Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) held their 4th annual Talbot Plays Chess Tournament on Saturday, March 4 at the Easton Library that was mixed with competition and entertainment. Sawyer Saunders was the first place winner for the 6 to 11 age group, with his brother Grady Saunders taking second. In the upper age bracket, from ages 12 to 16, Joshua Moon was the first place winner and Max Cerna was the second place winner. The tournament was very competitive, with the players having to battle against the clock and each other. Everyone showed great sportsmanship and the Talbot County Free Library Staff were very happy with the event results. Afternoon Chess will continue to meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of every month at the Easton library. We would also like to give a special thanks to Youth Services Library Assistant and the Lead chess assistant, Alanna Peerman, for her hard work; TCFL Youth Services Librarian Laura Powell, for her planning and organizing support; and Talbot County Free Library Chess Instructor Wala-Neh Labala for helping facilitate the classes and the event. The TCFL looks forward to seeing everyone compete in next year’s Talbot Plays Chess 5th annual tournament!

From Left: Talbot County Free Library Chess Instructor Wala-Neh Labala, Sawyer Saunders, Grady Saunders, Talbot County Free Library Youth Services Library Assistant Alanna Peerman, and Talbot County Free Library Youth Services Librarian Laura Powell.

Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) is ready to turn a page into the future, and is asking for the community’s help by taking the St. Michaels Branch Renovation and Expansion Survey.

The survey will be available on the website for patrons starting on Wednesday, March 1st and will run through March 15, 2023. Patrons will also have the opportunity to take the survey in person at the St. Michaels branch during that time as well.

“The expansion of the St. Michaels Library has tremendous potential to impact more lives and to do more if we have the facility to make it happen,” said Dana Newman, Talbot County Free Library director. “We want to hear from our community about what services, collections and amenities are important to incorporate into the design plans for the expansion and renovation of the St. Michaels Library. There is a lack of space for large community meetings, quiet study and interactive children and teen’s spaces that encourage learning. This issue also restricts the number of public computers, comfortable seating options, availability of popular collections and types of programs that the library can offer the public. Current facility problems include a deteriorating infrastructure and outdated mechanical and lighting systems.”

The capital campaign for the St. Michaels expansion began in 2022. A timeline for the project in 2023 includes developing the design for the new library including holding several meetings with the public to capture their feedback in the next few months. Construction is expected to begin in 2024.

“When completed, the newly expanded library will offer large, bright, welcoming community spaces with activities for people of all ages. There will also be quiet areas, wonderful browsing collections, more spacious, interactive children and teen spaces for families to enjoy, and outside reading and gathering spaces that will meet the community’s needs for years to come,” said Newman.

In 2025, the grand opening for the newly renovated and expanded St. Michaels branch will take place, in time for TCFL’s 100^th anniversary. For more information on the St. Michaels branch expansion and renovation survey or to donate online, visit www.tcfl.org, or call (410) 745-5877.

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.

Preparations are underway for the Talbot County Free Library to host the fourth annual Talbot Plays Chess Tournament for some challenging, yet fun activities.

WHAT: Kids ages six to 16 will have the opportunity to be placed in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place. There will also be additional prizes from local sponsors. Throughout the year, the Talbot County Free Library holds afternoon chess twice a month, and offers instructional lessons and chess puzzles in between.

WHO: Talbot County Free Library Youth Services Librarian Laura Powell and Talbot County Free Library Chess Instructor Wala-Neh Labala

WHEN: Saturday, March 4, 2023 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

WHERE: Talbot County Free Library-Easton Library, 100 W. Dover St.

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 branch of the Talbot County Free Library will be hosting Eugene Meyer, author of “Five for Freedom: The African American Soldiers in John Brown’s Army on Monday, March 20 at noon.

Meyer will be discussing his book “Five for Freedom: The African American Soldiers in John Brown’s Army.”There will be a special emphasis on Frederick Douglass.   

Meyer is an author and a former longtime reporter and editor for The Washington Post, who has written extensively about Maryland, the Bay and the Eastern Shore.  In addition to “Five for Freedom,” he is the author of “Chesapeake County, Maryland Lost and Found…Again” and, “Hidden Maryland: In Search of America in Miniature.”

His book, “Five for Freedom,” was named the best book of history/biography in 2019 by the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Meyer also received a Lifetime Achievement Award in May 2019 from the Washington Independent Review of Books for his many years of service to the organization and for his years of journalism. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org  or call 410-745-5877.

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, digital devices, 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.

Talbot County Free Library (TCFL) staff and board members recently attended the Maryland Library Association (MLA) Library Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 15 in Annapolis.

During the event, TCFL had the opportunity to meet with local officials including Del. Chris Adams, R-37B, State Sen. Johnny Mautz, R-Talbot, and representatives from Del. Tom Hutchinson’s office, 37B. TCFL shared with the representatives the need for their support of the Maryland Library Capital Grant Program which provides grant funding to public libraries in Maryland for capital projects such as the construction of new libraries.

The library has applied for construction funding through this program for the renovation and expansion of the St. Michaels branch. TCFL also highlighted the need to support other proposed library bills.

From Left: Talbot County Free Library Board Member Mary Pelicano, St. Michaels Branch Manager Shauna Beulah, Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman, Del. Chris Adams, R-37B, and Talbot County Free Library Outreach Services/Volunteer Coordinator Sabine Simonson were in attendance for Maryland Library Association (MLA) Library Legislative Day in Annapolis on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

From Left: Talbot County Free Library Board Member Mary Pelicano, Talbot County Free Library Board President and President of Citizens for Maryland Libraries Susan Sherman, Outreach Services/Volunteer Coordinator Sabine Simonson, St. Michaels Branch Manager Shauna Beulah, State Sen. Johnny Mautz, R-Talbot, and Talbot County Free Library Director Dana Newman during MLA Library Legislative Day on Wednesday, February 15, 2023.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) presented the Talbot County Free Library’s (TCFL) St. Michaels branch with the Literacy Champion Award on Wednesday, January 18. The General Perry Benson Chapter of Easton recognized the library for their outstanding work in literacy promotion. The library was also provided with a copy of “The Story of Mr. Thomas Carney: A Maryland Patriot of the American Revolutionary War,” by Steven Xavier Lee. The award was given in memory of Betty Seymour, a long time TCFL Maryland Room volunteer, genealogist, and author. The book will be cataloged in the St. Michaels branch in the coming months.

St. Michaels branch welcomes local photographer and writer Jeff McGuiness who will speak about his recent book, “Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass.”

The Lunch & Learn will take place on Monday, February 6 at noon. For five years, McGuiness worked on a photographic essay of the places in Talbot County where Frederick Douglass lived, traveled through and visited.

His book puts a new perspective on Douglass’ Talbot experiences. “Bear Me Into Freedom: The Talbot County of Frederick Douglass,” was published by the St. Michaels Museum in October of 2022.

Thousands of words have been written by Douglass and others documenting his time in Talbot County. “Bear Me Into Freedom,” for the first time, tells Douglass’ Talbot story using his moving words illustrated by stunning photography made in the same places and seasons Douglass describes.

Douglass was born in Talbot County and lived there for eleven years during the first twenty years of his life before he sought his freedom in New England. His Talbot experiences, eloquently documented in his three autobiographies, became the most powerful slave narrative in American literature. Douglass was also one of the most popular speakers in the nineteenth century, and his narrative was the oratory’s driving force.

McGuiness is a photographer and writer living in St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The writer was born in California and grew up in suburban Washington, D.C.

After graduating from college with an art degree in 1969, he spent the next four years in the U.S. Air Force as a photographer during the Vietnam conflict. He then worked for a commercial photographer in St. Louis for a time before deciding to pursue a law degree.

McGuiness was a practicing attorney in Washington, DC, for more than four decades, concentrating on public policy and managing non-profit organizations. These days, McGuiness does what he enjoys most. An avid boater, he explores his beloved Chesapeake Bay in his powerboat while using his varied experiences to pursue photography and writing projects through his company, Bay Photographic Works.

The Lunch & Learn Speakers series is sponsored by the Friends of the Library. Coffee and dessert will be provided. For more information, visit www.tcfl.org  or call 410-745-5877.

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.

Talbot County Free Library and Talbot Family Network mark the return of the Talbot County Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Book Club (TEDI), prepared to discuss books that introduces new and returning members to diverse cultures and perspectives.

The first meeting will take place on Thursday, January 12, 2023 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. via Zoom. The first book that is encouraged to be read and discuss is “O Beautiful: A Novel” by Jung Yun. The author of the book will be giving a book talk at the Academy Art Museum on Thursday, February 9^th at 6:00 p.m.

The Book Club will take place on the 2nd Thursday of January, 1^st Thursday of February, 2^nd Thursday of March, April, and May at 6:00 p.m. The first and third meeting will be on Zoom, and the rest will be held at the Easton Library. To register, visit https://www.tcfl.org/bookclub.

“It’s so heartening to see how interested people are in sharing their own experiences and in hearing from one another in connection with the monthly book titles,” said Nancy Andrew, Talbot Family Network Executive Director. “There seems to be a real desire to learn about other people’s perspectives and lived experiences.”

In honor of completing their first year, the TEDI Book Club leaders, including Andrew, Talbot County Free Library Communications Manager Christina Acosta, and Mid Shore Scholars College Success Manager Allyson DeMaagd, decided to expand their horizons when choosing the materials for the spring season. They decided to add a film to their list, and hope to continue to tap into a more creative process in bringing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in different formats.

“We are very excited about how successful the book club has been for the past year. We hope that in our third season, we get returning and new members, fresh new input, and people continue to learn something new every day about the topic of equity, diversity, and inclusion,” said Christina Acosta, communications manager at the Talbot County Free Library. “The public is vital to not only selecting the works, but directing the tenor and themes of the conversation.”

The list of dates and books includes “O Beautiful: A novel” by Jung Yun on Thursday, January 12 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom; “The Vanishing Half,” by Brit Bennett taking place on Thursday, February 2 at 6:00 p.m. at the Easton Library Meeting Room; “Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution” on Thursday, March 9 at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom; “When We Were Sisters,” by Fatimah Asghar on Thursday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. at the Easton Library Frederick Douglass Meeting Room; and “This is How it Always Is: A Novel” by Laurie Frankel on Thursday, May 11 at 6:00 p.m. at the Easton Library Meeting Room.

Community members are welcome to attend any of the sessions and will not be required to register for the whole series. By signing up one time, registrants will receive monthly reminders about upcoming titles, session logistics, and discussion questions.

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. 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.