There are 86 upcoming classes.
Black Fiction Book Club (in-person) East Columbia Branch
Date: 04/01/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
April 01 In every mirror she's Black : a novel by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Black Fiction Book Club (online)
Date: 04/01/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
April 01 In every mirror she's Black : a novel by Lọlá Ákínmádé Åkerström.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Veterans Book Group (online)
Date: 04/02/23Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Veterans, both active and retired military, are invited to this online discussion series. During five monthly facilitated sessions, discussions center on military experiences and a unique set of readings, which may include classics, fiction, memoirs, poetry, short stories, articles, and essays. The readings relate in some way to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective.
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. Registration is open to veterans/active duty only, please.
All reading materials are provided. Space is limited.
1st Sundays; February 5 - June 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Online.
The Veterans Book Group is moderated by David Owens. David Owens is a Navy veteran who served for six years onboard two U.S. Navy warships. Owens attended the U.S. Naval Academy and now runs a small media content production business based in the D.C. metropolitan area. Owens loves to read and, even more so, enjoys the discussions and camaraderie of the veteran book groups!
The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with Howard County Library System. The Veterans Book Group is supported in part by the Wawa Foundation.
Reading Selections:
February 5: In the Company of Soldiers: A Chronicle of Combat by Rick Atkinson
March 5: The Sable Arm: Black Soldiers in the Union Army, 1861 - 1865 by Dudley Taylor Cornish
April 2: Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati
May 7: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character by Jonathan Shay
June 4: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone. For any questions, please email [email protected].
Global Reads
Date: 04/03/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books on different cultures around the world as well as immigrant fiction.
1st Mondays; 7- 8 pm.
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
April 3: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
May 1: RedHead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler
June 5: Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
Read. Think. Talk.
Date: 04/03/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for a discussion of books that explore humans, and their conditions.
April 3rd we will discuss 2 A.M. in Little America by Ken Kalfus.
Spies, Lies, and Alibis Book Discussion Group
Date: 04/04/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Join us for discussion of the following titles:
Apr 4 - Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott
May 2 - Firefly by Henry Porter
June 6 - Slow Horses by Mick Herron
Books on Tap (book club)
Date: 04/05/23Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Off Site
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at The Periodic Table. We read and talk about a wide variety of genres, with a focus on books written from diverse points of view. Please reserve a copy for yourself via hclibrary.org.
April: A History of Wild Places by Shea Ernshaw
May: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
June: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
Good Reads Book Discussion (online)
Date: 04/10/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Join us for a of discussion fiction or non-fiction titles that embrace universal themes.
April 10 There There by Tommy Orange
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone. Please stop by East Columbia branch to pick up a copy of the book. (Available while supplies last).
ELKS Excellent Reads
Date: 04/11/23Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We will be discussing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Eclectic Evenings Meeting (Online)
Date: 04/11/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of fiction and nonfiction titles.
2nd Tuesdays, 7-8 pm
Join for a discussion of the following title:
April 11: The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pickup from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
Mystery Book Club
Date: 04/12/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of mystery novels.
2nd Wednesdays, 7-8pm, HYBRID. Register here for the Zoom link, or join us at the Savage Branch!
November 9th: At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
December 14th: The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith
January 11th: The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
February 8th: The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
March 8th: The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson
April 12th: Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
May 10th: The Searcher by Tana French
What's On Your Shelf? Fiction and Nonfiction Book Chat
Date: 04/13/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
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.
Readers also have the opportunity to ask for recommendations or to ask our instructors questions about books, reading, and the library. Previous discussion topics have included book donations, Little Free Libraries, and Goodreads (the world's largest website for readers and book recommendations).
Warning Graphic Content (Online)
Date: 04/13/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of graphic novels. 2nd Thursdays 7 - 8 pm.
April 13 Karnen Vol. 1 by Guillem March
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Title is available via hoopla
The Language of the Experience: Unlocking Your Voice In Writing
Date: 04/15/23Time: 10:30am - 11:30am
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 14 - 18 (High School), Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Writing
Description:
Are you a poet or writer? This is for you.
Some writers feel a pressure that to be “a good writer” they need to use elevated, poetic or flowery language. However, the language of our experiences can be the most powerful tool in our writing. In this workshop, we’ll read examples of writing that uses “the language of the experience,” as well as take part in a “translation” exercise to explore finding our unique voice.
Meg Eden Kuyatt is a 2020 Pitch Wars mentee, and teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at https://linktr.ee/medenauthor.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
Strictly Historical Fiction
Date: 04/17/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Love historical fiction? So do we! Join our discussion to step into the past and connect with characters living in times different than our own.
Apr 17: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
May 15: Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Jun 19: No meeting. Library closed for Juneteenth National Freedom Day.
Ask for a copy of the book at the Research Kiosk on the second floor, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
New member registration is preferred, not required.
We meet on the third Monday of each month at 2:00 pm, unless the library is closed for holidays or weather.
Asian American Literature Book Club (Online)
Date: 04/17/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join our monthly discussion of Asian American literary titles.
- Mar 20 2023 Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto
- Apr 17 2023 All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
- May 15 2023 Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho
- June 26 2023 (June 19 holiday) The Swimmer by Julie Otsuka
- July 17 2023 How High We Go in Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
- Aug 21 2023 The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Bas Bleu Book Discussion Group
Date: 04/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Bas Bleu, French for “bluestocking,” refers to an intellectual or literary woman. We read a variety of literary fiction, and all are welcome – not just bluestockings!
Join us for a discussion of the following books:
Bas Bleu, French for “bluestocking,” refers to an intellectual or literary woman. We read a variety of literary fiction, and all are welcome – not just bluestockings!
Join us for a discussion of the following books:
Apr 19 - Fifty Words for Rain by Asha Lemmie
May 17 - The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth
June 21 - The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Cookbook corner at East Columbia Branch
Date: 04/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Explore various culinary cuisines/chefs of the world. A new cuisine/chef every month. This month's cuisine is Indian Cuisine. Pick-up any Indian cookbook at the library, cook some recipes and come have a culinary discussion.
Nonfiction Book Club (in person)
Date: 04/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Savage Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- March 15 - Where You Are is Not Who You Are: A memoir by Ursula Burns
- April 19 - Taste Makers: Seven immigrant women who revolutionized food in America by Mayukh Sen
- May 17 - Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the in-person session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area.
Register for the online session here to receive a link to the zoom meeting: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-online-10
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
Nonfiction Book Club (online)
Date: 04/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- March 15 - Where You Are is Not Who You Are: A memoir by Ursula Burns
- April 19 - Taste Makers: Seven immigrant women who revolutionized food in America by Mayukh Sen
- May 17 - Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the online session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. View the in-person session here: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-person-4
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 04/20/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of True Biz by Sarah Novic on Thursday, April 20th 2023, 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Wendy Camassar at [email protected]
Light but not Fluffy
Date: 04/20/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss light-hearted books that will make us smile. The books will talk about love, hope, and grace. They will include humor, and perhaps some snark, to spice things up. It will be fun! Join us.
3rd Thursdays: 2 - 3 pm
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
April 20th: Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
May 18th: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
June 15th: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
Nonfiction Addiction (In Person)
Date: 04/20/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Explore the genre of nonfiction and join our discussions on third Thursdays!
Mar 16th: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Apr 20th: Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bitmann
May 18th: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
This is a hybrid book club meeting.
We will meet in one of the conference rooms of the branch, spread out (more than 6 feet away from each other), wear a mask and connect via Zoom with the rest of the book group members at home. We will see Zoom participants via pull down screen of our conference room.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Nonfiction Addiction (Online/Hybrid)
Date: 04/20/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Explore the genre of nonfiction and join our discussions on third Thursdays!
Mar 16th: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Apr 20th: Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bitmann
May 18th: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
*E-books and e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Thursday Next Book Club
Date: 04/20/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We will be discussing Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
The Reading Cafe
Date: 04/25/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Glenwood Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
NEW TIME! Join us for a lively monthly book club discussion. Books for this period are:
- Jan 31, Tell Me Everything by Erica Krouse
- Feb 28, Mary Jane by Jessica Blau
- Mar 28, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
- Apr 25, Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochiti Gonzalez
- May 30, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Reading Human Rights: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
Date: 04/25/23Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Reading Human Rights is a monthly book discussion hosted by the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity and Howard County Library System. We read books that promote cultural awareness, diversity, equity.
“Riveting, fearless, and vividly original” (Emily St. John Mandel, New York Times bestselling author), this instant New York Times bestseller explores the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing.
Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, she’s thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. They’ve only just started comparing natural hair care regimens, though, when a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to Office Darling, and Nella is left in the dust.
Then the notes begin to appear on Nella’s desk: LEAVE WAGNER. NOW.
It’s hard to believe Hazel is behind these hostile messages. But as Nella starts to spiral and obsess over the sinister forces at play, she soon realizes that there’s a lot more at stake than just her career. Having joined Wagner Books to honor the legacy of Burning Heart, a novel written and edited by two Black women, she had thought that this animosity was a relic of the past. Is Nella ready to take on the fight of a new generation?
“Poignant, daring, and darkly funny, The Other Black Girl will have you stressed and exhilarated in equal measure through the very last twist” (Vulture). The perfect read for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace.
Zakiya Dalila Harris spent nearly three years in editorial at Knopf/Doubleday before leaving to write her debut novel The Other Black Girl. Prior to working in publishing, Zakiya received her MFA in creative writing from The New School. Her essays and book reviews have appeared in Cosmopolitan, Guernica, and The Rumpus. She lives in Brooklyn.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. Please note that your email may be shared with Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity for communication related to this event.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
In Other Worlds (In Person) - Book Club
Date: 04/26/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Welcome science fiction & fantasy enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Discuss a wide-array of SFF movies (2nd Wednesdays) and books (4th Wednesdays)
Mar 22: Embassytown by China Mieville
Apr 26: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
May 24: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
This is a hybrid book club meeting.
We will meet in one of the conference rooms of the branch, spread out (more than 6 feet away from each other), wear a mask and connect via Zoom with the rest of the book group members at home. We will see Zoom participants via pull down screen of our conference room.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
In Other Worlds (Online) - Book Discussion
Date: 04/26/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Welcome science fiction & fantasy enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Discuss a wide-array of SFF movies (2nd Wednesdays) and books (4th Wednesdays)
Mar 22: Embassytown by China Mieville
Apr 26: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
May 24: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Romantic Reads (Online)
Date: 04/26/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Love to read romance novels? Do you need an escape from reality? Join the new Romantic Reads Book Discussion!
Discuss books by a different romance author each month with other fellow romance readers. You will "zoom" away with new authors and books to add to your wish list of books to read!
For this session, we will be focusing on books by the author Julia London. Please read any book of your choice by Julia London.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Murder Mischief and Mayhem
Date: 04/27/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for a lively discussion of all things murderous, mysterious and mischievous. Sometimes it's fiction, sometimes non-fiction, but always interesting!
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 04/27/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Discuss LGBTQ-related books and make new friends in a queer- & trans-affirming group setting. All identities and all ages (18+) are welcome.
Registration is recommended so you can be kept updated on any changes to the meeting location.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pick-up from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
This month's book will be The Verifiers by Jane Pek.
Read. Think. Talk.
Date: 05/01/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for a discussion of books that explore humans, and their conditions.
April 3rd we will discuss Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders.
Spies, Lies, and Alibis Book Discussion Group
Date: 05/02/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Join us for discussion of the following titles:
May 2 - Firefly by Henry Porter
June 6 - Slow Horses by Mick Herron
July 4 - holiday, no meeting
Books on Tap (book club)
Date: 05/03/23Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Off Site
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at The Periodic Table. We read and talk about a wide variety of genres, with a focus on books written from diverse points of view. Please reserve a copy for yourself via hclibrary.org.
May: The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd
June: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
July: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Black Fiction Book Club (in-person) East Columbia Branch
Date: 05/06/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
May 06 The old drift: a novel by Namwali Serpell
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Black Fiction Book Club (online)
Date: 05/06/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
May 06 The old drift : a novel by Namwali Serpell.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Veterans Book Group (online)
Date: 05/07/23Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Veterans, both active and retired military, are invited to this online discussion series. During five monthly facilitated sessions, discussions center on military experiences and a unique set of readings, which may include classics, fiction, memoirs, poetry, short stories, articles, and essays. The readings relate in some way to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective.
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. Registration is open to veterans/active duty only, please.
All reading materials are provided. Space is limited.
1st Sundays; February 5 - June 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Online.
The Veterans Book Group is moderated by David Owens. David Owens is a Navy veteran who served for six years onboard two U.S. Navy warships. Owens attended the U.S. Naval Academy and now runs a small media content production business based in the D.C. metropolitan area. Owens loves to read and, even more so, enjoys the discussions and camaraderie of the veteran book groups!
The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with Howard County Library System. The Veterans Book Group is supported in part by the Wawa Foundation.
Reading Selections:
February 5: In the Company of Soldiers: A Chronicle of Combat by Rick Atkinson
March 5: The Sable Arm: Black Soldiers in the Union Army, 1861 - 1865 by Dudley Taylor Cornish
April 2: Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati
May 7: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character by Jonathan Shay
June 4: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone. For any questions, please email [email protected].
Good Reads Book Discussion (online)
Date: 05/08/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Join us for a of discussion fiction or non-fiction titles that embrace universal themes.
May 08 The Henna Artist by Allka Joshi
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone. Please stop by East Columbia branch to pick up a copy of the book. (Available while supplies last).
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
ELKS Excellent Reads
Date: 05/09/23Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We will be discussing Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney
Eclectic Evenings Meeting (Online)
Date: 05/09/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of fiction and nonfiction titles.
2nd Tuesdays, 7-8 pm
Join for a discussion of the following title:
May 9: The Maid by Nita Prose
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pickup from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
Mystery Book Club
Date: 05/10/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of mystery novels.
2nd Wednesdays, 7-8pm, HYBRID. Register here for the Zoom link, or join us at the Savage Branch!
November 9th: At Bertram's Hotel by Agatha Christie
December 14th: The Joy and Light Bus Company by Alexander McCall Smith
January 11th: The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny
February 8th: The Lost Boys by Faye Kellerman
March 8th: The Third Grave by Lisa Jackson
April 12th: Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
May 10th: The Searcher by Tana French
Warning Graphic Content (Online)
Date: 05/11/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss a wide array of graphic novels. 2nd Thursdays 7 - 8 pm.
May 11 Crowded vols. 1-3 by Christopher Sebela
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Title is available via hoopla
Asian American Literature Book Club (Online)
Date: 05/15/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join our monthly discussion of Asian American literary titles.
- Mar 20 2023 Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Sutanto
- Apr 17 2023 All That's Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien
- May 15 2023 Tastes Like War by Grace M. Cho
- June 26 2023 (June 19 holiday) The Swimmer by Julie Otsuka
- July 17 2023 How High We Go in Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
- Aug 21 2023 The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Cookbook corner at East Columbia Branch
Date: 05/17/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Explore various culinary cuisines/chefs of the world. A new cuisine/chef every month. This month's cuisine is Jewish American Cuisine. Pick-up any Jewish/Kosher cookbook at the library, cook some recipes and come have a culinary discussion.
Nonfiction Book Club (in person)
Date: 05/17/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Savage Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the in-person session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. Click here to register for the online session you will receive a link to the zoom meeting.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
Nonfiction Book Club (online)
Date: 05/17/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the online session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. Register for the in-person session by clicking here.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 05/18/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocum on Thursday, May 18th 2023, 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Elizabeth Haynes at [email protected]
Light but not Fluffy
Date: 05/18/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss light-hearted books that will make us smile. The books will talk about love, hope, and grace. They will include humor, and perhaps some snark, to spice things up. It will be fun! Join us.
3rd Thursdays: 2 - 3 pm
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
May 18th: The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
June 15th: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
July 20th: Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J Pearce
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
Nonfiction Addiction (In Person)
Date: 05/18/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Explore the genre of nonfiction and join our discussions on third Thursdays!
Mar 16th: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Apr 20th: Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bitmann
May 18th: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
This is a hybrid book club meeting.
We will meet in one of the conference rooms of the branch, spread out (more than 6 feet away from each other), wear a mask and connect via Zoom with the rest of the book group members at home. We will see Zoom participants via pull down screen of our conference room.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Nonfiction Addiction (Online/Hybrid)
Date: 05/18/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Explore the genre of nonfiction and join our discussions on third Thursdays!
Mar 16th: A Woman of No Importance by Sonia Purnell
Apr 20th: Animal, Vegetable, Junk by Mark Bitmann
May 18th: The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
*E-books and e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Thursday Next Book Club
Date: 05/18/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We will be discussing Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
In Other Worlds (At East Columbia) - Book Discussion
Date: 05/24/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Welcome science fiction & fantasy enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Discuss a wide-array of SFF movies (2nd Wednesdays) and books (4th Wednesdays)
Mar 22: Embassytown by China Mieville
Apr 26: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
May 24: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
This is a hybrid book club meeting.
We will meet in one of the conference rooms of the branch, spread out (more than 6 feet away from each other), wear a mask and connect via Zoom with the rest of the book group members at home. We will see Zoom participants via pull down screen of our conference room.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
In Other Worlds (Online) - Book Discussion
Date: 05/24/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Welcome science fiction & fantasy enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Discuss a wide-array of SFF movies (2nd Wednesdays) and books (4th Wednesdays)
Mar 22: Embassytown by China Mieville
Apr 26: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
May 24: Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
E-books & e-audiobooks available via Overdrive/Libby
Physical copies of the current month book club choice will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Romantic Reads (Online)
Date: 05/24/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Love to read romance novels? Do you need an escape from reality? Join the new Romantic Reads Book Discussion!
Discuss books by a different romance author each month with other fellow romance readers. You will "zoom" away with new authors and books to add to your wish list of books to read!
For this session, we will be focusing on books by the author Sharon Sala. Please read any book of your choice by Sharon Sala.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 05/25/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Discuss LGBTQ-related books and make new friends in a queer- & trans-affirming group setting. All identities and all ages (18+) are welcome.
Registration is recommended so you can be kept updated on any changes to the meeting location.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pick-up from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
This month's book will be Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo.
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
The Reading Cafe
Date: 05/30/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Glenwood Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
NEW TIME! Join us for a lively monthly book club discussion. Books for this period are:
- Jan 31, Tell Me Everything by Erica Krouse
- Feb 28, Mary Jane by Jessica Blau
- Mar 28, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe
- Apr 25, Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochiti Gonzalez
- May 30, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Reading Human Rights: Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
Date: 05/30/23Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Reading Human Rights is a monthly book discussion hosted by the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity and Howard County Library System. We read books that promote cultural awareness, diversity, equity.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER • From the infinitely inventive author of How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe comes "one of the funniest books of the year.... A delicious, ambitious Hollywood satire" (The Washington Post).
A deeply personal novel about race, pop culture, immigration, assimilation, and escaping the roles we are forced to play.
Willis Wu doesn’t perceive himself as the protagonist in his own life: he’s merely Generic Asian Man. Sometimes he gets to be Background Oriental Making a Weird Face or even Disgraced Son, but always he is relegated to a prop. Yet every day, he leaves his tiny room in a Chinatown SRO and enters the Golden Palace restaurant, where Black and White, a procedural cop show, is in perpetual production. He’s a bit player here, too, but he dreams of being Kung Fu Guy—the most respected role that anyone who looks like him can attain. Or is it?
After stumbling into the spotlight, Willis finds himself launched into a wider world than he’s ever known, discovering not only the secret history of Chinatown, but the buried legacy of his own family. Infinitely inventive and deeply personal, exploring the themes of pop culture, assimilation, and immigration—Interior Chinatown is Charles Yu’s most moving, daring, and masterful novel yet.
CHARLES YU is the author of four books, including Interior Chinatown (the winner of the 2020 National Book Award for fiction), and the novel How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe (a New York Times Notable Book and a Time magazine best book of the year). He received the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35 Award and was nominated for two Writers Guild of America Awards for his work on the HBO series, Westworld. He has also written for shows on FX, AMC, and HBO. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired, among other publications. Together with TaiwaneseAmerican.org, he established the Betty L. Yu and Jin C. Yu Writing Prizes, in honor of his parents.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. Please note that your email may be shared with Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity for communication related to this event.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
This is part of HCLS' AAPI month series of classes and events. For a full list of upcoming opportunities, click here.
Black Fiction Book Club (in-person) East Columbia Branch
Date: 06/03/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
June 03 The city we became by N.K. Jemisin
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Black Fiction Book Club (online)
Date: 06/03/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
June 03 The City we became by N.K. Jemisin
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Veterans Book Group (online)
Date: 06/04/23Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Community & Culture
Description:
Veterans, both active and retired military, are invited to this online discussion series. During five monthly facilitated sessions, discussions center on military experiences and a unique set of readings, which may include classics, fiction, memoirs, poetry, short stories, articles, and essays. The readings relate in some way to military experiences or offer a veteran’s perspective.
Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. Registration is open to veterans/active duty only, please.
All reading materials are provided. Space is limited.
1st Sundays; February 5 - June 4 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Online.
The Veterans Book Group is moderated by David Owens. David Owens is a Navy veteran who served for six years onboard two U.S. Navy warships. Owens attended the U.S. Naval Academy and now runs a small media content production business based in the D.C. metropolitan area. Owens loves to read and, even more so, enjoys the discussions and camaraderie of the veteran book groups!
The Veterans Book Group is coordinated statewide by Maryland Humanities and is presented locally in partnership with Howard County Library System. The Veterans Book Group is supported in part by the Wawa Foundation.
Reading Selections:
February 5: In the Company of Soldiers: A Chronicle of Combat by Rick Atkinson
March 5: The Sable Arm: Black Soldiers in the Union Army, 1861 - 1865 by Dudley Taylor Cornish
April 2: Unbecoming: A Memoir of Disobedience by Anuradha Bhagwati
May 7: Achilles in Vietnam: Combat Trauma and the Undoing of Character by Jonathan Shay
June 4: All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone. For any questions, please email [email protected].
Spies, Lies, and Alibis Book Discussion Group
Date: 06/06/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Join us for discussion of the following titles:
June 6 - Slow Horses by Mick Herron
July 4 - holiday, no meeting
August 1 - Sisters in Resistance by Tilar J. Mazzeo
Books on Tap (book club)
Date: 06/07/23Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Off Site
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at The Periodic Table. We read and talk about a wide variety of genres, with a focus on books written from diverse points of view. Please reserve a copy for yourself via hclibrary.org.
June: Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez
July: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Books on Tap (book club)
Date: 06/07/23Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Off Site
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at The Periodic Table. We read and talk about a wide variety of genres, with a focus on books written from diverse points of view. Please reserve a copy for yourself via hclibrary.org.
July: The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
August: summer break
In Other Worlds (Online) - Movie Edition
Date: 06/14/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Movies
Description:
Welcome sci-fi & fantasy enthusiasts and other intrepid readers!
Discuss a wide-array of Science Fiction and Fantasy movies (2nd Wednesdays) and books (4th Wednesdays)
Jun 14: Petite Maman (available on Kanopy)
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. You will receive the link to the online class in the confirmation email. This email will also contain as the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Movie selections are available via Kanopy (free through Howard County Library System), Hoopla, or on DVD (available in the library branches)
Physical copies of the current month book club book will be once again kept behind the customer service desk at East Columbia branch. Please stop by and ask for your copy.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 06/15/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman on June 15, 2023 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Elizabeth Haynes at [email protected]
Light but not Fluffy
Date: 06/15/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss light-hearted books that will make us smile. The books will talk about love, hope, and grace. They will include humor, and perhaps some snark, to spice things up. It will be fun! Join us.
3rd Thursdays: 2 - 3 pm
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
June 15th: One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
July 20th: Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J Pearce
Aug: No Meeting
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
Nonfiction Book Club (in-person)
Date: 06/21/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Savage Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- June 21 - Disability Visibility: First-person stories from the twenty first century edited by Alice Wong
- July 19 - The Boys: A memoir of Hollywood and family by Ron Howard
- August 16 - See No Stranger: A memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love by Valerie Kaur
This listing is for the in-person session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. View the online session here: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-online-29
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
Nonfiction Book Club (online)
Date: 06/21/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- June 21 - Disability Visibility: First-person stories from the twenty first century edited by Alice Wong
- July 19 - The Boys: A memoir of Hollywood and family by Ron Howard
- August 16 - See No Stranger: A memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love by Valerie Kaur
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the online session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. View the in-person session here: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-person-6
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]rg
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 06/22/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Discuss LGBTQ-related books and make new friends in a queer- & trans-affirming group setting. All identities and all ages (18+) are welcome.
Registration is recommended so you can be kept updated on any changes to the meeting location.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pick-up from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
This month's book will be The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.
"In a Georgia Mill town during the 1930s, an enigmatic John Singer, draws out the haunted confessions of an itinerant worker, a doctor, a widowed café owner, and a young girl. Each yearns for escape from small town life, but the young girl, Mick Kelly, the book's heroine (loosely based on McCullers), finds solace in her music.
"Wonderfully attuned to the spiritual isolation that underlies the human condition, and with a deft sense for racial tensions in the South, McCullers spins a haunting, unforgettable story that gives voice to the rejected, the forgotten, and the mistreated—and, through Mick, gives voice to the quiet, intensely personal search for beauty." - Publisher
Summer Adventures Book Discussion: A Walk in the Woods
Date: 06/26/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Satisfy your desire for a Summer adventure through reading.
June: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
Join us for a discussion of Bill Bryson’s lively, humorous account of his journey on the Appalachian Trail and share your favorite adventurous book recommendations.
Reading Human Rights: Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Date: 06/27/23Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Reading Human Rights is a monthly book discussion hosted by the Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity and Howard County Library System. We read books that promote cultural awareness, diversity, equity.
In her most revealing and powerful memoir yet, the activist, speaker, bestselling author, and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People) explores the joy and peace we discover when we stop striving to meet others’ expectations and start trusting the voice deep within us.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY O: The Oprah Magazine • The Washington Post • Cosmopolitan • Marie Claire • Bloomberg • Parade • “Untamed will liberate women—emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is phenomenal.”—Elizabeth Gilbert, author of City of Girls and Eat Pray Love
This is how you find yourself.
Soulful and uproarious, forceful and tender, Untamed is both an intimate memoir and a galvanizing wake-up call. It is the story of how one woman learned that a responsible mother is not one who slowly dies for her children, but one who shows them how to fully live. It is the story of navigating divorce, forming a new blended family, and discovering that the brokenness or wholeness of a family depends not on its structure but on each member’s ability to bring her full self to the table. And it is the story of how each of us can begin to trust ourselves enough to set boundaries, make peace with our bodies, honor our anger and heartbreak, and unleash our truest, wildest instincts so that we become women who can finally look at ourselves and say: There She Is.
Author, activist, founder of Together Rising, and host of the We Can Do Hard Things podcast Glennon Doyle is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed, a Reese’s Book Club selection, which has sold over two million copies. She is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Love Warrior, an Oprah’s Book Club selection, and Carry On, Warrior. An activist and “patron saint of female empowerment” (People), Glennon hosts the We Can Do Hard Things podcast. She is the founder and president of Together Rising, an all-women-led nonprofit organization that has revolutionized grassroots philanthropy—raising over $30 million for women, families, and children in crisis. Glennon lives in Florida with her wife and three children.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation. Please note that your email may be shared with Howard County Office of Human Rights & Equity for communication related to this event.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
Additional Room for Critical Race Theory
Date: 06/27/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Understanding Critical Race Theory
Date: 06/27/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
This past year, everyone has begun talking about Critical Race Theory, a set of premises developed by legal scholars decades ago to interpret America’s institutions in the context of race and civil rights.
In recent months, legislators in many states have rushed to pass laws to ban the teaching of CRT from K-12 classroom across the country. Yet what exactly is CRT? It can be hard to know. There’s no manifesto or mission statement. That’s made Critical Race Theory a bit of a moving target.
This talk has three quite different goals. The first objective is to locate the origins of CRT, establish its core premises, describe the recent controversy, and interrogate the stakes of it all. The second objective is to show CRT in action—to narrate the histories of voting rights and of crime and punishment in the United States through the lens of Critical Race Theory. The third is to introduce participants to a list of practices that CRT scholars believe all of us can adopt to mitigate the worst legacies of slavery in our current world.
About the presenter:
Richard Bell is Professor of History at the University of Maryland and author of the book Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped into Slavery and their Astonishing Odyssey Home which was a finalist for the George Washington Prize and the Harriet Tubman Prize.
He is an Andrew Carnegie Fellow (2021-2023) and has held research fellowships at more than two dozen libraries and institutes including residencies at the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Abolition, and Resistance at Yale University and the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. His work has also been supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Dr. Bell serves as a fellow of the Royal Historical Society, a trustee of the Maryland Center for History and Culture, an elected member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and as a board member of the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System Foundation.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Nonfiction Book Club (in-person)
Date: 07/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Savage Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- June 21 - Disability Visibility: First-person stories from the twenty first century edited by Alice Wong
- July 19 - The Boys: A memoir of Hollywood and family by Ron Howard
- August 16 - See No Stranger: A memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love by Valerie Kaur
This listing is for the in-person session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. View the online session here: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-online-29
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
Nonfiction Book Club (online)
Date: 07/19/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join the Nonfiction Book Club to share your thoughts on a varied array of Nonfiction selections.
- June 21 - Disability Visibility: First-person stories from the twenty first century edited by Alice Wong
- July 19 - The Boys: A memoir of Hollywood and family by Ron Howard
- August 16 - See No Stranger: A memoir and manifesto of revolutionary love by Valerie Kaur
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event. This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
This listing is for the online session, but this book discussion group meets in hybrid format so you may attend either online via Zoom or phone, or in person at the Savage Branch. We meet in the Savage Studio, near the teen area. View the in-person session here: https://howardcounty.librarycalendar.com/event/nonfiction-book-club-person-6
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed. For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email [email protected]
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 07/20/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of Anxious People by Fredrik Bachman on July 20, 2023 at 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Wendy Camassar:
Light but not Fluffy
Date: 07/20/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss light-hearted books that will make us smile. The books will talk about love, hope, and grace. They will include humor, and perhaps some snark, to spice things up. It will be fun! Join us.
3rd Thursdays: 2 - 3 pm
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
July 20th: Dear Mrs. Bird by A.J Pearce
August: No Meeting
September 21st: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 07/27/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Discuss LGBTQ-related books and make new friends in a queer- & trans-affirming group setting. All identities and all ages (18+) are welcome.
Registration is recommended so you can be kept updated on any changes to the meeting location.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pick-up from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
This month's book will be Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss, and the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride.
"Informative, heartbreaking, and profoundly empowering, Tomorrow Will Be Different is McBride’s story of love and loss and a powerful entry point into the LGBTQ community’s battle for equal rights and what it means to be openly transgender. From issues like bathroom access to health care to gender in America, McBride weaves the important political and cultural milestones into a personal journey that will open hearts and change minds." - Publisher
Spies, Lies, and Alibis Book Discussion Group
Date: 08/01/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
We focus on spies, espionage, and world intrigue, alternating both classic and contemporary fiction and nonfiction, from the twentieth century and beyond.
Join us for discussion of the following titles:
August 1 - Sisters in Resistance by Tilar J. Mazzeo
September 5 - The Berlin Exchange by Joseph Kanon
October 3 - Agent Josephine by Damien Lewis
Black Fiction Book Club (in-person) East Columbia Branch
Date: 08/05/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
Aug 05 Take my hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Black Fiction Book Club (online)
Date: 08/05/23Time: 1:00pm - 2:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Join us for the Black Fiction Book Club
Aug 05 Take my hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation with a link to join the class/event.
This email will also contain the dial-in information if you wish to participate by telephone.
Copies are available for pick-up at the East Columbia Branch (while supplies last)
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 08/17/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson on August 17, 2023 at 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Elizabeth Haynes at [email protected]
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 08/24/23Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Discuss LGBTQ-related books and make new friends in a queer- & trans-affirming group setting. All identities and all ages (18+) are welcome.
Registration is recommended so you can be kept updated on any changes to the meeting location.
Copies of the discussion title are available for pick-up from the Central Branch; ask for a copy at the Customer Service desk.
This month's book will be Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan.
"Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves." - Publisher
Noontime Books--IN PERSON
Date: 09/21/23Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join us for an in person discussion of Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner on Thursday, September 21, 2023 12 pm at the Central Branch.
Registered customers should place a hold request on the title using their library card in order to receive a copy to read before the discussion. Copies are available at the Central Branch Customer Service desk.
Availability of physical copies is not guaranteed.
For additional assistance in obtaining this title, please email Wendy Camassar at [email protected]
Light but not Fluffy
Date: 09/21/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Book Clubs
Description:
Read and discuss light-hearted books that will make us smile. The books will talk about love, hope, and grace. They will include humor, and perhaps some snark, to spice things up. It will be fun! Join us.
3rd Thursdays: 2 - 3 pm
Join for a discussion of the following titles:
Sep 21st: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Oct 19th: The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
Nov 16th: The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz
Ask at the Adult Research Kiosk on second floor for a copy of the book, beginning 4 weeks before the discussion date.
Registration is preferred, not required.
