Libraries Open

At a meeting in Brooklyn last night, fiery city residents shook homemade signs and begged Enoch Pratt Free Library officials to keep their libraries open. The Pratt announced this week that it will close five branches by this summer. The five will be chosen from a list of 11. The endangered branches - which tend to be the smallest, oldest or least used - are located throughout the city. They are: Canton, Clifton, Dundalk, Fells Point, Forest Park, Gardenville, Govans, Highlandtown, Hollins-Payson, Pimlico and Washington Village in Pigtown.

Carroll County Public Library announced this week that the Westminster Library branch, 50 E. Main St., Westminster, is beginning Sunday operations, starting Oct. 7. The library will be open 1 to 5 p.m. on Sundays through April 28 (closed December 23 and March 31). Library officials said the Sunday hours are a pilot project, made possible in partnership with the City of Westminster. Other hours at Westminster are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8:45 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.    

This schedule will be in effect in the Baltimore area tomorrow:# ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTYCounty offices openCourts openLibraries openPublic schools closedTrash pickup as normally scheduledANNAPOLIS City offices openCourts openParking meters feedPublic schools closedTrash pickup as normally scheduledBALTIMORE City offices openCourts openLibraries openParking meters feedPublic schools closed until April 24Trash pickup#BALTIMORE COUNTYCounty offices openCourts openLibraries...

The grand opening of the Howard County Library Charles E. Miller branch and Historical Center has been set for Dec. 17. The $29-million, two-story building, located at 9421 Frederick Road in Ellicott City, sits right next to the old library, which closed Sept. 30. County Executive Ken Ulman will give the opening remarks at 9:45 a.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Tours and activities will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  

This schedule will be in effect in the Baltimore area for tomorrow: Anne Arundel County ------------------------------------------------- County offices open Courts open Libraries open Public schools closed Trash removal curbside pickup Annapolis ------------------------------------------------- City offices open Parking meters feed, Trash removal regular pickup Baltimore ------------------------------------------------- City offices open...

This schedule will be in effect in the Baltimore area Tuesday for primary Election Day:Anne Arundel CountyCounty offices openCourts openLibraries openPublic schools closedTrash removal pickupAnnapolisCity offices openCourts openParking meters feedPublic schools closedTrash removal pickupBaltimoreCity offices openCourts openLibraries openParking meters feedPublic schools closedTrash removal pickupBaltimore CountyCounty offices openCourts openLibraries openParking...

This holiday schedule will be in effect in the area today:*ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTYCounty offices closedCourts openSchools closedLibraries openTrash removal regular pickup*ANNAPOLISCity offices openCourts openSchools closedParking meters must feedTrash removal regular pickup*BALTIMORECity offices openCourts openSchools closedLibraries openParking meters must feedTrash removal regular pickup*BALTIMORE COUNTYCounty offices openCourts openSchools closedLibraries openParking...

This schedule is in effect in the Baltimore area today:Anne Arundel CountyLibraries openTrash removal regular pickupAnnapolisParking meters must feedBaltimoreLibraries openParking meters must feedTrash removal regular pickupBaltimore CountyParking meters must feedLibraries openTrash removal regular pickupCarroll CountyLibraries openTrash removal ask contractorFrederick CountyLibraries openTrash removal ask contractorHarford CountyLibraries openTrash removal...

The $4.3 million Arbutus branch of Baltimore County's library system is winning rave reviews from its youngest to oldest patrons after officially reopening at a new location. While her mother watched from a cozy window seat, Emily Riesett celebrated her fifth birthday Monday playing at cake-baking in the children's area of the Sulphur Spring Road library. "It is the only thing she wanted to do for her birthday," Karen Riesett said of her daughter. "We just love how family-friendly it is here.

A $670,000 budget shortfall caused by the dismal economic climate has prompted the Maryland Historical Society to cut hours at its Baltimore museum and library and to eliminate several staff positions, according to the president of its trustee board. In addition, Wednesday was director Robert Rogers' last day with the society, board president Alex G. Fisher said. Rogers' departure is unrelated to the 165-year-old organization's budget problems, according to Fisher. The board will name an interim director until it can conduct a search for a new leader.

Those who look at the construction in the 5100 block of Roland Ave. often stop, stare and ask the same question of the building's workers. When is the library going to reopen? "The curiosity level has been very high," said Carla D. Hayden, executive director of the Enoch Pratt Free Library system. "It's like a Christmas present being unfolded." At noon today, the Roland Park branch will reopen after an 18-month, $5.3 million renovation, marking an end to a major overhaul of the library system for this year.

The Howard County Central Library unveiled a new health information collection this week that offers health-related books, journals, magazines and other resources in one visible - and comfortable - location. "What we wanted to do is create a kind of friendly environment where people could feel comfortable perusing the health collection and relax while doing it," said Deborah Barlow, reference supervisor for the central library. The library condensed its reference area and moved it to one end of the second floor to create a roomy, open area for the new collection.

Suggestions that the Annapolis Area library branch could close -- and a new regional branch could be built in Parole -- have some residents worried that they will no longer be able to walk to the familiar red-brick library that's been a fixture on West Street since 1965. A coalition of residents opposed to closing the Annapolis library recently formed and enlisted Mayor Ellen O. Moyer in the cause. The mayor introduced a resolution at a City Council meeting last week to keep the branch open, even though she acknowledges city government has no direct power over the county library system.

Meg Rapp is eager for the new Crofton branch of the Anne Arundel County Public Library to open near her house. All summer her daughter had to drive about 12 miles to the Severna Park branch to complete summer reading requirements for high school. When the facility on Riedel Road opens Saturday, it will be just a few blocks from the Rapps' house and include about 140,000 books, CDs, tapes and videos, nearly 41,000 of which are new. "It's finally nice they're catching up with what Crofton's needs are," Rapp said.

This schedule will be in effect in the Baltimore area tomorrow for Veterans Day: Anne Arundel County County offices closed Courts closed Libraries open Public schools open Trash pickup, landfills closed Annapolis City offices closed Parking meters feed Trash no pickup, make-up day for yard waste is Wednesday Baltimore City offices open Courts closed Libraries open Parking meters feed Public schools open Trash pickup, stations open ...