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American Flag with text Veterans Book Group, SMCL and Maryland Humanities logos

Registration now closed

Veterans Book Group

2024-06-01 14:00:00 2024-06-01 16:45:00 America/New_York Veterans Book Group A book discussion series for veterans led by Vietnam veteran Wayne Karlin. Registration required; space is limited. For more information contact Kimberlé Fields at 301-863-8188 or kfields@stmalib.org. Lexington Park Library - Longfellow Room

Saturday, June 01
2:00pm - 4:45pm

Lexington Park Library

Longfellow Room

A book discussion series for veterans led by Vietnam veteran Wayne Karlin. Registration required; space is limited. For more information contact Kimberlé Fields at 301-863-8188 or kfields@stmalib.org.

This book discussion series is tailored for veterans and their families. Service members of all eras, their spouses, and adult children are welcome. We will read and discuss three books written in very different styles but connected by themes of war, courage, honor, and trauma. Meetings will be held the first Saturday of the month 2-4 p.m. at Lexington Park library. Participants should plan to attend all sessions. Materials provided. Book descriptions are from Barnes & Nobles unless otherwise noted.
The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with St. Mary’s County Library. It is supported in part by Lockheed Martin, David Bruce Smith, and the Wawa Foundation.

If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible.

Reading List
March 02:The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • A “heart-stopping account of the events leading up to 9/11” (The New York Times Book Review), this definitive history explains in gripping detail the growth of Islamic fundamentalism, the rise of al-Qaeda, and the intelligence failures that culminated in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Packed with new information and a deep historical perspective, The Looming Tower is a sweeping, unprecedented history of the long road to September 11.

Len Deighton — one of the masters of twentieth-century espionage fiction — combines his expertise as both historian and novelist in Bomber, the classic World War II novel that relates, in devastating detail, the twenty-four-hour story of an allied bombing raid. Told through the eyes of protag­onists on all sides and astonishingly precise in its depictions of planes, weapons, and behind-the-scenes war strategy, this is Len Deighton at his best. An unforgettable portrait of war, both in the air and on the ground.

and
The moving story of how a small group of people—including two Vietnam veterans—forced the U.S. government to take responsibility for the ongoing horrors—agent orange and unexploded munitions—inflicted on the Vietnamese. George Black recounts the inspirational story of the small cast of characters—veterans, scientists, and Quaker-inspired pacifists, and their Vietnamese partners—who used their moral authority, scientific and political ingenuity, and sheer persistence to attempt to heal the horrors that were left in the wake of the military engagement in Southeast Asia. Their intersecting story is one of reconciliation and personal redemption, embedded in a vivid portrait of Vietnam today, with all its startling collisions between past and present, in which one-time mortal enemies, in the endless shape-shifting of geopolitics, have been transformed into close allies and partners. 

The Long Reckoning is being published on the fiftieth anniversary of the day the last American combat soldier left Vietnam.

AGE GROUP: | Adult |

EVENT TYPE: | Books & Reading |

TAGS: | |

Lexington Park Library

Phone: 301-863-8188

Hours
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Mon, Aug 10 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Aug 11 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Aug 12 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Aug 13 9:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Aug 14 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sat, Aug 15 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sun, Aug 16 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

If you need special accommodations for any Library event or program, please submit our Accommodations Request form as soon as possible.

Upcoming events

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Thu, Aug 13, 9:30am - 10:00am
Meeting Room B
Stories, rhymes, bounces, songs, and playtime for children birth-2 years with their adult caregivers.

Thu, Aug 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Meeting Room B
Toddlers and preschoolers dance, sing, listen, and play with their grownups at the Library!

Thu, Aug 13, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Thu, Aug 13, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room B
Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us every second and fourth Thursday. Alternating Art (second week) and STEM activities (fourth week), plus more! No registration required!

Fri, Aug 14, 9:30am - 10:00am
Meeting Room B
Bring your littles along to this Big & Little yoga class taught by Kathy Therrien! Children ages 3 to 10 are invited to join their caregivers at this morning yoga session.
This event is full

Fri, Aug 14, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Fri, Aug 14, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area
It's a beautiful day in our children's book neighborhood. Stop by, pick a book off the shelf, and be read to by our librarian of the day.

Sat, Aug 15, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
The Lexington Park Makerspace has a new art corner! Do you feel the urge to create, but don't feel ready to commit to a giant project? Check out the Makerspace's new Art Corner!

Sun, Aug 16, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room B
Play and discuss fun games that have interesting math connections.

Mon, Aug 17, 10:00am - 1:00pm
Lobby
A representative of the Maryland Dept. of Labor will be in the lobby to connect veterans and the general public to employment services.

Mon, Aug 17, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Mon, Aug 17, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room B
Help us decorate the teen section with awesome paintable flags or keep them if you fall in love with the ones you made!

Mon, Aug 17, 3:30pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room A
Calling all teen writers! Participate in a workshop with Tracy Gatton from the Maryland Writer's Association designed to improve your worldbuilding, character creation, and writing skills!

Mon, Aug 17, 4:00pm - 7:30pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Learn how to preserve your harvest bounty and make shelf-stable foods

Tue, Aug 18, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room A
Experts from Southern Maryland Job Source are here to help you on your job search journey!

Tue, Aug 18, 10:30am - 11:00am
Meeting Room B
Toddlers and preschoolers dance, sing, listen, and play with their grownups at the Library!

Tue, Aug 18, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Tue, Aug 18, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Longfellow Room
Experts from Southern Maryland Job Source are here to help you on your job search journey!
Register

Tue, Aug 18, 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Meeting Rooms A&B
Join us for learning-based crafts, games, and activities as we play our way to developing valuable school readiness skills such as fine motor control, following directions, and group participation.

Tue, Aug 18, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room B
No experience needed! Characters will be provided for ease of adventure. We'll have a Dungeons & Dragons 5e Game every time, while we may have new games to teach as well.

Wed, Aug 19, 10:30am - 11:00am
Meeting Room B
Toddlers and preschoolers dance, sing, listen, and play with their grownups at the Library!

Wed, Aug 19, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious lunches for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Lunches must be eaten on-site; no carry-outs. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Wed, Aug 19, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room B
Drop in for open-ended crafting fun. Try one of our sample crafts, or create your own design! All materials provided. This is a drop-in style program with no registration required.

Wed, Aug 19, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Longfellow Room
The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.

Thu, Aug 20, 9:00am - 12:00pm
Representatives will be here to educate and assist those who are seeking low-cost or free health insurance options through Maryland Health Connection.

Thu, Aug 20, 9:00am - 11:00am
Lobby
SMCHD will be providing community members with a variety of health department resources for programs.

Thu, Aug 20, 9:30am - 10:00am
Meeting Room B
Stories, rhymes, bounces, songs, and playtime for children birth-2 years with their adult caregivers.

Thu, Aug 20, 10:30am - 11:00am
Meeting Room B
Toddlers and preschoolers dance, sing, listen, and play with their grownups at the Library!

Thu, Aug 20, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Thu, Aug 20, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
Meeting Room B
Make a fluffy dino friend to take home!

Thu, Aug 20, 6:00pm - 7:15pm
Meeting Room B
A welcoming space where writers of every level can collaborate with peers, spark inspiration, and share your work whenever you feel ready!

Fri, Aug 21, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Meeting Room B
Free, nutritious snacks for kids 0-18 and their accompanying adults. Enjoy simple educational activities provided by the Library while you eat!

Fri, Aug 21, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area
It's a beautiful day in our children's book neighborhood. Stop by, pick a book off the shelf, and be read to by our librarian of the day.

Sat, Aug 22, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room B
For moviemakers in Benin, West Africa, stories are everywhere—hidden in the land itself, just waiting to be unearthed. Registration is Recommended. Walk-ins welcome as space allows.

Sat, Aug 22, 12:00pm - 4:00pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Learn how to preserve your harvest bounty and make shelf-stable foods

Sun, Aug 23, 2:30pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Room B
Enter a calm, welcoming space where creativity can bloom!

Mon, Aug 24, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Meeting Rooms A&B
Bring the family and join us for a fun, free cooking class led by Zen Well Health! Everyone in the community is welcome to learn and enjoy great recipes together.

Mon, Aug 24, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Everyone needs a bit of time to relax and create. Come and paint with your fellow library users. Chat and make friends, or paint on your own - however you feel that day.

Tue, Aug 25, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Room B
Join Community Mediation of St. Mary's County for a community conversation about AI.

Wed, Aug 26, 9:00am - 1:00pm
Job seekers can stop by to get job counseling and resume help,search for jobs, and get registered with the Maryland Workforce Exchange.

Wed, Aug 26, 4:00pm - 4:30pm
Meeting Room B
Designed for neurodiverse children and families who may find traditional storytimes overwhelming.

Wed, Aug 26, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Longfellow Room
The St. Mary’s County Circuit Court offers a free Family Law Self Help Legal Clinic to provide legal assistance/advice regarding family law.

Wed, Aug 26, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Meeting Rooms A&B
Celebrate everything you explored during Summer Reading with trivia and word challenges. Reserve your spot! Please register each group member. Walk-ins will be welcome.

Thu, Aug 27, 9:30am - 10:30am
Meeting Room B
Come for a social happy hour of tummy time with your baby! We will have mats for comfort and toys for play. Chat with other care givers as your littlest ones explore!

Thu, Aug 27, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Beacon of Hope Recovery Community Center team members will be on site to exchange positivity and engage in everyday wellness fun facts.

Thu, Aug 27, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room B
Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us every second and fourth Thursday. Alternating Art (second week) and STEM activities (fourth week), plus more! No registration required!

Fri, Aug 28, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area
It's a beautiful day in our children's book neighborhood. Stop by, pick a book off the shelf, and be read to by our librarian of the day.

Sat, Aug 29, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Meeting Rooms A&B
Calling all tiny engineers! You're invited to design a train track, stack some magnets, and explore the joys of building.

Tue, Sep 01, 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Meeting Room B
Ready to take the spotlight? Join us for a PowerPoint Party, where you create and present a short, silly, or serious slideshow on any topic you’re passionate about—the weirder, the better!
Registration opens Monday, August 17 2026 at 9:00am

Tue, Sep 01, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Longfellow Room
Thinking about buying a house? Have a friendly, no-pressure chat with Amy Scott, Owner of OE Realty, and her team about buying a home in Maryland. Registration recommended for reminder notices.

Thu, Sep 03, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Meeting Room A
Experts from Southern Maryland Job Source are here to help you on your job search journey!

Thu, Sep 03, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Longfellow Room
Experts from Southern Maryland Job Source are here to help you on your job search journey!

Thu, Sep 03, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Lobby
Beacon of Hope Recovery Community Center team members will be on site to exchange positivity and engage on everyday wellness fun facts.

Fri, Sep 04, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area
It's a beautiful day in our children's book neighborhood. Stop by, pick a book off the shelf, and be read to by our librarian of the day.

Sat, Sep 05, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Lexington Park Makerspace,Meeting Room B
Learn the process of designing and carving a rubber linocut stamp! Create your own stamp to make cards, patches, prints, and more! 
Registration opens Saturday, August 22 2026 at 10:00am

Sat, Sep 05, 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Crayon, colored pencil, marker, or collage! Whatever your art medium is, come create a design and learn how to use our sublimation printer and mug press to copy your beautiful art onto a mug!
Registration opens Saturday, August 22 2026 at 1:30pm

Sat, Sep 05, 3:00pm - 4:30pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Crayon, colored pencil, marker, or collage! Whatever your art medium is, come create a design and learn how to use our sublimation printer and mug press to copy your beautiful art onto a mug!
Registration opens Saturday, August 22 2026 at 3:00pm

Tue, Sep 08, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Lobby
Community health advocates will be in the lobby to talk about health and wellness services through the hospital.

Tue, Sep 08, 6:00pm - 7:45pm
Lexington Park Makerspace
Whether you have been stitching for years, or you just want to learn, join fellow crafters who love all things fabric and fiber. Register to receive email/text reminders. Walk-in's welcome!

Wed, Sep 09, 10:30am - 11:30am
Meeting Rooms A&B
Collaborative art, sensory play, fine motor and early learning activities to get kids playing! Dress for a mess!
Registration opens Wednesday, August 19 2026 at 9:00am

Wed, Sep 09, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Nature journaling is easier than you think! You don’t need to be an artist or a writer to connect with nature—just a pen and a notebook.

Thu, Sep 10, 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Meeting Room B
Teens and tweens are invited to come vibe with us every second and fourth Thursday. Alternating Art (second week) and STEM activities (fourth week), plus more! No registration required!

Thu, Sep 10, 5:45pm - 7:15pm
Cricut Maker,Lexington Park Makerspace,Meeting Room B
Use Heat Transfer Vinyl to create your own custom tote bag with the Cricut Maker and Heat Press!
Registration opens Thursday, August 27 2026 at 5:45pm

Fri, Sep 11, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Children's Area
It's a beautiful day in our children's book neighborhood. Stop by, pick a book off the shelf, and be read to by our librarian of the day.

Sat, Sep 12, 10:00am - 11:30am
Meeting Room B
Gardening doesn't have to stop when summer's over!