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Potomac Chapter

Potomac Library
10101 Glenolden Drive
Potomac, MD 20854
Chapter President: Edie Wingate
Contact: potomac@folmc.org

Check out our newsletters here.
Check out our ongoing programs here.

Growing at Glenstone
Saturday, March 7th, 10:30 AM

Potomac’s Glenstone art museum is noted as much for its landscaping as its art, much of which is incorporated in the grounds. Glenstone’s Grounds Superintendent, Matt Partain, will give a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s lush design.

Phillis Wheatley: The Sable Muse Speaks
Saturday, March 7th, 1:00 PM

Historical re-enactor Janice Curtis Greene, who appeared at the library last year as Harriet Tubman—to rave reviews—will perform as Phillis Wheatley, who rose above slavery to become the United States’ first published African-American female poet.

Bring a lunch and stay for both March 7 programs…the Friends will supply coffee and cookies!!

Meet acclaimed DC crime writer George Pelecanos
Sunday, April 25th, 2 PM

The author of 21 best-selling novels set in and around Washington, George Pelecanos will speak at the Potomac Library, courtesy of the Potomac Friends of the Library chapter.

Stephen King calls Pelecanos “perhaps the greatest living American crime writer.” The DC native is also an Emmy-nominated writer of the HBO drama “The Wire.” His most recent book is The Man Who Came Uptown, named one of the best mysteries of 2018 by Publishers Weekly.

Newsletter

Read our latest Spring 2020 Newsletter.

For a complete list of activities, please check out the MCPL calendar of events here. 

Great Decisions

Began its eighth year at the Potomac Library on February 6, 2020. A national program of the non-partisan Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs. We are fortunate to have a local group that meets, usually with a guest speaker, eight times a year on the first Thursday of the month from 12:30-2:00 pm in the library’s community meeting room.

The program, sponsored by Friends of the Library, Potomac, is free and open to the public. A copy of the 2020 Briefing Book, providing analysis on the wide range of topics selected for discussion, will be available beginning in early January at the library’s Information Desk. The book cannot be checked out, but it only takes about an hour to read the relevant article. A dvd is also available and it is available for checkout—ask at the Information Desk.

For further information please contact us at potomacfol@gmail.com with Great Decisions in the subject line.

Conflict Prevention by Dr. Henry Nau
February 6, 2020, 12:30-2:00
In view of the on-going tensions with Iran we will begin the year by departing from the Great Decisions 2020 topics and offering a special program. Dr. Nau is a former senior staff member of the National Security Council and special assistant to the Undersecretary of State.

Climate Change and the Global Order by Ronald Bee
March 5, 2020, 12:30-2:00
Climate change has become one of the defining issues of our time. As much of the world bands together to come up with a plan, the U.S. remains the notable holdout. What is the rest of the world doing to combat climate change? What impact will the effects of climate change have on global geopolitics?

India and Pakistan by Barbara Crossette
April 2, 2020, 12:30-2:00
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi rode a wave of Hindu nationalism to a historic reelection in 2019. His first order of business was to revoke the special status granted to the Kashmir region, inflaming the rivalry between India and Pakistan. How will the Kashmir situation affect the region, both economically and politically?

Red Sea Security by David Shinn
May 7, 2020, 12:30-2:00
The Red Sea has remained vital for global trade since the time of ancient Egypt. Once home to the spice trade, the Red Sea now sees millions of barrels of oil a day transported across its waters. With major nations like China, France, Italy, and the U.S. building large ports and bases in the region, what does the future of the region look like? How important is Red Sea security for global security? Can the region be a place of global cooperation?

Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking by Ronald Weitzer
June 4, 2020, 12:30-2:00
Almost every nation has enacted laws criminalizing human trafficking, and international organizations, governments, and NGOs sponsor a large variety of projects to curb trafficking and slavery. Billions of dollars have been allocated to these efforts. What is the international community doing to combat slavery and trafficking? What are the experiences like for those being trafficked?

Honored (and Humbled) to be Potomac Citizen of the Year

“The Friends of the Library – Potomac Chapter serves the community in so many invaluable ways… For anyone who loves to read and share reading, this organization is a conduit to books, discussions of books, authors and activities as well as programs to help children learn to love and cherish books.”

The Potomac Chamber of Commerce selected FOL-Potomac as its Citizen of the Year, based on a nomination by resident Ginny Barnes (excerpted above) citing the ways we strive to support and enhance our local branch library.

Primarily through the book sales and memberships, FOL-Potomac is able to sponsor and/or underwrite a wide variety of adult and children’s programs, bringing in guest authors and other speakers, performers and even plants and animals! (A live wallaby was a big hit this past summer; the fish tank in the children’s area is made possible by a long-time anonymous donor; and we support the Potomac Village Garden Club in their work keeping the library grounds attractive.)

You too can be Citizen of the Year!

Consider becoming a member of the friends—no time obligation involved, just membership dues ($25; only $15 for seniors, students and teachers) to help in bolstering your library. You’ll also receive this quarterly newsletter listing upcoming events and activities, well in advance of it being available at the library. To join, use the form on page 5 or online at www.folmc.org/join.

Potomac Friends’ Year in Review

(July 1, 2018-June 30, 2019)

It was a good year! Our goal was to enhance the library while having fun! We had fun and provided a variety of programs. However, there were no major physical enhancements other than a new carpet for the children’s area because we are waiting for the library to be refreshed.

The continuing support of our loyal Friends’ members—plus our book sales—made it all possible—thank you!

Highlights for the year include:

Summer 2018

• Funding an incredible variety of activities for children and teens to complement Montgomery County Public Libraries’ “Summer Read and Learn Program: Libraries Rock” (Summer 2019 theme: “A Universe of Stories.”);

Fall 2018

• Funding the visit of storybook character Paddington Bear in the annual Potomac Day festivities—we also offered numerous Paddington themed activities and books;
• Funding a performance by the Beale Street Puppets;
• Organizing the visit of Peter Ibenana, Community Outreach Director of nearby Glenstone Museum (NOTE: in August 2019, we will offer a tour of the museum’s grounds)
• Funding Christiana Drapkin and her jazz instrumentalists’ visit;

Winter 2019

• Peter Ibenana returned with a generous donation from Glenstone to the library: a 13-volume set of their catalogs;
• Funding the impressive visit of The Chinese Lion in celebration of the Chinese New Year—we also funded other Chinese New Year activities as well;
• In February, Library Lovers Month, library visitors were encouraged to fill out postcards telling why they loved their library—a random drawing of 2 postcards enabled an adult and a child to enter our monthly book sale before it opened and to fill a bag with books;

Spring 2109

• Funding for a children’s program with Janice Curtis Greene, who told/re-enacted the dramatic story of Harriet Tubman;
• Funding for a visit from a real live kangaroo and a wallaby;
• Funding for a program to teach children how to respond to bullying;

All year long

• Funding for a variety of children’s programs/activities/materials;
• Presenting our 7^th year of the Great Decisions group, with attendance ranging from 80 to more than100 people;
• Organizing and running of our most popular and successful monthly book sales;
• Continuing our collaboration with the Potomac Village Garden Club to maintain/improve our award winning grounds;
• Publishing our outstanding quarterly newsletter.

Transitions:

• Sadly, Barbara Gargano our long time Treasurer died suddenly in August. We were able to recruit Ann Eagleson to be our new Treasurer—she was elected in September.
• At the September meeting we introduced Lunden Gillespie as our new Potomac Branch Manager. Unfortunately Lunden resigned in late March to take a job with the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System. Fortunately, David Payne currently Manager at Aspen Hill, was able to return as our Acting Manager. David was our Acting Manager prior to Lunden; he will continue to provide oversight at Potomac until a new manager is appointed.
• Montgomery County Public Libraries is still being led by Acting Director Anita Vassallo—currently there is a national search for a permanent director.

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