Show Your Love For The Libraries During Libraries Lovers Month (PHOTOS)

Love is in the air at the Montgomery County Public Libraries. On Feb. 18, MCPL is celebrating the fifth annual Library Snapshot Day where residents and staff show their love for public libraries.

Courtesy of MCPL

During this special day, MCPL will gather customer comments, photos, and data showing what the day is like in a public library.

“Snapshot Day was developed in order to give our community … and our residents a snapshot of what we do. … It’s a snapshot of a day in the life,” said Carol Legarreta, public services administrator for human resources and community engagement at Montgomery County Public Libraries.

Here are some of the activities residents can do to participate:

• VIP Read activities at selected libraries with Montgomery County Councilmembers and law enforcement officials;
• Preschool storytimes;
• Conversation Clubs;
• Book discussion groups;
• Find a library near you to learn more.

Parker Hamilton, MCPL director, said staff collected “valuable statistics that demonstrated the importance of libraries in the lives of Montgomery County residents” during last year’s Snapshot Day.

“But the greatest impact came from the photos and stories that were collected – mothers interacting with their children; seniors accessing the Internet; students studying together; preschoolers attentively listening to a story; and in the words of a customer, ‘If it weren’t for MCPL, I would never have become the reader I am today.’ Snapshot Day is about our customers; we want them in the picture,” Hamilton said.

According to a press release, Snapshot Day is the result of the work among organizations such as Montgomery County Public Libraries; the Montgomery County Library Board; the Friends of the Library, Montgomery County, Inc.; local Friends of the Library chapters; and the Library Advisory Committees. Maryland Library Association sponsors the day.

About Aline Barros

Aline Barros is a multimedia reporter and community engagement specialist with Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at Abarros@mymcmedia.org and on Twitter at @AlineBarros2.

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