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Potomac Chapter

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

Online Author Talks

Michael Dobbs

The Unwanted: America, Auschwitz, and a Village Caught Between

Local author Michael Dobbs’ most recent book won the 2019 National Jewish Book Award; it tells the story of several Jewish families desperately seeking American visas to escape Nazi Germany. He is also the author of the New York Times best-selling One Minute to Midnight.

Friday, October 2 11:00 AM
https://mcpl.libnet.info/events

Jennifer Ryan

The Spies of Shilling Lane

Jennifer Ryan’s latest novel is a gripping, heart-warming thriller set in the London Blitz during World War II. She will also talk about her previous book, The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir, an enchanting ensemble story also set during WWII about England’s home-front struggles.

Friday, October 23 11:00 AM
https://zoom.us/j/98298054798

Douglas Tallamy

Nature’s Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard

Thanks to all who joined us for this informative talk on the importance and ecological benefits of native plants in our own yards. If you missed it or want to learn more, follow the links to find some resources.

YouTube link:
Douglas Tallamy Nature’s Best Hope

Local resources:
(Following Tallamy’s talk viewers were able to ask questions and make comments. Danielle Deaver, Librarian II, Adult Services, Potomac Library and host of our Zoom talks, reviewed the responses and very kindly compiled this list.)

• Doug Tallamy’s book, Nature’s Hope, is in the Montgomery County Public Libraries system!
• Another recommended book: Chesapeake Gardening & Landscaping, The Essential Green Guide by Barbara Ellis, is in the library system as well.
• The Native Plant Finder that Doug mentioned is provided by the National Wildlife Federation
• Maryland Native Plant Society
• Resources for native plants that lists species by their gardening requirements: U.S. Fish & Wildlife
• The RainScapes program
• Rainscapes.org has resources and plant lists
• This guide will help you choose native plants for your landscape
• Wild Ones Chesapeake. This is a group for trading native plants.
• Locust Grove Nature Center in Potomac has Plant Sales and activities

Newsletter

Read our latest Autumn 2020 Newsletter.

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

Virtual Events

The Friends of the Library-Potomac Chapter encourages you to check out the wealth of virtual events being presented — easy to access; easy to attend.

Go to: https://mcpl.libnet.info/events

You can then filter by age (#1 below; e.g. adult) and by a range of dates (#2; e.g., the rest of the month, June 8 – June 30)

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

MCPL Playbook for Recovery – resuming our physical services

Dear Library Customers –
We are very pleased to let you know that MCPL (Montgomery County Public Libraries) will be resuming some services from our branches effective June 29.

We plan to open book drops at all of our branches on Monday June 29, so that you may return all of our materials you have been taking care of for us since March, with the exception of Go!Kits, items from the Library of Things Music, laptops, and hotspots. We are not quite ready to take those back in yet. If you are still not comfortable visiting a library book drop, don’t worry – fines are still suspended at this time. We will also reinstate phone service at all of our branches, with the exceptions of Noyes and Long Branch. Service hours will be limited.

PLEASE NOTE – we cannot accept any donations at this time. Any donated materials left at our branches or deposited in our book drops will be disposed of. Donations may be taken to the Friends of the Library Montgomery County bookstore. Please check this link for information.

July 6, we will being providing a contactless holds pick up service at all branches. You will be able to place items on hold online or by phone, and then make an appointment to pick them up in the library vestibule or at an outside table. More information on this service will be forthcoming. Please Note – If you have a holds list currently, please review it at this time and delete or suspend holds you do not wish to pick up using this service. 3 week due dates will be reinstituted on July 6.

In other exciting news our Summer Read and Learn program for 2020, entitled “Imagine Your Story” has kicked off. You can learn all about the program at this link. There are activities and events for children and teens of all ages.

We are happy to say that our wonderful slate of Virtual Events will continue, and of course our online digital resources continue to be available at https://mcpl.link/DigitalResources.

Our next chapter for recovery will allow access to our buildings and computers on a limited basis. Please stay tuned for more information on that.

Thank you for all of your support during the past three months, and we look forward to once again being able to share our wonderful physical collection with everyone.

Anita Vassallo, MCPL Director

Book Sales

Phase Two Recovery – What it means for FOLMC (Friends of the Library Montgomery County)

Montgomery County will enter Phase Two of the recovery plan this Friday, June 19 at 5:00PM. This allows FOLMC Rockville Bookstore to open for modified retail operations (including accepting donations), which will begin Saturday, June 20 at 10:00AM with the following procedures:

• Maximum of 25 shoppers at a time,
• All MUST wear a mask that covers BOTH nose and mouth to be granted entry and must maintain facial covering during the entirety of their stay,
• All staff are required to wear PPE and adhere to CDC standards for reduced exposure,
• Physical distancing measures must remain in place.

FOLMC Wheaton Bookstore remains closed. As will all branch book sales–for now.

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.

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