Inauguration of the Romanian Library Corner – Ocean City, MD

Romanians of Washington, DC has the distinct honor of inviting you to the official inauguration of the Romanian Library Corner at the Worcester County Library in Ocean City, Maryland. The event will include remarks by H.E. Viorel Ursu, Ambassador of the Republic of Moldova to the U.S.; Bogdan Banu, President of Romanians of DC; Jennifer Ranck, Director of the Worcester County Library; Julie Presley, Manager of the Ocean City Branch and Cathy Moore, Ocean City Assistant Branch Manager. It will take place on Friday, January 24, from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at the Ocean City Branch, located at 10003 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, MD 21842.

The Romanian Library Corner has been established with funding and support from Romanians of Washington, DC and in partnership with Worcester County Library. The books will be housed at the Ocean City and Berlin Branches but accessible for checkout not only in Worcester County but across the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland. Featuring over 160 titles, the collection primarily includes books in Romanian, along with several bilingual editions designed for young children. The selection spans a diverse range of genres, including Romanian literary classics, works by contemporary Romanian and Moldovan authors, beloved children’s books, and notable titles from American and international literature.

This initiative aims to serve both the Romanian community on the Eastern Shore—comprising many young families originally from Romania and the Republic of Moldova—and the broader population of nearly half a million residents in the area. Books will be available through traditional check-out and the library’s Honor Book System, which does not require a library card. For honor books, patrons simply inform the front desk of the number of books being borrowed and return them at their convenience.

Founded in 1959, the Worcester County Library operates five branches—in Pocomoke City, Snow Hill, Berlin, Ocean City, and Ocean Pines—along with a mobile pop-up location. The library serves as a hub for learning, cultural exploration, and community engagement, offering innovative educational and artistic opportunities. The Worcester County Library is a member of the Eastern Shore Regional Library consortium with whom it shares an automated library management system. The consortium is a state-funded non-profit with the goal of providing resources and support for nine library systems, those of Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, and Worcester counties.

Admission is free, and light refreshments will be provided. While registration is not required, it is encouraged at https://forms.gle/uVgJPysP3EJinviE9.