The Friends of the St. Mary’s County Library will celebrate reaching $1 million in cumulative donations to the St. Mary’s County Library system on Feb. 3, 2026, during National Library Lovers Month. The milestone event is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County Hearing Room at 41770 Baldridge Street, Chesapeake Building, first floor, in Leonardtown.
The nonprofit organization, established in 1992, has raised the funds incrementally over more than three decades through volunteer-driven efforts. Donations support equipment purchases, resources, exhibits, publications, and programs across the library’s three branches in Lexington Park, Charlotte Hall, and Lexington Park as well as the Mobile Library. Fundraising occurs year-round via spring and fall used book sales, an online bookstore, membership dues, and corporate sponsorships.
Lilyanne Ohanesian, FOL board president, stated, “Our organization is entirely driven by volunteers and we couldn’t have reached this fantastic milestone without a large team of people dedicated to the goal of advocating for our public library. Additionally, the St. Mary’s County community and FOL members are very supportive of our libraries and it shows in their willingness to participate in our book sales, membership drives and special events.”
Michael Blackwell, Director of the St. Mary’s County Library, said, “We are deeply grateful to the FOL for their support and financial contributions. Their funding allows us to expand our collection, bring high-quality programs to our community, pay summer interns, train staff, promote literacy and meet the goals of our strategic plan.”
The Feb. 3 event brings together the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County, FOL board members, general members, and library staff to recognize the achievement. It also aligns with National Library Lovers Month, which emphasizes libraries as essential hubs for knowledge, literacy promotion, and community engagement. The Friends group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit with nearly 800 members, advocates for the library both collectively and individually.
This milestone underscores sustained community investment in Southern Maryland’s public library services, particularly in St. Mary’s County, where volunteer and donor support has enabled expanded programming and resources beyond county budget allocations. The celebration highlights the role of private-public partnerships in sustaining local institutions that serve residents across the region.
No specific details on the exact timing of the $1 million threshold crossing or breakdown of annual contributions were included in the announcement. The event remains open to FOL members and the public interested in attending the commissioners’ recognition.