Community Building with Mah Jongg

February 21, 2024mahjchick 2 Comments

Mah Jongg Meet Up at HCLS Miller Branch.

By Stacey F.

“We held our own with the experts!”
A favorite quote from two proud Mah Johngg Meet Up players

Note: This post refers to the American version of Mah Jongg. I have only a nodding acquaintance with Asian Mah Jongg, but I hope to learn how to play that version, too.

The community is the heart of the library – particularly since returning from the pandemic. In February 2024, we mark the second anniversary of one such community building activity: Mah Jongg Meet Up.

Growing up, my grandmother loved playing Mah Jongg with “the girls.” They would play, chat, and eat Entenmann’s snacks. While she would never let my sister or me be around when they played, she would show us her tiles and explain how to play the game. I was fascinated. When she passed away, I asked for her Mah Jongg set. I eventually joined a local group and playing regularly made me want to find (or create) a bigger community.

A group of Mah Jongg Meet Up participants stands near two tables set up with mah jongg games at a Mah Jongg Meet Up at Miller Branch.

Inspired by a friend who taught a Mah Jongg class at Carroll County Public Library, I started planning to offer something similar before the pandemic. I did not give up hope! In December 2021, I was able to host my first Mah Jongg 101 class. The response was exciting, and we held our first Mah Jongg Meet Up in February 2022.

Then, I got a phone call from someone from Howard Community College (HCC) asking if we could meet more often. HCC offers an American Mah Jongg class, and the HCC instructors volunteered to assist with more regular playing sessions at the library. A partnership was born, and we now offer (with my colleague Julie) meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month.

I love how Meet Ups foster community within the library. Some people come by themselves, and others bring friends. What makes me kvell* is when strangers become friends and form new Mah Jongg groups. One group of friends attended an early set of Mah Jongg 101 classes then came to the monthly Meet Ups to practice. When I saw them at the library over the summer, they told me how much they love the game and meet weekly to play, then go out to lunch afterwards.

Recently, I posted about Mah Jongg 101 on Facebook and received a message from a friend from junior high. She joined with a group of friends, who enjoyed the class. They now come to Meet Ups, as well as meet on their own. They laughingly told me how they played with all of my handouts in front of them, trying to figure out what’s going on.

Attendance and interest in Mah Jongg continues to grow. Our email reminder list includes more than 120 participants, and we routinely fill six tables. New people pop in and regulars help teach newcomers. I am truly verklempt** about this community I helped build at the library.

*kvell – [Yiddish] to feel happy or proud
**verklempt – [Yiddish] overcome with emotion; unable to speak

Want to learn how to play American Mah Jongg? We have an upcoming class in April. Register once for both sessions.

Want to join us for a Mah Jongg Meet Up? We meet on the second & fourth Tuesday of the month. Check the calendar. No registration is required.

And, of course, we’ve got books on Mah Jongg, too!

Learn about the history of Mah Jongg with Mahjong: A Chinese Game and the Making of American Culture by Annelise Heinz.

Want to learn to play? This is my favorite book for new players: American Mah Jongg for Everyone: The Complete Beginner’s Guide by Gregg Swain & Toby Salk.

Stacey F. is the Children’s Instruction & Research Supervisor at the Miller Branch. She has been at HCLS since 2004 (this time) and has been playing Mah Jongg on and off since 1995, which is why she chose Mahjchick as her Girl Scout camp name. If you would like to know more about Mah Jongg, feel free to reach out: stacey.freedman@hclibrary.org

A photograph of the Longest Table event, showing people sitting at tables smiling and talking.

The Conversation Continues!

October 20, 2023Admin Leave a comment

A photograph of the Longest Table event, showing people sitting at tables — 9/30/23 – Longest Table 2023 event held at Howard Community College.

by Katie DiSalvo-Thronson

On September 30, Howard County Library System held the Longest Table, an annual event to help people form new relationships, build community, learn, and enjoy themselves in the process. A randomized mix of more than 185 participants enjoyed a facilitated conversation with new friends during dinner. Every year we take a snapshot of one big question. This year, it was: “How do you wish we could learn, grow, or progress as a community?”

People responded that they want MORE community! They wish they knew more neighbors and saw more people coming together for cultural celebrations or to address a community problem. They said they wished there was a little (or a lot) more empathy out there in the world!

If you also want to see more community connections in our community, we’d love to hear from you at an upcoming Idea Session. We plan to talk about how the library, community groups, and community members like you might build more community connections in our county:

Virtual Idea Session, Mon October 23, 12 – 1 pm (please register) online.

In-person Idea Session, Wed October 25, 7 – 8 pm, HCLS Savage Branch (please register).

Both sessions cover the same material.

So, what are some of the details we heard in response to, “How do you wish we could learn, grow, or progress as a community?”

The biggest group of people, about sixty-five, wanted more social ties and connection. For some, this was aspirational: “We need spaces and opportunities to DREAM together,” or “honor the concept of ‘it takes a village’.” Other comments focused on the basics of building more community, like the person who said we need “relationship building – getting to know your neighbor. Intentional interaction.” One participant said, “We need to come together in groups to have courage to come out. Too easy to just go home.”

Other people want individuals in our community to connect with people who are different from them, including across generations. Forty-four people wanted our community to have more social and emotional skills or strengths, with an emphasis on listening, empathy, and care. These included:

“Listen to different perspectives. Really listen!”
“Ability to see our issues through a lens of what is best for our whole community, not just me and mine (a girl can dream).”
“More radical inclusion of people with disabilities.”
“Lessening the fear other people have towards Black people.”

Another subset of people identified specific problems for our community to address. Affordable housing was the most frequently mentioned challenge, along with food, medical care, and finding resources. The need for more opportunities for young people was also a common theme, with an understanding that, “things are not free and accessible in the community for high school students.” A few people brought up improving transportation and wealth disparities in our county.

Some ideas were sharp:

“To measure community volunteer rate like we do employment and education.”

“The issues of non-connection are systemic so the ‘solutions’ should aim to counter on all levels; ground-up and top-down – individual, communal, strategic.”

Others were delightfully mysterious! According to one participant, our community needs: “the more.”

We’re all needed for “the more!” We want to thank everyone who worked on, volunteered for, and participated in the Longest Table. We hope you can join these efforts to build more connections in our community, whether through next year’s Longest Table, the upcoming ideas sessions (register at links above), or another community-building HCLS class.

Katie is the Community Engagement and Partnerships Manager for HCLS. She loves people, the big questions, the woods, and chocolate.

Make Your Reservation for The Longest Table

September 6, 2023September 6, 2023Admin Leave a comment

Saturday, September 30
Howard Community College
Social Hour: 5 pm
Dinner: 6 pm

Purchase tickets: $15
students: $10

There are many caring, inspirational people living in Howard County. – 2022 participant

There is a place at our table for you! The Longest Table returns to Howard Community College as an opportunity to meet new people and share a meal. The guided conversation is an authentic, engaging, and meaningful way to discuss issues important to our community. Last year, we talked about our inspirations, as well as hunger, housing, and other vital topics.

The evening begins with a social hour, allowing people to mix and mingle with friends, colleagues, and other participants before sitting at the long tables. If you are comfortable with the idea, we ask that you sit at a table with people you don’t already know. It’s the best way to have a wide variety of experiences and ideas present for each group.

Research shows that, “intentionally setting aside time and space to eat with others creates a place for community members to dialogue and share with each other. Community members feel like they have a voice and a stake in their community whether they share nourishing food, or nourishing wisdom.”*

Be nourished by dinner and your neighbors’ wisdom at The Longest Table.

Everyone, high school age and up, is welcome.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Gold: Friends and Foundation of Howard County Library System, Howard Hughes Corporation
In-Kind: Howard Community College

*Katz, Rebecca, “Passing the Salt: How Eating Together Creates Community” (2012). Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects. Paper 351. http://digitalcommons.wku.edu/stu_hon_theses/351

The book cover shows the title in black lettering against a pale green background, with a doctor's stethoscope in silver and salmon tones coiled through the letters of the title.

Joan is OK

March 31, 2023Admin Leave a comment

By Gabriela P.

When we meet Joan, the titular heroine of Wang’s novel, the first assessment might be that her story starts where others potentially end. She has everything: she’s in her mid-thirties, living in Manhattan, and a brilliant attending I.C.U. physician. She is ticking off her American Dream checklist, seemingly without a hitch. Having grown up in California with poor immigrant parents, Joan views professional success as a great equalizer. “The joy of having been standardized,” she says, “was that you didn’t need to think beyond a certain area. Like a death handled well, a box had been put around you, and within it you could feel safe.”

But is Joan, or Jiu-an, OK? Of course she says she is. After all, doesn’t she tell her coworkers so everyday, during their brief and polite interactions? Yet they never feel connected with her and would be the first to doubt her response as genuine. While there is concern from some, as when Human Resources reaches out over her excessive shifts, there are also those who delight in her seemingly irreplaceable work ethic. The hospital director calls Joan, “a gunner and a new breed of doctor, brilliant and potent, but with no interests outside work and sleep.” In the first few pages we spend with her, upon receiving news of her father’s death, she flies to Shanghai for the funeral and back in only 48 hours.

Joan’s wealthy older brother, Fang, thinks she needs to give up the Upper West Side for the safety of the suburbs and start a private practice. His wife, Tami, thinks it’s high time Joan gets married and starts a family, because, “a woman isn’t a real woman until she’s had a child.” Her mother fails to connect with her through shopping, and even her neighbor is a habitual overstepper. To everyone in her orbit, Joan is someone who has to be taught how to live.

But as the story progresses, Joan ends up having to reflect on her obsession with productivity as she takes a hard look at her relationships to family and society. “Was it harder to be a woman? Or an immigrant? Or a Chinese person outside of China?,” she asks herself. “And why did being any good at any of the above require you to edit yourself down so you could become someone else?”

The developing Covid pandemic looms over the few months we spend with Joan, which impacts her personally as well as professionally. Wang details the news coming out of Wuhan and elsewhere matter-of-factly — increasing case counts and deaths, border and business closings — sparking a sense of dread in readers who know all too well what’s coming. Joan deadpans: “Some government officials also believed that it was important to keep the American people informed and reminded of where the virus really came from. So, the China virus, the Chinese virus, the kung flu.” Online she starts to see, “clips of Asian people being attacked in the street and on the subways. Being kicked, pushed and spat on for wearing masks and being accused of having brought nothing else into the country except disease.”

Joan is angry. If there is one thing that Wang knows is important for her character, it’s to keep her emotions unmuted to the reader. While cool on the surface, Joan bubbles underneath. Her deeper self only seeps through via dry comebacks that leave others chuckling uneasily.

So Joan probably isn’t OK. She’s a bit awkward, tense, and has complicated relationships with family as well as an affinity for work that others can’t seem to wrap their heads around. But Wang gives us a character so unapologetically true to herself that you can’t help wanting to get to know her, even when it’s pretty clear that she wants nothing more than to be left alone.

Wang’s narrative poses subtle questions about belonging and the definition of “home.” There are moments of unexpected tenderness and reminders of the devastating toll the pandemic had on communities and the individuals within them. And of course, the reader has to ask themselves at the end whether anyone is really OK, and if it’s such a bad thing to be.

Gabriela is a customer service specialist at the Miller Branch. She loves long walks, reading with her dog, and a good cup of coffee.

The photograph depicts a woman in traditional Indian clothing of red, black, white, holding a microphone with arm outstretched as if belting out a song. She stands in two spotlights shining on her from above, and in front of a representation of the globe with the words "World Language Karaoke" surrounding the globe in yellow. All of this is against a backdrop of twinkling stars against in the darkness of outer space.

World Language Karaoke

January 23, 2023madammommy Leave a comment

by Piyali C.

“Reading is not really my thing. I don’t come to the library.” My customer told me this as he waited for me to find a book that he needed for his school project. He was honest with me about his preferences. He was only at the library because his teacher made him come.

“Do you like music?” I asked him.

“Oh yes. I love music.” He replied enthusiastically.

“Did you know that we are having a class called World Language Karaoke ” I asked him.

“WHAT? You can do karaoke in a library?” He was incredulous.

The idea of library being a quiet place filled with books is a thing of the past. To quote Paula Poundstone, libraries have truly become, “raucous clubhouses for free speech, controversy, and community.” And we love to celebrate our diverse community every chance we get. Our community speaks so many different languages. It makes us smile as we walk around our library and hear the plethora of languages being spoken around us. We thought, why not celebrate all these different languages and bring everyone together for an evening of music? After all, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow did say that “music is the universal language of humanity.”

Join us on Thursday, January 26 at 7 pm for World Language Karaoke at Miller Branch to sing songs in the language that you prefer, INCLUDING ENGLISH.

When you register, please tell us the song or songs that you are going to sing in the ‘Special Notes’ field, so we can create a playlist before the class and keep it ready for you to belt it out!

Piyali is an instructor and research specialist at HCLS Miller Branch, where she co-facilitates Global Reads and facilitates Light But Not Fluffy (starting in March 2023!) and keeps the hope alive that someday she will reach the bottom of her to-read list.

Made From Scratch Exhibit

December 23, 2022Admin Leave a comment

by Joel F.

We can’t move forward without knowing where we have been. This is the essence of why the Jewish Federation of Howard County took on the creation of the Howard County Jewish History Project. By looking back at how the rapid growth of Columbia impacted the evolution of the organized Jewish community in the area, we are better able to chart a path into the future that builds on the work that has been put in by the leaders of the past.

The Jewish Federation is the major instrument of Jewish philanthropy and engagement in Howard County. We are a community-driven organization committed to taking care of the needs of the Jewish people and building a vibrant Jewish future in Howard County, in Israel, and around the world. We are responsible for looking out for the entire Jewish community in the county, not just one demographic segment or one geographic pocket.

The Howard County History Project, “Made From Scratch: Creating the Howard County Jewish Community,” is the type of venture that only a communally-minded organization like ours could take on. We are so grateful to the wonderful historians who worked on this project with us, Deb Weiner and Karen Falk. Assembling this collection of artifacts and anecdotes took over three years, and their process was greatly impacted by the pandemic. Howard County’s Jewish history dates back to the 19th century, but the exhibit starts in the 1950s, when 12 Jewish families settled in the area. It takes viewers through the most important inflection points in the community’s history over the next 50 years then wraps up with an epilogue that gives an overview of what the local Jewish community looks like today.

We are thrilled that the the exhibit’s tour stops next at HCLS Central Branch in the Equity Resource Center from January 4 – February 10. HCLS is one of our most important community partners, and we are always excited to collaborate with them. And if you are wondering when might be a good time to check out the exhibit, maybe try to schedule your visit on January 19, when the Federation and the library partner on an event with local author Diane Tuckman to complement the exhibit.

Photo of a Joel Frankel, a dark haired man with a beard, wearing a blue suit and red tie.

Joel Frankel was appointed the executive director of The Jewish Federation of Howard County on July 1, 2021. He and his family moved from St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent almost 10 years working at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. Joel and his wife Leah have two sons. As a family they love exploring everything this area has to offer, especially the tot lots, playgrounds, and all of the amazing trails.

A crowd of fifth-graders dressed in colorful costumes talk excitedly while at Battle of the Books 2022.

Celebrating 20 years of A+ Partners in Education

October 17, 2022Kristen B. Leave a comment

by Katie DiSalvo-Thronson

In the fall of 2002, Howard County Public School System and Howard County Library System formed A+ Partners in Education to expand the educational opportunities and enhance the academic achievement of every Howard County student. It was one of the first systemwide school and public library partnerships in the nation.

We are proud to celebrate 20 years of collaboration. Together we have furthered students’ academic success, enhanced their love of reading and learning, and forged a connection to libraries that will serve them their whole lives.

Right from the start
The library is integrated into student’s experiences from the beginning of their academic career. Kindergarten, Here We Come prepares and inspires incoming kindergarteners and gives them a chance to tour a school bus. Then, every kindergarten class takes a field trip to the library for a class, a tour, and a friendly connection to this important family resource. We are proud to add another point of early connection: next year, the HCLS mobile unit will visit every HCPSS Pre-K to engage students and parents!

Connecting to serve students
Every school has a dedicated HCLS liaison, and our educators and staffs collaborate to offer hundreds of school-based HCLS classes and events that serve those school communities. Two great examples of that work: supporting National History Day student projects, and facilitating parent and student engagement at Deep Run Elementary School (both initiatives featured in the current issue of Source, our award-winning publication). We also collaborate on summer reading lists and promotion, to help all students read and continue to learn all summer.

Our systems are connected, too! Did you know every HCPSS student has an account with the library system, built right into the student portal, hcpss.me? With one click, students can access all online library resources and reserve books at HCLS branches. In the last year, students borrowed 80,337 books, e-books, and other resources on A+ accounts.

A+ Partners also connect to offer students free support via Brainfuse: last year, HCPSS students received 12,164 free online tutoring and test prep sessions and used Brainfuse study tools 52,355 times!

A+ Makes Learning Fun
In Battle of the Books, students experience reading as dynamic, social, and exciting. Teams of fifth graders read 10-14 titles over a year and practice answering questions about each book in a competition with pun-ny teamwork, costumes, and a dance party! Affectionately referred to as BOB, the contest grew from one high school gym to six sites. This year, we celebrated with 1,234 students at Merriweather Post Pavilion.

HCLS also sponsors the local competition of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. More than 7,000 students from 41 HCPSS schools participated last year alone. Saketh Sundar, one of the historic Octo-champs of the National Spelling Bee, was a four-time winner of the HCLS Spelling Bee!

More Outreach, Equity & Impact
HCLS is deeply grateful to the leadership of HCPSS, library instructors, and school-based educators, staff, parents, and volunteers who help us serve children through this partnership.

We look ahead with energy and commitment. HCLS is dedicated to strategic, collaborative work and additional outreach and engagement with schools to help every student and their family enjoy increased opportunity and academic success with library resources. Whether as a volunteer, school leader, or prospective sponsor, we welcome you to reach out and join us in this important work.

Here’s to 20 more years!

Katie is the Community Education and Engagement Manager for HCLS. She loves people, the big questions, the woods, and chocolate.

There's a place at our table for you! The longest table. Text accompanied by three circle photos: a mother and daughter, two friends, and two women looking at the table.

Interview & Invitation: Join us at the Longest Table

September 21, 2022Kristen B. Leave a comment

A Black woman with short hair, wearing purple sunglasses, gestures while sitting at a table.

Laura Johnson works for the United Way of Central Maryland as Senior Vice President and Chief Acceleration Officer. She is also a member of the library’s Racial Equity Alliance and will be a host at the upcoming Longest Table event on Oct 1. She recently shared her experiences at the Longest Table.

How many years have you participated?

Two to date. The first I attended was online during the pandemic with Daryl Davis. I previously had heard him on a podcast and was excited to see him as the featured speaker at the Longest Table. He shares a riveting story about his journey as a musician and his quest to open hearts and minds with members of the Ku Klux Klan. At the Longest Table, I held onto his every word. To be at a virtual table with him and our community was a a profoundly memorable and moving experience.

What made you decide to do it for the first time?

Beyond the opportunity to meet Daryl Davis, I really just love the idea. I love the name: The Longest Table, where anyone is welcome and anyone can have a seat. There’s a place for everyone. I love that we can make the “table” as long as we need to make it.

Have you always been a host?

I have been a host both years. This year, being a member of the Racial Equity Alliance, we’ve had the opportunity to contribute to the “menu” for conversation so I appreciated the invitation for input.

I like to welcome people, to make sure that everyone feels like they belong and that they have a good experience. Hosting is in my DNA from growing up and having big holiday gatherings as well as coordinating major events in my professional line of work, I gain great enjoyment in connecting with others. Being a host for the Longest Table means creating space for sharing, laughing, and elevating our common bonds; honoring our lived experiences.

What do you love about The Longest Table?

There is something so inherently simple and impactful about breaking bread together. It’s like family dinner – where we laugh, cook, tell stories, debate, disagree sometimes, and just enjoy being with each other.

Last year in person, in particular… It just did something amazing for my spirit after sheltering in place for so long. The weather was simply beautiful, with the sun shining on everyone’s faces. I felt a connection, being there in person, and I was not truly prepared for the deep conversations and feelings that they evoked.

I love the experience! We are all so busy, and we don’t always stop to see people and connect – beyond “hey, how are you.” This event allows people to stop for a moment and connect for a moment in time – to SEE each other.

I go back to Daryl Davis, who shared how as a child he was so miffed and confused about racism, after having been the target of a hateful act in a parade. He couldn’t understand the rationale of racism. His story of convincing several klansmen to hang up their hoods was so profound and his ability to find common ground, to help people evolve to a different understanding of our connectedness as humans inspired me.

He was able to hear and be open to different perspectives, then he invited us to do the same. I heard such joy and heartbreak at last year’s event and appreciated the opportunity to be present.

What does the Longest Table have to do with racial equity?

We all come from different places and lived experiences, so this provides a respectful and safe access point to build common ground. It also pushes us to acknowledge the internal work we need to do to heal, to speak up, to do something that builds a community where we all have a “seat at the table.” The incidences of hate in Howard County may not always make the evening news but they’re lurking here in this community. We also know there are so many inequities and disparate outcomes across education, housing, health etc.

Howard County is an amazing place to live, work, and play – but we have much more work to do.

What advice would you have for someone considering coming for the first time?

Listen with an open heart.

Find joy and share joy – however that shows up. There’s something joyous in breaking bread with neighbors.

Take the experience to heart and see what part carries on into our everyday lives. What are the next steps to make Howard County a better place?

Tell us a little about yourself?

I am the new kid on the block at the United Way of Central Maryland, which is a sponsor of the Longest Table. I have a new position responsible for looking at how to accelerate impact. The task is to stop admiring the problem and find ways to take best practices and create something different. I like to think about how, with Covid, we marshaled the best science and funding to make vaccinations a reality as quickly as possible. I have hope that we can apply a similar type of strategy to social issues.

The United Way is an organization that truly has a heart. I work with real people who are truly compassionate and want to help people live their best lives. People truly care.

I am also honored to represent the local chapter of the NAACP. I have held positions on the executive committee as the past education chair for Howard County’s NAACP, and been state co-chair of education committee – Maryland State conference (MSC NAACP). Although it’s technically a volunteer opportunity, it’s an everyday commitment. I believe, though, that no price is too high when you’re fighting for what is right and just.

Do you have any favorite memories or thoughts about the Library?

I come from a family of readers and educators, and the library was always a summer escape. The library is such an anchor for any community. Our library system here in Howard County is one of the most progressive and modern systems that I’ve seen in terms of engagement with community and non-traditional thinking about spaces. There are all those tools in the DIY Center at Elkridge, and sound studios, and, of course, events like the Longest Table.

The library has such beautiful spaces! And, they are true community spaces.

There's a place at our table for you! The longest table. Text accompanied by three circle photos: a mother and daughter, two

Please join us for dinner and conversation beginning at 5 pm at the Longest Table on October 1 at Howard Community College. Tickets are on sale now for the rain or shine event, with an indoor space available in case of inclement weather.

Join a Book Discussion Group

September 2, 2022September 6, 2022Kristen B. 2 Comments

A stack of books next to a keyboard, being checked out of the library.

Books: They are one of the fundamental reasons for a public library – purchasing, lending, recommending, and discussing. After all, as much fun as reading is all by itself, sometimes there are books you NEED to talk about. HCLS staff facilitate a wide variety of groups that read and discuss all sorts of books – from nonfiction to romance to graphic novels. Some meet online, some in person, and some change depending on guidelines.

Maybe you’re looking for something new to do this fall? Maybe you (like me) have missed social interaction and think an hour or so, in a small group, once a month, sounds about right?

Consider joining one of these regular meetings, led by library staff. Each month’s title is held at the branch for you for the month previous to the meeting, unless otherwise noted.

CENTRAL BRANCH

Eclectic Evenings: Second Tuesdays at 7 pm
Read an eclectic array of various genres, both contemporary and classic.
Sep 13: The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

Noontime Books: Third Thursdays at 12 pm
Consider a variety of fiction and nonfiction books, diverse in themes, characters, settings, time periods, and authorship.
Sep 15: The Good Earth by Pearl Buck

Reads of Acceptance: Second Thursdays at 7 pm
Discuss books pertaining to LGBTQ+ experiences! All identities are welcome.
Sep 8: The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

EAST COLUMBIA BRANCH

Black Fiction: First Saturdays at 1 pm
Discuss critically-acclaimed recently published fiction titles by black authors of African descent.
Sep 3: The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

Good Reads: Second Mondays at 7 pm
Consider fiction and nonfiction titles that embrace universal themes.
Sep 12: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

In Other Worlds: Fourth Wednesdays at 7 pm
Welcome sci-fi enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Sep 28: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

Nonfiction Addiction: Third Thursdays at 7 pm
Expand your mind reading and discussing a variety of nonfiction books, from memoirs to history, and from philosophy to popular science.
Sep 22: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Romantic Reads: Fourth Wednesdays at 7 pm
Discuss your favorite romance author and book or series with other fellow romance readers.
Sep 28: any title by Suzanne Brockmann

Warning: Graphic Content: Third Tuesdays at 7 pm
Discover the full spectrum of what is available as a graphic novel – from Archie to horror and Caped Crusaders to crime drama.
Sep 20: Something is Killing the Children, vols. 1 & 2 by James Tynion IV

ELKRIDGE BRANCH

ELKS Excellent Reads: Second Tuesdays at 12:30 pm
Read mostly fiction, both contemporary and historical, as well as narrative nonfiction.
Sep 13: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Murder, Mischief and Mayhem: Fourth Thursdays at 7 pm
Discuss titles including detective, spy, intrigue, and mystery. Mostly fiction, occasionally true crime.
Sep 22: Transcription by Kate Atkinson

Read. Think. Talk.: First Mondays at 7 pm (Second Monday this month due to Labor Day holiday)
Discuss great novels about the American experience before they’re critically acclaimed television shows and films.
Sep 12: The Committed by Viet Thanh Nguyen

The Thursday Next Book Club: Third Thursdays at 7 pm
Read mostly fiction, both contemporary and historical, as well as narrative nonfiction.
Sep 15: What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster (One Maryland One Book selection)

GLENWOOD BRANCH

The Reading Cafe: Last Tuesdays at 7 pm
Dip into a different genre each month.
Sep 27: What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster (One Maryland One Book selection)

MILLER BRANCH

Asian American Literature: Second or Third Mondays at 7 pm
Enjoy a wide range of fiction, nonfiction, biography/autobiography that explores the Asian American identity and experiences.
Sep 19: On Gold Mountain by Lisa See

Bas Bleu: Third Wednesdays at 7 pm
Bas Bleu, French for “bluestocking,” refers to an intellectual or literary woman. We read a variety of literary fiction, and all are welcome – not just bluestockings!
Sep 21: What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster (One Maryland One Book selection)

Global Reads: First Mondays at 7 pm
Read a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books on different cultures around the world as well as immigrant fiction.
No meeting in September because of Labor Day holiday.

An Inconvenient Book Club: Meets quarterly on First Thursdays at 7 pm
Discuss speculative fiction, cli-fi (climate fiction), short stories, and verse — exploring themes of climate disruption, dystopia, recovery, and redemption. Next meeting in November.
Nov 3: Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

Spies, Lies & Alibis: First Tuesdays at 7 pm
Focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Sep 6: Two Spies in Caracas by Moisés Naím

Strictly Historical Fiction: Third Mondays at 2 pm
Step into the past and connect with characters living in times different than our own.
Sep 19: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue

SAVAGE BRANCH

Mystery: Second Wednesdays at 7 pm
Discuss a wide range of mysteries, including procedurals, detective novels, and capers.
Sep 14: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

Nonfiction: Third Wednesdays at 7 pm
Share your thoughts on a varied array of nonfiction selections.
Sep 21: Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth Century China by Jung Chang

Savage Hearts: Third Tuesdays at 2 pm
Enjoy romantic reads with others who love the genre.
Sep 20: The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren

IN THE COMMUNITY

Books on Tap: First Wednesdays at 6 pm – meets at The Periodic Table
Read a wide variety of titles and genres looking to experience an equally wide set of perspectives and experiences. Please arrange to borrow books as you would any other.
Sep 7: The Searcher by Tana French

Reading Human Rights: Varying Thursdays at 6:30 pm at East Columbia Branch
In partnership with the Office of Human Rights, read books that promote cultural awareness, diversity, equity.
Sep 29: The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

You may notice multiple discussions of What’s Mine and Yours by Naima Coster. This is the One Maryland One Book selection for 2022, and several groups will be reading it throughout the fall. Register here to join us for an event with author Naima Coster at Miller Branch on Tuesday, October 4 at 7 pm.

County Executive Dr. Calvin Ball and HCLS President & CEO Tonya Aikens, with other officials, cut the ribbon for the new mobile library van, whichis decorated in bright colors with many photos.

National Library Week: Reach Out!

April 6, 2022Kristen B. Leave a comment

by Katie DiSalvo-Thronson, Community Engagement and Partnership Manager

I believe outreach is for everybody, and it’s a first step towards many good things. Why not do some outreach today, and consider reaching out to the library?

Wait, what?

I’m Katie DiSalvo-Thronson, and I’ve got about 20 years of community engagement experience from girl scout cookie sales, to working for a community school in the Dominican Republic, to community organizing. I’ve seen the power of outreach and steps that can follow, again and again.

Today is also Library Outreach Day. It’s also National Library Week, and this year’s theme is Connect With the Library. In honor of all that, I want to share some inspiration!

I view “outreach” as simply reaching out. It can be as easy as a hello at the mailbox. It is extending a welcome to someone new and inviting them to start being in a relationship with you.

Reaching out helps us live in friendlier, more connected communities. Connecting to people outside of our familiar circles helps us gain new understanding of the world. New relationships and new knowledge mean new possibilities. Reaching out also gives us a chance to share who we are with others.

It’s a step outside of the familiar and predictable. It’s a small, brave thing to do that makes the world a better place.

StoryWalk station two dislays the cover and first page of Janey Monarch Seed. The black metal frame stands in lush greenery.

What is library outreach? Library outreach gives us a chance to share about the library – and we have beautiful spaces, incredible books and other resources, and tremendous free classes and events! Reaching out with that is phenomenal! We are committed to bringing as much as we can to the community. Did you know that we also have a new mobile unit, that provides books, children’s classes, and community engagement all over the county?

Library outreach also gives us a chance to listen and hear you! Did you know that we’ve recently talked to people at a flea market, a rock climbing event, and Howard Community College? That we connect with local civic, business, and cultural groups every day? Did you know that we’d like to connect to and hear from your community group? (we really would!)

Three Native American dancers in traditional costume danicng at the Native American Heritage Celebration held at the East Columbia Branch Library in the fall.

But then what?

After we’ve reached out and gotten to know each other, that’s when the magic can happen.

A Native American Heritage Month event with Ani Begay Auld, a local artist and activist, and the Howard County Office of Human Rights and Equity.
Presentations about library resources followed by a craft class with the Howard County Family Child Care Association.
Library-based food distributions by the Indian Cultural Association.
Presenting related Library books at an education session with Community Advocates of Rainbow Youth about how to support trans/non-binary youth.
A collaboration on story walks in the Middle Patuxent Environmental Area with local environmentalists and Howard County Recreation and Parks.
The NAACP’s young men’s group meeting in the Library’s new Equity Resource Center.
A great author event on the history of Muslim cooking with the Muslim Family Center.
A new project lending chromebooks and providing remote English Language Conversation Classes to parents at Deep Run Elementary School.
Local heroes featured on the Library podcast.

These are just a few of the ways we are collaborating with community members.

Bring your dreams here. Help your Library System provide the educational opportunities, community connections, culture, and joy that matter to you. Reach out to us, and let’s work on it together.

I mean it. Reach out to us! Talk to your favorite branch staffer or email me at
Katie.disalvo-thronson@hclibrary.org.

And try saying hi to someone new today. Odds are it’ll make you smile.

CHAPTER CHATS

Howard County Library System Blog

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