Beginning Monday, February 8th, patrons who do not have easy computer or internet access can make an appointment to use a computer at the Easton branch to complete a pre-registration survey for the COVID-19 vaccine.  Computer appointments can be made by calling the Easton library at 410-822-1626. At this time, patrons will only have access to the Health Department website to complete the Vaccination Surveys for the following four categories:

At this time, no other uses of the computer will be allowed, and patrons will only have access to the meeting room and the bathroom during their visit. Appointment times are for an hour in length on the following days:

Join the Talbot County COVID19 private sector conference call on the second

If you're looking for your next great read, consider one of these titles to celebrate

Black culture during Black History Month in February.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

A Spy in the Struggle by Aya de Leon

If I Had Two Wings by Randall Kenan

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw

Black Bottom Saints by Alice Randall

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha M. Blain

Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson

Reading While Black by Esau McCaulley

The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs

Vanguard: How Black Women Broke Barriers, Won the Vote, & Insisted on Equality for All by Martha S. Jones

Black Magic: What Black Leaders Learned from Trauma and Triumph by Chad Sanders

Radiant Child: The Story of Artist Jean Michel Basquiat by Javaka Steptoe (4-8 yrs)

and Historic Presidency by Pete Souza (10 yrs and up)

Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed (4-8 yrs)

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison (8-12 yrs)

Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson (6-9 yrs)

by Donna Janell Bowman (8-11 yrs)

Before She Was Harriett by Lesa Cline-Ransome (4-8 yrs)

Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library by Carole Boston Weatherford (9-12 yrs)

Thursdays, February 11, 18, and 25, 2 p.m. via Zoom

Register here: https://worcesterlibrary.libcal.com/

Register at https://act.audubon.org/a/webinar-comic-rosemary-mosco

Rosemary Mosco, the creator of Bird and Moon Comics and co-author of the New York Times best-selling book, The Atlas Obscura Explorer's Guide for the World's Most Adventurous Kid, will be available for an engaging talk on sharing science and humor through her art. Delight in Rosemary’s whimsical depictions of birds, reptiles, mammals, and more while picking up marvelous tidbits to share at your next (virtual) dinner party! This program will enchant, fascinate and inspire – you don’t want to miss it! Rosemary Mosco is a science writer and cartoonist. Her Bird and Moon nature comics were the subject of an award-winning exhibit at Cornell's Museum of the Earth, and they're collected in the book, Birding Is My Favorite Video Game, a 2019 ALA Great Graphic Novel for Teens. She speaks at birding festivals and nature clubs. Otherwise, she spends a lot of time out in the field, taking pictures of eye-wateringly tiny butterflies. 

Love, Jane Austen

Valentine's Day during the time of Covid is much like a Jane Austen novel. As we lead our quiet, domestic lives, we inquire regularly on each other's health and we take brisk walks followed by a cup of tea! Sound familiar? If you are a Jane Austen fan, or want to be, join in for a fun discussion of her works and her lasting impact. Book and movie recommendations will be included. Register here: https://calvertlibrary.libnet.info/event/4777750

The Water Dancer, Ta-Nehisi Coates

Join the Easton Book Group for a discussion of The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates via Zoom. Open to all! To register, email Susan Sherman at susancs@goeaston.net.

Hygge Happy Hour with Meik Wiking (For Teens and Adults)

Registration for this event will open February 3, 9 a.m., 4 p.m.: https://aacpl.librarycalendar.com/events/hygge-happy-hour-meik-wiking 

The Little Book of Hygge - The Danish Way to Live Well introduced the world to hygge. Hygge has been described as, "the pursuit of everyday pleasures," "cozy togetherness," and "the absence of annoyance." Meik Wiking's books have sold over a million copies and have been translated in 38 languages. He is the CEO of the Happiness Research Center and an acclaimed international speaker. Find a cozy spot and a warm blanket and settle in for a conversation about all things happiness with the expert. Please submit questions for consideration to programming@aacpl.net. Registration is required to receive the Zoom webinar link for this virtual event, or you can visit https://www.facebook.com/aacpl for the livestream. 

Registration for this event will open February 4, 9 a.m.: https://aacpl.librarycalendar.com/events/generations-music-and-black-family-concert 

Registration is required to receive the Zoom webinar link for this virtual event, or you can visit https://www.facebook.com/aacpl for the livestream. 

Register here: https://aacpl.librarycalendar.com/events/black-representation-matters

Are you looking for ways to celebrate Black authors and their books during Black History Month and year-round? This session will explore why Black representation in books matters, share tips for having courageous conversations about race with young children, and offer recommendations of board books, picture books, and early chapter books.

The New American Garden Style

Register here: http://bit.ly/3avjMhj

Eric Groft, principal with Oehme, van Sweeden Landscape Architecture and a Fellow of American Society of Landscape Architects, will present a free lecture on the New American Garden Style on the Eastern Shore. Groft will showcase how his work embodies sustainable and ecological practices while focusing on human connectivity and beauty. His design solutions optimize ecological sensitivity and manage life-cycle costs with features such as living roofs and walls, and stormwater capture and re-use. He brings a passion for horticulture to his landscape designs, including environmental restoration and shoreline stabilization. Eric has designed gardens throughout Talbot County, including waterfront residences on the Tred Avon, a historic farmhouse in Easton, and three modern weekend retreats in Sherwood. Questions about the programs can be directed to talbotcountygc@gmail.com.

Join the concerts here.

Mikaela will also answer questions regarding the Talbot County Free Seed Library, a community resource in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library. Through our seed library, we offer additional programs, information, and a free source of seeds for home gardens. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Only 200 participants. Register here: https://go.umd.edu/seedfilm

Register here.

Join us for a warm, winter Cooking Demo with Chef John, an absolute Harford County favorite, chef, author, television personality, and owner of the celebrated Gertrude's Restaurant at the Baltimore Museum of Art. He'll prepare two dishes - Alva Crockett's Tangier Island 50 Clam Chowder (from Chesapeake Bay Cooking with John Shields) and an Apple Crepe Cake (from The New Chesapeake Kitchen). John is often called "The Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay," and he has written four popular cookbooks on the cuisine of the region. You won't want to miss out on this fun and engaging evening! Recipes for this free event will be included in the registration confirmation email.

If you're ready to get started sprouting seeds for your garden, you're in luck! A variety of seed packets from our Seed Library are available at the front entrance of the Easton branch. First come, first served. Available while supplies last.

Want to try journaling, but not sure how to start? Join Ms. Laura for talking and writing fun! Inspired by the book, Journal Sparks by Emily Neuburger. Register here.

March 4th, 10 a.m. (1st Thursday of the month)

Mindful movement for young children on Facebook. Recommended for families with children under age 5.

Past programs can be found here!

Registration for this event will open February 13, 9 a.m.: https://aacpl.librarycalendar.com/events/how-be-childrens-book-author-and-illustrator-one-artists-journey 

Author and illustrator Don Tate hasn't always been a lover of words. As a child, he struggled with reading. Books didn't hold his attention. In this session, Don will discuss his journey from shy, reluctant reader to celebrated author and illustrator of more than 80 books for young readers. The session will also include drawing and a Q&A. Registration is required to receive the Zoom webinar link for this virtual event, or you can visit https://www.facebook.com/aacpl for the livestream. 

Join Mr. Labala for this next lesson in the series of chess tutorials on YouTube. For prior lessons, click here.

Sixty-seven readers participated in our Beanstack Winter Reading Challenge! Congratulations to the winners -

The Mid-Shore branch of the AARP Tax-Aide program, which provides free Federal and State tax-preparation services to taxpayers in Kent, Queen Anne, Talbot, and Caroline Counties, announced that it is suspending in-person tax services for the 2020 tax season, which begins on February 1, 2021.

“We are greatly saddened to take this step,” said District Coordinator Jeff Haertlein of Easton. “We know how much taxpayers on the Mid-Shore have come to rely on our services; but the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic simply will not allow us to open our tax preparation sites safely for our clients and our volunteers.”

“We wanted to make this announcement early enough that taxpayers can find other means of preparing their taxes,” Haertlein said. “AARP is still committed to providing tax-preparation assistance, but that aid will have to be online and virtual.”

Haertlein explained that there will be two forms of assistance available through the AARP website, www.aarp.org. Both methods, Contactless and Self Preparation, will be free to the taxpayer and will be available beginning in early February 2021. It is suggested you check www.aarp.org for updates on the other forms of assistance at that time.

Contactless: Taxpayers interact with Tax-Aid’s IRS-certified tax counselors online or by phone and exchange documents electronically.

Self-preparation: Tax-Aide provides taxpayers with free access to software so they can prepare their own taxes. Taxpayers can also request help from an IRS- certified counselor to coach them through the process by phone or through computer screen-sharing.

As to the future, Haertlein said that “if conditions permit a return to in-person tax preparation this year, AARP Tax-Aide will announce how and where assistance will be available and we certainly hope to be back in full swing a year from now for the 2021 tax season.”