The Friends of the Takoma Park Maryland Library sponsors or supports activities to promote reading and learning by members of our community. Here is a list of programs and activities hosted by the Friends:

FTPML BIG BOOK CLUB: discusses great works of literature written throughout history. After selecting a book, a scholar or expert on the author or the work presents a lecture about the book to book club participants. Discussion of the book then continues over multiple sessions every other week. The club focuses on two books each year — one in the fall and one in the spring.

The FRIENDS BOOK GROUP explores literature through historical and contemporary fiction, mysteries and science fiction, and graphic novels. The group meets every other month.

For more on our book groups, see this page.

FIXIT CLINIC: At these free clinics, held at the library, skilled volunteers show their neighbors how to repair small electronics and appliances, clothing, bicycles, furniture, and. other items. There is also a station for sharpening knives and gardening tools. The clinics are held approximately once a month. For more on our Fixit Clinics, see this page.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES: FTPML is responsible for the construction and maintenance of approximately 20 Little Free Libraries scattered around Takoma Park. 

SPRING FOR POETRY: Posters with poems that are posted around the city are maintained by the Friends.

FTPML ANNUAL MEETING: Our annual membership meetings feature presentations from authors, journalists, and newsmakers from Takoma Park. Following a featured speaker, members elect the board.

In addition to the above Friends of the Library programs, the Friends sponsor fully or in part library programs that are in addition to programs funded in the city budget:

CHESS INSTRUCTION: Once a month on Sundays, children and families receive lessons in chess from an instructor. The program is sponsored by Friends of the Library. 

SPANISH CIRCLE TIME: Begun in 2010, this high-energy program of singing and dancing for young children and their caregivers is lead by Señora Garza. The popular program is in Spanish and takes place once a week. Funded by the Friends of the Library.

LIBRARY CARDS FOR NON-RESIDENTS: When the new library was under construction at the Philadelphia Avenue location, the library operated temporarily in the Takoma Langley Crossroads neighborhood on the border of Takoma Park. Many residents of that neighborhood live in PG County, outside the boundary of Takoma Park. FTPML subsidized the non-resident fee these individuals would otherwise pay for library cards, to help the library encourage residents of the neighborhood — many of whom are Spanish speakers — access the library’s Spanish language resources.

BOOK CLUB FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS: This is a book discussion club for Piney Branch Elementary School (PBES) students and their parents with a wide range of English reading ability, meeting once per semester. The Friends of the Library pays to purchase a book for each family to keep and read together in the weeks leading up to the meeting. Refreshments are provided by the Friends.

The Friends of the Library is chiefly supported through memberships and by selling donated books at our book sales, which take place two or three times a year. Check our Upcoming Events page to find out when our next sale will take place. 

Last updated December 2025