Howard County Library System’s author events are a key component of the HCLS curriculum. Notable, best-selling, and local authors provide customers with enlightening experiences throughout the year. Bringing the community together to celebrate the literary arts is a hallmark of HCLS customer service. Join us for these opportunities to meet one of your favorite authors or discover someone new!
There are 9 upcoming classes.
What's On Your Shelf?
Date: 12/08/22Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Author & Literary Events
Description:
Welcome to What’s on Your Shelf?
In this virtual class we will not only talk about a few of our favorite books and hear from you about your favorites, we will also discuss fun questions about books in general. With questions like: Who is your favorite protagonist of all time?, what do you love most about the genre of your choice? or Which book changed your perspective?...the possibilities are endless and enticing!
Please register with your email to receive a Zoom link to the class.
Anatomy of a Friendship: A Dual Memoir of Women's Journeys through War to Peace
Date: 01/19/23Time: 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 19+ (Adults)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Diane Tuckman discusses the collaborative memoir, a story of resilience and survival, that she wrote with her friend Cecile Spiegel.
Diane and Cecile both fled religious persecution with WWII conflicts at their heels. Separately, from Egypt and from Germany, each leaped continents, cultures, and languages as a refugee before finding a new home in the United States. Hiding in plain sight in France, Cecile eluded capture by the Nazis, but lost many dear to her. Diane came of age there, far from the Mediterranean idyll of her childhood in Egypt.
They relied on family, faith, and resilience to overcome the otherness felt by displaced peoples. As they dictated their memoirs to one another, Diane and Cecile discovered the anatomy of their friendship in their parallel odysseys and the optimism of 20th-century American womanhood.
Presented in partnership with Jewish Federation of Howard County and moderated by Shauna Leavey, Director of Community Engagement, Jewish Federation of Howard County.
Diane Tuckman was born in 1935 in Heliopolis, Egypt. At the start of the Arab-Israel war in 1948, her family fled mounting oppression. They settled in France, where Diane translated for American forces before moving to the United States. A noted silk painter, she is a founder of Silk Painters International (SPIN).
Cecile Spiegel (1915-2010) was born in Nuremberg, Germany, the only child of loving parents. She escaped to France amid rising Nazi persecution. She survived WWII hidden in the countryside with aid from French Resistance members. Cecile worked for American forces in post-war France before immigrating to America, where she became a French teacher.
Copies of Anatomy of a Friendship will be available to purchase at the event.
Kathryn Finney: Build the D*mn Thing (Online)
Date: 01/19/23Time: 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group:
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Kathryn Finney is the Managing Partner of Genius Guild, a $20 million dollar venture fund & studio that invests in amazing Black founders. One of the most influential women in tech (Inc Magazine), her groundbreaking work has laid the foundation for generations of black entrepreneurs and investors.
A Yale-trained Epidemiologist, Kathryn has received numerous honors and awards including the Echoing Green fellowship, Eisenhower Fellowship, Entrepreneurs Magazine’s “Woman to Watch”, Grace Hopper ABIE award, Marie Claire’s 10 Women to Watch, Ebony Power 100, Black Enterprise “40 under 40” list and more.
As the founder of social enterprise digitalundivided and its groundbreaking ProjectDiane report, Kathryn has invested in dozens of startups and venture funds led by founders and investors of color. Kathryn started digitalundivided after selling her company The Budget Fashionista, and she was one of the first Black women to have a successful seven-figure internet startup exit.
A White House Champion of Change and a past member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NACIE) appointed by the Obama Administration, Kathryn was honored by the Borough of Manhattan with the “Kathryn Finney Appreciation Day”. She has also received an Honorary Doctorate from Mount Holyoke College and was inducted into both the African-American Alumni Hall of Fame at Rutgers University and Spelman College’s “Game Changers Academy.” She is an Aspen Financial Leaders Fellow and a member of the Aspen Global Network.
She released her book in June this year which became an instant Wall Street Journal bestseller. Build the Damn Thing is a hard-won, battle-tested guide for every entrepreneur who the establishment has left out. Finney, an investor and startup champion, explains how to build a business from the ground up, from developing a business plan to finding investors, growing a team, and refining a product.
Additional support for this program is provided by Columbia Inspired Magazine and The 3rd, a 501(c)3 non-profit, co-created, community of Women of Color entrepreneurs. Learn more about The 3rd here.
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 program is a part of Career Success Month: Legal Support and more hosted by Maryland Public Libraries, focused on Business, Career, and Legal support to assist jobseekers and entrepreneurs, running from Jan 17 - Feb 17, 2023.
Veterans Book Group (online)
Date: 02/05/23Time: 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].
African Storytelling Reimagined
Date: 02/05/23Time: 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Ages 0 - 5 (Infant/Toddler/ Preschool/Kindergarten)
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Have you ever wondered why spiders have such thin legs?
Join us for an interactive storytime with Author Ada Ari, author of The Spider's Thin Legs. In this session, we will learn about a time-honored folktale from Ghana. This story incorporates a counting exercise and includes a moral lesson about listening to parents and following instructions.
Participants will also learn a famous Ghanaian dance move, learn fun cultural facts about the Ashanti kingdom of Ghana (birthplace of this story), and engage in coloring and trace-by-number activities. Fun animal stickers are included. For additional information, visit www.ada-ari.com
Veterans Book Group (online)
Date: 03/05/23Time: 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].
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].
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].
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].
