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Dana Jones
Sep 27

Anne Arundel Makes History!

September 27th, 2024

Dear Neighbor,



Earlier this week, I had the honor of attending a history making ceremony. The Anne Arundel County Library Board of Trustees has voted for the County Library to become an official Book Sanctuary, the first of its kind in Maryland! Book sanctuaries are places dedicated to collecting and protecting endangered books, making those books broadly accessible, hosting book talks, events, and educating others on the history of book banning and burning.


I applaud AACPL and the Board of Trustees for taking bold action defending the freedom to read in Anne Arundel County. As the sponsor of the Freedom to Read Act, Maryland has taken a leading role fighting to protect libraries, librarians, and literature. I couldn’t be prouder of my home library system in becoming the first book sanctuary in Maryland. It sends a clear message that Anne Arundel County values all people and their right to free and open access to information.


Please listen to my full remarks above, and read AACPL’s press release here!

Not so coincidentally, this amazing announcement coincides with the yearly celebration of Banned Books Week!! Banned Books Week was started in 1982 as a response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores, and schools. This special annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas. 


Learn more about Banned Books Week and check out AACPL’s programming here!

Finally, in celebration of AACPL’s book sanctuary announcements, lets raise a glass to the Freedom to Read! Join me and visit Forward Brewing, Pherm Brewing Co. and Crooked Crab Brewing Co. during the month of October as each brewery has created an exclusive libation to support AACPL. During the fundraiser, 20% of all on-site sales during the release events will be donated to the library to support enhancements at all 16 branches!! 

There will be a new limited edition, pint glass this year and are a complimentary gift with a $10 donation or more while supplies last. Click here for more information! 

 

A Vote for Reproductive Freedom


We are only 37 days and a wake up until Marylander’s enshrine reproductive rights into the State Constitution! But we need EVERYONE to get out and vote to make sure that happens! Please join me, Karen Nelson, and Erin Bradley at The Vineyard at Dodon on October 16th for an evening supporting the effort to enshrine reproductive rights and abortion access into the Constitution.


Please sign up, bring a friend, and get ready to enjoy a night of leading women making sure Maryland VOTES YES on Question1!

Additionally, please join me and leading women from across the State on October 5th for a Day of Action supporting and spreading the word that the Right to Reproductive Freedom is on the ballot in Maryland!


With Federal protection stripped away, Maryland is stepping up! By voting YES on Question 1, we can guarantee the right to reproductive freedom for all in Maryland.


As Speaker Jones said, this is about much more than Maryland, voting yes on Question 1 is about sending a message to women in Texas, West Virginia, or any State that Maryland is and always will be a safe haven fro reproductive freedom.


I can't wait to be there to speak with all of you as mobilize for November! To sign up click HERE!

 

Diaper Drive for the Community Pantry!

I made sure to make my donation to the Discoveries: The Library at the Mall Community Pantry this week, and make sure you do too before the 29th! All donated diapers, pull ups, and wipes will go towards helping needy families in our community.

 

Since August of 2023, the Discoveries at the Mall Community Pantry has distributed over 7,000 packs of diapers, meaning over 155,000 individual diapers have gone to families in need! If you’re able to, let’s help keep this momentum going! 

 

#DoSomething in Anne Arundel County!

There is another busy weekend on the doors scheduled in Anne Arundel County! Thank you so much to everyone who has found the time to help ensure that County Executive Angela Alsobrooks becomes Maryland’s next Senator, Senator Sarah Elfreth becomes District 3’s new Congresswoman, and ALL of our amazing Board of Education candidates are victorious in November!! Your contributions are so incredibly appreciated, and none of these candidates could do it without you!

 

Remember, mail-in ballots have been sent out, and early voting is only a few weeks away. The conversations we are having at the doors can truly change people’s minds! See below for all the opportunities for you to be a #DoSomethingDemocrat this weekend! 


Saturday, September 28th, 2024:

10-12pm, meet at Bay Head Park with BOE Candidate Dana Schallheim

Sign up HERE!

11-1pm, meet at Shady Side Elementary with BOE Candidate Jeremy York

Sign up HERE!   

 

Sunday, September 29th, 2024:

12-3pm, meet at Germantown Elementary School with BOE Candidate Joanna Tobin

Sign up HERE! 

3-6pm, meet at Jacobsville Elementary with BOE Candidate Erica McFarland

Sign up HERE!

 

Additionally, there will be phone banking from the MDP Annapolis and Glen Burnie offices almost every day! 

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday 6-8pm

Saturday 11am-7pm

Sunday 2-7pm

Sign up HERE for Annapolis!

Sign up HERE for Glen Burnie!

Sign up HERE to make calls at home!

 

National POW/MIA Recognition Day


Last Friday, on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honored and paid respects to the more than 81,000 brave American service members who remain missing and unaccounted for around the world. This includes more than 1,200 Marylanders.

I was honored to help set up a Missing Man Table at the Maryland World War II Memorial to remind us of the absolute bravery of our Nation’s service members still unaccounted for while fighting for our freedom. Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and I’m so grateful to have stood alongside Sarah Elfreth for Congress recognizing these heroes today.

 

Thank you to Denise Robinson with The Legacy of Honor Project for organizing, and to all other participants joining us for the ceremony. This Missing Man Table joins with 37 other tables around Anne Arundel County recognizing POW/MIA Recognition Day.

 

Sharing Stories, Shaping Maryland!


Recently, I had the pleasure to spend the evening with the amazing residents at Heritage Harbour, Annapolis. We discussed everything from this past session, the full slate of Maryland Democratic Party candidates on the ballot this election, my experience as a Harris Delegate at the Democratic National Convention, local issues, and so much more! I appreciate this amazing (and always large) group of constituents! Looking forward to my next visit!


 

Tyler Heights Elementary Service Hour Opportunities 


Looking to engage more with our community this Fall? Join our eager volunteers in supporting Tyler Heights Elementary School! There are many ways to get involved like volunteering for Saturday morning fresh food distributions, lending a helping hand during the school day, or even making a donation to support their efforts. To sign up click here, or learn more about all the amazing support we can give on the Tyler Heights Community Resource Fair and Pop up Pantry Facebook page! 

 

Order Free At-home COVID-19 Tests



Stay safe and healthy as we head into cold and flu season! Free COVID-19 tests will be available to every U.S. household beginning next week. Each household is eligible to receive 4 rapid, at-home tests. Just enter your name and home (or residential P.O. Box) address, the U.S. Postal Service will ship the tests to your home at no cost.

 

For more information and to order yours visit: COVIDTests.gov



 

Building Personal Libraries and MD Literacy 📚



Make sure to stop by the Anne Arundel County Literacy Council book fair coming up this Saturday, September 28th near the Discoveries Library in Annapolis Mall! All of the proceeds go to benefiting AACLC's programs and expanding their incredible mission. Stock up on some fall reading and support a great cause in Anne Arundel! 📖 

 

For more information about the Book Fair check out their website here or their instagram here! 







 

🍂 Finally Fall in Annapolis!

🎃🍁🧡 Happy Fall! As the weather gets cooler and the leaves turn brown, many of our local Annapolis organizations and businesses are preparing for stellar fall celebrations. Check out these Fall festivals and celebrations!



  • Sunday, October 6 and November 3 - First Sunday Arts on Inner West Street from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Road closures and parking restrictions on West Street and Calvert Street from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.innerweststreetannapolis.com/first-sunday-arts-festivals.



  • Saturday, October 19 - Community Rummage Sale at Pip Moyer Recreation Center from  8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more information, visit www.annapolis.gov/189/Recreation-Parks.



  • Sunday, October 20 - Maryland Avenue Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.mascma.com. Road closure and parking restrictions on Maryland Avenue from State Circle to Cumberland Court. Prince George Street remains open.



  • Saturday, October 26 - Day of the Dead at Maryland Hall from 3 to 8 p.m. For more information, visit www.annapolis.gov/1412/Juntos-con-Annapolis.



  • Sunday, October 27 - Crab Cake Haunt from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Road closures and parking restrictions on Annapolis Street and Giddings Avenue from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

 

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!

As we celebrate #HispanicHeritageMonth make sure you check out Anne Arundel County Public Library's wonderful slate of programming, educational resources, and reading lists celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America! 




Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at your local library by attending fun, educational events. 

 

 

Check out this events calendar to find additional Hispanic and LatinX interest events and programs. Looking for programs presented in Spanish? Visit the Hispanohablantes event calendar!





Enrich your knowledge of Hispanic history and cultures using the library’s digital resources. 

 

  • Stream movies featuring Hispanic actors and films highlighting history and achievements in the arts and media using Kanopy.  

  • Delve into the lives of historical and contemporary Hispanic Americans like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, John Leguizamo, Rudolfo Anaya and Gloria Anzaldúa using a Biography database.

  • Brush up on current events in Latin American countries with newspaper databases, available in English and Spanish.

  • Learn about LatinX and Hispanic cinema, theatre, art and more using a Fine Arts database. 

  • Discover the history behind Hispanic traditions, cultural migration, societies, immigration and more using U.S. History and World History databases.

  • Explore Referencia Latina, full-text Spanish language database that offers content on a broad range of topics from a variety or sources, including magazines and reference books.

  • Want to learn Spanish? Check out Mango Languages or Rosetta Stone Library Solution, two online language-learning programs you can use free with your library card.





Choose your next read from curated lists of books written by Hispanic American authors.

 

  • Check out booklists for kids, teens and adults. There is also a list of recommended books in Spanish!

  • Download books by Hispanic authors in eBook and eAudiobook formats to enjoy instantly using Overdrive/Libby.

  • Looking for more books written by Hispanic and Latinx authors? Use NoveList’s “Advanced Search” feature to generate a list of books by authors with specific ethnicities and cultural identities.

 

Additional Spanish language community resources and services from Anne Arundel County Public Library Latino Outreach (ALO) can be found on the Hispanohablantes page.

 

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,






Delegate Dana Jones

District 30A, Annapolis & Anne Arundel County

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