Civic Engagement

The magic of our community window art theme "Into the Woods" continues!  First, we made trees. Then miniature woodland creatures and habitats for them. Now, we're adding fairy houses. No special skills necessary. Ideal for ages 8 and up. Teens are eligible to earn service hours! 

Dr. Richard Bell will discuss his most recent book exploring the full breadth and depth of America’s founding event. The American Revolution was not only the colonies’ triumphant liberation from the rule of an overbearing England; it was also a cataclysm that pulled in participants from around the globe and threw the entire world order into chaos. Bell widens the lens of the “War of Independence” manifesting itself as a sprawling struggle that upended the lives of millions of people on every continent and fundamentally transformed the way the world works, disrupting trade, restructuring penal systems, stirring famine, and creating the first global refugee crisis.  Dr. Richard Bell is a professor of history at the University of Maryland, a Research Fellow at the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Abolition and Resistance at Yale University and a Resident Fellow of the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. He will have copies of his most recent book, The American Revolution and the Fate of the World, for purchase. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.  

Join the Walkersville Historical Society as they share which families and personalities were here during the fight for independence. Wear your tricornes and cotton caps and learn something new and old!

Come and celebrate America's 250th at the library with historical textile expert and Revolutionary War re-enactor, Barb Christie.  She will weave a tale of revolutionary time through its spinning and weaving traditions.  

Join us to connect with local organizations that make a huge impact in our community. Participating organizations will provide information about how to get involved and find the perfect volunteer opportunity. Participating organizations include: Asian American Center of Frederick Blessings in a Backpack Frederick County Boards and Commissions Frederick County Division of Aging and Independence Friends of the Urbana Regional Library The Literacy Council of Frederick County The Maryland Room of Frederick County Public Libraries Teen Library Council (TLC) of Urbana Regional Library The Natelli Community Room is located on the ground floor in Room 100.

Do you love animals? Do you love helping the community? Join us for this special program, in partnership with the Animal Welfare League of Frederick County. Children will build skills of empathy, creativity and teamwork, as they create items and posters to help local animals in need.  This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.

Prepare for severe weather events through learning about what to do in flooding and winter weather. Learn about pre-planning, supplies, and actions to take during an actual emergency, and about Emmitsburg-specific winter weather evacuations and how to be prepared. Learn about flood zones and what to do when a community wide emergency happens. Presenter for this event will be Personal Preparedness, LLC, and Town of Emmitsburg Staff.

Everyone needs to know about calling 911 in an emergency.  What happens when you call 911? Join Emergency Management at the library for a fun, hands-on program where families can explore the world of emergency communications. Kids will have the opportunity to use a 911 simulator, learn when it's appropriate to call 911, discover what information to share during an emergency, and see how dispatchers help keep our communities safe. This interactive experience is designed to build confidence, reduce fear, and teach important safety skills in a fun and engaging way.

Get ready for a fun twist on a classic game!  Join Frederick County Emergency Management at the library for Emergency Preparedness Bingo. Learn how to be prepared in an emergency in a fun, interactive way. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refresh your preparedness skills, this interactive program makes learning easy and enjoyable for all.

Need help expunging your record from a past conviction? Meet with an attorney from Maryland Legal Aid to discuss your options and begin the process.  This is a free service!

Need help expunging your record from a past conviction? Meet with an attorney from Maryland Legal Aid to discuss your options and begin the process.  This is a free service!

Need help expunging your record from a past conviction? Meet with an attorney from Maryland Legal Aid to discuss your options and begin the process.  This is a free service!

Need help expunging your record from a past conviction? Meet with an attorney from Maryland Legal Aid to discuss your options and begin the process.  This is a free service!

Need help expunging your record from a past conviction? Meet with an attorney from Maryland Legal Aid to discuss your options and begin the process.  This is a free service!

Join us for a program by the Maryland State Library Resource Center. Hamilton: An American Musical is a sensation! Even 10 years after the beloved musical premiered it continues to inspire a renewed interest in the American Revolution with catchy lyrics and irresistible hip hop beats. But how many of those beloved musical moments are fact, and how many are fiction? In this program we will examine what Hamilton gets right, what it gets wrong and why it matters when history and fiction collide. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.  

Moderated by AARCH Society President Dr. Olivia White, this live local panel discussion will focus on democratic values, civic engagement, and Frederick County’s future.  Local panelists include:  Jake Wynn, Public Historian and Communications Manager at Visit Frederick Mary Mannix, Maryland Room Manager, FCPL Dr. Bruce Thompson, Professor of History, Hood College, specialty in Civil Rights Wilford X. Graham – Vice President, African American Resources and Cultural Heritage Center (AARCH) This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.

Bring your gently used Halloween costumes and accessories to trade out for something new-to-you! All age groups: baby through adult sizes.  Costumes can be dropped off starting on Saturday and throughout the event on Sunday. Each costume brought will get 1 ticket to swap.  Browsing/drop off time 1:00-2:00pm. Selection process will take place in rounds starting at 2:00pm. 

New to Anime and Manga? Longtime fan? Either way join us to celebrate it while talking all things art, story, cosplay, and culture! This month’s featured craft is Manga and Anime Journaling! We'll also be nominating, discussing, and voting on a slew of anime character superlatives. All materials provided, while supplies last. For grades 6-12. The Small Conference room is located on the 2nd floor of the library in Room 302.

Explore the ways that your values and civics influence each other. Work together as we continue to create a mural that reflects and integrates you and your values with the broad diversity of our community. No experience necessary! For teens and tweens in grades 4-12. Activities while supplies last.  This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community. The Small Conference room is located on the 2nd floor of the library in Room 302.

Join Patrice Gallagher from Envision Frederick County to learn about how to get involved and make an impact on your community. Patrice will discuss how local change happens and will provide examples from some of the organization’s recent accomplishments. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community. The Natelli Community Room is located on the ground floor in Room 100

Do you need to earn Community Service Hours? Want to help us out at the Emmitsburg Branch Library? We will be painting rocks and making thank you cards for Good Neighbor Day.

Do you need to earn Community Service Hours? Want to help us out at the Emmitsburg Branch Library? We will be making buttons and bookmarks for our teen area.

Do you need to earn Community Service Hours? Want to help us out at the Emmitsburg Branch Library? We will be creating Take and Make projects for our Children's area.

Do you need to earn Community Service Hours? Want to help us out at the Emmitsburg Branch Library? We will be creating greeting cards and ornaments for a local nursing home.

FCPL was recently selected as one of 50 libraries across the country to participate in TED Democracy. As a satellite location, FCPL will livestream the day-long TED event at New Spire Arts Stages in downtown Frederick. Attendees will be able to hear speakers as they discuss thought-provoking and educational experiences respecting individual views and honoring the spirit of dialogue established nearly 250 years ago. After the event, a panel discussion of local Frederick historians and thought leaders will engage the audience in a meaningful dialogue. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.

Come collaborate with your peers to help your voices be heard at the library. Assist Teen Library Staff with creating programs, displays, and more! Attending Teen Library Council counts as volunteer hours for school! Ages 14-18. 

Come collaborate with your peers to help your voices be heard at the library. Assist Teen Library Staff with creating programs, displays, and more! Attending Teen Library Council counts as volunteer hours for school! Ages 14-18. 

Come collaborate with your peers to help your voices be heard at the library. Assist Teen Library Staff with creating programs, displays, and more! Attending Teen Library Council counts as volunteer hours for school! Ages 14-18. 

Learn about the plants, trees, insects, birds, and animals found in our local neighborhood! Then, create an informative display and design a nature-themed scavenger hunt for patrons to take home and use while exploring the outdoors. You will earn one volunteer service hour for participating.

Do you want to make a difference in your community, but you're not sure what to do or where to start? Come hear from a local teen about ways to engage with your community and local government, and do some fun crafts for a good cause! This program is for teens in 6th through 12th grades (ages 11-18).

Teens- join us for a chance to give back to the community! Attendees will earn 1 hour of service learning. All supplies will be provided.

Spend an hour creating toys for dogs and cats that will be donated to the Frederick County Animal Shelter. Attendees can earn one hour of service learning for attending. 

Join Middletown Branch Librarians at the Middletown 50+ Community Center for trivia inspired by the 250th anniversary of our nation. 

The League of Women Voters of Frederick County and Frederick County Public Libraries present a panel discussion on mis- and dis-information. The discussion by a panel of experts will focus on helping voters filter out untrue rumors and claims regarding the voting process and will cover other topics where mis- and dis-information are common.  Panelists:  Panelists will include Desiree Mortenson, a lecturer in Towson University’s Department of Political Science; Ayala Ossowski, a communications & PR professional and media literacy educator; Andrew Schotz, editor of the Frederick News-Post, and a member of the Frederick County Board of Elections.  Steven Cohen, the Frederick-County reporter from DC News Now will moderate. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.

Learn voting basics for this election year! In this nonpartisan program, the League of Women Voters of Frederick County will inform us about voting basics, such as how to register to vote, finding our polling place, voting deadlines, and more. This program supports By the People: Civic Engagement for All, an FCPL initiative to foster civic knowledge and participation in the Frederick County community.