Category Classes & Events

Three traditional Chinese performers, playing an instrument, dancing, and singing.

Global Neighbors Series: Lunar New Year

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Paper cut image of a panda.

The staff here at the Miller branch have had such fun highlighting the cultures of the different countries from which many of our community members come through our Global Neighbors Series. Not only have we put in a lot of work to display the different traditions of the countries we have spotlighted but our wonderful community members have volunteered their time and talents as well to exhibit their cultures by performing their traditional dances, music, martial arts, recitation, and crafts for us. Through the Global Neighbors series, our community has had the chance to peek into our neighbors’ lives and celebrate our diversity. We believe the more we know about each other’s cultures, the better we understand each other to create a more cohesive community. 

 We learned about Korea in May, about India in October and we will get a glimpse of the rich cultural heritage of China as we celebrate Lunar New Year with one of the largest demographics in Howard County. Howard County Library System is partnering with Chinese Parent Association of Howard County (CAPA) to bring to you traditional Chinese music and dance, senior choir, Peking Opera, tai chi, wushu (another form of Chinese martial art), Chinese calligraphy, and Chinese paper craft.

We invite you to join us on February 3 at 2 pm at Miller Branch to enjoy the performances by our community members and celebrate Lunar New Year in Global Neighbors Series – China.

Register for the event. Registration is preferred, not required. 

Adam Davidson wears a pink button down shirt and has his arms crossed. He stands in front of a large yellow smiley face.

AI and the Future of Work and Business with Adam Davidson

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Adam Davidson wears a pink button down shirt and has his arms crossed. He stands in front of a large yellow smiley face.
Adam Davidson

Wed, Jan 24 | 7 – 8 pm online
For adults. Register here.

Adam Davidson is an expert at demystifying complex topics, and he applies these skills to the most crucial issue of our time: the rise of AI. This talk is geared towards curious laypeople—from college students to business decision-makers—who know that AI is likely to transform their careers and business and need a clear framework to understand this new revolutionary technology. AI, he explains, will create massive new winners and, yes, a bunch of losers, as it rewrites our economic rules.

Davidson is the co-founder of NPR’s Planet Money podcast and a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he covers economics and business. Previously he was an economics writer for The New York Times Magazine. He has won many of journalism’s most prestigious awards, including a Peabody for his coverage of the financial crisis. All of his work has been focused on making the complex, confusing, sometimes depressing news about the economy it clear to a broad audience.

His work has appeared in The Atlantic, Harper’s, GQ, Rolling Stone, and other publications. He has served as a technical consultant in Hollywood, including to Adam McKay, co-writer and director of the Academy Award-winning film The Big Short.

Career Success Month
Jan 22 – Feb 23, 2024
Find a full listing of events here.
Maryland public libraries launch a new year with a month of programs on entrepreneurship and job advancement. During this month, classes focus on financial skill building and digital knowledge to navigate our rapidly changing work environment. These impactful, results-driven classes and programs occur in a mixture of in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats.
Hosted at library branches throughout Maryland and sponsored by the Maryland State Library Agency, these programs provide information from subject-matter experts.

Examples include:

  • Design thinking for entrepreneurs
  • How to work the gig economy
  • The joy of owning a small business in retirement
  • Learning Canva
  • Mindfulness at work
  • Speed mentoring
  • Resume building and interview preparation


The photograph shows students in an SAT test prep class at HCLS Miller Branch taking the practice test in three meeting rooms.

Studying to Succeed

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The photograph shows students in an SAT test prep class at HCLS Miller Branch taking the practice test in three meeting rooms.

by Cherise T.

Do you ever wonder where all those navigation tabs at hclibrary.org go? One of the answers is homework help! Adult, teen, or child: you have access to library resources to bolster your learning needs. FREE experienced help is available online via Brainfuse with online tutors in many subjects, daily from 2 – 11:55 pm.

  • math through calculus II
  • science through college introductory biology, chemistry, and physics
  • language arts
  • social studies

You can also access test prep for the SAT and ACT. The platform includes Spanish Foreign Language Lab, GED practice tests, and a Writing Lab. Brainfuse tutors also review resumes, cover letters, and academic papers. Students can submit homework questions for tutor guidance and followup. Brainfuse even provides flashcards in hundreds of subjects and allows you to create new sets.

Under the Research tab, you can find the Test Prep, Practice Exams, and Career Research section with Peterson’s Test & Career Prep and LearningExpress Library. Both include practice tests, study modules, and e-books to boost student skills and confidence from grade school through career advancement. Topical practice tests are available for:

  • high school and college entrance exams
  • graduate, nursing, medical, dental, and law schools
  • Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)
  • Praxis

For students who require additional professional support in the classroom, an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) and IEP (Individualized Education Program) may be recommended. Two books, Nolo’s IEP Guide: Learning Disabilities and The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for Your Special Ed Child, offer direction in successfully arranging educational services. They include definitions, sample forms, and guidelines for resolving disputes. Each child and each school district is unique, so understanding your student’s rights facilitates academic success.

On Wednesday, Jan 17 at 11 am, HCPSS Early Intervention Services offers a Zoom class to educate parents on the IFSP and IEP. Register here.

Cherise Tasker is an Adult Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch. When not immersed in literary fiction, Cherise can be found singing along to musical theater soundtracks.

Red ekg heartbeat line includes a heart.

Setting New Year’s Goals

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Red ekg heartbeat line includes a heart

by Brandon B.

Are you ready to make 2024 your best year? The new year can bring a level of optimism, excitement, and stress to some. Setting unrealistic New Year’s resolutions can be exhausting, so keep your expectations realistic. No matter if you are looking to improve your mental, spiritual, and physical health, you can visit us in person or online. To accomplish your goals for 2024, you have to adopt a clear mindset, so you can achieve the right philosophies and produce the right results.

Disruptive Thinking by Bishop T.D. Jakes offers guidance in having a strategy, spiritual guidance, and plan for the new year. If you are interested in improving your leadership and interpersonal skills, consider author John C. Maxwell to help you improve these talents.

Are you ready to burn off a few extra holiday pounds from all of those delicious meals and desserts? You can find great suggestions in our health collection, which focuses on fitness, nutrition, and many forms of exercise such as weight lifting, cycling, walking, and running. The late great Suzanne Somers’ books and videos may inspire you to get your body into great shape. Nutrition plays a major role in weight loss and management. Author Dr. Ian Smith focuses on nutrition and meal plans, and offers advice for an individual to burn fat and make lifestyle changes.

Brandon is a Customer Service Specialist at HCLS Central Branch who loves reading, football, and taking nice long walks around his neighborhood.

A blue gloved hand holds a small knitted heart in bright red.

The Giving Season

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A blue gloved hand holds a small knitted heart in bright red.

As the holiday season continues, here are ways you can give back to the library that gives all year to our community. Whether you are in a position to give time or money, and sometimes both, consider contributing to Howard County Library System:

If you have time to volunteer at your local branch, we need great volunteers for our shelf maintenance, makerspaces, literacy and ESL projects, and technology help. The first step is to complete our online volunteer application. After your application is reviewed, someone from your local branch will connect with you to review the volunteer opportunities that match your availability. 

Want to volunteer, but you don’t have a ton of time? Consider volunteering for one of our signature events. We can always use the extra help.

If you have a few extra dollars to give, consider purchasing one of our keepsake ornaments, available now at your local branch, for in-person purchase at $5 each. Or, you may make a monetary donation. Donations are tax deductible.

If you are blessed with a fuller wallet, consider purchasing an engraved paver to commemorate the remembrance of a family member or loved one. We have a limited number of legacy pavers featured in the Enchanted Garden at our Miller branch for you to purchase.

Another fun opportunity that supports the library’s initiatives, you can save the date for our annual gala fundraiser: A Flower-full Evening in the Stacks, happening February 24 at East Columbia Branch. Tickets go on sale January 10 for $100, and prices increase in February. Dance the night away to the music of DJ Bugatti. Get your eat and drink on with catering by Rouge and The Wine Bin & Sobar.

Astronomy for Teens

Julia M 1 Comment
A simple metal telescope pointed into a slightly cloudy blue sky.

by Julia M.

Ever wonder what’s out there, beyond our atmosphere? Through books, online resources, and classes, discover what happens in our universe beyond Earth’s limits. You can see amazing things even without a telescope, and we’re here to help your teen get a glimpse at what’s happening in the sky in our Learn Astronomy series at HCLS Glenwood Branch. If your teen (ages 11-18) is interested in learning more about a specific astronomy phenomenon or event, come to one of our Learn Astronomy classes.

Learn Astronomy: Geminids Watch Party! 

In December, a member of the University of Maryland Graduate Astronomy Program will guide us through observing the Geminids meteor shower, an astronomical event that happens every December. This year, they’re timed perfectly with a new moon, which means they’ll be extra visible in the night sky. Thanks to the new moon, Jupiter and Saturn, which are visible in the evening sky for all of December, will also be observable that night—there will be no shortage of celestial objects to view in between meteor sightings! 
Thursday, December 14 at 7:30 pm 

Learn Astronomy: Project Artemis 

In our January class, discover NASA’s Project Artemis: the mission to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. Through this project, NASA will build a home base on the Moon’s surface as well as a base that will orbit the Moon. This project also includes a plan to send astronauts to Mars! We’ll talk about the latest news about Project Artemis and what it means for humankind’s study of space, including the new types of spacecraft used, the timeline for the project, and any current or upcoming developments. Since NASA has already completed Phase 1 of Project Artemis, we’ll recap Phase 1 and discuss what’s to come in Phase 2 and 3!
Thursday, Jan 11 at 7 pm 
Thursday, January 16 at 11 am 

The moon half lighted against a blue background.

For more information on dates and times to observe events in the night sky, check out the Night Sky Almanac (2023 or 2024). To learn more about our solar system, check out Solar System Reference for Teens or DK’s The Practical Astronomer. Finished with those, or have a different space-related question? Ask a librarian at any HCLS branch and they’ll be glad to show you where to find more astronomy books on the shelves! 

Julia is a Teens’ Instructor & Research Specialist at Glenwood Branch + Makerspace. She loves reading YA books, playing the cello, practicing martial arts, trying new cookie recipes, and generally trying to squeeze as many hobbies into a day as possible.

The photograph shows a spiral notebook with a pen and eyeglasses laying on the cover, next to a mug of coffee, with an e-reader resting on the corner of the notebook.

eReader Labs

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The photograph shows a spiral notebook with a pen and eyeglasses laying on the cover, next to a mug of coffee, with an e-reader resting on the corner of the notebook.
Photo by Aliis Sinisalu on Unsplash.

So you received a new e-reader for the holidays, and it’s still in the box. Or, perhaps you bought one several years ago but are tired of paying full retail price for books you only read a single time. Want to learn how to use Howard County Library System’s free e-book and e-audiobook resources? We demonstrate and give tips on how to use Libby, cloudLibrary, and Hoopla, with a Q&A time. Bring your preferred device, and we will get you started using our e-book resources.

Libby: Download e-books, e-audiobooks, or e-magazines to your computer, tablet, Kindle, Nook, or smartphone. Use Maryland OverDrive’s website to send e-books to your Kindle, or use Libby, the free mobile app, to borrow and read instantly on your mobile device. Libby is available for free in the iTunes App Store, Google Play, and Microsoft.

cloudLibrary: Use the free cloudLibrary app to browse, check out, download and read popular best-selling e-books or listen to e-audiobooks. Not compatible with Kindle Paperwhite e-readers.

Hoopla: For free, stream and temporarily download movies, television shows, music albums and audiobooks from major Hollywood studios, record companies and publishers. Not compatible with Kindle Paperwhite e-readers.

Bring your questions!

We work with you and your device, at your skill level, and provide information and guidance to develop the e-reader skills you are seeking or to resolve whatever issue you are facing. Please bring your device and your questions, so we can help you on your e-book or e-audiobook learning journey!

HCLS Miller Branch offers four upcoming sessions of eReader Lab:

Tue., Dec 19 | 11 am -12 pm. Register here.
Tue., Jan 16 | 11 am – 12 pm. Register here, beginning January 2.
Tue., Feb 20 | 11 am – 12 pm. Register here, beginning February 1.

The photo shows string bean plants dappled with sunlight through their leaves, with a tree, a fence, and hills in the distance.

Meet the Authors: Growing an Edible Landscape

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Several photographs of lush gardens surround title, "Growing an Edible Landcape."

Monday, Dec 4 | 7 – 8:15 pm
Elkridge
For adults. Register here.

Authors Gary Pilarchik of @therustedgarden and Dr. Chiara D’Amore discuss their new collaborative book, Growing an Edible Landscape: How to Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Food Garden. Plan for the spring ahead and learn how you can convert your lawn and landscape areas into fruitful edible gardens with this practical guide overflowing with ideas, plans, designs, and know-how.

Gary Pilarchik has been gardening for most of his life. His grandfather taught him about vegetable gardening in first grade, and it ignited a passion that has been with him ever since. Gary started his YouTube channel, The Rusted Garden, in 2011 as a way to enjoy himself and teach others about gardening. He has since grown his following of dedicated subscribers, and he started a second channel, My First Vegetable Garden, a few years later to cater to first-time vegetable growers. His belief is that a garden wants to give, vegetables want to grow, and everyone can have a successful garden.

Chiara D’Amore is the Executive Director of the Community Ecology Institute, a non-profit organization working to cultivate communities in which people and nature thrive together. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education and a Masters in Environmental Science and Engineering and teaches courses related to climate change, civic ecology, experiential education, and research design.

3 sets of dried stems and seeds are shown in clear plastic containers against a blue backdrop.
Seeds from the 1st Annual Howard County Seed Share held at HCLS Miller Branch in January 2023.

Save the date: 2nd Annual Seed Share at HCLS Miller Branch, Saturday, January 20, 2024, 2-4 pm
A seed exchange is a great opportunity to acquire new varieties, save money, and reduce seed waste, while learning and sharing with fellow gardeners and community volunteers. Free demonstrations and information will also be available.
If you would like to share seeds, please drop them at one of three locations, from January 1 – 18:

  • HCLS Miller Branch | 9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City
  • HCLS Elkridge Branch | 6540 Washington Blvd, Elkridge
  • Community Ecology Institute | 8000 Harriet Tubman Ln, Columbia


A snowy border overlays a plate and utensils tied with a bow, surrounded by pinecones.

Author Works: Wendy Eckel

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A snowy border overlays a plate and utensils tied with a bow, surrounded by pinecones.

Saturday, Dec 2 
2 – 3 pm  
Miller Branch
For adults. Register.

In Killer in a Winter Wonderland, the much-anticipated holiday-themed fourth book in the Rosalie Hart cozy mystery series, Wendy Sand Eckel once again brings the fictional town of Cardigan, Maryland to life. With delectable menus, high stakes sleuthing, and the rich atmospheric scenes only the holiday season can provide, Killer in a Winter Wonderland is a cornucopia of delicious fare, compelling new and returning characters, and a fast-paced tale that keeps one riveted to the last page.

Eckel studied criminology and earned a Masters in Social Work. Before becoming a writer she worked as a psychotherapist, helping families and adolescents. Her mystery series has been awarded “Best Cozy” by Suspense magazine, and Mystery at Windswept Farm, the third book in the series, made the humorous novel bestseller list on Amazon. A trained life coach, Wendy writes the advice column for the Maryland Writers’ Association newsletter and enjoys mentoring aspiring authors.

The photograph shows a map of the world with various objects lying across it, including cameras, a passport, photographs, sunglasses, a string of light bulbs, and a coffee cup.

Ready to See the World? We Can Help!

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The photograph shows a map of the world with various objects lying across it, including cameras, a passport, photographs, sunglasses, a string of light bulbs, and a coffee cup.
Photo by Charlotte Noelle on Unsplash.

by Sahana C.

The library is the home of adventure, with new unknowns to explore with every turn of a page. Visiting the library can leave you with a wealth of knowledge about a new place from every book you borrow.

But sometimes, reading about another far-off place or watching a movie set in a distant land isn’t enough. Sometimes, you’re looking for a more immersive experience, and your imagination just isn’t cutting it – it’s time for the real deal. Planning trips can be exhausting, though, and finding where and how to start can be the hardest part. Let us help plan your trip! Between travel guides, our passport centers, and ways to brush up on your language skills, the library can get you ready for your next big adventure. You’ve dreamed about it, book in hand, so let us help you get there.

Wander down the travel aisle at any of our six branches, and starting with the 914s, you’ll find inspiration for all sorts of far-off places to begin your journey, whether that be on the other side of the world, or just on the other side of the country. Once you’ve discovered your destination and decided it’s time to go, our Passport Centers in HCLS East Columbia and Glenwood Branches will accept your passport application and help you through the whole process.

In the meantime, while your passport is processed, use our language resources, Mango and Rosetta Stone Online for the adults in the family, as well as Little Pim and Muzzy Online for our younger friends! Practice your newfound language skills in the community at East Columbia and Miller Branches at our monthly World Language Cafés, working with native language speakers and other language learners.

To avoid missing us while you’re gone, make sure to pick up a Flat Booker from your closest branch too, and take pictures to show us once you return, so we can share in the adventure too.

Practice Before You Go with World Languages Café
For adults.
Meet to practice a world language with fellow community members, facilitated by a native or fluent speaker of that language. Please indicate in the registration comments field the language you would like to practice. In partnership with Columbia Association.
At East Columbia: register here.
Tuesday, Nov 28
7 – 8:45 pm

At Miller: register here.
Thursday, Dec 14
7 – 8:45 pm

Sahana is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the Savage Branch. They enjoy adding books to their “want to read” list despite having a mountain of books waiting for them already.