Week Calendar

Infants birth-6 months with adult. 60 minutes. Registration required, one per household. This class will be held at the Office of Children and Families.

Step into the fun and active world of Adult Beyond Words, an inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of people (ages 18+) with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.

Ages strictly enforced with limited exceptions.

Ages 4-7 years, 4 & 5 with adult; 45 min. Ticket required.

Avoid the summer slump and get ready to read! Build your phonological awareness and early literacy skills through fun, hands-on activities.

Edades 0-5 años con adulto. 30 minutos. Se requiere un tiquete gratis disponible en el escritorio del área infantil.

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

Veterans: drop in to meet with a Social Worker for the Baltimore Veterans Administration Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC), ask questions, seek support, and get information on the services provided at the CRRC in Baltimore.

Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min. Ticket Required.

Join the fun as we create, discover, and explore the world around us! We will do activities together to earn your Summer Reading completion prize.

Ticket required. Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Meet with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist from Howard County Health Department  

Full list of sessions of Kindergarten, Here We Come! held at Central Branch -

TIME FOR US

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

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

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

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

Allow 20 min.

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

Looking for dedicated time to work on projects? Bring stitching you'd like to finish, connect with others, and share ideas and tips. Drop in anytime between 10 am and 12 pm. Adults, ages 18+.

JUST FOR ME

Ages 3-6; 30 min. Limited Attendance. Ticket (name tag) 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. 

Meet with a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist from Howard County Health Department  

This is an in-person class for intermediate and advanced adult English Language Learners.

Ticket required.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

All ages with adult; 30 min. Free ticket required.

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

Edades 0-5 años con adulto. 30 minutos. Se requiere un tiquete gratis disponible en el escritorio del área infantil.

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

Ages 6-24 months with adult. Ticket required.  Tickets will be available 15 minutes before class.

Play with toys, meet new friends, enjoy music, and develop cognitive, motor and social skills.

Ask Maryland Master Gardeners questions and receive useful tips and practical advice.

Find the answers to gardening questions by talking with a University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Drop in; no registration required. 

Find the answers to gardening questions by talking with a University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Drop in; no registration required. 

Learn the basics of composting. Composting reduces pressure on our landfills and recycles organic waste material into helpful soil supplements for gardens, container plants, and lawns.

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

Preschoolers get ready for school by doing things like talking, singing songs and rhymes, doing finger plays, and listening to stories. 

Ages strictly enforced with limited exceptions.

Ferdinand is a young bull who escapes from a training camp in rural Spain after his father never returns from a showdown with a matador.

For children entering Kindergarten in the fall, with an adult. 45-60 mins. Registration required.

Children entering kindergarten in the fall will have fun with stories and activities. They even get to board a real school bus!

Want to learn how to use the library’s e-book resources? We will show you how to use Libby, Cloud Library and Hoopla with a Q&A time. Bring your device and we will get you started using our e-book resources 

Ages 3-5 with adult; 30 min. Ticket Required.

Join the fun as we create, discover, and explore the world around us! We will do activities together to earn your Summer Reading completion prize.

JUST FOR ME

Ages 3-6; 30 min. Limited Attendance. Ticket (name tag) required.

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.

Learn to repair holes, cracks, and other blemishes on your walls. Try the tools and products you'll need to get your room ready for a fresh coat of paint.

All ages with adult; 30 min. Free ticket required.

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

For children entering Kindergarten this fall; 60 minutes. Registration required.

Stories and activities to help mark that all important first day.

Cosponsored by Friends & Foundation of HCLS.

We will be discussing Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller.

Improve your German in a fun and relaxed setting! Join us for casual conversation and language practice—open to all levels.

Meeting Times:

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

Ages 5 and up; 60 min. Ticket required. 

Practice accuracy and fine motor skills, and create your own art while coloring, cutting, and pasting.

Tickets available 15 minutes before class.

Full list of sessions of Kindergarten, Here We Come! held at Central Branch -

Let loose and laugh. Learn the basics of comedy improvisation through games and collaborative storytelling. Everything is made up on the spot.

For children entering Kindergarten in the fall, with an adult. 45-60 mins. Registration required.

Children entering kindergarten in the fall will have fun with stories and activities. They even get to board a real school bus!

Ages 6-10; 45 min. Ticket Required.

Join the fun as we create, discover, and explore the world around us! We will do activities together to earn your Summer Reading completion prize.

*Tuesdays throughout the summer.

Grades 3rd-5th.  60 min.  Ticket required.

Ages 10-13. Registration required. 

Plan and direct your own movie! Work in groups to create a stop motion animation. Please plan to attend all days.

Ages 3-5 with adult.  Allow 15 minutes.  Drop in.

Pop-in and make a fun craft!

Ages 3-5 years with adult; 45 mins. Free ticket required.

This class is a part of the HCLS' Museum@The Library series.

World of Prints

Join us every month to explore new artistic themes or media in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

Chesapeake Bay Art Workshop: Create art inspired by the wildlife and scenery of the Chesapeake Bay. Choose from a variety of projects.

Ages 10-13. Registration required. 

Plan and direct your own movie! Work in groups to create a stop motion animation. Please plan to attend all days.

Ages 8-10. 45 minutes. Ticket required.

Help ozobot navigate through a carnival.  Design your own carnival, decide on what path ozobot will take to reach different activities and have fun coding! 

For children entering Kindergarten this fall; 60 minutes. Registration required.

Stories and activities to help mark that all important first day.

Cosponsored by Friends & Foundation of HCLS.

Share fiction and/or nonfiction titles that are on your bookshelf and we will share titles from our shelves. If you don't have a title to share, find inspiration in what others recommend and start building your reading list.

B-I-N-G-O! Get sociable and win prizes. Compete and converse with other bingo fans. 

Ages 10-13. Registration required. 

Plan and direct your own movie! Work in groups to create a stop motion animation. Please plan to attend all days.

Ages 6-12. Allow 60 minutes.

Para niños que entran a Kindergarten este otoño. Es una clase de 45 a 60 minutos.

Explore how history, archaeology, and archives can help bring alive the stories and lives of people in the past.

Full list of sessions of Kindergarten, Here We Come! held at Central Branch -

Full list of sessions of Kindergarten, Here We Come! held at Central Branch -

Are you a stand-up comic, musician, poet, or storyteller looking for a spotlight for your material? Or maybe you just want to come enjoy an evening of creative performances and support local talent?

For children entering Kindergarten in the fall, with an adult. 45-60 mins. Registration required.

Children entering kindergarten in the fall will have fun with stories and activities. They even get to board a real school bus!

Learn the basics of composting. Composting reduces pressure on our landfills and recycles organic waste material into helpful soil supplements for gardens, container plants, and lawns.

Celebrate our library’s birthday with the sounds of the Columbia Orchestra! Hear musicians demonstrate instruments from the strings, winds, brass, and percussion families, and learn what makes each one unique.

Celebrate our library’s birthday with nonstop bubble fun! Watch two high-energy bubble performances, explore interactive stations, create your own bubbles, or step inside a giant bubble. Perfect for all ages. 

Celebrate friendship and our library’s milestone by creating your own colorful bracelet! Choose from a variety of beads to craft a unique reminder of fun and friendship. Recommended for ages 8 and up. 

 Join the celebration and create your own colorful tie-dye bucket hat to honor our library’s landmark year! Open to guests ages 11 and up. Get creative and colorful—while supplies last.

 Join the birthday fun and craft a one-of-a-kind card for our library’s big day—or someone special! Use stickers, markers, crayons, cutouts, and recycled materials to make your creation shine.

For everyone. Join us to celebrate 85 years of Howard County Library System and all things summer reading with activities for all ages! Sponsored in part by Friends and Foundation of HCLS.

Celebrate with creativity and sustainability. Make festive party hats and decorative bunting using repurposed book pages—fun, easy, and eco-friendly. 

Get party-ready as we celebrate our library’s big birthday! Pick from metallic tattoos or glittery designs—no mess, just shine. Add face jewels or arm bling to create your own festive look and join the birthday fun in style.

Practice Your German in a Friendly, Relaxed Setting!

Looking to boost your German conversation skills? Join us for a fun and informal language practice session!

Ages 4 and up.  Allow 15 minutes.  Drop in. 

Pop-in and make a fun summer craft!

The English Conversation Club (ECC) provides opportunities for adult English language learners to practice speaking and listening skills, increase fluency, improve pronunciation skills, and build confidence to think and speak English in a relaxed

Animators and cartoonists, bring yourself to the Savage A/V Lab to work on handmade digital animations in Proceate, Premiere Pro, and Photoshop.

Ages newborns-23 months with adult; 20-30 min. Free ticket required.

Newborns and toddlers learn to express feelings, language, and movement through stories, baby games, musical activities, and playtime

Ages: All. Put your thinking caps on and test your wits with entertaining and educational trivia questions for all ages.

Note: This event has been rescheduled from July 31 to August 11.

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

2nd and 4th Tuesday evenings:

August 12 and 26

September 9 and 30

October 14 and 28

In this introductory class, participants will learn the process of Reduction Printmaking while creating an original print. Reduction Printmaking is a technique that uses a single block to create a multi-colored, layered print.

All ages. Allow 30 min.

Step right up for birthday fun with this high-energy, laugh-filled circus show! Former Ringling Brothers performer Greg May juggles, globe-walks, spins plates, and performs rope tricks and comedic magic—all with help from the audience.

Take a break from the hustle and bustle and join us for an hour of creativity and calm at the library!

Join a panel of former middle schoolers for their honest feedback on middle school success. Learn tips on staying organized. Have fun participating in Locker Trials and a Book Bag Relay Race.

Full list of sessions of Kindergarten, Here We Come! held at Central Branch -

Allow 30 minutes. All ages/Families; children 7 and under with adult. Ticket required.

Drop in and complete jigsaw puzzles together as a family.  

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!

The UnBook Reading Group

ages 9-12, allow 45 minutes. Ticket required. 

Enjoy the art of bracelet making while exploring your creative expression!

Tickets available at the desk 15 minutes prior to class. 

For children entering Kindergarten this fall; 60 minutes. Registration required.

Stories and activities to help mark that all important first day.

Cosponsored by Friends & Foundation of HCLS.

For children entering Kindergarten in the fall, with an adult. 45-60 mins. Registration required.

Children entering kindergarten in the fall will have fun with stories and activities. They even get to board a real school bus!

Ages 9-12. Registration required.

Calling all LEGO™ bricks fans! Receive your challenges for the day and work individually or in groups to create and engineer designs with LEGO™ blocks.

Find the answers to gardening questions by talking with a University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener. Drop in; no registration required.