Outreach Programs: Bringing the Library to Our Community
The Charles County Public Library Outreach Services Mobile Van is on the road 20 days of every month serving individual and groups in all areas of Charles County.
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Library materials and reference services are delivered to homebound customers that are unable to visit the library due to health problems and disabilities.
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Storytime programming and library materials are provided to childcare providers, childcare centers and Head Start programs throughout the county.
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Lending library deposit collections of non-bar-coded materials are maintained at a variety of sites in outlying areas of the county. New materials are rotated to the sites once every month.
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Outreach Services also provides a range of special programs and workshops as scheduling allows. These programs may include presentations in nursing homes, to senior groups, summer camps, and family centers.
Services to the Homebound
Charles County Public Library customers may receive library services and continue to enjoy favorite reading materials even when they are unable to physically visit the library. Charles County residents who are homebound due to illness, disability, or injury are eligible for service.
This service is provided to the customer without charge. Customers are encouraged to request specific types of materials to accommodate personal tastes. Each Outreach customer completes a survey to specify the genres they enjoy in order to assist the office in meeting individual needs.
Library materials are provided in formats suitable to the individual's requirements. Materials are available in large print, Books-on-Tape, and Books-on-CD, in addition to hardback and paperback formats. A limited number of tape cassette players are available for loan.
Outreach Services strives to provide current releases and best sellers to customers in a timely manner. Interlibrary loan of materials from other libraries is available.
- In addition to material delivery, the Outreach librarians are happy to assist customers with reference questions and research needs.
Please note: Visits are canceled when the Charles County Public Schools announce a delayed opening or closure due to inclement weather and are not scheduled when the library is closed for a holiday.
Services for Childcare Providers
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Outreach visits from the Charles County Public Library to Childcare Centers and providers encourage children to develop a love of books and become lifetime readers. The program also assists providers in learning exciting new techniques to use books and other activities with children in their own programs. |
| Storytime visits facilitate language and literacy development by incorporating developmental activities. We encourage the children and their childcare providers to participate in the programs by using finger plays, songs, games and movement fun. The children gain reading readiness skills, improve their listening abilities and learn appropriate storytime behavior. Each month when Outreach Services visits for a half-hour storytime, three or four books are shared with the group. Since the librarian may visit up to seven centers in one day, and each childcare group varies in numbers and ages, a variety of materials are used for each storytime, including flannel boards, puppets and music. Childcare providers receive a new selection of books at each visit for use in programming. Outreach Services provides each home or center with a canvas bag of books to share with their children during the month. It contains twenty books in formats suitable for infants, preschool, and school age children. - Childcare providers may request an assortment of resources offered through the Outreach Theme Pack collections. Over 175 Theme Packs are available for use in daycare programming. The kits contain a mixture of books, audiocassettes, flannel board kits, games, and activities, all designed to highlight a specific topic. Providers may borrow Theme Packs for use on a monthly rotation.
The service is available to Family Child Care providers and Child Care Centers unable to use other library services. A minimum of 4 children able to participate in storytime program is required for the service. Providers must be licensed through the Office of Child Care Licensing and Regulations. Priority is given to providers with children 18 mos. to 6 years. If there is a waiting list, participation may be on a rotating basis.
Please call 301.934.9001 or 301.870.3520 or e-mail us at
for more information or to arrange for service.
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