasian. Their friendship takes a turn when a tragic event strikes, leading to an exploration of race in America and how it is impacting the lives of many in this country.

“We wanted the second book of the EDI Book club to open the eyes of the participants to the actual events that are happening in this country at this time,” said Christina Acosta, Talbot County Free Library communications manager. “We know this conversation may be uncomfortable, but we hope it is also one where we can examine identity politics, race, and even the test of a friendship.”

“We Are Not Like Them,” explores these intricate race questions and how they mold intimate spaces in a divided world. The core of the story, however, is the friendship between the two main characters. It is a bond that defies the odds during a challenging time.

“This month’s book is a story of friendship and of the complexity of race in America. It’s giving me a lot to think about through the unique perspectives of the different narrators,” said Nancy Andrew, Talbot Family Network Director. “I hope participants are able to learn from the characters’ experiences and consider how race impacts our relationships. Maybe we’ll even take away a sense of how friendships can survive in the face of challenges.”

The next books that are coming up in the EDI Book Club are “When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir,” by Patrisse Kahn-Cullors and Asha Bandele on March 10, 2022; “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor,” by Layla F. Saad on April 14, 2022; and “A Place for Us,” by Fatima Farheen Mirza on May 12, 2022.

For more information, visit www.tcfl.org or call (410) 822-1626.

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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.

Talbot County Free Library and Talbot Family Network announced a partnership for the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Book Club starting in January.

This new book club was designed for those who seek to engage in conversations that focus on Diversity, Equity, and Social Issues. The first meeting will take place on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. via Zoom. All book club meetings will take place on the second Thursday of every month from January through May. Interested readers are encouraged to register for the first meeting at www.tcfl.org.

“The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Book Club was something that the library as well as Talbot Family Network wanted to do for almost a year now,” said Talbot County Free Library Communications Manager Christina Acosta. “This was an opportunity for the community to come together and discuss inclusion and diversity from different viewpoints and different locations. It was important for us to cover the history, present, and future.”

Community members are welcome to attend any of the sessions and will not be required to register for the whole series. For Talbot Family Network Executive Director Nancy Andrew, this book club will highlight the challenging topics to work through, with “constructive conversation.”

“Equity and diversity can be challenging topics on their own. Personal stories and reading can provide a means through which to have a constructive conversation. Hopefully, with practice, it becomes more comfortable to talk with others in our community about these issues,” said Andrew. “My hope is to learn more about the lived experience of others.”

The list of dates and books includes “House on Mango Street,” by Sandra Cisneros on January 13, 2022; “We Are Not Like Them,” by Christine Pride on February 10, 2022; “When They Call You A Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir,” by Patrisse Kahn-Cullors and Asha Bandele on March 10, 2022; “Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor,” by Layla F. Saad on April 14, 2022; and “A Place for Us,” by Fatima Farheen Mirza on May 12, 2022.

Selecting the titles for this book was a collaborative process that included the Talbot County Free Library Staff, Talbot Family Network, and Mid Shore Scholars College Success Manager Allyson DeMaagd, who holds a PhD in literature. They aimed to include stories with writers and characters from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

“The books we’ve chosen for this round of readings feature writers and characters who are Latinx, queer, African American, and/or Muslim, as well as people who experience mental health issues,” said DeMaagd.

DeMaagd, who most recently taught at Ball State University, continued by stating that as a teacher, she felt it was her responsibility to center the voices of marginalized writers.

“In my literature classes, my students and I discussed how privilege, implicit bias, systematic racism, homophobia, sexism, ableism help uphold the status quo. We also discussed how writers reify, question, and challenge these oppressive forces and how that can lead to real cultural change,” said DeMaagd. “I bring these same goals and spirit of collaboration to my facilitation of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Book Club in Talbot County. I look forward to sharing and learning with the community.”

For more information, visit www.tcfl.org or call (410) 822-1626.

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. For more information, please visit www.tcfl.org. Be sure to like the library on Facebook and follow us on Instagram @Talbotcountyfreelibrary.