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New Year, New Adventures

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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.

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

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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!

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.  

The photograph shows four book covers selected from the podcast list against a blue background.

HiJinx Podcast: Best Books of 2023

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The photograph shows four book covers selected from the podcast list against a blue background.

By Jessica L.

“Tsundoku” is a whimsical Japanese term for collecting books in piles… to be read… eventually. You may have been practicing this without knowing there was a term for it! So, how did you do with your “To Be Read” pile this past year? Are you ready for more recommendations? Here you go!

Listen to our recent Hijinx podcast, Best Books of 2023, featuring voices from HCLS staff and community members. Past episodes can be found here.  

Favorite Books Read in 2023 from HCLS Staff & Customers 

The book cover depicts a figure standing at the top of a set of stairs in an alcove, hands behind back, looking at a large painting on a wall.

All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me by Patrick Bringley

Beartown Trilogy (Beartown, Us Against You, The Winners) by Fredrik Backman 

Belle of the Ball by Mari Costa 

The book cover depicts a bird with something round like a berry in its mouth, sitting on a branch, in shades of orange and gold against a hazy green background.

Dinosaurs by Lydia Millet 

Hell Followed with Us by Andrew Joseph White 

The book cover depicts trees, branches, and undergrowth in the foreground and a lake and hills in the background, all in blue and white like a woodcut style that has been colorized.

Landmarks by Robert MacFarlane 

Leg by Greg Marshall 

Lone Women by Victor Lavalle 

The cover is in grey lettering against a black background, with a black snake winding in and out of the letters in the title.

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt 

Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld 

The book cover depicts a woman with long hair and a bouquet of flowers in an off-shoulder white dress, sitting on a broomstick in front of a full moon in a dark sky.

Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery by Brom

The book cover depicts snow falling on the roofs and chimneys of houses in a village or town. The snow is white and the buildings and background are emerald green.

Small Things Like These by Clarie Keegan 

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris 

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow 

A illustration of a dragon like mask with horns. Pine trees are in the background.

To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose 

Verity by Colleen Hoover (#1 Book requested and borrowed in 2023) 

The book cover depicts a cat, a pile of books, a coffee cup with a polar bear design, a white pillow with pink trim, and a leafy green plant in a terracotta pot, all framed by a black window frame against a blue sky and outdoor scene of other buildings and a tree with pink foliage.

What You Are Looking for Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama 

JP has worked at HCLS since 2006. She is disappointed that the original Muppet Babies cartoon series is unavailable for streaming anywhere.  

Our 2023 Top 3 Lists

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Readers responded enthusiastically all year long to the wonderful reviews our writers have shared. Since we know you enjoy reading about their book, movie, television, music, and video game recommendations, here are the top three favorites from our exceptionally knowledgeable and talented blog writers from the HCLS staff. Or, in some cases, perhaps a top four… it’s so hard to choose for these year-end retrospectives!

Cherise T., Central Branch

  • Barbie – Pitch-perfect, entertaining take on life as a woman, how it is, and how we wish it would be.
  • The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese – Multigenerational novel set in Karala, India, spanning over 70 years of a family cursed with deaths by water.
  • Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Sharing endless hours together due to pandemic restrictions, two daughters learn more of their mother’s origin story in which Our Town plays a major role.
  • Wellness by Nathan Hill – What is the arc of a marriage when viewed through the lens of a photographer and a specialist in placebo psychology?

Piyali C., Miller Branch

Ash B., Central Branch

  • So Much (for) Stardust by Fall Out Boy – The boys are back with a triumphant return to guitar-based music, masterfully incorporating a range of influences while sounding utterly, uniquely Fall Out Boy. 
    Standout tracks include the hard-hitting opener “Love From The Other Side,” the sweepingly cinematic title track, and the disco-inspired “What a Time To Be Alive.”
  • Unreal Unearth by Hozier – The newest album from the beloved Irish singer-songwriter delivers much of what fans expect – poetic lyrics delivered in soulful baritone – wrapped up in crisp, new production. 
    Standout tracks include the irresistibly funky “De Selby (Part 2)” and the lead single “Eat Your Young” with its scathing social commentary and catchy hook.
  • Rush! by Måneskin – In their first record featuring mainly English-language songs, these Italian rockers showcase a keen pop sensibility along with plenty of guitar shredding and raw vocals. 
    Standout tracks include the mournful power ballad “THE LONELIEST” and the cheeky, energetic “MAMMAMIA.”

Sahana C., Savage Branch

  • Joan by Katherine J. Chen – Chen paints a really compelling picture of what Joan of Arc may have been: a strong girl, working within the confines of her environment to become the face of something so much greater than herself.
  • Haven by Emma Donoghue – A great contemplative read of ancient Irish history; a perspective that was new to me, and yet so familiar, with ties to the present.  
  • The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins – This was a re-read for me, and I liked it better this time around, as I accompanied it with a re-read and rewatch of the whole Hunger Games books/movies, thanks to the recent release of the Ballad movie!

Christie L., Administrative Branch

Kimberly J., Glenwood Branch

Peter N., Miller Branch

  • Wolfsong by TJ Klune – There was so much emotion, lycanthropy lore, and action at times that you’d almost think TJ Klune was a werewolf himself and had written this as an autobiography. I went on to the next book right after I finished Wolfsong!
  • Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse – The Spider-Verse movies have been so much fun! They’re funny, campy, and also dramatic in their own way. I cannot wait for part 2!
  • Star Trek Picard Season 3 – This was the send-off that the crew of the USS Enterprise deserved all along, an utter chef’s kiss and a true love letter to the fans. Action packed, emotional, and fun, this season is a fan favorite and worth every single re-watch.

Ian L., East Columbia Branch

  • One Piece (Anime, manga, and live action adaptation) – Pirates, Adventure, Freedom; if the endless dream guides your restless spirit, do yourself a favor and fall in love with One Piece.
  • Asteroid City – A star-studded cast, eccentrically written characters, and beautiful sets; a Wes Anderson medley on isolation in times of uncertainty.
  • Book of Hours (video game) – Restore a crumbling occult library as a Librarian whose work can literally define history.

Sarah C., Savage Branch

Brittany M., Miller Branch

  • Anne of Green Gables – I can’t keep count of how many times I’ve read about the escapades of literature’s favorite redhead. But every time I do, I’m delighted to reconnect with a “kindred spirit”.
  • The Empress (Netflix) – Based on the life of Empress Elisabeth of Austria, this binge-worthy historical drama is full of juicy plots and costume eye candy that will leave you anxiously awaiting the arrival of season two.
  • Barbie – Seeing my favorite childhood toy on the big screen tugged at my heartstrings and made me proud to discover that there is something deeper underneath her pretty perfection.

Julia M., Glenwood Branch

  • Yellowface by R. F. Kuang – Yellowface is the book I couldn’t stop thinking about this year, no matter how many months pass by after I finished reading it.
  • Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson – Tress is a fantasy that hearkens after The Princess Bride and left me wanting to become a better, kinder person.
  • To Shape a Dragon’s Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose – Out of all the great dragon books that came out this year, this is the one whose sequel I’m most looking forward to!

Eric L., Elkridge Branch

  • Blue Rev by Alvvays – It came out in late 2022 and HCLS will have copies soon. This is the band’s third record, and they seem to have “broke” this year. You can borrow their previous two albums from HCLS. This record is more mature, lyrically and musically better.
  • Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit – The book deftly captures how his experiences and writings worked up to his magnum opus which he finished right before his death at 46 years of age. Solnit addresses his optimism and his love of nature, as well as his foibles.
  • The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (see my entire post here) is a great book, about America, greed, the impact of technology on humans, and the need for a social safety net. It is long, sad, and beautifully written; not a political book that aims to point fingers, but really a moral one.
  • Corruptible: Who Gets Power and How it Changes Us by Brian Klaas is probably related to both aforementioned books. Written in an entertaining journalistic style, it’s packed with interesting anecdotes and interviews, with examples of power wielded for the good of all as well as power that is abused. Klaas also suggests what we can do to improve the use of power in society.

Angie E., Central Branch

  • Holly by Stephen King – His best book in ages, but I will never see liver the same way again.
  • The Lunar Housewife by Caroline Woods – This pleased both my sci-fi and feminist sides.
  • The Survivalists by Kashana Cauley – This brilliant and funny novel stayed with me for a long time after I finished it.

Julie F., Miller Branch

  • Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan – Beautiful, haunting, brilliant. A look at two generations of a mixed-race Irish family and the loves and losses that bind them together and keep them moving forward.
  • A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes – Haynes gives voice to the voiceless women of the classic Greek plays and epics. She demonstrates how war never changes across the centuries, but it profoundly changes those it impacts, and never for the better.
  • Sweet Little Lies by Caz Frear – Great start to a crime fiction trilogy; for fans of Tana French and Susie Steiner. You’ll love Detective Constable Cat Kinsella, with her messy, complicated family life, sense of verve, and sarcastic, wisecracking humor.

Kristen B., Administrative Branch

  • The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna (e-book and e-audiobook) – Feel-good found family and a ton of fun!
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer (as an audiobook on CD or an e-audiobook) – Changes your perspective on the world and our place in it. The author reads it, which makes it even better.
  • Witch King by Martha Wells – High fantasy, told upside down and backwards so you’re never quite sure what’s going on but wonderfully entertaining. She is the author of the highly popular Murderbot books, but this one is completely its own thing.

We hope you’ve enjoyed reading these writers as much as we’ve loved editing and sharing their terrific blog posts throughout 2023. Check out their favorites and let us know which you enjoy; visit any branch to get more suggestions and recommendations from our stellar team. Happy holidays and here’s to a 2024 full of great books and multimedia from the HCLS collection!

– Kristen B. and Julie F., Chapter Chats editors