Week Calendar

Walking is a great way to get some activity into your routine.  Lets get up and walk together. Come and walk around East Columbia Library. Please wear comfortable shoes and bring a water bottle.

This is a class for adult English language learners.  Practice conversational skills and discuss topics ranging from small talk and common interests to life, work and current events.  If you're new to this class, you'll receive an email invit

This is an in-person class designed for adult English language learners. Improve your reading level and English language knowledge with evidence-based strategies that build your reading skills.

Ages 2-5 with adult. 30 minutes. Ticket required.

Children build skills in singing, talking, listening, reading, and getting along with others through stories, music, rhymes, and activities. 

Ages 0-5 with adult. 30 minutes. Ticket required.

Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas en español. Seguido de un tiempo de juego.

This is an in-person, drop-in class for adult English language learners.  Practice English conversational skills and discuss topics ranging from small talk and common interests to life, work and current events.

This is a class for English language learners.

Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min.

Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning. 

Ticket required.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Ticket required. Tickets will be issued 15 minutes prior to class starting.

Ages 18 mos - 3 years with adult; 20 - 30 minutes.

Stories, songs and play time.

Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Infants birth-6 months with adult. 45-60 minutes. Registration required, one per household. 

Allow 20 min.

Play with our toys, read a board book, enjoy music, and visit with others.

This class is designed for English language learners. Improve your spoken English as we focus on listening and speaking skills with an emphasis on everyday pronunciation, intonation, and stress, as well as unique American rhythms.

This class is designed for English language learners who are interested in taking the US citizenship exam. You'll receive an email invitation to attend an orientation first.  This orientation is required for all participants. 

This is an in-person class designed for adult English language learners. Improve your reading level and English language knowledge with evidence-based strategies that build your reading skills.

TIME FOR US

Ages 18 months-3 years with adult; 30 min.

Develop early learning skills through stories, songs, fingerplays, and rhymes.

Ticket required.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Oinky! Oink! Oink! means Happy Pig Day! Come help Mo Willems' Piggie celebrate her favorite day. Start by wearing her favorite color...pink! Will Gerald be at the party?

Ticket required.  Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

This virtual class is designed for adult English language learners who are interested in working as Ophthalmic Technicians.  Participants learn about the work setting, responsibilities, potential earnings, and a pathway to advance in the fiel

This is an in-person class for beginning English language learners.  It focuses on learning vocabulary and developing listening and reading, speaking and writing skills.  It meets in the Tapestry Room in HCLS Centra

Join other adults who knit, crochet, embroider, and sew, in an open forum for creating, conversing, sharing, and learning. 

This virtual class is designed for adult English language learners. Practice speaking skills in a supportive environment. Students read one short story each week and discuss it in class.

JUST FOR ME

Ages 3-6; 30 min.

For children who are ready for an independent class that includes creative expression, listening comprehension, and early reading skills.

Limited Attendance. Ticket required.

Ages 2-3 years with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.

Preschoolers develop skills for talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing through stories, songs, fingerplays, and rhymes. 

Ticket required. Tickets will be given out 15 minutes prior to class.

This is an in-person class designed for intermediate adult English language learners.  Learn English in a supportive environment to improve your reading, writing, speaking, listening and pronunciation skills.

Ticket required.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Tickets required. Tickets will be given out 15 minutes prior to class.

This class is designed for adult English language learners.  Parents of children aged ten and younger will gain a better understanding of informal spoken English and increase their knowledge of English vocabulary, especially as

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Ticket required.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Tickets required. Tickets will be given out 15 minutes prior to class.

Ages 0-5 with adult. 30 minutes. Ticket required.

Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas en español. Seguido de un tiempo de juego.

Attention high school students! Come join the C2 Education Testing Company to take a practice ACT test on Saturday March 2 and return on Saturday March 16 at noon for your scores (parents/guardians welcome at scoreback session).

Hearing a lot about "smart" devices?

Ages 2-5 with adult; 30 min. Ticket required. 

Children build skills in singing, talking, listening, reading, and getting along with others through stories, music, rhymes, and activities. 

Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min.

Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning.

Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Are you concerned about your child's development and not sure where to go for help?  HCPSS offers free screening and services for eligible children and their families.

Ages 2-5 with adult; 45 minutes.

Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning.

Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Ticket required. Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Learn about the wide variety of power tools you may borrow from the library for your DIY projects. We will discuss and demonstrate applications, safe use, and accessories you may need. Participants will have the opportunity to use tools. 

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Ages 7-10; allow 20-30 min.

Celebrate the global day of unplugging with ciphers, games, logic puzzles, and mazes!

Learn while you lunch with an online discussion of 3D Printing! Take a quick foray into the past and present, and reach forward into the future of this exciting technology.

Join a lively, literary conversation in person!

Jan: Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See

Feb: Becoming by Michelle Obama

Mar:

Apr:

May:

Ticket required. Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Curious about Facebook but concerned about privacy? Interested in learning how to set up a profile or a page?Want to learn more about Facebook Live?

Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club

March 02 If I Survive You Jonathan Escoffery

Former White House butler Alan DeValerio is coming to our Miller Branch!  He's going to give you the inside details about all the preparations involved in White House entertaining.

Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club

March 02  If I survive you by Jonathan Escoffery

Create your own bonsai: The Maryland Bonsai Association and the Howard County Library System offer a special beginner bonsai workshop exclusively for active duty military personnel and veterans.

Ages 3- 5 with adult. 30 min

Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning.

Tickets required. Tickets issued 15 minutes before the beginning of class.

Tickets required. Tickets issued 15 minutes before the beginning of class.

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Our fourth Tuesday of the month movie matinee at 2 pm continues this winter! 

Ages 6-9. 45 minutes. Ticket required.

Drop in to paint a rock or two and show off your artistic talents!

Ages 8 & up, teens & adults welcome! 60 min. Registration required to reserve an ukulele for class use.

After school supervised safe space for middle and high school students. Socialize with peers, work on homework, or enjoy optional games, crafts, and other activities.

A  hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.

Ages 3-5 with adult; 45 min.

Fun stories, songs, and activities for preschoolers that spark curiosity and support learning. 

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

After school supervised safe space for middle and high school students. Socialize with peers, work on homework, or enjoy optional games, crafts, and other activities.

A  hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.

Deepfakes, AI-generated content, photos taken out of context, imposter news sites – opportunities abound for misinformation to be created and shared in the digital age. 

After school supervised safe space for middle and high school students. Socialize with peers, work on homework, or enjoy optional games, crafts, and other activities.

Wednesdays  3:30 - 5:30 pm

Jan 10 & 24, Feb 14 & 28, Mar 13 & 27

Deep Run Mobile Park

6551 Old Waterloo Rd. Elkridge, MD 21075

A  hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.

After school supervised safe space for middle and high school students. Socialize with peers, work on homework, or enjoy optional games, crafts, and other activities.

A  hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.

A  hang out for teens to connect, play games and create.

Take action! Help design, plan, and implement projects and events to benefit your community by collaborating with other TAB members and with support of library staff.  Service hours available.

Drop-in.

Exercise leadership by recommending additions to the teen collections, helping the community, and planning events in cooperation with an Elkridge Teen Instructor.

Ages 11 - 17. Registration required.

Do you love watercolors? Do you want to express your creativity with paint? Then join us for Watercolor Wonders, a fun and easy watercolor class for teens at the library!

Calling all aspiring hosts and producers! Create your own edited digital audio content and learn audio-editing skills using the equipment and software in the Savage Branch AV Lab.

All skill and ability levels welcome.

Ages 11-17. Drop-in.

Ages 11-18 | Walk in, no registration needed, space is limited.  

Movie Magic cosmetics

Interact with the fascinating elements in the periodic table! Learn about the structure of the periodic table and how you can infer element characteristics based on periodic trends. Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Do you struggle with math homework or tests? Do you want to improve your math skills and confidence? If you answered yes, then this is the perfect class for you!

Get your game on at the library! Play Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, or a mix of all three! 

Have you ever looked at a digital illustration and wondered “How did they do that?”  Learn tips, tricks, and the steps to creating your own illustration in the iPad app, Procreate. Taught by a HiTech instructor.

Ages 11-18 | Walk in, no registration needed, space is limited.  

Are you curious about electricity or how motors work? Do you want to know how you can make a magnet with just a wire, a nail, and a battery? Join us to tinker and find out how! Taught by a HiTech Instructor. 

Ages 11-18 | Walk in, no registration needed, space is limited.  

Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio! Record and mix music or create and edit movies with the help of a HiTech Instructor.
No registration required. Grades 6-12. 

FOR GRADES 6th-12th.   | Drop-in, but register if you would like a reminder

Create games, animations, websites, and more with code! No prior knowledge of coding or programming required. Make friends and build your knowledge at an easy pace. Attend any number of sessions. 

Kindergarten- 2nd grade. 45 minutes - 1 hour. Registration required.

Ages 6-9; 30 min. Ticket required.

Únete a un tiempo Lectura en Español nivel Basico y diviértete con actividades relacionadas con el libro de la semana.

Kindergarten- 2nd grade. 45 minutes - 1 hour. Registration required.

14 + AV lab
Drop-in to use the equipment in the A/V Studio! Record and mix music or create and edit movies with the help of a HiTech Instructor. Registration is not required, and walk-ins are welcome.

Step into the fun and active world of Teen Beyond Words, a vibrant and inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

3rd - 5th grade. 45 minutes - 1 hour. Registration required.

Kindergarten- 2nd grade; 45-60 min. Registration required.

3rd - 5th grade. 45 minutes - 1 hour. Registration required.

3rd - 5th grade. 45-60 min. Registration required.

Ticket required. Free tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

This is an in-person class for English language learners. It focuses on essential English grammar and on the basics of writing for work and personal communication. The class meets every Monday night at the Central Branch.

Ages 8-12; 30 min. Ticket required.

Join us for an informal Spanish conversation and homework assistance time. We will practice basic phrases and vocabulary.

Ages: 11 - 18. Meet up with fellow fans and discuss your favorite series/games. We will be watching anime together, having game demos, making art/crafts, and exploring some Japanese language/cultural tie-ins. Drop-ins encouraged and welcomed!

NOW ONLINE VIA ZOOM!  Registration required for the Zoom link.  

This Watercolor Workshop is for Adults of all skill levels.

Ages 6-10.  45 min.  Ticketed. 

Work together in small groups investigating hands on STEAM activities.

Tickets available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.

All ages. Allow 30 min.

Join us for friendly games of Mah Jongg with players of all levels of experience.  We have both American and Asian sets available!

February 13 and 27

March 12 and 26

April 9 and 30 (2nd & 5th Tuesday)

This is an in-person class for beginning adult English language learners. It meets weekly in HCLS Central Branch. You will receive an email invitation to attend an orientation.

30 Minutes. Ages 6-11. Ticket required.

The Office of Human Rights & Equity is partnering with Howard County Library System, the African American Community Roundtable of Howard County, the Howard County Chapter of the NAACP, and the Contiental Societies, Inc.

All ages. Allow 30 min.

Are you ready to level up your gaming skills and have some fun? Stop by and play different video games that are fun for the whole family!

Don’t just speculate. Design it.

This class an in-person class designed for intermediate English language learners who wish to improve their English reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.  The class meets in HCLS Central Branch.

Join us for Glenwood's Teen Book Club to read and discuss alongside fellow teen bookworms! This month, we are reading Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi.

Ages 11-13. Registration required.

Families; allow 30 minutes. Ticket required.

Explore and engage in various STEM activities through self-guided stations.

Ages 7-10. 45 min. Ticket required.

Math can be fun! Learn about leap year and calendar math.

Tickets are available at the children's desk 15 minutes before the class begins.

Celebrate Black History Month by joining us via Zoom for questions and conversation with young adult author Michelle Coles about her book Black Was The Ink. 

ENCORE CINEMA at Howard County Library System East Columbia Branch & 50+ Center presents "see-again" worthy DVD movies on a large screen!  Doors open at 6:15pm

This is a class for English Language Learners.  Practice conversational skills and discuss topics like small talk, common interests, life, work, and current events in a safe and supportive environment. The is an in-person class that meets in