Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County

Ruth Enlow Library of Garrett County is the county's public library system, with its main library at 6 N 2nd St Ext, Oakland, MD 21550 in downtown Oakland. A library card opens up books, movies, digital downloads, research databases and a busy calendar of programs for all ages.

A County Library Since 1915

The library began in 1915 under the Oakland Civic Club as the Oakland Free Public Library. After moving through several locations, the main library opened in its current Oakland building in 1950 and was renamed in memory of Ruth Enlow, whose father was a major benefactor of the new library. Since then, branches have opened in Accident, Friendsville, Grantsville and Kitzmiller, giving the system five locations across Garrett County.

What You Can Borrow and Use

Beyond books, magazines, DVDs and audiobooks, the library lends some less expected things:

• Chromebooks and WiFi hotspots
• Video games, educational toys, garden tools and fishing poles
• eBooks and audiobooks through Libby and hoopla, plus Mango Languages
• A Memory Station in Oakland for converting VHS tapes, slides, negatives and Super 8 film to digital (bring your own SD card)
• Free meeting rooms in Oakland and Grantsville for nonprofit groups

Programs and Local History

Regular programs include weekly story times, 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, a summer reading club and teen book clubs. Genealogy researchers can search the library's obituary database and archives of The Republican newspaper, and use Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest. The Friends of the Ruth Enlow Library support its work.

If you're new to the area or staying a while near Deep Creek Lake, stopping in to get a card is a good way to start.

Call Us!

• Website
• (301) 334-3996
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