Varsity Force

Makerspace

Calvert Library’s Makerspace is a digital design and fabrication center focused on education and idea incubation, located at Twin Beaches Branch

The Makerspace is for ages 8 through adult; ages 8–11 may use machines only with an equipment-certified adult, ages 12–15 may operate machinery once certified with certified-adult assistance, and ages 16 and older may operate available equipment once certified

Makerspace equipment includes a 3D printer, laser etcher, laser cutter, vinyl printer, laminator, Silhouette Cameo, sewing machine, embroidery machine, overlock-serger, and basic cutting and sewing tools

Makerspace use is free; charges apply to consumables and materials for selected equipment

At: Twin Beaches

Cost: Makerspace use is free

Ages: The Makerspace is for ages 8 through adult | ages 8–11 may use machines only with an equipment-certified adult, ages 12–15 may operate machinery once certified with certified-adult assistance, and ages 16 and older may operate available equipment once certified

3D printing

3D printing is available at Calvert Library Prince Frederick, Southern Branch, and Twin Beaches Branch

3D printers include LulzBot Mini printers at Prince Frederick and Southern Branch, a Creality Ender 5 Plus at Prince Frederick, and a Makerbot Sketch Large 3D Printer at Twin Beaches Branch

3D printing requires an STL file no larger than 250 MB; files may be submitted on a flash drive or by URL

3D printing costs $1 per submitted file plus 5 cents per gram, rounded up to the nearest gram

At: Prince Frederick, Southern, Twin Beaches

Cost: 3D printing costs $1 per submitted file plus 5 cents per gram, rounded up to the nearest gram

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

The Makerspace has a laser etcher, laser cutter, vinyl printer, and Silhouette Cameo

The laser cutter, vinyl printer, and Silhouette Cameo are reservable; laser cutter and vinyl printer use requires prior certification

The Makerspace page does not identify CNC equipment

Sewing and textiles

The Makerspace has sewing machines, an embroidery machine, an overlock-serger, basic cutting and sewing tools, and sewing kits

Sewing machines are reservable and require prior equipment certification for independent use

Recording studio

The Twin Beaches Branch (opened Apr 16, 2024) has a podcasting Sound Booth, dedicated children's and teen areas, a program room, and a third-floor Makerspace

The podcasting booth can be used to host a podcast, meet with clients, conduct an interview, collect family stories, or engage in another creative venture

At: Twin Beaches

Cost: reconfirm 2026-08-25: cost.fee_notes="Makerspace, Memory Lab and Booth use is free; consumable materials (3D filament, vinyl, etc.) are charged" (https://calvertlibrary.info/makerspace-twin-beaches-branch/) | reconfirm 2026-08-25: cost.is_free="conditional" (https://calvertlibrary.info/makerspace-twin-beaches-branch/)

Creative software

Each Calvert Library location has one public computer with an Adobe CS6 license

Adobe Creative Suite 6 includes tools for print design, digital publishing, image and graphics creation, print-page layout, eBook creation, and media-rich publications

Blender is available on public internet computers at all Calvert Library locations and can be used for modeling, shading, animation, rendering, compositing, and interactive 3D models

Tinkercad, Blender, and SketchUp are listed as free 3D modeling or design resources

Cost: Tinkercad, Blender, and SketchUp are listed as free 3D modeling or design resources | Scratch is a free coding resource that helps young people think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively

Kids' STEM

SummerSTEAM is offered at any library branch and covers science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics

The SEED Grant provides high-quality workshops to middle-school students in Calvert County through a partnership involving Calvert County Public Schools, Bowie State University, and Dramatic Results

FY15 children’s and tween programming included Full STEAM Ahead, computer coding, library labs, kitchen chemistry, Lego, Snap Circuits, and Minecraft activities

The FY15 report describes a Breaking and Making coding program using the game Brick Breaker, led by Garrison LeMasters of Georgetown University

Homework help

Brainfuse provides K–12 online homework help with live tutors for math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP, and state standardized tests

Brainfuse includes a 24-Hour Writing Lab, Homework Send Question, Foreign Language Lab, Spanish-speaking support, and personalized learning archives

Wyzant is a digital marketplace connecting students with independent tutors

Kathy Warman Tutoring is listed as a tutoring resource with experience in college algebra, homeschool instruction, struggling students, and mathematically gifted students

Career resources

The Calvert Library Career and Job Center provides career and job resources

CareerHelp provides GED resources, citizenship resources, resume help, and other job resources

Cisco Networking Academy offers IT skills and career-building curricula in digital literacy, business, operating systems, general IT, networking, security, IoT, and programming

LinkedIn Learning provides business, creative, technology, media, and career-skills courses and learning paths free with a Calvert Library card

Cost: LinkedIn Learning provides business, creative, technology, media, and career-skills courses and learning paths free with a Calvert Library card

Nature and farm programmes

Paws to Read allows children to practice reading aloud to a therapy dog

National Geographic Kids and Gale Presents: National Geographic Kids provide resources on science, nature, wildlife, culture, geography, archaeology, and space

The library’s learning-from-home resources include Geocaching, an outdoor scavenger hunt using coordinates, and Letterboxing, an outdoor exploration activity involving clues and collecting stamps

The SummerSTEAM activity list includes researching stars or constellations and designing a constellation with an explanatory myth

Library of Things

Customers can borrow a Chromebook or hotspot to take home through Calvert Library’s Lendable Technology service

At least one laptop per branch is available for borrowing for in-library use; laptops must remain in the building

Museum and park passes

Every Kid Outdoors provides fourth graders and their families with free access to National Parks across the country

A Maryland Science Center Family Pack and a Fun Pack of tickets to the National Aquarium in Baltimore were listed as summer-program prizes, not as a pass-lending program

Cost: Every Kid Outdoors provides fourth graders and their families with free access to National Parks across the country

Ages: Every Kid Outdoors provides fourth graders and their families with free access to National Parks across the country

Memory lab and digitisation

The new Twin Beaches Branch includes a Memory Lab with digitization equipment

Customers over age 16 may reserve the Memory Lab for up to two hours and may make three reservations per week; children ages 8–15 may use it with adult supervision

The Memory Lab computer station has specialized software and hardware for digitization, and users must save files to their own external drives or cloud storage

Calvert Library Prince Frederick has a ScanPro 2200 microfilm scanner that can save images to a flash drive, email them, or print them

At: Prince Frederick, Twin Beaches

Ages: Customers over age 16 may reserve the Memory Lab for up to two hours and may make three reservations per week | children ages 8–15 may use it with adult supervision

Proctoring and testing

Calvert Library offers proctoring for written and online exams at all four library locations for $10 per hour; appointments are required

Students are responsible for mailing fees when returning proctored exams, which may be sent through USPS, FedEx, or UPS

Northstar offers unproctored and proctored digital-literacy assessments; proctored assessments are available in person with a librarian after registration and account creation

A score of 85 percent or higher on a Northstar assessment earns a digital credential called a badge

Cost: Calvert Library offers proctoring for written and online exams at all four library locations for $10 per hour | Students are responsible for mailing fees when returning proctored exams, which may be sent through USPS, FedEx, or UPS | Driving-Tests.org provides free Maryland MVA permit practice tests

Notary

Calvert Library offers free public notary services when a notary public is available, with notaries available at all library locations

Customers should call the closest branch to confirm notary availability and bring a valid current photo ID, the complete unsigned document, and all signers

Calvert Library cannot notarize mortgages or real estate transactions or employment verification documents such as IRS Form I-9

Cost: Calvert Library offers free public notary services when a notary public is available, with notaries available at all library locations

Teen space

The Twin Beaches Branch (opened Apr 16, 2024) has a podcasting Sound Booth, dedicated children's and teen areas, a program room, and a third-floor Makerspace

Calvert Library’s teen Discord server provides a virtual hangout space and information for teens, with contests, discussions, events, and teen-only programs monitored by librarians

TACOS, the Teen Advisory Council of Students, allows teens to earn community-service hours for graduation

Teen book discussions and clubs are available for 8th through 12th graders

At: Twin Beaches

Cost: reconfirm 2026-08-25: cost.fee_notes="Makerspace, Memory Lab and Booth use is free; consumable materials (3D filament, vinyl, etc.) are charged" (https://calvertlibrary.info/makerspace-twin-beaches-branch/) | reconfirm 2026-08-25: cost.is_free="conditional" (https://calvertlibrary.info/makerspace-twin-beaches-branch/)

Ages: The new Twin Beaches Branch will include dedicated children’s and teen areas, a program room, and a makerspace on the third floor | Calvert Library’s teen Discord server provides a virtual hangout space and information for teens, with contests, discussions, events, and teen-only programs monitored by librarians | TACOS, the Teen Advisory Council of Students, allows teens to earn community-service

Gaming, esports and VR

MinecraftEdu is available on Calvert Library public computers, with tutorials covering farming, resource generation, and building mechanisms

The FY15 annual report states that the library introduced Minecraft with its own Minecraft server and used it to support cognitive thinking, math, reading, and resourcefulness skills