Library Services

President-elect Barack Obama has stated that "literacy is the highway to success" and that libraries represent "a window to a larger world." Adviser David Axelrod recently said libraries will be part of the proposed economic stimulus package. As the nation and the world look to a new chapter in history, these statements leave me optimistic. During these tough economic times, library services across the nation are in great demand. Families are examining their budgets and turning to libraries more than ever.

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.

The Enoch Pratt Free Library will announce this morning a multimillion-dollar plan to build four regional library centers, one in each quadrant of the city, and provide dramatic upgrades in computer access to all libraries in the system.Pratt officials said they will probably close some branches to streamline services, although they said no specific buildings have been targeted.The decade-long construction would provide the Pratt its first new buildings in more than 25 years. The program, estimated to cost $35 million-$45 million, is to be financed primarily through the sale of city bond issues, said Carla D. Hayden, the library's director.

Strategic plan for library would improve PrattI support the concept of regional libraries for the Enoch Pratt Free Library.While there is still a need for library services at the local level, and this has been addressed in the new plans, newer, up-to-date regional libraries can better serve the communities because they will be more cost-efficient, provide a higher level of technical support such as Internet services, and will keep more materials on hand.I...

The board of library trustees is seeking applicants to fill a volunteer position on the board that will become available in July. The person will represent residents of the Elkridge area -- which encompasses the 1st District.The board sets policy, approves the budget, advocates for library services and participates in the development of the library's long-range plan.Trustees serve a five-year term and may be reappointed to a second five-year term.Information: 313-7750. To apply, send cover letter and resume to Norma Hill, director, Howard County Library, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia, by Feb. 28.Police logEllicott City: 3100 block of Wheaton Way: A red 1986 Pontiac Firebird, Maryland license plate ACW-835, was stolen between Monday and Thursday.

Two branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library will close permanently at the end of the month, sparking outrage from residents who say the city is reneging on its commitment to turn Baltimore into the "City That Reads."Morrell Park library in South Baltimore and the St. Paul Street library in lower Charles Village are the victims of a $1 million cost-cutting measure by the Pratt Library this year.In addition, there will be fewer new books and materials available, and the Night Owl telephone reference service will drop from five weekdays to four.

A PHILOSOPHICAL difference of opinion rooted in romantic memories of walking to their nearby neighborhood branch has led some critics to roast a new strategic plan for the Enoch Pratt Free Library. As patrons, they are right to be concerned about any reconfiguration of the library system. But the Pratt has given no indication that it would leave any community unserved, even dTC a particular branch should close.The library's intent is to bring its services closer to Baltimore neighborhoods that have never had a branch within walking distance and to use today's technology to bring library services to more people.

ANNAPOLIS -- Public libraries these days face some hard choices: Do they buy more computers so people can surf the Internet or start a bookmobile program in poor neighborhoods?"

CARROLL COUNTY'S public library system is turning a new page with its three-year improvement plan to give patrons more for their money.Already one of the most innovative library systems in Maryland, with the highest per-capita readership of any county, the Carroll library wants to expand its services by placing more book-return boxes throughout the community, contract out for initial processing of new volumes added to the system, issue its own credit cards,...

The final design of the proposed 23,000-square-foot community center that would bring western Howard County its first full-service library will be presented at a meeting tonight.A site at Route 97 and Carrs Mill Road in Glenwood will be turned into a $14 million complex complete with a library, gym, recreation center and other facilities.The library, the first phase of the project, was scheduled to open in fall 1999 at the earliest. But Howard County officials say the library might not open until 2002.

As Harford County Library nears a circulation record, deep budget cuts have forced administrators to lay off staff, reduce purchases of new materials and limit hours. Audra L. Caplan, library director, spent Friday delivering layoff notices to several of her staff and trying to find a way to keep all 11 branches open. Caplan would not say how many employees she had to let go, but they were in addition to the 34 dismissals that County Executive David R. Craig announced Thursday. The library already had frozen 20 vacant positions.

President-elect Barack Obama has stated that "literacy is the highway to success" and that libraries represent "a window to a larger world." Adviser David Axelrod recently said libraries will be part of the proposed economic stimulus package. As the nation and the world look to a new chapter in history, these statements leave me optimistic. During these tough economic times, library services across the nation are in great demand. Families are examining their budgets and turning to libraries more than ever.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services has awarded a $101,000 grant to the Flag House & Star-Spangled Banner Museum to help create a program to expand family and youth programs and boost the museum's presence in the community. The grant requires that the museum raise an equal amount of money. "This grant comes at a critical time for the museum as it allows us to expand our offerings for those in the Baltimore metropolitan region while also strengthening our relationship with the communities in proximity to our facility," Stacey Shelnut-Hendrick, executive director of museum, said in a statement.

The Carroll County Public Library prides itself on being a great place to learn, and it has the numbers to back up the claim: Since 1994, the library has ranked first in the state in circulation per capita, with 21.3 items per person in fiscal year 2006. Of the county's estimated 163,200 residents last year, 90 percent were registered borrowers, and the library's five branches offered 5,555 programs, which were attended by more than 131,000 people. And all the while, the library continues to grow to meet the demands of its patrons.

More than 8,000 books given in December by the Holy Trinity Monastery and Spiritual Center in Pikesville will soon be on the shelves of the Villa Julie College's library. The books -- including Tales from the Decameron, Tolstoy's complete works and Diary of a Madman -- are classics in history, literature and the social sciences, and were given to the college by the monastery to make room for a larger area for retreat groups at the spiritual center. The Rev. Thomas Cerulo of the monastery said the spiritual center's main conference room is in the monastery's library, and the center's directors wanted to remove three long rows of books to create more space for conferences.

It's not always easy for parents to take their children to the library. Now, the library is coming to them in Baltimore and Baltimore County, where library officials are redoubling their efforts to reach the youngest children. In Baltimore, the Enoch Pratt Free Library has launched the "Book Buggy" bookmobile service that will travel to Head Start centers with books, computers and educational materials to promote reading readiness among infants and preschoolers. Meanwhile, the Baltimore County Public Library Foundation is raising money to buy a second "Read Rover" bookmobile that will visit commercial and in-home day care centers throughout the county.

The Jewish Museum of Maryland has been awarded a $112,500 grant - its third in as many years - by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. It was among 178 museum grants, including two in Maryland, announced yesterday by the independent federal agency. More than 800 had applied for the competitive grants, whose recipients are free to use the money in any way they choose for improving overall service. The other Maryland grant, also $112,500, was awarded to Historic St. Mary's City in southern Maryland.

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.

Reading help available in public librariesCongratulations on your "Reading by 9" series.I was especially heartened that you included the research from Marilyn Jager Adams' "Beginning to Read: Thinking and Learning about Print." As a public library director, I quote Adams' research every chance I get; especially the following conclusion from that study: "The single most important activity for building the knowledge and skills eventually required for reading appears to be reading aloud to children."

The final design of the proposed 23,000-square-foot community center that would bring western Howard County its first full-service library will be presented at a meeting tonight.A site at Route 97 and Carrs Mill Road in Glenwood will be turned into a $14 million complex complete with a library, gym, recreation center and other facilities.The library, the first phase of the project, was scheduled to open in fall 1999 at the earliest. But Howard County officials say the library might not open until 2002.