Recognizing the power of knowledge, a group of civic-minded women opened the first library in Howard County in Ellicott City on October 11, 1940. Little did they know that their vision and leadership would set into motion an overarching philosophy that would result in its being hailed “a 21st-century library model, with a position, purpose, and curriculum worthy of study and consideration by every library in America, if not the world.” when it was awarded Library of the Year in 2013.
Howard County Library System celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2015 with a year-long series of events, including the dedication of a series of time capsules to be opened on subsequent anniversaries.
Historical Timeline
1940
- Howard County Library (HCL) began operating in a portable school building in Ellicott City on October 11, 1940
1943
- Lenna Baker Burgess appointed to lead Howard County Library
1945
- The Education Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland established HCL as an educational institution eligible to receive State and County funds for its operating budget
1952
- A flash flood destroyed 5,175 books; within two months, HCL reopened
1958
- For the convenience of customers living farthest from the library, HCL purchased a bookmobile
1960
- HCL moved to rented quarters on the corner of Route 144 & St. John’s Lane
1962
- HCL opened its first permanent building on Frederick Road
1963
- Marvin Thomas hired as HCL’s first Director
- Developed a card catalog and began reference services
- Extended hours of operation to six days and four evenings per week
- Installed air conditioning
1966
- To expand collections and classes beyond its Frederick Road location and bookmobile, rented space to open a small branch in the Carroll Baldwin Memorial Hall in Savage
- Began purchasing paperbacks, expanded hardback collection, and developed a pamphlet collection
- At its two branches, added photocopiers for public use
1968
- The opening of the new Wilde Lake Branch brought HCL to three locations and one bookmobile
1969
- Initiated a regular line-up of classes and programs for children and adults at each location
- Opened two additional branches: one on Church Road, and the other on Main Street
1971
- Possible locations for a new HCL library that would be centrally located in Columbia considered
1972
- Established a microfilm collection
- Frederick Road Library underwent a renovation, providing space to establish a phonograph record collection
1974
- Purchased a minimobile to deliver books and materials to homebound customers
- Implemented Sunday hours from September to May at the Frederick Road Library
- Established an audiocassette collection
1975
- Director Marvin Thomas formed the Central Library United Effort citizen committee to facilitate the Central Library’s planning process
1976
- Opened the Long Reach Branch Library in a rented storefront in the Long Reach Village Center, establishing TTY service at that location
1977
- Howard Research and Development donated 3.5 acres of land to build a new Central Library
- Balcony added at Frederick Road Library to house an expanded fiction collection
1979
- Began the revolutionary process of automating and computerizing library operations (and collections?)
1980
- Administrative and support staff moved to the Central Library
1981
- Central Library opened to the public. Features included an audiovisual area, a large meeting room, and an automated system to improve the efficiency of loaning books and materials
- Opened the Lisbon Community Branch Library on Frederick Road
- Director Marvin Thomas created citizen groups to plan strategically for the future
1983
- Age- and developmentally-appropriate educational toys for infants and toddlers added to the collection
1984
- Offered in-branch personal computers for public use
- Opened Elkridge Community Branch Library in a rented storefront on Route 1
1985
- Lisbon Community Branch Library moved to the Lisbon Center
- Established videocassette collections at each of location
1986
- Renovated the Frederick Road Library , renaming it the Charles E. Miller [Branch?] Library, and closed Church Road Community Branch Library
1987
- Established a systemwide compact disc collection
1989
- Introduced INFO-LAN, a stand-alone, multi-station CD-ROM network for public use
- Made online customer access catalogs available to the public
- Introduced the first specialized online research tools (DIALOG and LOGIN)
- Established a specialized Health Education Collection
- Launched Project Literacy, an adult basic education initiative, providing one-on-one tutoring and group instruction for adults
- Easy Access projects began providing materials accessible to and services for customers with varying disabilities
1990
- Launched remote dial-in access to its online catalog
1991
- Opened a new Savage Branch Library, which replaced both the Savage Community Branch Library and the bookmobile
- After-hours remote access to INFO-LAN made available to customers
1993
- Opened a new Elkridge Branch Library, simultaneously closing the Elkridge Community Branch Library
1994
- Opened the East Columbia Branch Library
- Approximately one-half of administrative and support staff relocated from the Central to the East Columbia Branch Library
- Established a connection to the Internet
1996
- Partnered with The Mall in Columbia to place DataDepot, a computer research station, in the Mall’s food court
- Director Marvin Thomas retired after 33 years of service
- Norma Hill appointed Director
- Premiered Great Expectations, a quarterly publication featuring HCL resources, classes, news, and events
- The Library of Congress designated HCL as home to the Maryland Center for the Book
1997
- Pulitzer Prize winner Maxine Kumin headlined a Notable Author Event at the East Columbia Branch Library
- A grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control Prevention funded multimedia computers offering homework assistance for teens
1998
- Introduced “Mother Goose Asks Why,” a series of literature/science children’s classes sponsored by the National Science Foundation
- Launched first web site (www.howa.lib.md.us)
- Groundbreaking for the Glenwood Branch Library
- Partnered with Howard County General Hospital to develop a collection of print and online research materials for the Claudia Mayer Cancer Resource and Imaging Center
- HCL’s first Evening in the Stacks gala hosted at the East Columbia Branch Library
1999
- A portable network with six notebook computers introduced to enhance HCL’s line-up of web and PC classes
- Introduced world languages collection (confirm with Vera and/or Ruth) · The Maryland Center for the Book developed Write From Maryland, a directory of authors, for the benefit of the entire state
- National Book Award winner Alice McDermott keynote speaker at Supper at Six, HCL’s annual author event
- A five-year Strategic Plan introduced
2000
- Howard County General Hospital bestowed a HCLS with major grant for expansion of children’s classes
- Renewed for second term as the home of Maryland Center for the Book
- Supper at Six featured acclaimed novelist Gail Godwin
- Central Library closed for renovation
- Lisbon Community Branch Library closed
- Opened the Glenwood Branch Library, naming the branch’s meeting room the Pindell Room to honor western Howard County residents Bill and Betty Pindell
2001
- Renewed for a final term (through 2005) as the home of Maryland Center for the Book
- DVDs added to collection
- Director Norma Hill retired after 21 years with HCL
- Valerie J. Gross hired as HCL Director
- Central Library reopened after a 17-month, $5.37 million renovation
2002
- American Sign Language video collection added to collection
- Launched A+ Partners in Education, a comprehensive partnership with Howard County Public School System (HCPSS)
2003
- Hosted Newberry Medal author Linda Sue Park as part of Outstanding Children’s Author Series
- In partnership with Fidos for Freedom, Friends of Howard County Library, and HCPSS, introduced DEAR (Dogs Educating and Assisting Readers), an initiative through which third grade students improve their skills by reading to nonjudgmental, loving therapy dogs
- Hours at the HCLS Elkridge and Savage branches expanded to include Sundays during the school year
2004
- Launched Newcomers Book Discussion, a class developed for high school ESOL students as part of A+ Partners in Education
- Friends of Howard County Library established an endowment fund with the Columbia Foundation
- HCLS Board of Trustees adopted the Howard County Library System Facilities and Assessment Master Plan: Facilities and Services 2005 to 2030.
- Head of Children’s Curriculum Hope Chase named Educator of the Year by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce
- Named Non-Profit Business of the Year by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce
- Awarded the Accessibility Award for American Sign Language video collection by the Howard County Commission on Disabilities
- Awarded the Triple A Partnership Award for significant contributions to Accelerating the Academic Achievement of students in Howard County through A+ Partners in Education
- President & CEO Valerie J. Gross recognized as a national leader in Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers 2004: The People who are Shaping the Future of Libraries
- As the winner of the national Lemony Snicket contest sponsored by Harper Collins, hosted notable author event featuring Lemony Snicket
- HCLS’ Central Branch hosted Alma Powell, wife of General Colin Powell, who spoke to third-grade students from the Central Branch’s A+ liaison schools
- Established a Cancer Information Collection at Central Library
- Began offering free wireless Internet access at all branches, the first public library system in Maryland to do so
- Replaced the operating system of the entire fleet of public access PCs with Linux
- Began sending e-mail notifications to customers about return dates for materials borrowed
- Partnered with the Farmers Market and Economic Development Authority to host Farmers Markets at theEast Columbia and Glenwood branch libraries
2005
- Ranked first in the nation among the great public library systems (Hennen’s 2005 American Public Library Ratings, American Libraries)
- Launched a new brand using the “Hi” logo as HCLS’ visual identity, reflecting HCLS’ progressive nature while emphasizing its customer service and high-quality public education for everyone
- HCLS branches became required field trip destinations as part of the HCPSS Kindergarten ccurriculum
- Registered with Scripps National as an official Regional Bee, then launched the first HCLS Spelling Bee, establishing the academic competition as part of A+ Partners in Education
- Launched Teen Time, an East Columbia Branch academic after-school initiative
- Partnered with Howard County Tourism and Howard County Government on the Blossoms of Hope project, to beautify Howard County with 1,000 memorial Kwanzan cherry trees
- Implemented the lending of e-books to be downloaded to computer or personal device
- Partnered with HCPSS to produce “Blast Off to Reading,” a summer reading video that won a Telly Award
- Developed Strong Foundations, Enduring Success, HCLS’ strategic plan for 2006 through 2010
2006
- Launched Teen ‘Zine, an HCLS online publication written and produced by teens
- Introduced Cultural Connections to expand curriculum for our culturally diverse community
- Expanded the Cancer Information Collection at the Central Library into a Health Education Center
- Established a Transitions Collection with resources specifically designed for adult readers new to this country
- Featured bestselling author Jack Gantos as part of the Outstanding Children’s Author Series
- Launched HCLS BumbleBee, a companion initiative to the HCLS Spelling Bee for first, second, and third grade students
2007
- Expanded hours of operation to include year-round summer Sunday hours at the Central Library and Miller Branch Library
- As lead organization in the community-wide initiative Choose Civility, recruited 40 Alliance Partners to join in to make Howard County a national model of respect, consideration, empathy, and tolerance
2008
- HCLS categorized under “Education” in the County’s operating and capital budget categories, joining Howard County Public School System and Howard Community College as the three major educational institutions in Howard County
- Initiated Battle of the Books reading competition for fifth grade students
- Established a Financial Education Center at HCLS Central Branch
- Added Howard Community College and Lincoln College of Technology as official A+ Partners
- Dedicated cherry tree groves at the Central and East Columbia branches in partnership with Blossoms of Hope
- Hosted the “Frankenstein Penetrating the Secrets of Nature” exhibit, on loan from the National Library of Medicine
- Coordinated the first 5K & Family Fun Run
2009
- Received top ranking in Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings
- In its list of best counties to raise a family, Forbes magazine specifically cited HCLS as a contributing factor in Howard County’s premium ranking
- Established HCLS Institute (formerly the employee training program)
- Won ALA’s Best of Show for FY08 Evening in the Stacks materials
- Added credit card payment options for customers online and in all branches
- Added the Playaway format to audiobook collection
- Adopted Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, blogs, and videos into communications plans
- Hosted an exhibit of photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope
- Developed an expanded vision for Cultural Connections, to include Project Literacy, World Languages Collection, Translation Services, ASL Collection, Bilingual Children’s Classes (Chinese, Korean, Spanish and ASL), Adult Basic Education Classes (e.g., English Conversation), Foreign Films, Studying for Citizenship, Learning a Language, and Passport Services
- Welcomed Congressman Elijah Cummings as Honorary Chair of the Choose Civility Board of Advisors
- In collaboration with Howard County Government, the Howard County Arts Council, and HCPSS, unveiled the mosaic “Underwater Treasures,” by artist Mary Deacon Opasik, at Elkridge Branch Library
- Organized the first Choose Civility Symposium featuring Joe Ehrman, former Baltimore Colts defensive lineman
- Extended A+ Educator Cards to preschool teachers
2010
- Unveiled Public Education for All: Howard County Library System’s Strategic Plan 2010-2015
- Featured as the 2010 Wiley Library Spotlight, which highlights a nationally recognized library system each year
- Awarded Public Libraries’ Best Feature Article for “Transforming Our Image Through Words That Work”
- Received the State of Maryland International Reading Council’s Literacy Award for A+ Partners in Education and HCLS Project Literacy
- Received Excellence in the Community Award from the ARC of Howard County
- Coordinated and hosted the first Money Matters Fair at East Columbia Branch
- Introduced Pass the Book, an A+ initiative for teens
- Established a Passport Acceptance Facility at East Columbia Branch
- Organized a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center
- Organized the Choose Civility Symposium “Ethics Alarms: Nurturing Your Best Instincts in an Unethical World”
- Began offering a bookmark contest for K-12 students· Orchestrated Evening in the Stacks: Caliente!
2011
- Received the Wiley Award for Excellence, an award given to one library system each year for extraordinary customer service, creativity, and commitment
- Migrated the library catalog to Polaris
- Launched a collection of 60 ebook readers
- Expanded ebooks to include Overdrive, Tumblebooks, BookFLIX, and True Flix
- Initiated the HCLS Rube Goldberg Challenge, an academic competition incorporating STEM for fourth and fifth grade students
- Launched Well & Wise, a partnership with Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine to advance health education
- Celebrated the Glenwood Branch Library’s 10th Anniversary
- Held Topping Out Ceremony for the new Miller Branch
- Designed and installed Choose Civility banners at all HCPSS high school gyms and athletic fields in partnership with Howard County Rotary Clubs
- Began construction of the new Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center
2012
- Designated a national “Star” library system, receiving the highest five-star rating and prominence as featured library (Library Journal)
- Ranked in the national Top 10 libraries Borrowing Per Capita (American Libraries)
- Nationally recognized as a premier library system in HAPLR Rankings (American Libraries)
- American Libraries’ Library Design Showcase featured the new Miller Branch
- Received PR Xchange “Best of Show” award for source
- Received Public Libraries’ Best Feature Article for “Choose Civility: Public Libraries Take Center Stage”
- Celebrated a decade of A+ Partners in Education with the Howard County Public School System and Howard Community College
- Grand Opening of the Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center· Received a $100,000 federal grant to launch HiTech, a STEM education initiative for teens that teaches 21st century science, technology, engineering, and math skills via project-based classes
- Formed Tech Squads systemwide to assist customers with downloading e-books and audiobooks
- Opened the Enchanted Garden, an innovative outdoor teaching venue at the Miller Branch Library that centers on science and health education.
- In partnership with HCPSS and the Columbia Association, introduced Culture Café, featuring Asian cultures
- Partnered in the Howard County Arts Council’s ARTsites 2012, displaying outdoor art sculptures at four branches
- Named the Miller Branch frog sculptures via communitywide “Name the Frogs Contest” (the winning names: Miss Ann Phibian & Lily, and Frederick Toad)
2013
- Selected as Library of the Year from among North America’s 21,000 public and academic library systems (2013 Library of the Year, Gale/Library Journal). Recognized for developing and living a new vision for libraries, Libraries = Education, which Library Journal hailed “a 21st century model worthy of study and consideration by every other library in America, if not the world” (John N. Berry, Library Journal, June 15, 2013, p. 33).
- Received Top Innovator Award from the Urban Libraries Council for HiTech
- Designated again as a Five-Star library system by Library Journal
- Recognition as Library of the Year in the Congressional Record
- Attained LEED Gold Certification for the Miller Branch
- Received the distinguished Wintergreen Award, a sustainability design award from the U.S. Green Building Council (U.S.G.B.C), Maryland Chapter, in the category of “Community Impact” for the new Miller Branch
- Received PR Xchange Best of Show award for source
- Added Mango, an online instruction tool that teaches 45 foreign languages and 15 ESL courses
- Exhibited “Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War” at the Central Branch
- Partnered in the Howard County Arts Council’s ARTsites 2013, displaying outdoor art sculptures at three branches
2014
- 1,200 fifth graders (240 teams – one third of Howard County’s fifth grade students) participated in the Battle of the Books academic competition
- · Received a $267,500 National Leadership Grant from IMLS to further develop HiTech
- Cyborg Glitch, second mobile game created and published by HiTech students
- HiTech students engineered and successfully launched weather balloons to capture footage from space and collect high-altitude weather data
- · Advanced the Passport Center at our East Columbia Branch, exceeding expectations and setting new records; received approval to expand the initiative to our Glenwood Branch
- Awarded $250,000 in federal grant funding for HCLS Project Literacy, convening tutoring sessions and classes for 450 students
- In partnership with the Columbia Festival of the Arts, held Bookapalooza event at the Central Library
- Collaborated with Howard County Government and the Board of Elections to hold Early Voting for both the 2014 primary and general elections at the Miller Branch
- Developed A Vision of Shared Leadership: HCLS Internal Customer Service Philosophy
- Began the construction phase of the HCLS Administrative Office on the site of the former Miller Branch Library
- Opened the Savage Branch Express, an interim location during renovation of the Savage Branch Library
2015
- Held the Grand Opening of the HCLS Savage Branch & STEM Education Center
- Developed Vision 2020: Education for All, HCLS’ Strategic Plan 2015-2020
- Expanded passport acceptance to the HCLS Glenwood Branch
Enchanted Garden certified as an official Monarch Waystation
- Received Beta Partner Award from Polaris
- Won the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals Hermes Gold Award in the Photography/People/Portrait category for spring source cover photo
- Expanded Choose Civility initiative, now 125 alliance partners strong:
- Held a Youth Empowerment Summit in partnership with HCPSS for 220 middle school students
- 2016
- Celebrated 75th Anniversary with culminating event, Celebrate 75, including the HCLS Chapters-of-our-Lives Time Capsule Installation Ceremony
- Awarded Daily Record “Innovator of the Year”
- Won the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals Hermes Platinum Award in the Photography/People/Portrait category for summer source Add italics cover photo
- Held a Groudbreaking Ceremony for the new HCLS Elkridge Branch + DIY Education Center, drawing a crowd of 200
- Incorporated Launchpads, rechargeable Android tablets for children, pre-loaded with ad-free learning apps
- Implemented automatic renewal of borrowed material
- · Hosted Cal Ripken (the event filled in four minutes for a standing-room-only audience of 350 children and adults)
- Partnered with Downtown Columbia Partnership on a Discover Downtown Columbia 5K/Fun Run
2017
- Held an open house to celebrate the re-opening of the HCLS Central Branch
- Team HCLS won the Howard County Fair Iron Chef Competition
- Awarded “Best in Show” by ALA’s PR Xchange Awards for the fall 2016 issue of source, and Hermes Awards for HCLS Now! campaign, fall 2016 source cover, and HiJinx podcast episode 3
- Introduced ukulele kits and instruction into curriculum
- Designated East Columbia Branch as Monarch Waystation
- Launched test proctoring systemwide
- Expanded passport photo service systemwide
- · Awarded pop-up Bill of Rights exhibition from the National Archives and Records Administration displayed at the Central Branch
- Hosted Human Library event at the Miller Branch featuring many facets of our diverse community
- Introduced HiTails Ambassadors in partnership with Howard County Animal Control, an initiative where students aged 6 to 15 read to shelter animals
- Initiated Pass It On campaign to disseminate and track 200 copies of Dr. Forni’s book, Choosing Civility: the 25 Rules of Considerate Conduct
2018
- Tonya Kennon joined the HCLS team as President & CEO
