Dorchester County Public Library
🏢 Dorchester County Public Library · Cambridge, Maryland
Dorchester County Public Library
Founded in 1922 when the Cambridge Women's Club donated 1,500 books to the county, the Dorchester County Public Library has grown from a volunteer lending collection into a Federal-style building on Gay Street completed in 1973. Its Virginia M. Webb Memorial Maryland Room — added in 1999 — holds local history and genealogy materials covering the Eastern Shore. The library system also includes the Hurlock Branch, whose predecessor opened in 1900 and claims the distinction of being the oldest library on Maryland's Eastern Shore.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–6pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–6pm |
| Thursday | 9am–5pm |
| Friday | 9am–5pm |
| Saturday | 9am–5pm |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 303 Gay Street, Cambridge, MD 21613
Phone: (410) 228-7331
Website: dorchesterlibrary.org
Plus Code: 87C5HWCF+68 (Cambridge, MD)
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👋 Use the Library Online
📖 About Dorchester County Public Library
The Dorchester County Public Library serves Dorchester County, Maryland, from its main building at 303 Gay Street in Cambridge and a branch in Hurlock. The library's origins date to 1922, when community advocate Nettie V. Mace championed a donation of 1,500 books from the Cambridge Women's Club House, founding what became the county's first free public library. After occupying the Cambridge Municipal Building on Gay Street from 1927, the library acquired a Public Works Administration-funded brick building in 1939 before moving into its current Federal-style structure on the former Wallace Property in 1973. A 1999 renovation added elevator access, automatic doors, and the Virginia M. Webb Memorial Maryland Room for local history research. A 2023 Citizens for Maryland Libraries Achievement Award recognized Director Crystal Henningsen and staff for their community service. The Hurlock Branch, whose forerunner dates to 1900 as a Henry Walworth donation, is recognized as the oldest library on Maryland's Eastern Shore. Both branches participate in the Eastern Shore regional catalog and offer Libby, Kanopy, and Blackstone Audio to cardholders.
⭐ What makes this library special
- Founded in 1922 through a donation of 1,500 books from the Cambridge Women's Club, championed by community advocate Nettie V. Mace
- Current Federal-style building on Gay Street completed in 1973 on the historically significant former Wallace Property
- Virginia M. Webb Memorial Maryland Room (added 1999) — local history and genealogy collection for Eastern Shore research
- The Hurlock Branch predecessor dates to 1900 and is recognized as the oldest library on Maryland's Eastern Shore
- 2023 Citizens for Maryland Libraries Achievement Award winner for pandemic-era community service
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
A Dorchester County library card unlocks these free digital resources for home and mobile use:
📚 Services
- Virginia M. Webb Memorial Maryland Room — local history and genealogy for the Eastern Shore
- Public computers with internet access, printing, copying & scanning
- Free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room reservations
- Youth services and storytime programs
- Interlibrary loan via the Eastern Shore regional catalog
- Little Free Library network locations in Dorchester County
- Information and reference services
🎸 Programs
- Story time for children
- Summer reading program
- Book clubs and community events
- Youth programming and outreach
- Adult programs and educational workshops
📍 Nearby Libraries on Maryland's Eastern Shore
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Cambridge · Browse all Maryland libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Dorchester County Public Library founded, and who started it?
The library traces its origins to 1922, when community advocate Nettie V. Mace championed the donation of 1,500 books from the Cambridge Women's Club House, establishing Dorchester County's first free public library collection. Mace continued to advocate for the library's growth for decades afterward.
What is the Virginia M. Webb Memorial Maryland Room?
The Maryland Room is a dedicated local-history and genealogy collection added during the 1999 renovation of the Cambridge Branch. It holds materials relating to Dorchester County and the broader Eastern Shore of Maryland, making it a useful starting point for anyone researching local families, property records, or regional history.
How does the Hurlock Branch relate to the Dorchester County system?
The Hurlock Branch is the county's second public service location, at 222 S. Main Street in Hurlock. Its predecessor, the Hurlock Free Library, was founded in 1900 by Henry Walworth — making it the oldest library on Maryland's Eastern Shore. It joined the county system in the 1950s and underwent major expansion in 1977-78. The branch is open Monday–Thursday and is closed Friday through Sunday.
What digital resources are included with a Dorchester County library card?
Cardholders get free access to Libby/OverDrive (eBooks, audiobooks, magazines), Kanopy (streaming films and documentaries), and Blackstone Audio (unlimited audiobook streaming). Digital Maryland, the statewide program, also provides access to historical photographs, maps, and manuscripts from institutions across Maryland.
📜 This library has genealogy & local-history resources. See how library family-history research works and find other libraries with genealogy collections genealogy libraries by state.
🖨 This library offers printing, copying & fax. See how library printing, copying, scanning and fax services work — costs and mobile printing — and find other libraries that offer them printing & fax by state.
👶 This library runs story times for kids. See how library story times work — ages, what happens and that they are free — and find other libraries with story-time programs library story times by state.
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✓ Hours & details last verified from official sources in September 2026.
