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Dana Jones
Jul 18

☀ïļ A Page Turning Summer! 📚

July 19th, 2024

Dear Neighbor,

Lei-ing the Groundwork 🌚

I couldn't be prouder of our amazing District 30 Democratic Club - Speaker Michael E. Busch!! Recently I had the pleasure of attending their annual Luau Party. This incredible crowd is not only a testament to the work they are doing now but also to the decades of organizing they have done over the years. Thank you to the executive teams and members, both past and present, for your tireless commitment to fighting for Democrats in District 30 and Anne Arundel County as a whole! The dedication and passion of our membership is so inspiring, and together this group of #DoSomethingDemocrats is making a real difference in our community.


Stay tuned to their page in the coming months as they announce opportunities for how you can get involved and help #GetOutTheVote up and down the ticket this November!

 

Little Libraries, Big Impact!



This month has been all about supporting our community through informative site visits and stellar book donations! From touring the Sheppard Pratt Omni House facility to partnering with the Rotary Club of Annapolis, it's inspiring to see these organizations' dedicated efforts to support Annapolis.




Care & Community Connection: 💌

Last week I joined Appropriations Vice Chair Delegate Mark Chang for a tour of the Sheppard Pratt Omni House facility in Glen Burnie to hear about all the work they are doing to serve Marylanders in need of mental and substance use healthcare. I’m incredibly appreciative of the clients who shared their journeys with us, and to the whole Omni House team for taking the time to show us the facility!

 

I’m also thrilled I was able to donate a box of books to their library! Happy to see they will be used and loved by more people here in Anne Arundel County.


Little Library Love: ðŸĨ°

Earlier this month, it was a huge joy to partner with the Rotary Club of Annapolis and contribute to their goal of improving our communities and the surrounding area! Annapolis continues to benefit from their local fundraising, grant giving, and countless civic activities over the years; one of my favorite project being their “Little Free Libraries” (LFL)


A team of LFL Librarians collect and curate donated books for each of their 15 locations scattered around Annapolis and Parole. The book selection consists of both adult and children’s books and is specially curated by volunteers based on the community’s usage and need. I want to thank them for the work they have done and are continuing to do, to eliminate as many barriers as possible for children to have access to books. It was so special to donate a variety of books from my recent children’s book drive and I’m thrilled I’m able to contribute. I can’t wait to see these books spread around town for children to enjoy!


To check out all the locations of Rotary Club Annapolis’ Little Free Libraries click here!



 

Safeguarding our Libraries 📖


I was honored to speak at the We the People March and AIDS Healthcare Foundation Town Hall as a panelist about my #FreedomtoRead Act at Busboys and Poets. I am so proud to have authored one of the first in the nation state laws to protect literature, libraries and librarians throughout Maryland. I hope that my legislation can be helpful to other states as they fight back against the onslaught of book banning, harassment and intimidation - many times fueled by hate.


The conversation last month about safeguarding our libraries from falling victim to the newest wave of censorship in this country is a critical discussion happening nationwide. 


It was an honor to share the stage with a brilliant woman, author & attorney, Dara Baldwin, as she shared her experiences writing and publishing her upcoming book, To Be A Problem.


 

14th Wendi Winters Memorial Blood Drive


I would like to personally invite you to the 14th Wendi Winters Memorial Blood Drive on Saturday, September 7! Since the horrific Capital Gazette shooting on June 28, 2018, there have been thirteen blood drives in memory of American Red Cross blood drive volunteer and journalist, Wendi Winters. Wendi tragically lost her life, alongside four others, in the workplace shooting. This blood drive is anticipated to collect around 200 pints of blood to help ensure those in the hospital due to an emergency, difficult childbirth or complicated surgery receive the blood products they need to survive.


Wendiâ€ŊWinters, a “proud Navy mom,” church youth adviser, Girl Scout troop leader and Red Crossâ€Ŋvolunteer,â€Ŋdedicated much of her life to serving those who needed help. Wendi’s heroic actions saved the lives of several colleagues at the Capital Gazette; and since her passing over 3,000 units of blood have been donated in honor of those actions—resulting in potentially more than 3,000 lives saved. Let us come together as a community and support the 14th Wendi Winters Memorial Blood Drive!


If you would like to donate blood click here!


If you would like to volunteer to help at the drive click here!

 

AACPS Summer Meal Program


Starting June 17th through August 22nd, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) will be providing breakfast and lunch service Monday - Thursday to children at the following locations. Breakfast and lunch is available to children ages 2-18 and there are no income or registration requirements. Make sure to spread the word if you know someone who wants to come enjoy a healthy meal!

 

For more information please click here


 

ðŸŽķ Quiet Waters Park 2024 Summer Concerts!




Join Quiet Waters Park for some nights of fantastic music this summer!

 

Tomorrow, the Bravo Zulu Band will be performing on July 20th from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Don't miss this amazing concert series presented by The Friends of Quiet Waters Park.

 

Bring your family and friends for an unforgettable evening of music, food, and fun!

Click here to learn more! 







 

Disability Pride Month with AACPL!

Happy Disability Pride Month! July holds significance as the month commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was historically passed into law on July 26th, 1990.



Disability Pride Month seeks to help remove the societal and cultural stigma of disability and change the way people think about and define disability. It also aims to highlight the ongoing challenges that people with disabilities still encounter while providing an opportunity for the disability community to come together and celebrate their individuality.


As Disability Pride Month takes center stage, Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) shares it’s goal to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone can engage with their programs, services and resources. AACPL is committed to making the library experience accessible and enjoyable for everyone in our community. 

 

Celebrate Disability Awareness with Literature

The library invites you to celebrate Disability Pride Month by delving into the captivating world of literature! Local libraries offer a remarkable collection of books that explore disability themes, share personal stories and shed light on the triumphs won and the challenges faced by people with disabilities, neurodivergence and chronic illnesses. In honor of Disability Pride Month, there are curated booklists featuring authors with disabilities and their extraordinary works. Whether you're seeking stories of resilience, disability rights or personal empowerment, the collection is here to inspire and amplify the voices of the disability community. 

 

Choose your next read from lists of books written by or about a member of the disability community!

  • Check out curated booklists, including fiction and nonfiction titles for adults, teens and kids!

  • Download eBooks and eAudiobook formats to enjoy instantly using Overdrive/Libby.  

  • Looking for more books written by ability-diverse authors? Use NoveList’s “Advanced Search” feature to generate a list of books by authors with specific identities.

  • Stream films featuring stories about people in the disability community via Kanopy.

Research Resources

Dive into a world of knowledge and discovery with AACPL’s extensive collection of research resources. From online databases full of scholarly journals, articles and research, they provide a wealth of materials to support your quest for information and exploration.

 

Accessibility Options

Anne Arundel County Library offers a range of accessibility options at thier locations to accommodate diverse needs. They provide wheelchair-accessible computers equipped with screen-reader and text-enlarging software. Large Print materials are available at all locations, and ADA Accessible Workstations offer specialized software and equipment at select locations for those with accessibility needs. C-Pen ReaderPens, portable scanning pens that read printed text aloud, are available to borrow from our Library of Things. Additionally, they provide sign-language interpreters for library-sponsored programs upon request and partner with Maryland's Deaf Culture Digital Library, which offers accessible eBooks, eAudiobooks, online publications and streaming videos related to the d/Deaf experience. For those who are homebound due to illness, injury or disability, our Library by Mail service delivers a full range of library materials free of charge!

 

The new Recite Me toolbar on the library's website and catalog offers a number of helpful digital accessibility tools:  

  • Screen Reader can read aloud website text for web users with visual impairment.

  • Translation will quickly and easily translate web content into over 100 languages, including 65 text-to-speech voices.  

  • Reading Aids are available for those with learning disabilities or visual impairment and include a ruler, screen mask, magnifier, page summarizer and dictionary.

  • Color Adjustment is a great option for neurodivergent web users, allowing them the ability to customize the website's color scheme as well as the text, font style, size, color and spacing.

 

All you have to do is click on the ReciteMe icon (the circle with the shape of a person on the right side of the screen) and select which tool you need! 

 

Additionally, AACPL is proud to be a dementia-friendly library, with staff trained to better serve individuals with dementia and their caregivers. Library staff have heightened awareness of the challenges faced by those who live with dementia and have learned valuable tips and tools to improve communication and care.

 

AACPL is dedicated to fostering inclusivity and accessibility, striving to ensure that all individuals can freely explore and enjoy their resources. Our libraries hope to continue to be a vital resource and a champion for equal access to information and knowledge for everyone in our community.

 

You can follow me on Facebook, X, and Instagram to learn about volunteer opportunities, community resources, legislative updates and much more. If you have any questions or concerns, you can always contact my office by email at Dana.Jones@house.state.md.us or by phone at 410-841-3211.


Stay safe and healthy,




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