Good News & Announcements | |
The Ribbon Has Been Cut!
If you haven't yet had a chance to visit the newly relocated Rock Hall branch, we hope you'll stop by soon.
We look forward to continuing to welcome the community into this new and evolving space.
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Keep Scrolling
This email is jam-packed with info, including:
- Maryland STEM Fest Events
- Snack Around the World
- Jumpstarting Your Legacy
- Autumn Colors Scavenger Hunt
- And more!
To see all upcoming events at a glance, you can also visit KCPL's online calendar.
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Make Sure You See It All
Did you know that some email services are set to not load full emails when they're long or full of images?
If you reach the end of this email and see text that says "Message clipped" make sure you click the "View entire message" link so you don't miss out on library news!
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Holiday Closure: Rock Hall Branch
Monday, Nov. 11
Rock Hall Branch closed
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Holiday Closure: All KCPL Branches
Thursday, Nov. 28 - Friday, Nov. 29
All KCPL Branches closed
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The mission of the Maryland STEM Festival is to encourage people of all backgrounds and experiences to take a greater interest in STEM with the hope of supporting students in pursuing a STEM related/focused career.
The 2024 Festival takes place October 18th through November 17th. This year's theme is Engineering – Ideas to Reality.
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KCPL is proud to be participating in the 10th Maryland STEM Festival with a variety of events for all ages!
Keep reading for full details & registration links for:
- STEAM Lab: Household Chemistry
- Paper Straw Rockets
- Spaghetti Towers
- Pizza and Make a Thing: Paper Bridges
- Engineering Showdown
- After Hours: Adults-Only LEGO Challenge
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Tech Tuesday
North County Branch
Tuesday, Nov 5 | 4pm
Drop in and explore the library's fun technology!
Use the green screen to create your next viral video. Go rock climbing, explore in space, or play mini-golf – all in virtual reality. Or just chill out gaming with the Arcade Infinity Game Table or the PS4.
All ages welcome.
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The Page Turners
Rock Hall Branch
Friday, November 8 | 2pm
This book discussion group reads a mixture of fiction and nonfiction and discussions are led by participant volunteers.
This month's book: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
New attendees are always welcome.
Ages 18+
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Engineering Showdown
Chestertown Branch
Saturday, November 9 | 1pm
What do engineers do? It depends on the engineer!
Civil engineering created the 1,900 year old Roman Pantheon concrete dome that is still in use today and it was also a civil engineer who brought us water slides.
Packaging engineers find ingenious ways to make packaging meet a wide range of needs from being tamper-proof to medically sterile to temperature controlled; they are also responsible for the frustrating plastic clamshell packaging used for batteries and large sales unit cartons that trick consumers into believing the 2 oz. bottle they are purchasing is much larger than expected.
At this unique forum, you will meet packaging engineer Denise Stevens and civil engineer Jay Silcox whose combined experience ranges from designing rocket launch pads to creating packaging for human tissue! Bring your questions and prepare to be informed and entertained.
Primary audience: ages 18+
Also welcome: teens 13-17
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Planting Ahead
Chestertown Branch
Monday, November 11 | 3:30pm
Spring flowering bulbs and corms bring color and texture into the garden and cutting the blooms brings the color and fragrance of spring into your home.
Join University of Maryland Extension educator Ginny Rosenkranz to learn which bulbs and corms will give you years of color, find out the easiest ways to plant the bulbs, and get tips on identifying the best sites for your bulbs.
Free bulbs and books will be given away at this event.
Ages 18+
KCPL's Cultivating Community program series is made possible in part by LSTA funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services and administered by the Maryland State Library Agency.
For more information, please see MSLA's press release about this funding award.
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Adults-Only LEGO Challenge
Chestertown Branch
Wednesday, November 13 | 6pm
Grown-ups, join us for an evening of no-kids-allowed LEGO® fun!
Fast-paced building challenges will give you a chance to show off your amazing skills. Enjoy camaraderie and the sheer joy of just playing around!
Space is limited, so please register.
Ages 18+
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Ask a Master Gardener
Chestertown Branch
Saturday, November 16 | 10am-12pm
Now is the perfect time to plan your spring garden!
Special Topic:
Preparing Your Lawn Now For a Spring & Summer Meadow Special
Guest Experts:
Master Gardeners Sabine Harvey & Marcus Goldman
Stop by with all your questions about gardening, garden pests, plant problems, and insects. Local Master Gardeners will be on hand to give tips and tricks to make your home garden flourish, help troubleshoot tricky growing situations, and offer encouragement on creating the perfect garden for your space.
If you're interested in becoming a Master Gardener or having your garden BayWise certified, this is a perfect time to learn more about these programs!
Ages 18+
The University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program is designed to train volunteer horticultural educators to support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities.
If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact Paul Rickert at prickert@umd.edu or (410) 778-1661.
University programs, activities, and facilities are available to all without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, religion, protected veteran status, genetic information, personal appearance, or any other legally protected class.
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Jumpstarting Your Legacy
Chestertown Branch
Saturday, November 16 | 11am
Learn how to articulate your own legacy with purpose, delight, and joy during this 90-minute workshop designed to help you conduct a life review and start the practice of writing a living obituary.
A living obituary—something you start writing now, at whatever age, and update regularly—can be a guide to identify or change the direction you choose for the rest of your life. It is also an opportunity to write the first draft of how you want to be remembered and to say "Let me tell you about my (mostly) well-lived life" to loved ones and anyone else you want to include in the conversation.
Workshop participants will receive a free copy of Jumpstarting Your Own Legacy: Writing a Living Obituary Now by Paul Mast. This book will be used during the workshop and will be yours to keep.
Space is limited and registration is required.
Ages 18+
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Relaxing Hour
North County Branch
Tuesday, Nov. 19 | 11am
Rock Hall Branch
Wednesday, Nov. 20 | 11am
Re-focus and de-stress with a relaxing craft, camaraderie, and light refreshments at the library!
Featured activity: create a dried fruit garland
Space is limited, please register.
Ages 18+
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Pizza and Make a Thing: Paper Bridges
Chestertown Branch
Saturday, Nov. 9 | 11:30am
How strong is a newspaper? Join us to find out by engineering and building bridges out of newspaper and masking tape. Once your bridge is built, we'll stress test it to see how many books it can hold up.
Space is limited. Please register!
Ages 13-17
Pizza and Make a Thing is a program series for teens where we eat pizza and make a thing.
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Snack Around the World Club
Chestertown Branch
Thursday, Nov. 21 | 4pm
Have you ever wondered what kids around the world snack on?
Join us to find out – and to try a variety of snacks!
On this global snacking adventure we'll explore treats, share fun facts, and bring the rest of the world closer to home one tasty bite at a time.
Space is limited. Please register.
Ages 5-17
Please note: Due to the nature of this program, certain foods may contain allergens. All package labels will be available during the program and you are encouraged to check them out in order to be sure the snacks are safe for children you bring to the event.
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STEAM Lab: Household Chemistry
Rock Hall Branch
Friday, Nov. 1 | 11am
It's full STEAM ahead at the library!
If you're fascinated by chemistry, join us to learn how to safely conduct experiments & explore chemistry! We'll use everyday household items and create a lot of science fun.
This program might get messy, so please wear clothes that can get dirty or bring a smock or other cover-up.
Space is limited. Please register.
Ages 6-12
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Paper Straw Rocket
North County Branch
Friday, Nov. 1 | 2pm
It's full STEAM ahead at the library!
Create a paper rocket and learn how to launch it through the air with a straw! See how far your rocket will go and practice your precision flying by aiming for targets around the library.
Ages 5-12
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Half Day Library Fun
Rock Hall Branch
Wednesday, Nov. 6 | 2pm
Early dismissal at school? Drop by and spend the afternoon at the cozy Rock Hall library with board games, puzzles, and a craft activity!
Featured craft: Amazing Mazes
Test your engineering skills by creating and then navigating amazing mazes.
Ages 6-12
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Spaghetti Towers
Chestertown Branch
Thursday, Nov. 7 | 4:30pm
It's full STEAM ahead at Chestertown!
Work together to build the tallest spaghetti towers using uncooked spaghetti noodles and different sizes of marshmallows.
Space is limited. Please register.
Ages 6-12
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Autumn Colors Scavenger Hunt
North County Branch
Friday, Nov. 15 | 11am
Join us for a walk in nature exploring all of the colors of autumn.
We will be hunting for colors to fill our nature palettes and opening all of our senses to the beauty of the season.
Ages 0-5
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Snack Around the World Club
Chestertown Branch
Thursday, Nov. 21 | 4pm
Have you ever wondered what kids around the world snack on?
Join us to find out – and to try a variety of snacks!
On this global snacking adventure we'll explore treats, share fun facts, and bring the rest of the world closer to home one tasty bite at a time.
Space is limited. Please register.
Ages 5-17
Please note: Due to the nature of this program, certain foods may contain allergens. All package labels will be available during the program and you are encouraged to check them out in order to be sure the snacks are safe for children you bring to the event.
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Election Polling
Presidential Election 2024
Kent County Public Library's Chestertown Branch is one of Kent County's polling locations for the 2024 Presidential Election 2024. Election Day voting takes place 7am-8pm Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
For more information about the location of polling places in Kent County, please contact the Kent County Board of Elections at 410-778-0038 or visit their website.
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Tech Help: Learn the Basics | |
Free Tech Help
Need some help learning the basics of technology? Got a new device and you're not sure where to start? Free help is available at the library!
Let us help you learn how to:
- feel confident using your phone, tablet, or laptop
- navigate the internet, email, or social media
- use KCPL's computers, mobile hotspots, and Digital Library
Tech Help Drop-Ins
Drop-in sessions are available on a first come first served basis.
Chestertown Branch
Monday, November 18 & 25 | 11am-1pm
Tech Help Appointments
Tech Help appointments are also available at all KCPL locations. Please use the appointment scheduler or call 410.778.3636 for more information.
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Join us to read stories, sing songs, dance, laugh, and have lots of fun! | |
Preschool • Ages 3-5
10am Tuesdays | Chestertown
10am Thursdays | North County
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Baby & Toddler • Ages 0-2
11am Tuesdays | Chestertown
11am Thursdays | North County
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Borrowing from Other Libraries | |
Changes to Borrowing from Out-of-State and Academic Libraries
Due to increases in postage costs, KCPL is no longer able to provide an unlimited number of borrows from out-of-state and academic libraries.
After the budget line for this type of borrowing is expended, a $5 fee to cover postage may be applied to each item that is borrowed from outside of the Maryland public library system.
This fee only applies to this specific type of borrowing.
It will only apply if you choose to place a request for materials that are not available through Maryland public libraries and must be sent via USPS.
KCPL will not place this type of request without your consent.
You will be notified before this type of request is placed on your behalf and you will need to agree to move forward with the request.
This type of loan request cannot be canceled once it is placed.
Your account will be charged $5 when the item is successfully received. This fee will be assessed even if you do not pick up your hold.
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Friends' Annual Meeting
Chestertown Branch
Thursday, November 14 | 5:30pm
The public is cordially invited to attend the annual meeting of the Friends of the Kent County Public Library.
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Please Hold Your Book Donations!
After a wonderfully success fall book sale, the Friends are taking a well deserved break and are not currently accepting donations of books or other materials.
Donation Days will resume in January 2025.
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Show Your Support
Since 1973, the Friends have helped make it possible for KCPL to meet the needs of the community.
We are grateful for their continued support and want to invite you to support the Friends!
For as little as $10 a year, you can become a member of this group of library supporters.
Volunteer opportunities, including serving on the Friends' Board, are also available.
- donate hearts, hands, and more to the library they love
- help the community by encouraging literacy
- raise money for library needs not covered by the library budget
- provide enriching cultural programs
- raise awareness about the wonderful resources available at the library
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Join a Meeting
To learn more about how decisions that shape the library's future are made, join the Board of Trustees for a meeting!
Finance Committee Meeting
Tuesday, November 12 | 2pm
Virtual
Board of Trustees Meetings
Monday, November 25 | 4:30pm
Chestertown Branch
For more details about upcoming meetings, including the meeting agenda and virtual meeting link, please visit our online calendar.
The agenda for each meeting is posted at least 24 hours before the meeting.
Meetings of the Board of Trustees are open to the public and all are welcome to attend.
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Access Online from Anywhere |
Use your online account to check due dates, renew or request items, and set your account preferences.
If it's your first time logging in, you'll need the number on the back of your library card and your password, which is the last four digits of your phone number. Once you log in, you can add a username and change your password.
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Kent County Public Library | kentcountylibrary.org | 410.778.3636 | | | | |