Tag adults

Classic Americana tattoo style of a red heart with a banner acroos it and a black-eyed susan in the bottom left. The white banner reads: People are the heart of the library.

Summer Reading for Adults

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Classic Americana tattoo style of a red heart with a banner acroos it and a black-eyed susan in the bottom left. The white banner reads: People are the heart of the library.

This summer kicks off the third annual reading challenge for adults, while also celebrating 85 years of the library. People are the heart of our library – and we want to see you achieve your goals, explore the world, and find joy in the pages of a good book. Pick up a booklet at any branch to inspire you through a year of reading, filled with suggested titles and prompts for reflection.

While there are 14 reading challenges listed, you need to complete only three of them to participate in summer reading. Once you have read three books (print, e-book, and audio all count), come back to the Library to receive a prize and be entered into a grand prize drawing.

Here’s a sneak peek – and a Chapter Chats review or two:

Read a book published in or before 1940
Celebrate our birthday with us by reading a book that would have been on the shelves when we first opened our doors. Suggestions include:
The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Native Son by Richard Wright

Revisit Your Library Memories
What is the first book you remember checking out of the library? Or, what book have you borrowed from the library that impacted you the most? We invite you to read it again! Suggestions include:
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

The Language of Art
In addition to books, libraries are places for artists and the arts. At HCLS, you can borrow artworks by and books about famous artists from around the world and from local artists. Suggestions include:
All the Beauty in the Word: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley: read review
The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi: read review
The Work of Art: How Something Comes From Nothing by Adam Moss

85 Years of Connection: Bridging Generations Through the Library
Explore stories of multi-generational relationships, families, and communities. Suggestions include:
Real Americans by Rachel Khong: read review
A Grandmother Begins the Story by Michelle Porter
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

These are a taste of what a year of reading could have in store for you. Visit our branches often to check displays for more titles or to ask a staff member for a recommendation.

The Libary's mascot, Booker the Owl, is wearing his green shirt and a bandana over one eye as he takes aim at a star-shaped pinata in front of a sign that reads Happy Birthday.

Countdown to Summer (Reading): Celebrate Libraries!

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The Libary's mascot, Booker the Owl, is wearing his green shirt and a bandana over one eye as he takes aim at a star-shaped pinata in front of a sign that reads Happy Birthday.

by Jean B.

Who’s counting the days until the end of school? Kids, of course, and teachers, no doubt. Even parents and caregivers may be looking forward to more flexible days and freedom from regular routines — a break from alarms, homework, and heavy backpacks.

At the library, however, we are counting the days until summer and gathering our energy, because your downtime is our opportunity — we can’t wait to spend more time with you! In fact, we’re throwing a summer-long party to celebrate the 85th birthday of HCLS and all the ways our community comes together through the library to learn, grow, and connect.

Let’s get the party started! Starting Monday, June 2, visit any branch for your Summer Reading game, complete with reading and activity ideas, prizes, and special events. WHO IS INVITED? EVERYONE!

Visit hclibrary.org/summer often for all your summer reading information and details.

Ages birth – 4
Children ages birth-4 learn, grow, and make connections by singing, talking, reading, writing, and playing. Read or do an activity from the suggestions, and color in a balloon.
Ages 5 – 10
Read, listen, learn, connect, and celebrate. Each time you read or do an activity, color in a candy. Keep reading! For both children’s games: Pick up a prize after completing 10 books and/or activities before August 31, while supplies last.
Teens: 11 – 18
Earn raffle tickets whenever you read, attend classes, borrow items, or complete challenges. When you complete 10 tickets, visit a branch to receive a prize and be entered into the grand prize drawing. Continue to submit raffle tickets all summer.
Adults: 18+
The third annual Adult Reading Challenge offers unique reading challenges and complimentary reading recommendations. Complete three or more challenges by the end of August, or read three or more books of your own choosing. Complete a finisher’s card and be automatically entered into our prize drawings. All finishers also receive a limited-edition prize, while supplies last!

Summer Reading Celebrations
For everyone.
Join us to celebrate 85 years of the Library and all things summer reading with activities for all ages.
Wed, Jun 25 from 3 – 6 pm at HCLS East Columbia Branch
Wed, Jun 25 from 5 – 8 pm at HCLS Central Branch
Wed, Jul 9 from 5 – 8 pm at HCLS Elkridge Branch
Sat, Jul 12 from 11 am – 1 pm at HCLS Savage Branch
Wed, Aug 13 from 4 – 7 pm at HCLS Glenwood Branch
Thu Aug 21 from 6 – 8 pm at HCLS Miller Branch
Celebrations sponsored in part by Friends & Foundation of HCLS.

Children and their caregivers play on the floor of Savage Branch, with bright toys around them.

National Library Week 2025

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A woman wearing headphones works at a table surrounded by library shelves full of books.
A smiling group of six people stand inside the library.
Children and their caregivers play on the floor of Savage Branch, with bright toys around them.
A top down photo of four older women playing mah-jongg.
A young boy sits in a large chair intently reading a book.
A customer wearing a headscarf has a conversation with library staff at the desk.

During National Library Week we celebrate the many roles libraries play in their communities. We are hubs for preschoolers attending classes and learning skills to prepare for kindergarten, teens working on homework and looking for places to belong, new Americans learning English, immigrants studying to take the U.S. Citizenship exam, parents and seniors looking for connections, veterans working through trauma, and community members seeking to broaden their perspectives. 

This year’s National Library Week is more poignant than ever. With the dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, many libraries who depend on federal funding will be forced to shut their doors. In Maryland, federal grants fund statewide programming, innovative training, librarian certifications, operating costs, and other expenses. Libraries use federal funds to provide access to the internet, create new and novel programs for a range of interests, and train staff.  

In Howard County, we are fortunate that our community places a high value on libraries. While the portions of our budget that will be affected are still uncertain, we remain committed to the three key focus areas identified in our strategic plan released last year: 

  • All children enter school ready to learn, with emphasis on ages birth to 3; 
  • Teens and young adults feel a sense of agency and belonging, and 
  • An inclusive, connected community where everyone feels they belong.  

Through community meetings, surveys, and interviews, you told us these were important, and we intend to continue addressing them no matter what happens at the federal level. 

For 85 years we have enjoyed broad support from you, our community. And with your continued support, we will be here for another 85 years – and more! 

We look forward to seeing you in our branches this week as we celebrate National Library Week and the critical work we do with our community. 

Sincerely, 

Tonya Aikens
President & CEO
Howard County Library System

A colorful, busy cover inter-splices two classical paintings together, with a young Black man looking out from among flowers.

Meet the Author: Paterson Joseph

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A colorful, busy cover inter-splices two oil paintings together, with a young Black man looking out from among flowers.

Paterson Joseph & The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho
Tue, Apr 15 | 7 – 8:30 pm
HCLS Miller Branch
For adults. Register at bit.ly/Paterson-Joseph

“[T]he rollicking fictionalized memoirs of a real-life Black British trailblazer … An entertaining portrait that also illuminates rare opportunities for Black people in 18th-century London.” ~ Kirkus Review

The Secret Diaries of Ignatius Sancho is Paterson Joseph’s debut novel and is a story that begins on a slave ship in the Atlantic and ends at the very center of London life. It is a lush and immersive tale of adventure, artistry, romance, and freedom set in 18th-century England and based on the true story of the first Black person to vote in Britain, who fought to end slavery. Joseph channels the writing style of the day and draws on the real-life Sancho’s diaries to give voice to his hero’s interior life.

Joseph is a beloved British actor and writer. Recently seen on Vigil, Noughts + Crosses, and Boat Story, he has also starred in The Leftovers and Law & Order UK. He also plays Arthur Slugworth in the Wonka movie. He has won the Royal Society of Literature’s Christopher Bland prize and the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Historical Crown 2023 award. Books available for purchase and signing.

More About the Era of Charles Ignatius Sancho
by Ian L-F
Often celebrated as the Age of Enlightenment, the 18th century is regarded as an era of immense scientific progress, with philosophy and reason expanding the boundaries of thought that, at times, challenged authority. However, the radiant optimism of this period must be understood alongside its darker tendencies, where ideals of liberty coexisted with systemic exploitation. England’s economic rise, framed as a triumph of innovation and industry, was fueled by the profits of slavery and European imperialism.

Following the War of Spanish Succession, Britain was granted by treaty the asiento de negros, a monopoly on the sale of enslaved people to Spain’s colonies, solidifying its position as the largest slave-trading nation by 1730. Despite slavery being nominally outlawed in England since the 12th century, Britain, like other European powers, externalized its reliance on slavery to their colonies. This policy enabled them to condemn the trade morally while still reaping its profits, in every cup of sugared coffee and nutmeg-spiced delicacy.

Amidst this sea of madness, Charles Ignatius Sancho emerged as a beacon of erudition and resilience. Born on a slave ship and sold into bondage in New Granada, Sancho overcame incredible odds to achieve freedom and defy the prejudices of his time. A self-educated man of letters, a composer, and a businessman, he became a celebrated voice in Britain’s abolition movement. Yet, opposition to slavery in Britain remained scarce until the late 18th century, and as W.E.B. DuBois later observed, abolitionist efforts often aligned with economic interests: “The moral force they represented would have met greater resistance had it not been working along lines favorable to English investment and colonial profit.”

The 18th-century era contended with forces not too dissimilar from our own. In echoes of history’s tribulations and the lives of remarkable individuals, we find lessons that challenge us to confront injustice, question power, and strive for a more equitable world. If your interest in history has been piqued, our online research tools, like Gale OneFile’s World History database, are a fantastic starting point for an educational journey.

Ian is an Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS East Columbia Branch. He is a huge nerd with too many interests to list here. Currently, he is fixated on the interconnection between history and fiction. His favorite kind of stories are stories about stories.

Two people working separately at the library, in the same space.

The Twenty-Something Coworking Club 

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Two people working separately at the library, in the same space.
HCLS Central Branch

by Ash B.

Howard County is known to be a great place for raising a family. Between the public school system, parks, and recreational opportunities, there’s a significant draw for folks with school-aged children.  In fact, in recent years, Columbia has been ranked at the top of lists such as “Best Places to Raise a Family” (in 2023 by Wallethub and 2024 by Niche) and “Best Cities for Young Families” (by GOBankingRates in 2024). On the other end of national rankings, Columbia has been dubbed one of the “worst cities for singles” (in 2024 by Wallethub).

This comes as no surprise, especially to a single person in their late twenties such as myself. The family-oriented vibe of HoCo results in fewer social structures tailored towards unmarried, child-free adults. There are bars and breweries in the area, sure, but those aren’t everyone’s vibe – especially for sober folks like myself – and such places typically have a price tag attached.  

Enter… the library!

Our library system’s new mission, per the Strategic Plan, is to be a place for everyone to learn, grow, and connect. With the launch of The Twenty-Something Coworking Club this month, I’m looking to create a space for emerging adults to do just that. 

The term “emerging adult” typically refers to someone in their late teens (18-19) or twenties (sometimes stretching into mid-thirties). The concept of emerging adulthood, as a distinct stage of development, was coined and developed by psychology scholar Dr. Jeffrey Arnett. Emerging adulthood is an “in-between” stage: no longer an adolescent, but not fully feeling like an adult yet (due to a variety of social and economic changes over the past 30+ years).  

Current emerging adults – the youngest of Millenials and the older half of Gen Z – have often graduated high school without being taught essential life skills, like budgeting and meal planning. Economic trends have left many young people underpaid and underemployed from the beginning of their careers. Not to mention the impacts of COVID-19, climate change, and enumerable instances of sociopolitical chaos over the past decade. 

It’s a particularly tough time to be emerging into adulthood. That said, it’s a little easier to navigate when you’re not alone. “Coworking” is simply the act of working in proximity to other people; you’re working separately from each other, but the proximity to another working person improves motivation and focus. This method can be especially helpful for neurodivergent people because of the executive functioning required to start and complete tasks. The term “body doubling,” often used by folks with ADHD, has essentially the same meaning as “coworking,” but with emphasis on completing a boring or difficult task by planning to do it in the presence of another person. 

So, if you (or someone you know) is struggling at all with “adulting” – or just wants to connect with other emerging adults – I hope you’ll stop by the Twenty-Something Coworking Club, which starts on March 25. We meet on the top floor of the Central Branch, every 4th Tuesday, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm in the Central Studio.

Bring whatever you’d like to work on, and anything that helps you focus: your favorite water bottle, headphones, fidget toys, etc. The library and I will provide the space, snacks, hot tea, structured check-ins, and good vibes.

Note: You’re welcome to come and go on your own schedule, but please arrive at 6:30 pm to participate in group introductions. Want an event reminder? Register through our class calendar.

Ash is an Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Central Branch with a passion for information literacy and community engagement. They love music, gardening, hiking, and cuddling with their golden retriever.

Students at a library painting class sharing smiles.

Get Crafty at the Library

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Students at a library painting class sharing smiles.
Students practice painting from observation during a class at HCLS Savage Branch.

by Emily B.

Searching for a cool and creative way to beat the heat this summer? Look no further than your local library, because summer fun at the library isn’t limited to kids and teens! At most of our branches, we offer art- and craft-related series classes. These classes are an opportunity to practice different crafty techniques and create something that you can take home, all in a supportive and welcoming environment. Each branch offers a unique spin.

At HCLS Miller Branch, Mindful Making emphasizes the meditative aspects of creativity. Adult Instructor Holly creates a relaxing and low-pressure class environment with cozy lighting and relaxing instrumental music. She purposefully selects activities that incorporate simple steps and repetition, to allow you to de-compress while engaging in creative practice.

At HCLS Glenwood Branch, Adult Instructor Kimberly makes use of the branch’s makerspace and its tools. Her classes offer a hands-on opportunity to learn about and use different DIY and crafting tools, like the laser cutter/engraver or the Cricut, and are a great introduction to the makerspace’s offerings. Kimberly remarks that attendees often return to the makerspace after her classes, ready to put their newfound knowledge to work.

At HCLS Central Branch, my colleagues, Roslyn and Mikki, and I offer Craft Works twice a month. Each month, we feature a different project. Our strive to create a welcoming environment for adults to express their creativity. One of my favorite features is how supportive and encouraging everyone is. Oftentimes, as the class winds down, our attendees take time to admire each other’s projects made during the class.

Visit howardcounty.librarycalendar.com for more details and to register for the classes on this page and the next, as well as many others.

RANDOM CRAFTS OF KINDNESS
For adults. Register at bit.ly/rcok
Learn to create something new, spend some relaxing time making art and crafting with your neighbors, and share your creations with other community members in random acts of kindness. All supplies provided.
Water Color Bookmarks: Create watercolor bookmarks for National Watercolor Month.
Sat, Jul 13 at 3 – 4 pm | Savage Branch
Cyanotypes: Take advantage of the harsh sun of August by making Cyanotype art and applying them to office supplies.
Sat, Aug 10 at 3 – 4 pm | Savage Branch

CRAFT WORKS
For adults. Register at bit.ly/craftworks_central
Let your creativity shine in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Each month, learn about different art media and explore new techniques.
July: Pressed Flower Sun-catcher
Tue, Jul 23 at 7 – 8:30 pm | Central Branch
Thu, Jul 25 at 2 – 3:30 pm | Central Branch
August: Resin Bookmarks
Tue, Aug 20 at 7 – 8:30 pm | Central Branch
Thu, Aug 22 at 2 – 3:30 pm | Central Branch

ART IN THE AFTERNOON & EVENING
Explore new artistic themes or media in a relaxed, welcoming environment. Create art inspired by the wildlife and scenery of the Chesapeake Bay. Choose from a variety of projects.
Chesapeake Bay Art Workshop
Tue, Aug 20 at 7 – 8:30 pm | Elkridge Branch

MINDFUL MAKING
Cyanotype Prints
Slow down with us at Mindful Making, where we focus on process over product and discover the meditative benefits of simple acts of creation. In August, we create cyanotype sun prints. All materials provided.
Thu, Aug 1 at 7 – 8 pm | Miller Branch

SEWING SKILLS
How to Repair Clothing
For adults. Register at bit.ly/diy_repair
Learn the basics of clothing repair to extend the lifetime of your clothing, including how to restitch a seam, repair hems, and patch tears. Some prior experience with using a sewing machine recommended.
Wed, Aug 14 at 7 – 8:30 pm | Elkridge Branch

Booker stands in front of a desk and shelves of books holding a golden ticket.

Happy Reading this Summer!

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Booker, the library's mascot owl, strides out from a spinning globe while carrying a suitcase.

Dear Parents of HCPSS students,

Summer is almost here! In addition to fireworks, family time, and barbecues, I’m looking forward to tackling my summer reading list.

I’m proud that the Howard County Public School System and Howard County Library System are again partnering to present a fun and engaging summer reading experience for our community. I hope this letter encourages your child – and your whole family – to participate.

Here’s why:
There are games (and prizes!) for each age group, including an attractive reading journal for adults. Begin your summer reading adventure on June 1. The children and teens games celebrate reading (including graphic novels, comic books, and audiobooks) and activities.

Summer reading helps connect your family to the library this summer. That includes six celebrations, hundreds of free summer classes and activities for all ages, and STEAM classes for middle and high school students. HCLS has an amazing collection, and staff that love helping your child select a book they’ll love. Learn about it all at hclibrary.org/summer.

Just like a dessert with secret veggies in it, this fun is good for you! Reading all summer has been shown not just to eliminate slide in reading but also to help students advance their skills.

Get started! Every elementary school student will receive a gameboard at their school. Middle and high school students can pick up gameboards at their school media centers. Additional copies may be picked up at any Howard County Library System branch. I know that library staff are ready to answer questions and get you started!

New this year: When your elementary student finishes summer reading and submits a ticket to the library to receive their prize, please check the box authorizing the library to share their success with their school so we can continue to celebrate them when they return to school in the fall.

Happy reading!

Sincerely,
William J. Barnes
HCPSS Superintendent

Booker, the library's mascot owl, strides out from a spinning globe while carrying a suitcase.

Summer Reading Adventures 2024

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Booker, the library's mascot owl, strides out from a spinning globe while carrying a suitcase.

by Jean B.

It’s summer, hooray! So much free time!
It’s summer, oh, no! So much free time!

What will you do with the kids this summer? Check out the library’s summer reading program, which begins June 1. Join in the adventure. It’s FREE, it’s for everyone!

So what’s in it for you? FUN! Borrow music, dance and sing! Borrow puppets and put on a show. Take home the Gingerbread Man literacy activity kit, and build a boat that floats. Get a book of jokes to share. Take our Summer Reading Mascot on a journey as Flat Booker.

BOREDOM BUSTERS. Try some activity ideas from the summer reading game board at home, at the library, or in your neighborhood. Party at our branch Summer Reading Celebrations (see p. 11) scattered throughout the summer. You may discover safari surprises, mythological creatures, carnival games, and more. The one thing that you won’t find is boredom!

STRUCTURE and GOALS. Instead of school routines, use your game board as a daily brain-builder. Make a plan to read together every day and complete a space on the game board. Visit the library often — where your child can collect a stamp for completed activities, earn a sticker, and find more great things to borrow. It all builds to a great goal: complete the game and earn a summer reading prize – hooray!

A (SECRET) BOOST TO SCHOOL SKILLS. Did you know? Reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing all summer helps reduce “summer slide,” so your kids are ready for the transition to a new grade in August.

AIR CONDITIONED COMFORT. On the hottest days of summer, you can find cool spaces and even cooler events at HCLS’ six branches. Crafts, STEAM activities, games, book clubs, movies – it’s all happening at your library.

Get on board and pick up your map for a Summer Reading Adventure at any HCLS branch, beginning June 1. Bet you can’t wait for summer to arrive with lots of time to explore and learn. See you at the library!

Join Booker in games for ages birth – 4 and ages 5 – 10. Teens (ages 11 – 18) participate in a raffle. Adults receive the new 2024 Reading Challenges booklet.

For book lists, classes, and more, visit hclibrary.org/summer.

SUMMER READING CELEBRATIONS
For all ages. Drop in to these sessions happening all summer! For details, visit hclibrary.org/summer
Passport to Adventure
Tue, Jun 18; 3 – 7 pm | Glenwood Branch
Party on the Patio
Wed, Jun 26; 5 – 8 pm | Central Branch
Summer Reading Carnival
Fri, Jul 19; 11 am – 2 pm | East Columbia Branch
Summer Safari
Sat, Jul 20; 11 am – 2 pm | Savage Branch
Mythological Creatures of Legend
Thu, Aug 15; 6 – 8 pm | Miller
Summer Reading Celebration
Sat, Aug 24; 10 am – 4 pm | Elkridge Branch

Jean B. is a Children’s Instructor and Research Specialist at the Central Branch who loves reading books for all ages when she isn’t enjoying the outdoors.

Finding Community and Connection at the Library

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An older woman in a striped shirt helps a younger woman start a crochet project with yellow yarn.
Participants gather at HCLS Central Branch for an ongoing class focusing on knitting and needlepoint.

by Emily B.

These days, it seems more difficult than ever to find your community and make genuine connections. Over the past four years, the pandemic has re-shaped our lives. The way that we live, communicate, and connect has changed. These rapid changes led U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy to issue an advisory on the “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” in 2023.

Dr. Murthy remarked, “We’re seeing more forces that take us away from one another and fewer of the forces that used to bring us together.” Adjusting to this new social landscape is tough, especially for older Americans. It can be even more daunting without the built-in social opportunities found at work and school. Read the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on social connection at http://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/priorities/connection.

Part of the framework to address the loneliness epidemic calls for a strengthening of social infrastructure, which includes public libraries and senior centers. These types of physical community spaces, known as “third places,” are any social space separate from your home (first place) or work (second place).

Howard County Library System’s classes and events are a great way to connect and find a community. Here’s a sampling of some of our ongoing offerings:

If you love to read, try The Unbook Reading Group. Meeting monthly at Backwater Books in Old Ellicott City, it offers an opportunity for readers to connect and chat without the pressure of assigned reading.

Get crafty with a range of creative classes for adults at various HCLS branches. Connect and make a new craft in a supportive, friendly environment with Craft Works. Pins and Needles meets every Thursday, alternating between HCLS Central and Miller Branches. Converse with other adults
as you work on your knitting, crochet, embroidery, or sewing project.

Give Mah Jongg a try at HCLS Miller Branch. Mah Jongg Meet Up occurs twice a month, welcoming players of all experience levels. Looking to stay active? Start your Mondays off on the right foot Walking with East Columbia Branch and 50+ Center.

You can find and register for even more classes and events for adults at hclibrary.org. Enter the class name into the search bar.

  • Craft Works @ Central Branch | Dates and times vary between one Tuesday evening and one Thursday afternoon every month.
  • Walking with East Columbia & 50+ Center | Mondays; 9:30 – 10:30 am
  • Pins & Needles | Every Thursday; 10 am – 12 pm with 1st and 3rd Thursdays @ Central and 2nd and 4th & 5th Thursdays @ Miller
  • UnBook Reading Group @ Backwater Books | Wednesdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm May 15, Jun 12
  • Mah Jongg Meetup @ Miller | 2nd and last Tuesday evenings; 6:30 – 8 pm
  • Bingo Social | Thu May 16 2 – 4 pm at Glenwood & Thu Jun 27 2 – 4 pm East Columbia

The DIY Center Gets Ready for Spring

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By Eric L. and Kelly M.

DIY Elkridge Branch

From Kelly about gardening:

Spring is in the air, and I am eagerly getting ready for the growing season. I’ve been getting started by borrowing tools from the HCLS DIY Education Center, and it’s been a big help for all the times I just need that one specific tool to get the job done. So, let’s look at how the DIY Center can help you with that spring project list! 

Looking to prepare a garden for planting? Use a broadfork to help with tilling and aerating the soil. It can also help with mixing in soil amendments such as compost, peat moss, and fertilizers while preserving soil structure.  

Need to remove weeds? We’ve got you covered. Borrow our hand cultivator or try a digging knife for the tough weeds. Sometimes it’s more comfortable to weed from a standing position; for that, you might like the garden claw, which is also handy for cultivating the soil, or the standing weed puller, which is as simple as its name implies. 

If you’re new to planting, you might appreciate the seed sowing template. This helpful guide lays out exactly where to plant each seed without a need to measure between rows. 

Having the proper tool can make completing a task a joy, and gardening should be enjoyed. Stop on by the DIY Center to get yourself set for a great growing season. 

12/9/23 – Library customers learn how to build a shelving unit during a class at Howard County Library System Elkridge Branch.

From Eric about wood-working:

Since we opened in 2018, the DIY Education Center at Elkridge Branch has lent more items each year. We have many new, exciting items in 2024. Lending power tools, baking pans, and sewing machines in a library is not a commonplace thing. I would imagine you might live locally, so if you’ve not yet taken advantage of this amazing resource, drop by soon. 

We have just about every power tool you need for all your home improvement projects. The compound double bevel miter saw is one of most popular tools. This year we’ve added table saws that allow you to “rip cut,” or cut boards long ways. New this year, you can borrow a biscuit joiner that makes identical cuts in boards so you can join them side by side (in a biscuit). This tool comes in handy when making a tabletop, for example. The powered hand planer removes material from wood planks, allowing you to quickly “plane” them down. What’s more, we have clamps, corner clamps, and face clamps. These are super helpful for joining wood together for more intermediate carpentry projects. 

You are always welcome to stop by and chat with a knowledgeable staff member about the tools necessary for a project. The classes we offer are really the next step to learning how-to and hands-on. Instructors demonstrate basic techniques, and students may try certain tools. Questions are always welcome throughout the class.

DIY Raised Garden Beds
For adults. Register.
Learn and participate in the construction of a raised garden bed. Learn the building techniques and materials needed (all available to borrow from the DIY Education Center at Elkridge Branch) and tips for starting your Spring planting!
Sat, Mar 16 | 11 am – 12:30 pm
Miller Branch

Seed Starting
For ages 11+ & adults. Register.
Starting vegetables and flowering plants in preparation for spring and summer gardens is fun and rewarding. In this hands-on workshop, start vegetable or flower seeds to take home. Learn from Master Gardeners how to select the right seeds and starting media and how to provide proper germination and growing conditions for seedlings. All materials provided.
Sat, Mar 23 | 11 am – 12 pm
Elkridge Branch

How to Make a DIY Cat Tree
For adults. Register.
Learn the basic carpentry techniques and design skills to build your own cat tree. We discuss the new and re-purposed materials that can be used. Learn through demonstration and participation about the tools you can borrow from the DIY Education Center.
Sat, Apr 20 | 11 am – 1 pm
Elkridge Branch

Kelly is a DIY Instructor & Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She likes to get her hands in the dirt, try new craft projects, and see how many books she can read at one time.

Eric is a DIY Instructor and Research Specialist at HCLS Elkridge Branch. He enjoys reading, films, music, doing nearly anything outside, and people.