The White Oak branch of MCPL was recently refreshed, reopening to the community on April 2. The branch, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, is located at 11701 New Hampshire Avenue in Silver Spring.  The features in the refreshed library include ergonomic sit-stand circulation, information, and self-checkout desks; renovated public restrooms; new painting and flooring; two new collaboration spaces; upgraded lighting with improved energy efficient and brighter LED lamps; new furniture; new staircase railing to the lower level area; dual drinking fountain with bottle filling station; and motorized window shades.  Outside enhancements include book drops, bike racks, and sidewalk and parking lot improvements.

Laurie Crunk

Laurie Crunk’s route to MCPL began after living overseas and reading enough of the Beat writers to want to see more of America before attending college. A job after high school as a traveling archaeological aide provided enough money to buy a tent and a car to go “on the road.” She settled in the San Francisco Bay area and studied Landscape Architecture and Art History before getting her Master of Library Science in 2008. A chance encounter in Seattle brought her outside of DC, where she worked at the Library of Congress and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), before happily serving the public at MCPL. She is currently the Adult Librarian I at White Oak, having served at Twinbrook, Long Branch, Davis, and Silver Spring. Laurie enjoys live music, creating mixed media artwork, designing landscapes in her head, and walking in the woods with her dog, Lola.

Judy Ehrenstein has proudly been a Children’s Librarian in MCPL since November 1995. She has worked at Aspen Hill, Wheaton, Noyes, Silver Spring (the old and new buildings), and White Oak.  Before moving to Maryland, she worked in Urbana, IL and Boston, MA. Outside of work, Judy helps with the Blair High School Robotics Team (go 449!), the Blair Drama & Choir Boosters, and the Washington Revels. She enjoys baking, bicycling, reading, knitting, and watching British mysteries on TV. Judy lives in Silver Spring with her husband and two children, one of whom is in college in Ohio.

Angelisa Hawes

Angelisa Hawes is the manager of the White Oak branch and the previous manager of Aspen Hill. She came to MCPL in 2014 after having worked in public libraries in DC, Virginia, and Michigan. Born and raised in Detroit, MI, she came to the DMV area to attend college. She holds a Bachelor’s in English from Howard University, a Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science from Wayne State University, and attended George Washington University for Appraisal Studies in Fine and Decorative Arts. In her spare time, Angelisa enjoys traveling, antique and thrift store shopping, crafting, and great food! She collects African and Asian art and antique silver “high tea” items. She enjoys reading and listening to children’s and adult literature and is currently obsessed with the My Little Pony series that her daughter and her enjoy taking turns reading to one another.

Carolyn Maddox (left) and Judy Ehrenstein

Carolyn Maddox is the Head of Children’s Services at White Oak branch. In 1982, she began her career as a part-time Children’s Librarian I at Long Branch Library. From there, she went to Olney for several years. She was then promoted to the Librarian II at Noyes Library for Young Children where she helped to celebrate their 100 year anniversary. After that, she went to Marilyn Praisner (then Fairland) and then White Oak.  There was never any question for her that her career would be in children’s services. She has an undergraduate degree in biology from Davis and Elkins College in West Virginia and received her Master of Library Science from Indiana University. Carolyn has enjoyed working with many amazing staff and customers in her years with MCPL.