Long Branch Library
🏢 Montgomery County Public Libraries · Silver Spring, Maryland
Long Branch Library
Long Branch Library is the living room of one of Montgomery County's most multilingual communities — a welcoming Silver Spring anchor where Spanish- and Vietnamese-language collections, English conversation clubs, and the first MCPL Digital Media Lab meet the everyday needs of a neighborhood shaped by decades of immigration.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–8pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–8pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–8pm |
| Thursday | 10am–8pm |
| Friday | 10am–6pm |
| Saturday | 10am–6pm |
| Sunday | 10am–6pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 8800 Garland Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20901
Phone: 240-777-0910
Website: montgomerycountymd.gov
Plus Code: 87F42X2X+8G (Silver Spring, MD)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Long Branch Library
Long Branch Library opened in February 1977 as part of Montgomery County Public Libraries' expansion to serve Silver Spring's growing population. The 21,034-square-foot building houses approximately 58,000 print volumes and media items, and sits just north of Piney Branch Road in one of Montgomery County's most ethnically diverse corridors — a neighborhood where immigrants from El Salvador, Ethiopia, and many other countries have made their home. The library carries Spanish and Vietnamese collections (adult and children's titles) as part of MCPL's system-wide World Languages program, maintained since 1986. In May 2014, Long Branch became the first MCPL branch to host a Digital Media Lab under the system's Studio i Makerspace initiative — a creative technology studio open to anyone 12 and older with a library card, equipped with iMac and MacBook Pro stations, Adobe Creative Suite, a green screen, video cameras, and audio recording gear. A $4 million refurbishment completed in January 2021 — funded by the County Library Capital Grant Program and the Maryland State Library — modernized every corner of the building: new teen and children's areas, a group study room, a family restroom, LED lighting, updated storefronts, and ADA-compliant access.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Opened February 1977; fully refurbished in January 2021 with $4 million in county and state funding — new teen and children's areas, family restroom, group study room, LED lighting, and ADA-compliant access throughout
- First MCPL branch to host a Digital Media Lab (opened May 17, 2014): iMac and MacBook Pro stations, Adobe Creative Suite, green screen, video cameras, and audio gear — open to anyone 12+ with a library card
- World Languages collection includes Spanish and Vietnamese materials (adult and children's) — part of MCPL's system-wide 10-language collection maintained since 1986
- Free English and French conversation clubs, weekly baby and preschool storytimes, and a World Cultures Program Series celebrating the diverse backgrounds of Long Branch's neighborhood
- Transit-accessible via Ride On Bus routes 12 and 15 from Silver Spring Metro Station (Red Line); open seven days a week
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Silver Spring cardholders can search, stream, and research free through MCPL and Maryland's statewide collections:
📚 Services
- Spanish-language and Vietnamese-language collections (adult and children's)
- Digital Media Lab — iMac and MacBook Pro workstations, Adobe Creative Suite, green screen, video cameras, audio recording (ages 12+, orientation required)
- Group study room — reservable for meetings and collaborative work
- One-on-one computer and digital resource help (walk-in, in the Media Lab)
- Free AARP Tax-Aide tax preparation (seasonal, appointment only)
- Contactless Holds to Go pickup service
- ADA-accessible entrances, exits, and book drop (upgraded 2021)
- Transit access via Ride On Bus 12 and 15 from Silver Spring Metro Station
🎸 Programs
- Baby/Toddler Storytime — Mondays 11:00–11:30 AM (books, songs, rhymes, bounces)
- Preschool Storytime — Wednesdays 11:00–11:25 AM for preschool-age children
- English Conversation Club — free, for adult learners building speaking and listening skills
- French Conversation Club — free, for adults practicing conversational French
- Tai Chi — free community wellness program
- Digital Media Lab teen programs — video production, coding, graphic design, animation (teens earn SSL hours as technology volunteers)
- World Cultures Program Series — free events celebrating Ethiopian, South American, Native American, Japanese, Caribbean, and other cultures from the Long Branch community
📍 Nearby Libraries in Montgomery County
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Silver Spring · Browse all Maryland libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Does Long Branch Library have materials in languages other than English?
Yes. Long Branch carries Spanish and Vietnamese materials — both adult and children's titles — as part of MCPL's system-wide World Languages Collection. The collection has been a staple of the branch since the 1980s, reflecting the neighborhood's large Spanish-speaking and Vietnamese-speaking populations. The branch also offers free English and French conversation clubs for adults practicing those languages.
What is the Digital Media Lab and who can use it?
Long Branch's Digital Media Lab — the first in the MCPL system, opened May 2014 — is a creative technology studio with iMac and MacBook Pro computers, Adobe Creative Suite, a green screen, video cameras, and audio recording equipment. Anyone 12 years or older with an active MCPL library card can use it after a brief orientation. Teens can also earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours by volunteering as technology guides in the lab.
How do I get to Long Branch Library without a car?
Take Ride On Bus route 12 or 15 from Silver Spring Metro Station (Red Line) directly to the library at 8800 Garland Avenue. The library is fully ADA-accessible following its 2021 renovation, which upgraded entrances, exits, ramps, and the book drop. Long Branch is open seven days a week: Monday–Thursday 10 AM–8 PM and Friday–Sunday 10 AM–6 PM.
Are there programs for families with young children at Long Branch?
Yes. Long Branch offers Baby/Toddler Storytime on Mondays at 11:00 AM and Preschool Storytime on Wednesdays at 11:00 AM — both free, for children with a caregiver present. The library also runs the Hatchlings: Ready to Hatch program for expectant and new parents, designed to help families build early literacy habits before a child's first birthday.
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