Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library

08/17/2026

Sheriff Woody had seen better days, but he paid a visit to our Fixit Clinic over the weekend and left refreshed and ready to be a favorite toy again...

08/14/2026

There are still appointments available for tomorrow's Fixit Clinic. Go to our website here: https://ftpml.org/fixit/ to find the link to sign up for an appointment. The clinic is free, and it takes place at the Takoma Park Maryland Library from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. tomorrow (Saturday, August 15).

Information about our next Fixit Clinic In cooperation with the Takoma Park Maryland Library, the Friends of the Takoma Park Library is sponsoring another Fixit Clinic: When: Saturday, August 15, f…

08/12/2026

We have another Fixit Clinic coming up this Saturday August 15, from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the library. There are still plenty of appointments available — for clothing repair, knife sharpening, small appliances and electronics, bicycle repair, and wooden items repair. Go to our website here: https://ftpml.org/fixit/ to find the link to sign up for an appointment. Keep your broken stuff out of the landfill!

08/03/2026

This Week at the Takoma Park Maryland Library:

Sketch Club/Comics Jam, Tuesday 3:15 - 5:00 https://takomapark.libcal.com/event/17104382

Yard Dramas @ Crossroads Farmers Market, Wednesday 10:30 - 12:30. Hands-on activities, storytelling, movement, dramatic play, and opportunities to create and share with the community. (And of course, you can get your shopping done at the market.)
https://takomapark.libcal.com/event/16875603

Spanish Circle Time, Thursday 10:30 - 11:30 (every week). Supported by Friends of the Library.
https://takomapark.libcal.com/event/15991528

BYO Games and Crafts, Thursday 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Program Room.
https://takomapark.libcal.com/event/17066992

Family Chess, Sunday at Noon. Supported by Friends of the Library.
https://takomapark.libcal.com/event/15384501

07/23/2026

At the last Fix It Clinic on July 11, FTPML volunteers served 40 customers who brought 60 things to fix and we successfully repaired 50! All for free. Thank you to all of the volunteers!

07/11/2026

Tucked away on the FTPML website is an interview with Ruth Pratt, the first Takoma Park Maryland Library head librarian. You can find the full recording and transcript on our website. See link in comments.

A synopsis: Ruth Pratt’s tenure as Takoma Park’s first librarian spanned 28 years, from the library's inception in the mid-1930s until her retirement in 1963

She initially accepted the leadership role after a "preemptive approach" from Mrs. James Robertson, intending only to get the project started before returning to her own retirement

Her early experience was characterized by extreme resource scarcity; the library began with "old books" and no financial backing, and Pratt swepy the floors herself because there was no budget for a regular janitor
The physical environment of her early work was makeshift and cramped. The library operated out of Colonel Conger’s house on Jackson Avenue and later moved to a residence at 8 Sherman Avenue, where the upper floor was rented out as an apartment to help make the building's monthly payments

Pratt noted that housing a book collection in an ordinary living room with residential windows and "cut up spaces" was "utterly impossible"
Pratt did not become a paid employee until approximately 1940, receiving a salary of $50 a month ($1200 in 2026).

This compensation was suggested so that she could afford to hire a maid at home, freeing her to attend Catholic University to study library science.

Throughout her career, she relied heavily on the labor of Women’s Club volunteers who served as typists and circulation clerks, as well as Mrs. Robertson, who remained a volunteer cataloger until her death
A major highlight of her experience was overseeing the move to a permanent, city-owned building at Philadelphia and Maple Avenues.

Although the furniture had not yet arrived when they moved in May, Pratt worked with city employees and volunteers to set up service in the incomplete space.

Reflecting on the library's setting, she expressed a deep emotional connection to its location, describing the view of the surrounding trees as the "most satisfying picture ever"

If you would like a copy of the full slide deck, let me know in the comments. Elizabeth Wallace, FTPML volunteer.

07/10/2026

If you have clothing or beaded jewelry to repair, bring them to our Fixit Clinic on Saturday July 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the library in the program room. For more info and for a link to register for the clinic, go to our website: https://ftpml.org/fixit/.

07/02/2026

Canta Juego: Spanish Circle Time In-Person is on pause until the teacher, Señora Geiza, returns from vacation. Next event is July on July 16.

In the meantime, why not check out the books in the children's library and the polliinator display just outside its entrance.

06/24/2026