Home for the Holidays with the Library

Largo, Maryland – Prince Georgians can enrich their holiday season with great content to watch, read, listen, and engage, all free through the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) and available from the comfort of home. The online library is accessible from a computer, mobile device, tablet, and smart TV devices.

Stream holiday movies, feature films, and documentaries with Hoopla and Kanopy, which are like Netflix for libraries. With Hoopla customers can stream or temporarily download popular movies, television shows, and music (up to 6 items per month). Kanopy offers 26,000+ movies, documentaries, and indie and foreign films from over hundreds of producers including The Criterion Collection, Kino Lorber, PBS, and thousands of independent filmmakers (up to 10 videos per month). Both of these apps are available on most smart TV devices, including Amazon Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Roku (visit the app store for your device for more details). 

Create a festive atmosphere with seasonal music streamed on Freegal and holiday decoration ideas from CreativeBug. Download five free songs per week (to keep) with Freegal from a library of millions! Unlimited streaming music is available every day, saving you from spending Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music subscriptions. Creativebug offers over 1,000 videos that will teach you everything from cooking and interior design to jewelry, quilting, crocheting, and sewing--all great activities for families to do together.

Comics and graphic novels, like “Bone,” “Avatar,” “John Lewis 1940-2020,” are available free with ComicsPlus. Catch up on the latest local and national news with free digital access to the Washington Post and New York Times (via the News Suite). Access popular magazines such as Forbes, Essence, Buying Guide, and Eating Well on Flipster. Learn a new musical instrument and develop talents as an artist with ArtistWorks.

PGCMLS provides many opportunities for self-advancement available to customers year-round and the holidays are a perfect time to start that next “you” project. PGCMLS is here to help with free online lessons from Lynda.com and Great Courses. Learn a new language to enhance career options or for those future travel plans whether for business or pleasure with Mango Languages. Brainfuse JobNow’s live unemployment benefits assistance to help recently unemployed Prince Georgians navigate the unemployment benefits process. 

The Library System is temporarily suspending Curbside Service from December 21, 2020 through January 12, 2021. The Library’s book drops will be closed for business from Saturday, December 19, 2020 through January 12, 2021. Click here for details on closures and modified services. Curbside Service is scheduled to resume on Wednesday, January 13, 2021. From December 23 through January 10, live virtual PGCMLS events will not be aired. On-demand special events and archived weekly programs will be available for viewing. Thank you for accessing these holiday resources during this time. Visit pgcmls.info and get more out of your time off! Happy holidays.

About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 915,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve booklovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. The Books from Birth and Ready 2 Read programs make the Library the primary source of early literacy education and Kindergarten readiness programs in the County.

PGCMLS’ robust online offerings include curated content collections for kids, teens, educators, Spanish speakers, and more. Virtual events and outreach provide access to the Library from the comfort of home or on the go. Special programs include the D.R.E.A.M. Lab, STEM Pals, and 3D printing, which offer teens and lifelong learners with opportunities to learn cutting-edge technology and STEM skills for job readiness or personal enrichment. The Library also provides drive-up WiFi access at all branches and mobile hotspot devices. The Library’s Laurel Branch Library received the 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Award and was designated the best new public building in Maryland.