Varsity Force

Makerspace

La Plata Library STEM Makerspace, a planned makerspace intended to support STEM educational programs and local entrepreneurship

CCPL Discovery Lab, a mobile lab that brings technology, devices, and gadgets to patrons in their communities

At: La Plata

3D printing

Waldorf West Library offers an Introduction to 3D Printing program for teens using a new MakerBot 3D Printer; staff print participants’ simple, family-friendly designs for later pickup

The Waldorf West 3D-printing program also identifies the equipment as a Sketch Large 3D Printer and uses Tinkercad for design; participants share their designs with staff, who print approved projects

At: Waldorf West

Ages: Waldorf West Library offers an Introduction to 3D Printing program for teens using a new MakerBot 3D Printer

Recording studio

Drop the Mic Recording Studio at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch is a free, full-scale professional recording studio with a sound booth, microphones, recording equipment, and mixing equipment

Drop the Mic can be used for music recordings, podcasts, school projects, and audio for YouTube videos; it includes a PreSonus Studio 192 USB Audio Interface, Novation 49-key MIDI Controller, microphones, headphones, and Studio One software

The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

At: P.D. Brown

Cost: Drop the Mic Recording Studio at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch is a free, full-scale professional recording studio with a sound booth, microphones, recording equipment, and mixing equipment | The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

Ages: The recording studio is available to all users, uses 30-minute reservation increments, has no meeting-room fees, and requires an adult to accompany children age 11 and younger

Creative software

Studio One recording software is available in the Drop the Mic Recording Studio

Tinkercad is used for 3D-printing design programs at Waldorf West Library

Teen Space computers include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint

LinkedIn Learning provides online learning in business, technology, and creative skills

At: Waldorf West

Ages: Teen Space computers include Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint

Kids' STEM

STEM Club is a monthly program for children ages 6–11 featuring hands-on experiments and interactive lessons led by CCPL staff; it is offered at Potomac, P.D. Brown, La Plata, and Waldorf West branches

Advanced STEM Club serves youth ages 9–18, is intended for sixth-grade or higher, and features more complex projects involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity

CCPL Astronomy Club meets virtually on Zoom at 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month, with in-person sessions in January and February, led by astronomer and educator Josh Urban

The library offers STEM collections, hands-on activities, innovative technology, special programs, recurring clubs, and series for learners of all ages

At: La Plata, P.D. Brown, Potomac, Waldorf West

Ages: STEM Club is a monthly program for children ages 6–11 featuring hands-on experiments and interactive lessons led by CCPL staff | Advanced STEM Club serves youth ages 9–18, is intended for sixth-grade or higher, and features more complex projects involving critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity | The library offers STEM collections, hands-on activities, innovative technology, special pr

Homework help

HelpNow! Brainfuse provides free online tutoring for students from kindergarten through college, live tutors, a 24-hour writing lab, practice tests, FAFSA assistance, and resume review; access is free with a library card

Brainfuse offers online homework help every day from 1–11 p.m. through a library card

Ask Us Now is a 24/7 virtual reference service for research or homework questions

Cost: HelpNow! Brainfuse provides free online tutoring for students from kindergarten through college, live tutors, a 24-hour writing lab, practice tests, FAFSA assistance, and resume review | access is free with a library card

Career resources

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep supports undergraduate and graduate program research, tuition-assistance searches, career exploration, job searches, resume creation, cover letters, and websites using templates

Peterson’s provides personalized career recommendations and information about programs, knowledge, skills, abilities, and career preparation

Brainfuse eParachute provides a career assessment with job suggestions, potential salary information, educational pathways, and skills used on the job

CCPL provides dedicated job-search assistance and resume-help appointments through library staff

Library of Things

Each CCPL branch has a VR headset that can be checked out for on-site use in a branch meeting room through the SkillMill program

Proctoring and testing

The MVA Permit Practice Test helps users prepare before taking the permit test at the Maryland MVA and practice taking an online test

Gale Presents: Peterson’s Test and Career Prep provides eBooks, online courses, and full-length practice tests for the GED, SAT, ACT, AP, PSAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, TOEFL, U.S. citizenship, and other unspecified tests

HelpNow! Brainfuse provides lessons, practice tests, college-entrance-exam preparation, and ASVAB practice for students from kindergarten through college

Notary

Commissioned notary publics are available at the P.D. Brown Memorial Branch and Potomac Branch, subject to staff availability; appointments are strongly encouraged for documents over five pages or with multiple signatures

Notary service costs $4 per signature, with a maximum charge of $40 for 10 or more signatures

Library staff cannot accommodate real-estate-based notarizations

At: P.D. Brown, Potomac

Cost: Notary service costs $4 per signature, with a maximum charge of $40 for 10 or more signatures

Teen space

Teen Central serves teens ages 12–18 and includes books, computers, a quiet space, a designated reading area, collaborative school-project space, and teen programs

The Waldorf West Teen Space has a dedicated study room for individual or group homework and special projects; computers are intended for teens in grades 6–12

Waldorf West Group Room 2 is designated as a Quiet Study/Teen Study room with maximum occupancy of three; Teen Study hours are provided on a drop-in, first-come, first-served basis

Teen programs include games, movies, film club, art, and entertainment; programs are free, although some require registration

At: Waldorf West

Cost: programs are free, although some require registration

Ages: Teen Central serves teens ages 12–18 and includes books, computers, a quiet space, a designated reading area, collaborative school-project space, and teen programs | The Waldorf West Teen Space has a dedicated study room for individual or group homework and special projects | computers are intended for teens in grades 6–12 | Waldorf West Group Room 2 is designated as a Quiet Study/Teen Study room

Gaming, esports and VR

The Waldorf West Teen Space Media Lounge includes a 60-inch television and PlayStation 4 for gaming

Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m.; it features retro and contemporary gaming consoles and requires advance registration or door registration for walk-ins

Each CCPL branch has a VR headset for on-site checkout and use in a branch meeting room as part of the SkillMill VR simulator; CCPL offers four free demonstrations per month without registration

The CCPL Discovery Lab includes Meta Quest 2 virtual-reality headsets and other devices and gadgets for patrons to try when the mobile lab visits their communities

At: Waldorf West

Cost: Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m. | CCPL offers four free demonstrations per month without registration

Ages: The Waldorf West Teen Space Media Lounge includes a 60-inch television and PlayStation 4 for gaming | Teen Game Night is a free monthly event for teens and their friends, held on the third Friday from 6–8 p.m.