Silver Spring Library, Public library branch in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Silver Spring Library, now the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library, occupies a seven-story building at 900 Wayne Avenue in Silver Spring, Maryland. Its ground floor holds a coffee shop and a platform reserved for a future Purple Line light rail station. Books, audiobooks and a World Language Collection in Amharic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Vietnamese fill the upper floors, with the children's collection on the fifth floor.
Silver Spring Library began service in 1931 at East Silver Spring Elementary School. In 1934 it moved to Jesup Blair Community House, remodeled by architect Howard Wright Cutler, and stayed there 23 years. In 1957 it opened its own building at 8901 Colesville Road on land donated by the Hecht Company. It moved to 900 Wayne Avenue on June 20, 2015, and was renamed for Tuskegee Airman Charles E. McGee in 2022.
The library's name honours Brigadier General Charles E. McGee, a Tuskegee Airman who lived in Montgomery County; it was renamed for him in 2022. Its World Language Collection serves readers in Amharic, Chinese, French, Spanish and Vietnamese. The children's floor occupies the fifth floor, while teens have their own area on the third.
The library sits in central Silver Spring and is easy to reach on foot or by public transit. It is worth checking current opening hours before a longer visit, as conditions and availability of rooms can vary by day.
Library cardholders can read digital editions of major newspapers and news magazines, including the Washington Post and Wall Street Journal, at no cost. This access works through the library's online platforms, which means it is also available from home, not just inside the building.
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