Harford County Library

Debbie Pasco has received the Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Maryland Library Association. Pasco was honored for her service as president of the Havre de Grace Friends of Harford County Public Library, a position she has held since the early 1980s. Pasco's contributions to the county library include representing it at the Maryland Governor's Conference on Libraries and Information Services in 1990; participating in the White House Conference in 1991; serving as the founding officer in the library's Friends Council; organizing Friends Used Book Sales; and her dedication to the library for more than 20 years.

Jarrettsville bank beginnings go way back On Feb. 22, 1870, the Jarrettsville Building Association met to offer at an auction its first loan of $400. The association was organized in 1869 to promote financial stability after the Civil War. The early directors sought to encourage home ownership and increase saving. The association constructed its own building in 1952 and later changed its name to Jarrettsville Federal Savings and Loan Association. Source: Jarrettsville Past and Present Compiled by the staff of the Harford County Public Library

In response to the war in Iraq, Harford County Public Library has created a resource section about the conflict for the library's Web site. Offerings include online resources for parents, teachers and students, such as information about the conflict, how to talk to children about war, curriculum aids for educators and links to online newspapers. The library's Web site is www. harf.lib.md.us. The crisis resources link is www.harf.lib.md. us/HCPL/headlineshappenings/Special%20Events/war/iraq.

Donations of used books, CDs, DVDs and videotapes will be accepted from noon to 4 p.m. Saturdays next month at the loading dock of the Bel Air library branch, 100 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Donations, which are tax-deductible, must be in good condition. No magazines will be accepted. Items will be sold at the Bel Air Friends of the Harford County Public Library's used book sale April 1-4. Information: 410-638-3151; or Anna Housman, 410-838-8049.

Harford County Public Library has named Claudia Sumler as public services administrator. She previously was director of the Camden County Library in New Jersey and had worked for several Maryland library systems. Sumler is active in state and national library associations. The public services administrator supports the library's mission to provide access, service and information to residents. The library also named Susan Marquis as manager of the Havre de Grace branch. Marquis, a children's and youth services librarian, has previous branch management experience with Prince George's County Memorial Library System.

1877: Holy Trinity burns down Two days before Christmas in 1877, the Church of the Holy Trinity in Churchville was destroyed in a fire so fierce that the steeple bell melted. A new church was ready just a year after the fire at a cost of $5,000. It was consecrated in 1879. The first church, which opened in 1867, had been in the Gothic Revival style, built of wood. The new church is of stone and stands today. [ Our Harford Heritage by C. Milton Wright. Research by Harford County Public Library]

Journey Stories officially kicked off April 11 with the opening reception for "Cars: A Harford County Love Affair," the first of six exhibitions that will accompany the Smithsonian's Journey Stories Exhibition coming May 19 to the Abingdon branch of the Harford County Public Library. The Cars juried photography exhibition opened at the Jarrettsville library with 30 photographs illustrating Harford County's love of the car. Local professional and amateur fine art photographers submitted more than 90 pictures for consideration and 30 photographs by 18 artists were selected to be included in the exhibition.

Julia Duryea Cameron, who expanded the Harford County Library from a one-room library to a modern, multibranch system, died Sept. 12 of a heart attack at Fallston General Hospital.She was 100 and lived in Bel Air.When she became president of the Harford County Library Association in 1940, the library was in a frame house on Main Street in Bel Air with an annual book-buying budget of $125.After the General Assembly passed the Library Aid Act to help local governments establish library systems, she persuaded the Harford County commissioners to be the first county in the state to take advantage of the act.With C. Milton Wright, a Harford County educator and historian, Mrs. Cameron established six branches and purchased a used bookmobile to take library services to rural locations.

Tickets are on sale for the Harford County Public Library's seventh annual gala, the Sapphire Supper Club.. Enjoy an "Evening in the Stacks," which will be held Nov. 5 at the Abingdon Library from 7 to 11 p.m. The event, the county library system's largest fundraiser, is anticipated to attract more than 400 guests. Tickets are $90 each. The 1940s big band theme is in honor of Harford County Public Library's 65th "Sapphire" anniversary and will feature Shades of Blue Orchestra, vintage décor, scrumptious small plates by Pairings Bistro, a signature martini bar by Liberatore's Ristorante, and engaging live and silent auction items.