With a new, state-of-the-art branch open for business as of April, the warm weather months in Calvert County will be ideal for visiting a local library.
Much has been planned for library patrons, too.
Robyn Truslow, Calvert Library’s public relations coordinator, told Southern Maryland News the new Twin Beach branch in North Beach “has been quite busy” since its well-attended grand opening in April.
A June 18 event at Twin Beaches branch features award-winning author Amina Luqman-Dawson. Her book, “Freewater,” is a work of fiction based on historic events of the 1800s.
Truslow said the author’s speaking engagement and book signing “will be the first big event at the new Twin Beach branch.”
Luqman-Dawson’s novel tells the story of two enslaved children who flee the plantation where they live with their mother. After an arduous journey on the run from the plantation overseer the children arrive in a swampy area of Virginia, discover a community called Freewater and are assimilated into what was known as a “maroon” village. Maroons were runaway slave communities, which were established in areas of that included the U.S. and Caribbean Islands.
In a telephone interview last week, Luqman-Dawson told Southern Maryland News that when she first started writing opinion pieces, “because I felt the urge to have something to say.”
The author, who was born in New York, grew up in California and now resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and son, said her early writings gave her the impetus to “find compelling, inspiring stories to tell. Story-telling is exciting and gives me something to say about important history.”
Luqman-Dawson said she started researching African American history, first at her own local library branch and then the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
“Freewater” was published in 2022 and won the John Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award the following year.
Luqman-Dawson’s appearance at the Twin Beach branch on June 18 will begin at 6:30 p.m. Registration is required as seating is limited to 150.
“Freewater,” Luqman-Dawson said, is an appropriate book for readers age 10 and up. She frequently speaks to elementary student groups during the school year.
The author told Southern Maryland News she has another fiction book based on historic facts currently in the works.
Plenty of ‘Summer Fun’ plannedBig dates to circle on calendars this summer season are June 15, 20 and 27, July 11 and 25, and Aug. 8.
On June 15 Culture Queen presents two performances at the Prince Frederick Branch from 10 to 11 a.m. and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
On June 20, the Maryland Science Center has a presentation at the Fairview Branch in Owings from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m.
Didgeridoo Down Under, a fusion of Australian music, culture, art, science, comedy, character building and audience participation, is booked for June 27 from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and 11:15 to noon at Twin Beach, plus 2 to 3 p.m. at Prince Frederick.
Reptile Wonders returns to Calvert County July 11 with two shows at Twin Beach from 10 to 11 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and at the library in Prince Frederick from 2 to 3 p.m.
On July 25 Meki’s Tamur Polynesian Arts has shows at the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and Southern Community Center in Lusby from 2 to 2:45 p.m.
On Aug. 8, magician Brian Curry has three shows planned—Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department from 10 to 11 a.m., Southern Community Center from 2 to 3 p.m. and the Prince Frederick Branch from 6 to 7 p.m.
Calvert Library got its warm weather activities started June 1 with a virtual appearance author Michelle Coles, who wrote the award winning young adult book Black Was the Ink.
The local branches also kicked off their #calvertREADS summer reading festivities June 1.
For more information on a library activities, go to calvertlibrary.info.
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