HCPL Press Releases

(Belcamp, Maryland – January 14, 2013) Professional and amateur photographers are invited to submit up to 10 photographs to be considered for inclusion in A Nation Divided, a juried fine art photography exhibition that will be on display at the Jarrettsville Library from April 17 through May 18, 2013. A Nation Divided is part of The Civil War 150 Project and a companion exhibition to the Smithsonian’s Mask of Lincoln which will be exhibited at the Bel Air Library beginning April 27, 2013.

Work can be any size up to 11” x 14” in black and white, color, or computer manipulated; vertical or horizontal. Entries may be modern interpretations of the theme A Nation Divided. You may also manipulate or incorporate actual civil war photographs into your entry. To be considered for the exhibition, email submission photos (no more than 10, no larger than 500x500px) to Bethany Hacker, hacker@hcplonline.org, by March 8, 2013.

Notification of inclusion will be to the email address used to submit photos and will take place by March 15. Once selected for inclusion, photographs must be framed in the pre-selected 11” x 14” black frame with matting of photographer’s choice from FastFrame of Bel Air. Photographers can either frame the work with these materials themselves or have FastFrame complete the job.

All framed photographs will be up for sale to benefit the Library during the course of the exhibition and the Civil War 150 project. Those not sold will be returned to the photographer. Monetary prizes will be awarded to photographers: $250 for 1st, $150 for 2nd, and $100 for 3rd place, and two honorable mention prizes of $50.

An Artist’s Reception is scheduled for Wednesday April 17, 2013. The exhibition will officially open to the public on April 18 and close May 18, 2013.

Civil War 150 is a project of the Harford County Public Library with collaborations between Harford County Public Library and the Historical Society of Harford County, the Smithsonian Institution, Harford County Cultural Arts Board, the Maryland Music Conservatory, and the Junius B. Booth Society.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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Photo caption #1: Harford County Public Library is looking for photographers to submit their work for an upcoming exhibition entitled “A Nation Divided” that will be on display this spring.

(Belcamp, Maryland – January 7, 2013) The Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees is seeking a Student Liaison representative as an ex officio member of the Board. The Student Liaison is chosen in cooperation with public and private high schools in Harford County and applicants should currently be in their junior year and will serve during their senior year. Student applications must be submitted by Friday, March 15th. The role of Student Liaison is to obtain input on library services, policies, and materials collections from their peers, to encourage teens to consider librarianship as a career, to encourage use of library services by teens, and to gain practical experience in the operations of their government.

The Board of Library Trustees will interview candidates and select a Student Liaison representative to serve for one year, beginning July 2013. The Student Liaison representative is a member of the Board and receives agendas and all non-confidential Board materials. He or she is a non-voting member and is excluded from participation in executive sessions.
The student representative must:
• Be a resident of Harford County
• Have parental/guardian permission to serve
• Meet the Eligibility Requirements for Participation in Extra-Curricular Activities of the county schools or their private school

No salary is paid for the service, but appropriate expenses will be paid on the same basis of other Board members. Credit for the student representatives’ service may be provided if their schools’ policy permits.

The application can be found online at hcplonline.org. Please return completed application and essay to: Mary Hastler, Director, Harford County Public Library, 1221-A Brass Mill Road, Belcamp, MD 21017 no later than March 15th.

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(Belcamp, Maryland –January 4, 2013) The mastodon master, Dr. Carlyn Buckler of the Museum of the Earth, will be toting a baby mastodon tusk to the Bel Air Library to share with future scientists on Monday, January 7 at 6:30 pm. Her talk will focus on the fossilized remains from these ancient ancestors of the elephant found in the U.S. and explore the citizen science Mastodon Matrix Project that allows people of all ages and abilities to experience the process and nature of science. Registration is required and spaces can be reserved by calling (410) 638-3151.

Dr. Buckler is visiting Harford County to help kick off the Mastodon Matrix Project where participants will analyze dirt from a real mastodon dig and submit their results to the Museum of the Earth in a science experiment.

In conjunction with Cornell University, the Paleontological Research Institution in August 1999 became involved with mastodon excavations in New York State. There was no chance of scientists sifting through the 22,000 pounds of sediment or “matrix” found around these bones in a realistic amount of time. So excavators have turned to “citizen scientists” and created the Mastodon Matrix Project.

The Mastodon Matrix Project is an open-ended, educational journey into discovering an Ice Age past. Participants in this hunt will comb through the matrix and experience what it is like to do real scientific research. There may be shells, twigs, seeds and other fossils or even fragments of the mastodon itself. Whatever is found, or even not found, will propel our knowledge of these great animals forward.

Take a turn as a citizen scientist and search for a mastodon at the Whiteford Library on January 17, January 31, and February 21 at 6:30 pm, the Bel Air Library on January 23, February 6, and February 20 at 6:30 pm, or the Aberdeen Library on April 24, May 8 and May 22 at 6:00 pm. More sessions at the Edgewood and Fallston Libraries are being planned for the summer.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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Photo caption #1: Participants in the Mastodon Matrix Program at Harford County Public Library will analyze dirt from a mastodon dig and submit their results to the Museum of the Earth in a real science experiment.

(Belcamp, Maryland –December 10, 2012) To Read or Not to Read? There is NO question! The 2013 Harford County Public Library Winter Reading Program celebrates all things Shakespeare beginning on January 2, 2013.

The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, a performance group that employs the staging conditions of Shakespeare’s time as closely as possible, will perform two plays at the Library in January. With limited sets, doubling of the actors and full interaction from the audience, guests can see “The Two Gentlemen of Verona” at the Fallston Library on Saturday, January 19 at 2:00 pm; the Aberdeen Library on Thursday, January 24 at 6:30 pm; the Havre de Grace Library on Saturday, January 26 at 2:00 pm; the Abingdon Library on Sunday, January 27 at 2:00 pm; and the Whiteford Library on Monday, January 28 at 6:30 pm. “Othello” will be performed at the Joppa Library on Friday, January 18 at 6:30 pm. Registration is suggested.

The Library offers several resources for those looking for that special book to read. Visit HCPLonline.org to find book reviews, booklists and recommended reading through BlogaBook, NoveList and My Next Good Book. Lists include books by subject, interest, bestsellers and award winners. Harford County Public Library also offers free eBooks and audiobooks which count towards completing the program. They can be found at HCPLonline.org/books/download.

The Winter Reading Program is open to adults and high school teens. Participants can register at any branch or online at HCPLonline.org starting January 2nd. Upon registering, participants will receive a commemorative pen. For those adults who read or listen to at least five books and teens who read or listen to at least three books, completed book lists can be returned between January 9 and March 2 to receive a commemorative mug! Giveaways are while supplies last.

The 2013 Winter Reading Program is supported by the Friends of the Harford County Public Library and the Harford County Public Library Foundation. For more related books, databases, online resources, free programs or information, visit your local library branch or HCPLonline.org. And remember Sunday hours are back at the Library. Visit the Bel Air, Abingdon or Aberdeen Library which are open from 1:00-5:00 pm through April.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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Photo caption #1: To Read or Not to Read? There is NO Question! 2013 Winter Reading Program at Harford County Public Library.

Photo caption #2: Mug that participants who complete the 2013 Winter Reading Program at Harford County Public Library will receive.

(Belcamp, Maryland –November 30, 2012) A lively discussion of writing, creativity, and exercising one’s imagination took place at the Abingdon Library on Sunday, November 18. Members of the Harford Writers’ Group and contributors to Voices From the Susquehanna II, their newly released and published anthology, came together to talk about their writing lives with a crowd of interested writers of all ages.

Educational consultant and moderator Ted Zurinsky lead the panel through a series of questions about what inspired them to start writing for pleasure. An audience discussion followed with a cross-section of the community from genealogists hoping to write family histories to high school students seeking tips on essays and facing that blank page. Most audience members had projects in mind or were seeking motivation to write more. Panel members were happy to help by sharing their writing tips and habits.

“Writing is such an important part of life,” said panelist Joanne Galantino. “Not just for students, but for everyone. And if you practice it, you are more successful, whether you are writing a letter, an essay for a scholarship, or a report. I just love seeing all these people from different places in life, participating in the conversation!” Galantino further commented. The participating panelists were non-fiction, short story, fiction, and poetry writers and also included Karin Harrison, Leslie Picker, Marie Edmeades, and JoAnn Macdonald.

The Harford Writers’ Group meets on the first Tuesday of each month at Tudor Hall (Headquarters for the Center for the Arts) in Bel Air from 6:30–8:30 pm. The group offers writers a venue for sharing their work with like-minded fellows who provide feedback through discussion and critique.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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(Belcamp, Maryland – November 20, 2012) Edie White, Librarian at the Bel Air branch of Harford County Public Library (HCPL), was recently awarded Maryland AskUsNow’s Rockstar Award for excellence in customer service. AskUsNow is a live, interactive virtual reference service that provides librarian help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

In the session that earned White the nomination, White assisted a customer in Illinois with finding books which are not usually available at public libraries. The award recognizes White’s thoroughness and consistently friendly, informative customer service while utilizing the AskUsNow service. White has been assisting AskUsNow customers for over ten years and also works on the reference desk and maintains the collection at the Bel Air Library. In addition, White is in charge of the Living Treasures Oral History Collection at the HCPL and answers all of the virtual reference questions that come into the “Ask a Question” service through the HCPL website.

AskUsNow is provided by a cooperative service of 39 Maryland libraries that uses the expertise of librarians to provide answers to questions, research guidance, and help navigating the internet. Customers can submit a question any time, day or night, and receive help from a trained librarian. After the session is over, a full transcript including any links for resources can be e-mailed. Since its launch on March 17, 2003, AskUsNow has answered over 400,000 chat and email questions. To use AskUsNow, go to HCPLonline.org and click the AskUsNow logo. Log in with a question and get connected with a librarian who can help. It’s that easy!

Maryland AskUsNow is a project of the Division of Library Development and Services, Maryland State Department of Education, funded through a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 168,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of almost 4,800,000. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.
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Photo caption #1: Edie White, Librarian at the Bel Air branch of Harford County Public Library, is the winner of the AskUsNow Rockstar Award for fall 2012.

(Belcamp, Maryland – November 16, 2012) Harford County Public Library (HCPL) launched the Learning & Sharing Collection in the 1970’s, knowing the importance of play and the use of toys to help to promote early literacy, and the fact that parent-child interaction with books and toys is critical for reading and writing readiness. The Learning & Sharing Collection, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, includes developmental toys, puppets, puzzles, DVDs, books, magazines and kits for children ages birth to five. The Collection was recently expanded and now contains over 17,000 items that customers can borrow to enhance early literacy interaction.

“Providing an environment to explore and play while building pre-literacy along with early literacy skills for our youngest customers is a priority for Harford County Public Library,” said Mary Hastler, Library Director.

In celebration of the Collection’s anniversary the Bel Air Library held a special story time on Wednesday, November 14th. Over forty children and their parents joined in on the fun. “The toys selected were perfect for the children to play with and the fingerplay and song words on the big screen were a great idea,” commented Dawn Johnson, a parent participant. “For the first time I took copies of the books, read by the librarians, home to read to my 18 month old grandson. He sat still and listened to every one of them!”

The Learning & Sharing Collection also includes kits containing age-appropriate materials that support the different stages of child development on specific topics. These special theme kits include materials on topics such as the alphabet, colors, numbers, shapes, music and rhythm, time, fine motor skills, language development and medical experiences for children such as going to the dentist or doctor.

The Learning & Sharing Collection items and kits can be borrowed for 7 days with a one-time renewal. Individual items can be browsed at the Aberdeen, Abingdon, Bel Air, Edgewood or Joppa Libraries. Kits can be found at the Bel Air Library. All Learning & Sharing Collection items and kits can also be requested online and picked up at any Harford County Public Library branch.

Harford County Public Library supports early literacy through many other programs and services. This includes the Opening the Gift and the Sharing the Gift outreach programs that visit daycare centers; the Puppy Tales Club which offers parents, caregivers and children, ages birth through preschool, the opportunity to learn about the early literacy practices of talking, singing, reading, writing and playing that help babies and young children become ready to read; and the Families Read and Succeed program, based at the Edgewood Library, which offers family meal time events, classroom visits, and Learning Parties, which are interactive, hands-on parent/child parties.

For more information on the Learning & Sharing Collection or any of the early literacy programs at HCPL please go to HCPLonline.org or visit your local Library branch.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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Photo caption: Children and parents interact during the 35th Anniversary Story Time for The Learning and Sharing Collection.

(Belcamp, Maryland – November 13, 2012) Nonprofit organizations and other grant seekers searching for information on fundraising, nonprofit management, grant seeking and grant writing and related subjects now have access to the Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center of New York at the Harford County Public Library Bel Air Branch.

“Harford County Public Library is very pleased to bring these critical resources to Harford County through a grant provided by the Community Foundation of Harford County. Customers now have access through the Bel Air Library and eliminates the need to travel to Baltimore or leave the county to search for that critical grant opportunity,” said Mary Hastler, Library Director.

Located in the Maryland Room of the Bel Air Library, the Harford County Public Library Grant Collection consists of a comprehensive print collection and dedicated computers to access these comprehensive resources. The collection includes the following resources: The Foundation Directory Online, which profiles more than 100,000 U.S. grant makers; Foundation Grants to Individuals Online; and Philanthropy In/Sight. Directories and proposal writing books are also available as part of this collection. For more information, please see a staff member at the Bel Air Library.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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(Belcamp, Maryland – November 9, 2012) More than 600 guests attended Harford County Public Library’s 8th Annual Gala on Saturday, November 3rd, making it a record-breaking event for the Library. Combined sponsorships, ticket sales, raffle sales, contributions and live and silent auction bids resulted in over $100,000 net of expenses in support of Library programs, materials, and a new early literacy initiative, Little Leapers.

Celebree Learning Centers played a large role in the success of the event with a $25,000 donation as the title sponsor for the Little Leapers program. The announcement was made at the Gala and celebrated with a champagne toast.

“We are thrilled to welcome Celebree Learning Centers as the title sponsor for our Little Leapers program,” said Mary Hastler, Director of Harford County Public Library. “Celebree Learning Centers is a longstanding partner with the Library and shares our mission to help children develop a lifelong love of learning.”

“Celebree Learning Center’s team of childcare professionals is committed to giving children the foundation they need for a lifetime of academic achievement. To accomplish this, children must develop an interest in science and math at an early age. Little Leapers is the type of groundbreaking program that will give our youth a true head start in STEM and we are proud to be the title sponsor,” said Richard Huffman, CEO of Celebree Learning Centers.

Guests were treated to a delicious feast by Laurrapin Grille, a signature martini bar by Liberatore’s Ristorante, bourbon and wine selections from Jim’s BottleWorks, craft brews from DuClaw Brewing Company, coffee from Coffee Coffee, and an array of decadent deserts from Wegmans, Flavor Cupcakery, WOLO, and Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli. The event featured entertainment by the renowned Zim Zemarel Orchestra, and spirited live and silent auctions.

Notably, Margaret and Tony Evering of Havre de Grace bid $26,500 to win the BackYard Crashers package, a backyard makeover valued at nearly $50,000 donated by Rock Solid Hardscaping, Nature Unlimited, Picture Perfect Patios, and supporting sponsors Maryland Paving, Ivy Hill Land Services, and EP Henry. This is the second year BackYard Crashers has been offered at the Gala.

“We are excited to partner on this unique project for the Library once again,” said John Chihorz of Rock Solid Hardscaping. “It gives us the opportunity to put our talents-creating exceptional outdoor entertainment areas-to work for the Library.”

Back Yard Crashers is being filmed for a segment that will air on HCN and can be followed by fans on Facebook at HCPL’s Foundation page.

In addition, the winning ticket for the stunning 3-carat diamond tennis bracelet donated by Saxon’s Diamond Centers was drawn. Saxons, a long-standing Library partner, was recognized at the event for their remarkable commitment to the community.

“We are truly honored by this tremendous investment in the Library and grateful for the contributions of all of our sponsors, volunteers and guests,” said Dave Patzer, HCPL Foundation President and a Presenting Sponsor of the event. “The evening was truly a magical night for the Library. The food, the drinks, the music, and the auction items were all outstanding!”

Additional presenting sponsors for this year’s gala were Keene Dodge, M&T Bank, Mason Dixon Arrive Magazine and Richardson’s Flowers and Gifts. Headlining sponsors were The Aegis, Harford’s Heart, Hart to Heart Transportation, Liberatore’s Ristorante, Ivy Hill Land Services, and WXCY. Premiere Sponsors were APG Federal Credit Union, FastFrame, Freedom Federal Credit Union, Harford Mutual, Maryland Paving Inc., Pairings Bistro, PNC Bank, Huether-McCelland Foundation, Klein’s Shoprite, SRC, Two Brothers Moving, and WOLO. Supporting Sponsors included Bel Air Friends of HCPL, Brooms Bloom Dairy, DuClaw Brewing Company, Events by I Did it Myself, Flowers by Bauers, Greater Harford Committee, Gordon Feinblatt, HC Style, Jim’s BottleWorks, Laurel Bush Dentistry, Main Street Cigars, NVS Salon and Spa, Midwest Tape, Macy’s, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, Pharmacare, PNC Wealth Management, Point Breeze Credit Union, Raytheon, Saks Fifth Avenue, Safe Harbors Travel Group, SAIC, Skylight Creative Ideas, Slavie Federal Savings Bank, Select Event Rentals, Wegmans, Total Urgent Care, St. John Properties, Harford Sanitation Services, Weyrich Cronin and Sorra, Chartered, Mark and Mary Hastler, Dick and Susan Kinard, Matt and Beth Hendrix, Lucie Snodgrass, Robert and Kathy Wajer, and Al Williamson & Christine Roberts. Contributing Sponsors were Baker and Taylor, Bel Air Health and Rehab, COPT, Ellin and Tucker Chartered, Hilton Garden Inn, Flavor Cupcakery, Harford Cable Network, Jarrettsville Creamery and Deli, Katzen Eye Group, Rainbow International, Martine Music and More, Smart CEO Magazine, Upper Chesapeake Health, and WSMT Insurance.

The Harford County Public Library Foundation is a 501© 3 charitable organization established to raise funds to augment the financial resources of the Library and to promote awareness of Library services. For more information call 410 273 5601 x2283.

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.

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Photo caption #1: Dave Patzer, HCPL Foundation President; Mary Hastler, Library Director; Richard Huffman, CEO, Celebree Learning Centers; and Amber Shrodes, HCPL Foundation Director, at Harford County Public Library’s 8th Annual Gala on November 3, 2012. Celebree Learning Centers played a large role in the success of the event with a $25,000 donation as the title sponsor for the new Little Leapers early literacy program. Photo by J.Thomas Photography: www.jthomasblog.com

Photo caption #2: Kevin Ferrell and Lance Hersh, Saxons Diamond Centers; Mary Hastler, Library Director; and Jay VanDeusen, Rainbow International, at Harford County Public Library’s 8th Annual Gala on November 3, 2012. Photo by J.Thomas Photography: www.jthomasblog.com
Photo caption #3: Barry Glassman, Senator; Mary Hastler, Library Director; and Chad Shrodes, Harford County Councilman, were among those who attended the Library’s 8th Annual Gala. Photo by J.Thomas Photography: www.jthomasblog.com

Photo caption #4: Mary Hastler, Library Director; David Craig, County Executive; and Amber Shrodes, HCPL Foundation Director, at Harford County Public Library’s 8th Annual Gala on November 3, 2012. Photo by J.Thomas Photography: www.jthomasblog.com

(Belcamp, Maryland – November 9, 2012) The Aberdeen, Edgewood, Fallston, Jarrettsville and Joppa branches of Harford County Public Library (HCPL) along with the HCPL Administrative offices in Belcamp will serve as drop off sites for The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund donations. Unwrapped new toys and games can be brought to these locations through December 3. The Aegis Empty Stocking Fund is a non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization created to help Harford Countians during the Holidays with toys, food and clothing for each family. For more information, visit www.AegisEmptyStocking.com

Harford County Public Library operates eleven branches located throughout Harford County, Maryland. The library serves over 175,000 registered borrowers of all ages and has an annual circulation of 4.5 million. Harford County Public Library is committed to connecting people with information and promoting the love of reading within the community.