Tag STEM

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.

The cover depicts three of the witchlings - one with a worried expression who is wringing her hands, one with a smug expression with arms crossed, and one wide-eyed, facing forward. There are buildings with peaked roofs and turrets in the background, and the eyes of the Nightbeast are superimposed over the starry night sky.

Summer Reading Adventures: Friendship Stories

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By Eliana H.

Some of you may have already collected your finisher prizes for our Summer Reading Adventure. If you have, congratulations! Great job reading and completing activities. It’s not too late to visit one of our branches to collect your prize if you haven’t. They are available through Thursday, August 31, as long as supplies last. If you’re still working on finishing those last few reads, I have a highlight for you from each of our elementary lists. This time, I’m focusing on friendship stories. 

Grades K-1: 

Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang (also available as an e-book)

The cover depicts an array of children and a white kitten, holding a gold and white banner with the book's title written in fuschia.

This book offers a beautiful beginning, showing ways to say “welcome” from around the world even before the title page. Amy is excited to see a new student join her class, but he doesn’t talk at all during the school day, even when she tries very hard to make him feel welcome. When she sees him light up and talk away to his little sister – in Chinese – she’s surprised to see how different he is! Amy thinks hard and comes up with an idea of another way to make him feel welcome. Check the book out to see if Amy succeeds, and be sure to explore the craft idea and note from the author.

Grades 2-3: 

How to Test a Friendship by Theanne Griffith

The book cover shows three students working on a science project involving a miniature ecosystem under a dome, with books and a microscope on a table in front of them. One of them holds an Erlenmeyer flask and another holds a pencil and a booklet that says "STEM notes." All three are wearing t-shirts with science motifs - two have rockets, planets, and stars, and the third has a diagram of an atom.

How to Test a Friendship, the first title in the series Magnificent Makers, introduces readers to third graders Pablo and Violet, best friends who are looking forward to being in the same class and studying science, their favorite subject. When new student Deepak appears and starts making friends with Violet, Pablo is not very excited. But the three suddenly find themselves transported to the Maker Maze when they solve a riddle in science class. They must complete challenges to return to their world, but they will only finish in time if they work together. Can Pablo set aside his hard feelings toward Deepak so that they make it home in time? Do they know enough to solve the puzzles? If your young scientist is feeling inspired, be sure to take a look the STEM activities in the back to try at home! 

Grades 4-5: 

The Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega 

The cover depicts three of the witchlings - one with a worried expression who is wringing her hands, one with a smug expression with arms crossed, and one wide-eyed, facing forward. There are buildings with peaked roofs and turrets in the background, and the eyes of the Nightbeast are superimposed over the starry night sky.

Readers who enjoy fantasy will love The Witchlings, offering another unique view of magic and the world by the author of Ghost Squad. It’s the night of the Black Moon Ceremony, when Witchlings are placed in their covens, and twelve-year-old Seven Salazar knows exactly where she wants to be: House Hyacinth, with her best friend Poppy. Instead, Seven’s worst nightmare comes true. She’s named a Spare, one of the three witches left over at the end of the ceremony, along with Thorn, who is new to town, and Valley, Seven’s long-time enemy. Spares are stripped of their magic and treated poorly, but Seven invokes the rarely used Clause of the Impossible Task. If she and the other Spares can accomplish the Impossible Task, they will complete their circle and become a true coven. When they learn they need to find and defeat the dreaded Nightbeast, Seven and her coven wonder what they’ve gotten themselves into. Little do they know, Seven, Thorn, and Valley will uncover even darker and more mysterious things lurking in their town of Ravenskill. They need to work together and learn to trust each other if they have any chance of success. Check out The Witchlings to discover whether they manage the impossible and overcome their own pasts and fears, as well as the dark powers working against them.

Be part of HCLS’ Summer Reading Adventures.

Eliana is a Children’s Research Specialist and Instructor at HCLS Elkridge Branch. She loves reading, even if she’s slow at it, and especially enjoys helping people find books that make them light up. She also loves being outside and spending time with friends and family (when it’s safe).

A collage of the ornaments and practical items made with the laser cutter, including a Seussical 2022 ornament with the Cat in the Hat's hat, a blue snowflake, a buffalo against a backdrop of trees and mountains, two pumpkin silhouettes that say "thankful" and "grateful," a keychain that says "I luv you Dad," tropical floral earrings, and a cookbook or tablet stand.

Love for the Laser Cutter

Kimberly J Leave a comment

by Kim J.

A collage of the ornaments and practical items made with the laser cutter, including a Seussical 2022 ornament with the Cat in the Hat's hat, a blue snowflake, a buffalo against a backdrop of trees and mountains, two pumpkin silhouettes that say "thankful" and "grateful," a keychain that says "I luv you Dad," tropical floral earrings, and a cookbook or tablet stand.

I’ve been a crafter all of my life. I make costumes and throw elaborate birthday parties. My first thought when I see something beautiful in a store is usually, “Can I make that?” I love to create handmade gifts, produce decorations for birthdays, and design personal touches for my home. The laser cutter/engraver (Glowforge) at HCLS Glenwood Branch + Makerspace is the latest tool in my crafting repertoire. Among the many things I’ve been able to make are jewelry, decorations, gifts, cake toppers, valentines, teacher appreciation keychains, and an LED light. My favorite things that I’ve made are keepsakes that engrave my son’s drawings and a lighted archway that I made to try and replicate the schwibbogen that are sold in Germany.

A picture of a German Schwibbogen village scene made with the laser cutter. The photograph consists of a village with homes, a church, lampposts, and fir trees, surrounded by an arch that has more cottages and fir trees, against a blue background resembling the sky.

What is a Laser Cutter/Engraver? 

This machine allows you to put a piece of material like leather, wood, or acrylic in the machine and it carves out your product using laser light. Glowforge is the name brand for the Laser Cutter Engraver at HCLS Glenwood Branch + Makerspace. 

What materials can it cut? 

At HCLS, we only allow Proofgrade materials in the machine – Glowforge sells proofgrade materials, which are certified to be laser safe. These materials also have pre-assigned settings in the machine – telling the laser exactly what power and speed it needs so cuts and engravings produce exactly how they should! Proofgrade materials include hardwood, acrylic, draft board, plywood, veneer, and leather, among others.

A yellow and green laser cutter atom with the words "Happy Birthday" in the center, atop a science-themed birthday cake with Erlenmeyer flasks and icing atoms as decor.

How can I get Proofgrade Materials? 

The Glenwood Branch has a selection of materials to purchase directly from the library, including many colors of acrylic and several finishes for hardwood, plywood, and veneer. Alternately, you can purchase directly from the site, shop.glowforge.com, or from local craft stores that carry Proofgrade materials.

A child's handmade stick-figure drawing of a family with their dog, and the laser cutter's reproduction of it as a wooden ornament, with the year "2022" inscribed at the bottom.

What kinds of things can I make?

The photos in this post are all things that have been made in the Makerspace with the Laser Cutter/Engraver. There is so much room for creativity and customization. Your design can be high-tech – you can create an .svg from scratch with interlocking or overlapping pieces to construct 3D artwork. Your design can also be low-tech – you can convert a line art drawing, photograph, or handwriting sample into a custom-engraved keepsake. You can also browse premade designs in the application and send them with customized engravings, or you can use the application to create a design using graphics, text, and shapes.

Two snowflake earrings made with the laser cutter.

How do I get started?

If you want to see a quick intro video, you can watch on HCLS’s YouTube channel here. You can also register for upcoming make-it and take-it classes at Upcoming Laser Cutting Classes. Someone is always available in the Makerspace to help you get underway. Anyone under 18 who wishes to use the laser cutter must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Kimberly J is an Instructor and Research Specialist at the HCLS Glenwood Branch. She enjoys reading, photography, creating, crafting, and baking.

A family stands in a local park with a map spread out along a low horizontal tree branch.

It’s summer: TIME – and we’re (mostly) open!

Kristen B. 1 Comment

School’s out and the cicadas are gone – it’s time for summer fun! Howard County Library System is open for browsing and borrowing, using computers and printing, as well as attending Tails & Tales in person, outdoor classes for children. Our hours are Monday & Thursday, 10 am – 8 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, and we are closed on Sundays. At this time, our study and meeting rooms are not available, but we are otherwise open for business.

A family stands in a local park with a map spread out along a low horizontal tree branch.

We can’t wait to see you again! When you visit your local branch make sure to pickup the brand new July/August issue of source. It’s summer and it’s time for… 

Authors. We are thrilled to host two bestselling authors this summer. Daniel Silva (Wed, July 21 at 7 pm) writes the long-running spy thriller series featuring Gabriel Allon, master art restorer and Israeli spy/assassin. His latest book, The Cellist, explores one of the preeminent threats facing the West today—the corrupting influence of dirty money wielded by Russia. Gail Tsukiyama (Thu, Aug 5 at 7 pm) offers brilliant historical fiction, often centered on lives of women. Her newest book, The Color of Air, examines the threat of volcanic eruption to a Hawaiian community. Register at hclibrary.org > classes & events.

Reading. It’s not too late to join Summer Reading. Anyone can participate, with challenges and prizes for all ages. Check out Jean’s favorite children’s books for summer, listed on page 8. And Relaxing. Which is better the book or the movie? Decide for yourself from the when you read books, then watch movies adapted from the story. How faithful was it? Or, simply borrow some fun family movies to enjoy together. 

Learning. Ready for in-person classes? Join us for outdoor experiences. Prefer to stay virtual? We have online classes and book discussion groups! Pick up one of our NEW literacy activity kits for children or STEM activity kits for teens. 

Adventures. Find tips for new hikers, trail suggestions, and how to make the most of day trips. Play is a form of learning and is especially important for children’s development.

Fresh food. Everything is green and growing! Produce is at its peak, and farmers markets are happening all over the county. Read about simple ways to eat healthy, along with a few recipes and cookbook recommendations (You can also request a bundle bag.). 

Preparing. Summer is always over too soon, but we’re here to help you get ready to go back to school. Kindergarten, Here We Come! is a favorite for parents and kids preparing for their first school milestone. For students entering sixth grade, Middle School Pep Talk features tips about what to expect. 

Being Brave. Share your stories about witnessing or experiencing bias, racism, or discrimination in Howard County – as well as your stories of hope. Your stories may be shared (anonymously) with community leaders, organizations, and groups. The more stories provided, the greater the impact. 

And: We invite everyone to vote (in the Out & About category) for HCLS as the best place in Howard County to visit with kids! VOTE HERE!