Meet Long Branch

Long Branch Library

The Long Branch library is nestled in the corner of Silver Spring just north of Piney Branch Road. It is sometimes referred to as the living room for the community. Many of our customers walk to the branch and spend their days playing in our family learning center, using one of our many public computers, or chatting with friends in our study rooms or at study tables. The library seeks to provide an easy-going atmosphere.

The branch offers free computer help, vibrant conversation clubs for learning English and French, tai-chi, and weekday homework help. It has 3 to 4 storytimes a week in English, Spanish, and French. Long Branch is open seven days a week and offers free programs on most of those days. It has an award-winning Digital Media Lab which has hosted video production classes, computer classes, and coding classes.

Fred Akuffo

Stop in, say hi, ask for book recommendations, check out new releases, or just relax. The Long Branch staff hope to see you soon.

Fred Akuffo is one of the longest-serving Long Branch staff members. His ties to the branch go back further than his ten years of supervising our circulation desk. Long Branch was Fred’s hometown library. His roots are deep here. Fred is a huge movie buff and is seen by many as the go-to person for movie recommendations. Our front DVD display is full of his personal selections, and they do not stay on the shelf long.

Navette Blades-May joined MCPL in April 2005 as a Library Assistant I and has worked at Long Branch and Marilyn Praisner libraries. She has over twenty years of library service experience which began at DC Public Library system. Navette enjoys working at the Long Branch Library which has a highly diverse community and customers. She also enjoys helping them to live and learn via outreach and library programs. 

Dina Flores & Navette Blades-May

Dina Flores is currently a Library Assistant I at Long Branch Library. She has nineteen years of library service with Montgomery County Libraries. She has worked at several library branches throughout the years. She provides language skill services to the diverse community at Long Branch Library.

Nathan Chadwick

Nathan Chadwick is the branch manager of Long Branch Library. He began working at Long Branch in 2016 after spending time at our Gaithersburg and Germantown branches. He loves working in the community and sharing book recommendations with customers. He strives to make the library a welcoming place for all and believes in putting the community first.

Becky Chen started at Long Branch in 2016 working as a Library Associate. Becky has been a great asset to the library in the work she does behind the desk and the decoration she has added outside the desk. Her vivid and colorful bulletin boards at the branch add brightness and creativity. She loves working on crafts and has even helped with programs. She makes a mean duct tape wallet.

Andrea Erickson is finishing her first year at Long Branch Library.  She joined us from Prince George’s County Memorial Library system as head of our children’s services. She speaks French and has helped expand our story times to include a French language storytime and a baby storytime. She brings an amazing font of knowledge of children’s literature and has even had the honor of helping select the prestigious Newberry Award. She has been a wonderful addition to our staff.

Andrea Erickson

Cassandra Harper joined the staff of Long Branch in 2015 as our Adult Services Librarian. Coming from the DC Public Library system, she has brought to Long Branch a strong focus on adult programming. She coordinates the conversation clubs and facilities the branch’s lively book club discussions. Cassandra has set up Adult Tech Time in our Digital Media Lab, giving one-on-one help for customers to ask questions about device or software issues they have encountered.

Cassandra Harper