An open, flat map of the world, with Africa centered, rests under a blue USA passport and an old-fashioned camera.

Passport Services

January 27, 2025Alex Higgins Leave a comment

by Alex H.

Does the cold weather have you dreaming of trips to warmer climates? You can apply for a passport at the Glenwood and East Columbia branches of HCLS, making your dreams of warm beaches or tropical rainforests one step closer to becoming a reality!

Both HCLS Glenwood and East Columbia Branches process form DS-11. Depending on how old the applicant is at the time they apply, there are different requirements for what they must bring. All applicants must appear in person, regardless of their age.

Applicants age 15 and under

Parent(s) must accompany children 15 and under to apply for a passport. Proof of parental relationship must be brought (ex: the child’s birth certificate). Whoever is listed must be present.

If one parent is unable to come, a notarized consent form (DS 3052) must be brought along with a photocopy of the non-appearing parent’s identification.

Form DS-11

Proof of US citizenship (ex: US Government issued birth certificate / certificate of naturalization / previously issued US passport)

Proof of identity for the parent(s) (ex: valid driver’s license / state ID card / military ID / passport)

A 2’ ’x 2’’ passport photo with a white background. The Glenwood and East Columbia Branches take photos for $15

A check or money order for US State Department fees

Applicants age 16 and older

Form DS-11

Proof of US citizenship (ex: US Government issued birth certificate / certificate of naturalization / previously issued US passport)

Proof of identity (ex: valid driver’s license / state ID card / military ID / passport)

A 2’ ’x 2’’ passport photo with a white background. The Glenwood and East Columbia Branches take photos for $15

A check or money order for US State Department fees

*If the applicant is 16 or 17 years old, they need to show parental consent for their application. Ways to do this include having a parent come with the applicant to apply, bringing a check signed by their parent, or having their parent write and sign a note.

All information regarding the passport process, including acceptable evidence of citizenship and forms of identification, can be found on travel.state.gov.

Passport services at Glenwood and East Columbia are walk-in only, so there is no appointment necessary. For a complete list of hours and fees, check http://hclibrary.org/how-do-i/passport-center/.

Alex is a part-time Customer Service Specialist and Passport Agent at the Glenwood Branch. When she’s not at the library, she likes to crochet cute animals, read all the horror and romance books she can get her hands on, and write stories about things that go bump in the night.

Branch Raffles & Birthday Bash

January 24, 2025Kristen B. Leave a comment

Celebrating 85 surrounds a set of candles with dark blue text that says Evening in the Stacks, Howard County Library System. Plus a neon lit sneaker, advertising the event as a sneaker ball.

BRANCH RAFFLES Branch raffle tickets are available online or at every branch. The last day to purchase raffle tickets is Feb 21. Winners will be drawn by February 26 and notified by email and/or phone. Nearly 80 businesses donate items for this raffle. Please make sure to thank those that you see on the prize lists by giving them your business! Raffle tickets are $5 each, and you can win any of these prizes:

Grand Prize: Disney Vacation Club 4 Night Stay
Two tickets to Evening in the Stacks on Feb 22 (in branch sales only)
Six branch community baskets with donations from area businesses
Family fun package filled with tickets and gift cards to local attractions

Purchase tickets or become a sponsor at hclibrary.org/stacks. Did you know that Friends & Foundation of HCLS raises more than $100,000 each year to support the library’s educational initiatives? Evening in the Stacks is an important winter fundraiser that helps them reach that goal. When you make a $500 or more donation to the Friends, you receive two tickets to the party!

EVENING IN THE STACKS: BIRTHDAY BASH Party at our sneaker ball in your snazziest outfit and your coolest kicks. Live in the spotlight during a live sneaker contest before our guest DJ gets the dance floor jumping. Enjoy a gourmet meal by Rouge Catering, sip signature drinks by The Wine Bin and Sobar, and endless birthday entertainment.

How much are tickets? Tickets are $125 if purchased by January 31.Beginning February 1, tickets are $150 or two for $285. Purchase tickets or become a sponsor at hclibrary.org/stacks.

This year’s gala fundraiser benefits the vital work HCLS does to help prepare young children
for kindergarten.

THANKS TO THE SPONSORS

Platinum
Friends & Foundation of HCLS
Gold
The Common Kitchen at Clarksville Commons
Howard Hughes Corporation
Ron and Ellen Flynn Giles
Hoenes Family Foundation
Photo Booth
Grimm + Parker Architects
Silver
Howard County Economic Development Authority
Ronald and Cynthia Gula Charitable Fund
Bronze
Ayers Saint Gross
Columbia Association
Connection
COPT Defense Properties
Media
Columbia Inspired
FunFitnessFamily
In-Kind
Brown & Associates, Inc.
Rouge Catering
The Wine Bin

A photo of the top half of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial, taken against a bright blue sky. Dr. King is portrayed looking stern, with his arms crossed, holding rolled up papers.

Celebrating Dr. King

January 17, 2025brandondwightbannister Leave a comment

by Brandon B.

On January 20, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who made heroic efforts to end segregation and inequality despite tremendous adversity. Dr. King remains a significant figure of the Civil Rights Movement, who fought for peace, equity, and justice for all individuals until his tragic death on April 4, 1968. On November 2, 1983, Ronald Reagan signed legislation, setting the holiday for the third Monday in January. Through peaceful protests, such as the March on Washington, the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and the founding of the NAACP, minorities claimed their rights and privileges as outlined in the United States Constitution.

HCLS offers numerous books, videos, and online resources on the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The 2015 film Selma illustrates how Dr. King, John Lewis, and others led sit-ins and marched across Alabama and throughout the South, fighting for the right to vote. When you visit the Equity Resource Center at HCLS Central Branch, browse for books, CDs, and DVDs that highlight diversity and inclusion.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is an opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and to serve your community. Consider your favorite community organizations and see what they have planned for the national day of service. If you need suggestions, take a look at local nonprofit organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Club, Meals on Wheels, The Bea Gaddy Family Centers Inc., and in your community.
In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands at times of convenience but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” Let us continue Dr. King’s legacy by doing our part to make this world better and allow HCLS to help guide us through the process.

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

Fuel Creativity, Find Wellbeing

January 6, 2025jeanboone1 Leave a comment

The photograph depicts a tray of colorful watercolors next to two paintbrushes and a pile of painted papers, against a background of golden twinkle lights.

by Jean B.
January is a time for new beginnings, offering both promise and uncertainty. It’s appropriate that we mark International Creativity Month in January because creating something new can simultaneously revitalize us and relieve stress. Research shows that engaging in creative activity enhances both mental and physical health, boosting our immune systems, countering depression, expanding brain connections, and reducing anxiety. When you immerse yourself in a creative task — whether it’s art, music, dance, writing, crafting, woodworking, needle arts, puzzling —your emotions find release, self-esteem grows, worries can fade. An act of creation provides a sense of control, accomplishment, joy, and optimism.

Are you ready to try something new? Do you have a creative impulse but need some ideas, support, tools, instruction? HCLS has resources you can use by yourself at home, or alongside others in our six lively branches. Spark your creativity in the New Year!

Unwind and Align
For adults. Register at bit.ly/wellness_mil
Sat, Jan 18 | 1 – 3 pm
HCLS Miller Branch
Experience seated Qigong breathwork, guided meditation and mindfulness, sound healing, and Reiki energy in an informal, open setting. Facilitated by Janice B. Wellness & Friends.

Two people, wearing white safety goggles, peer into the laser cutter at HCLS Glewood Branch. — 12/18/24 – Creative customers make individual snowflake ornaments at HCLS Glenwood Branch + Makerspace.

CREATE AT THE LIBRARY

Reserve the recording booth at the Glenwood Branch makerspace and sing your heart out! Or use the laser engraver and 3D printer to create personalized objects (materials must be purchased).
In the Builders Barn, a variety of materials invite children to create.
Visit the DIY Center at the Elkridge Branch for instruction in all kinds of arts, from sewing machine skills to painting to woodworking.
Join groups at various branches for crocheting, knitting, coloring, crafting and camaraderie. Look out for occasional craft supply swaps at Central Branch if you’re changing hobbies to clean out the old and stock up for something new.
Dance, sing, play and experiment at every branch with the children in your life when you attend one of our many children’s classes.

BORROW FROM THE LIBRARY

Ukuleles! Borrow a kit that includes an ukulele, tuner, and case. (Then take online lessons through Artistworks, described below.)
How-to-books! Want to try out drawing Manga? Origami? Cooking? Woodcarving? You’ll find help on our shelves.
Framed works of art! Get inspiration for your own masterpiece by borrowing art from the Central and Glenwood branches.

LEARN ONLINE at hclibrary.org:

Explore ArtistWorks, a vast library of free self-paced online video classes, taught by Grammy Award-winning musicians. Among the many options: country vocals, jazz drums, flute, clarinet, bluegrass guitar – and of course, ukulele!
Discover HCLS’ YouTube channel featuring your favorite library staff as they demonstrate how to make stuff from DIY crafts, to children’s projects, to art techniques.

Jean is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Central Branch. She loves talking about books with people of all ages, but especially enjoys leading the Heavy Medals book club for fourth and fifth graders, exploring award-winning books of all genres.

New Year, New Adventures

January 3, 2025sahanacallahan Leave a comment

A round ornament shape, studded with multi-colored lights, reads Happy New Year - 2025 all in pink.

by Sahana C.

As we flip our calendars to the new year, we set goals for ourselves, knowingly or unknowingly. Maybe this is the year we decide to learn to sew, or we plan a dream vacation to somewhere where people speak a different language. Whether you’re dreaming of picking up a new hobby, improving your skills, or simply finding more time for yourself, the library can help you make those resolutions stick. No matter your goal, there are more than a few ways Howard County Library System can be a part of your “something new” this year.

A Linked In Learning ad that shows a person standing by a desk, with a calendar and a clock behind them, and a dog under the desk. It reads: 1: Set a learning goal. 2. Creat a plan. 3. Knock it out of the park!

Ready to master the art of sourdough, learn Spanish, or tackle coding? Our online resources have you covered. With platforms like LinkedIn Learning, Mango Languages, and Gale Courses, you can dive into everything from baking to business analytics — at your own pace and for free!

If moving more is on your list, we’ve got tools to keep you motivated. Check out our collection of fitness books, yoga DVDs, and meditation guides for some free inspiration. Or, stream workout videos through digital resources like Hoopla and Kanopy.l

Maybe you’ve resolved to read more this year (or just read at all). Our monthly book clubs, personalized recommendations from your friendly local librarians, decorated displays, and endless supply of audiobooks, eBooks, and physical titles are great places to start.

Or, perhaps, you want to figure out what’s going on with all this tech. Digital devices can help you work smarter, not harder, but learning them takes time. Our classes on topics like 3D printing, social media, and generative AI will make you feel like a tech pro in no time, and if you want to start at an intro level, you can book time with one of our incredible instructors for a tech one-on-one.

It’s not just about the goals you set — it’s about the people you meet along the way. Whether you’re attending a craft workshop, exploring local history, or seeing us out in the community, you’ll find spaces to connect and share your journey.

At the library, we believe every year is a chance to grow, create, and connect. No matter what your resolution looks like, we’re ready to help you turn “I’ll try” into “I did it!” Visit your local branch or explore our website to get started. We can’t wait to see what you achieve this year!

An old fashioned wooden signpost with arrows reads Get Uncomfortable or Change Course. A desert highway appears in the background.

Set Up Your Business for Success
For adults. Register now.
Kelvin Abrams, author of Get Uncomfortable or Change Course: Understanding What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur, helps new and aspiring entrepreneurs learn what it takes to run a small business, providing solid advice to achieve their goals and be more successful. A powerful storyteller, Kelvin draws on his experience and uses a variety of insightful anecdotes to share his message. He explains the need to get creative in the face of change, the importance of a solid business plan, how to hire employees, how to work with banks, and more.
Mon, Jan 13 | 6 – 7:30 pm
HCLS East Columbia Branch

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

A photo of children around a table at the Builders Barn, each busy with a craft project.

Builders Barn at Glenwood Branch

December 20, 2024December 20, 2024Admin Leave a comment

A photo of children around a table at the Builders Barn, each busy with a craft

by Kaitlyn and Kristy

Have you or your child visited our Builders Barn at HCLS Glenwood Branch? This unique space was created for younger learners to mirror the newly added Makerspace during Glenwood’s renovation. (For more information about Glenwood’s Makerspace, visit https://hclibrary.org/maker-space/ to learn more.)

The Builders Barn provides children with a spot to invent, build, and create with many hands-on materials. This exploration encourages and supports experiential learning, STEAM concepts, early literacy skills, and collaboration, to name a few. Children are welcome to take their creations home or display them within the room.

The Builders Barn has become a well-loved space that many look forward to using each time they visit the library. When watching families creating together in the Builders Barn, the adults are having as much fun creating as the kids! One family even shared that they created a “Builders Barn at home” in their dining room, so the fun could continue outside the library.

The Builders Barn has become a community endeavor, with (most of) the materials donated by the families that use the Builders Barn.

If you want to help by donating materials, they can be brought to HCLS Glenwood Branch.

Favorite donated materials are…

tape

glue sticks

leftover craft supplies

paper

ribbon

egg cartons

corks

cereal, tissue, and pasta boxes

unused paper goods (paper plates, coffee filters, etc.)

Are you looking for some reading suggestions related to the Builders’ Barn? Here are some staff favorites:

Too Much Glue

Not a Box

Be a Maker

Craftily Ever After series

Cardboard Box Engineering

Maker Comics

Kaitlyn M. has worked as a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist for HCLS for three years. When she is not at work, you can find her with family, reading, crafting, or spending time outdoors.

Kristy G. has worked as a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist for HCLS for 24 years at both the Miller and Glenwood Branches. The Builders’ Barn is one of her favorite places at the library. She has her own style of ‘Builders’ Barn” at home.

Two small parcels wrapped in white paper with red butcher's twine holding holly greenery, sitting on a hardwood floor.

Giving Books as Gifts? We’ve Got Ideas

December 13, 2024jeanboone1 Leave a comment

The picture depicts a boy sitting in a recliner with a fuzzy orange blanket over his lap, reading a book.

by Jean B.

We’re entering the season of gifts! If you are a book lover, you may want to share that love by giving books to everyone on your list. But the books you read and love may not be ones that will excite and capture the imagination of your recipients. What is the key to giving a “just right” book to someone else? The Library and its resources! Preparing for successful book shopping is as easy as 1,2,3.

One: Visit our six branches to get recommendations from our dedicated, expert staff who have a breadth of knowledge across genres, age, and audience. Whether it’s bestsellers or hidden gems, we LOVE to talk books. If you’re looking for children’s books, you’ll have the added bonus of seeing the book and its illustrations at the library before purchasing.

Two: Subscribe to HCLS newsletters to get specialized recommendations delivered to your email inbox regularly. No searching required, the ideas come directly to you! Our staff-curated newsletters, focused by age or interest, deliver monthly book recommendations as well as upcoming library events. We also offer NextReads newsletters which deliver book recommendations by genre. With 15 choices, from picture books to horror to romance, you’re sure to find helpful suggestions for any reader in your life Sign up for one or for many! To subscribe, go to our website, click on “Contact Us” and choose “Subscribe to Newsletters.”

Three: Get great ideas from NoveList, a free search tool provided through our website: choose NoveList under the “Book Recommendations” topic. Enter your library barcode and PIN. Start by selecting an age/ audience for your books, then your personalized browsing adventure begins!

Does your nephew love Captain Underpants? Search “Captain Underpants” and choose “Series read-alikes” to see a list of books that are similar in style. Is your aunt obsessed with Sweden? Choose the “location” filter and type in Sweden to get books that are set in that country or involve Swedish characters. Does your brother-in-law only read thrillers? Choose the genre filter for “suspense thrillers” and get access to multiple lists of specific ideas. For each book, you can read a brief description of the plot, plus the tags for genre, pace, story, and mood. For children’s books, you’ll find information about reading level, too. Each search produces a wealth of information and ideas.

Happy book-giving this holiday season!

A woman adds a paperback book into a green Better World Books box.

Donate Your Gently Used Books to HCLS and Support a Good Cause

November 8, 2024brittanychapterchats 1 Comment

by Brittany M.

Before I started ninth grade, my eyes swept over my complete collections of The Baby-Sitters Club, Sweet Valley High and Anne of Green Gables. I had a hard decision to make. Do I let them go so someone else can be entertained and learn valuable life lessons from these books? Or do I keep them because they were well-loved, read repeatedly, and guided me through adolescence?

I decided it was time to let them go. So, I donated them to my local library which held book sales throughout the year. Although Howard County Library System no longer holds in-person book sales, your donations are still needed and much appreciated. We are partners with Better World Books, and the books you donate go to them to be sold online; a portion of the proceeds returns directly to Friends & Foundation of HCLS. Please keep these tips in mind when deciding what to donate:

The Condition of the Books

Before donating, please evaluate the condition of the books. They should not have any mold, mildew, excessive dust and dirt, water damage, spine damage, or missing pages or covers.

OK to Donate

Fiction and nonfiction (hardcover and paperback)

Rare Books

Children’s Books (including unused workbooks and activity books)

College Textbooks (published within 10 years)

Foreign Language Books (with an ISBN) (particularly Spanish, French, German, Russian)

Not OK to Donate

Annuals and Yearbooks

Audio Cassettes, VHS Tapes, LP Records/Vinyl and Computer Software

Book Club Editions (Reader’s Digest Condensed and Time-Life Books)

Britannica and World Books Encyclopedia

Procedural Law Books

Custom Course Packets

Directories, Telephone Books and Indexes

Duplicate Copies (more than 20 copies per title)

Un-sellable Editions (Free Copies, Review Copies, Examination Copies, Complimentary Copies, Not for Sale Copies, Not for Resale Copies, Counterfeit Copies, Inbound Edition, Advanced Reading Copies, Uncorrected Proofs, or Galleys)

Journals and Periodicals (Literary Criticisms)

Microfilm and Microfiche Newspapers and Magazines

Non-Western Script Books

Tax and Government Documents or Forms

International Editions of Low Price Editions (LPS)

Hybrid Editions

Stand Alone Access Cards

DVDs and Blu-Ray Discs

Audiobooks and CDs

Video Games

Playaways

Where to Donate

HCLS has two branches where you can drop off your books. Just look for the bright green donation bin with “Better World Books” on the front and sides:

Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center
9421 Frederick Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042

East Columbia Branch
6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, MD 21045

Please do not leave books at the front doors of the branch or by the book drops. Also, do not set books on the ground outside of the donation bin, because in the event of inclement weather, the books are ruined.

If you find yourself still buried in books after decluttering or for items that do not make our cut but are undamaged, consider taking them to The Book Thing of Baltimore, Goodwill, or the Salvation Army.

Brittany is a Customer Service Specialist at the Miller Branch who loves writing, reading, and all things stationery. Her other hobbies include playing video games, listening to music, and spending quality time with her family.

Yellow caution tape stretches across an arrangement of books, all of which are perennially on the challenged book list. They include 1984 by George Orwell, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, and Tango Makes Three.

Banned Books Week: Sep 22 – 28

September 23, 2024sahanacallahan Leave a comment

by Sahana C.

Howard County Library System is your place to learn, grow, and connect. As a library, one of the best ways we know to bolster learning, to encourage growth, and to promote connection happens through books. It’s why we have such a vast range of topics, themes, identities, and authors represented in our collection. It’s why we have so many different book clubs across all our branches, and so many ways to access them. It’s why you’ll see the On the Road to Kindergarten van in your neighborhood and at schools with books to borrow. While the library is not just about books (we’re proud of all our resources and collections), our books are a large part of what brings us closer to our community.

In recent years, the challenges and objections to different titles in libraries across the country have made major headlines, including the state of Maryland. We now live in a state with a Freedom to Read Act, which asserts intellectual freedom as lawful and denounces censorship plainly, which is not the case nationally. To highlight stories that are challenged or censored, the American Library Association (ALA) celebrates Banned Books Week each year. Banned Books Week started in 1982 as a response to book challenges and has turned into a national celebration of literature.

To celebrate Banned Books Week this year, visit your local library branch and check out the displays and resources about different titles that have been challenged. And, for even more immersion, hop online each day of Banned Books Week at noon for our virtual Banned Books Read-a-thon. With a new title each day, we will discuss a work that has been banned or challenged in some form, and read an excerpt of the text.

The ALA’s theme for Banned Books Week 2024 is “Freed Between the Lines,” and it asks readers everywhere to consider the ways that books can help us explore new ideas, understand the world around us, and find freedom. It encourages us to delve deeper and be unafraid to be creative with our understandings of the books we read.

Banned Books Week Read-A-Thon
For adults. Register to receive the link.
Learn about the history and significance of Banned Books Week, then listen to a reading from a frequently challenged book. You can join every day or just for the ones that interest you.
Mon- Fri | 12 – 1 pm | online
Mon, Sep 23
1984 by George Orwell

Tue, Sep 24
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Wed, Sep 25
Looking for Alaska by John Green

Thu, Sep 26
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Fri, Sep 27: Children’s picture books
Nasreen’s Secret School: A True Story from Afghanistan and The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq, written and illustrated by Jeanette Winter.
This Day in June, written by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Kristyna Litten.
And Tango Makes Three, written by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell and illustrated by Henry Cole.

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

The Longest Table in blue, framed by green fork, knife and spoon place setting.

The Longest Table 2024

August 14, 2024August 16, 2024Admin Leave a comment

A photo of a large room with a wall of windows filled with tables of people enjoying dinner and good conversation. — The Longest Table 2023 event held at Howard Community College.

The Longest Table 2024
Friday, September 27
5 pm: social hour
6 pm: dinner
Howard Community College | Rouse Company Foundation Building
Purchase tickets

Everyone is welcome at our table.

Since 2017, Howard County Library System, in partnership with Howard Community College, has produced this event bringing people together for dinner and powerful conversations about our community. Through the support of sponsors, a number of free tickets* are available for high school and college students.

The Longest Table is a communal meal designed to build new relationships, encourage conversations, and increase civic engagement. It begins with a social hour, then guests are asked to sit at a table with people they don’t already know, helping to create a wide variety of experiences and ideas at each table. Using provided discussion questions, table hosts facilitate conversations around substantive issues and community building. 

Gathering for meals is a beloved custom around the world. And no matter our differences – where we grew up, how much money we have, or the color of our skin – we all need to feel welcome and included. When we eat together, we connect and share in the joy of being. Our need to be seen, known, and belong is satisfied. In a world of disconnection, there is no more powerful place than the shared meal.

Everyone, high school age and up, is welcome.

LOCATION

The dinner will be held inside the Rouse Company Foundation (RCF) building in the cafe on the first floor. Social hour will be held on the patio outside the cafe, weather permitting (indoors in case of inclement weather).
Free parking is available on campus.

MENU (forthcoming)

SPONSORS

Platinum: Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System
Gold: Columbia Association
Silver: Howard Hughes Corporation
In-Kind: Howard Community College

*Want to join but that’s not in the budget right now? Email communityengagement@hclibrary.org to get free tickets.

CHAPTER CHATS

Howard County Library System Blog

Category HCLS News