There are 26 upcoming classes.
Rainforest Explorers: Secrets of the Jungle (ages 2-6 with adult) TK
Date: 12/26/24Time: 10:15am - 10:45am
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Ages 2-6, with adult. 30 min. Ticket required.
Come explore a rainforest with amazing animals like parrots, birds, and jaguars with Readability in this interactive, sensory-filled storytelling session!
Storytelling targeted toward special needs children but is open to all.
*Readabilityus.org is a group that organizes multi-sensory storytelling sessions at local bookstores, libraries, schools, and other locations in order to share the gift of literature with children of all abilities. Their storytelling sessions are hosted by a member of their Board or a fellow volunteer.
Maximum group size: 25 children
Rainforest Explorers: Secrets of the Jungle (ages 2-6 with adult) TK
Date: 12/26/24Time: 11:15am - 11:45am
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Ages 2-6, with adult. 30 min. Ticket required.
Come explore a rainforest with amazing animals like parrots, birds, and jaguars with Readability in this interactive, sensory-filled storytelling session!
Storytelling targeted toward special needs children but is open to all.
*Readabilityus.org is a group that organizes multi-sensory storytelling sessions at local bookstores, libraries, schools, and other locations in order to share the gift of literature with children of all abilities. Their storytelling sessions are hosted by a member of their Board or a fellow volunteer.
Maximum group size: 25 children
Kwanzaa Celebration: Exploring African Traditions and Creativity!
Date: 12/27/24Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Branch: East Columbia Branch
Age group: Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Experience the culture surrounding Kwanzaa that celebrates history, values, family, and community.
For all ages/families. Registration preferred.
Register with an email address to receive an event reminder.
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 01/02/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
The Connections Series: Navigating Stress, School, & Self Care - Academic Burn Out
Date: 01/09/25Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Connections is a mental wellness series of 6 workshops for young people in grades 9 - 12. It will be conducted every other Thursday by Therapeutic Connections and each workshop will feature a different mental wellness topic. You must register for each workshop individually - signing up once does not guarantee you a seat in the others.
This workshop will focus on Academic Burnout
Midterms are on the horizon. Are you academically exhausted, frustrated, and/or unmotivated? Learn to recognize the warning signs of academic burnout and how to combat it using coping skills in this safe space.
This is a small registered class - NO DROP-INS.
FAM - Fun At Miller
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 01/09/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
World Languages Cafe
Date: 01/09/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:45pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens, Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
In collaboration with Columbia Association, Howard County Library System's Miller Branch will host a monthly World Languages Café on the 2nd Thursday evening, from 7 - 8:45 pm.
Established by the Columbia Association’s International Exchange & Multicultural Program 10 years ago, the World Languages Café (WLC) provides a venue where people meet to practice a world language with fellow community members, facilitated by a native or fluent speaker of that language. Over the years, the WLC has featured languages including *Arabic, *American Sign Language, *Chinese, Dutch, *French, Hebrew, Irish Gaelic, Italian, *Japanese, *Korean, Portuguese, and *Spanish. (*Currently available at Miller Branch Library location)
Second Thursdays, 7 - 8:45 pm
The World Languages Café is free, and registration is preferred, but not required. Please indicate in the registration comments field the language you would like to practice. Ages 13+.
We are also seeking language table hosts. If you are interested in connecting with community members by volunteering to host a table in the language of your choice at HCLS Miller Branch, please email [email protected] or call 410-924-2226.
Adult Beyond Words
Date: 01/13/25Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Tech Skills or STEAM
Description:
Step into the fun and active world of Adult Beyond Words, an inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of people (ages 18+) with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.
Participants may partake in five engaging stations, that include:
Motor Skills - with activities that celebrate fine motor movement and coordination
Arts & Crafts - where imagination and artistic vision come to life, giving voice to the unique expressions within
Cognitive Skills - with puzzles and cognitive challenges that nurture intellectual growth and problem-solving skills
Movement - with active games, physical challenges, and other movement exploration that focuses on gross motor skills, balance, etc.to get participants up and moving
Sensory - where calm, relaxation, and play combine to stimulate and regulate the senses to reduce anxiety and stress
With a new theme and different stations each month, Adult Beyond Words is not just a class; it's an invitation to celebrate the joy of discovery and the magic of shared experiences while creating personal connection and growth.
Participants may stay for as little or as long as they want.
Caregivers must stay with participants at all times.
The theme for this month is
Dr. King's Washington (Online)
Date: 01/16/25Time: 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Learn about the local places and people with whom Dr. King spent his time throughout the 50s and 60s. Dr. King visited Washington, DC many times during his activism in the Civil Rights movement. From churches to the meeting chambers of the White House, his presence was felt deeply by the people of DC.
Presented in partnership with Off The Mall Walking Tours.
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. If you prefer to call in by phone, please register for the class online and then email [email protected] to request the dial-in information at least 1 business day in advance.
This January, HCLS honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with special classes and events. Please visit bit.ly/MLK-day-2025 for a complete schedule.
This session is part of HCLS' Black History Month series. Please click here for the complete schedule of classes and events.
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 01/16/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Teen Action Board (TAB) Meeting
Date: 01/18/25Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
About the Teen Action Board:
HCLS Miller Teen Action Board is open to teens ages 11-18 residing in Howard County and will meet on one Saturday per month from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm.
Why join the Teen Action Board?
- Make new friends
- Suggest monthly book displays, books, movies, etc. for the library
- Help plan and execute programs, classes, and events for teens
- Gain volunteer experience that looks great on a resume
What is expected of Teen Action Board members?
- Attendance at monthly meetings or contacting the TAB coordinator if you are unable to come
- Being an active participant in the group
- Attendance at most of the teen events we plan
How to apply:
1. Fill out the application form at https://bit.ly/MillerTABApp or by paper application in our Teen Area.
2. Applicants will be contacted via email or phone if invited to become a member.
3. NOTE: Simply filling out the application does not guarantee acceptance to the TAB, but your application will be kept on file for one year.
Our next meeting will be on February 1st.
FAM - Fun At Miller
Teen Beyond Words
Date: 01/22/25Time: 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens
Program type: Tech Skills or STEAM
Description:
Step into the fun and active world of Teen Beyond Words, a vibrant and inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.
Participants will journey through five engaging stations, that include:
Motor Skills - where hands and hearts intertwine in activities that celebrate fine motor movement and coordination, fostering a sense of accomplishment
Arts & Crafts - where imagination and artistic vision come to life, giving voice to the unique expressions within
Cognitive Skills - where puzzles and cognitive challenges become stepping stones to triumph, nurturing intellectual growth and problem-solving prowess
Movement - where active games, physical challenges, and other movement exploration focuses on gross motor skills, balance, etc.to get participants up and moving
Sensory - where calm, relaxation, and play combine to stimulate and regulate the senses to reduce anxiety and stress
With a new theme and different stations each month, Teen Beyond Words is not just a class; it's an invitation to celebrate the joy of discovery and the magic of shared experiences while creating personal connection and growth.
Welcome to a place where every participant is celebrated for the unique colors they bring to the canvas of life.
Participants may stay for as little or as long as they want.
Caregivers must stay with participants at all times.
The theme for this month is SNOW
FAM: Fun At Miller
The Connections Series: Mental Wellness Workshop
Date: 01/23/25Time: 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Connections is a mental wellness series of 6 workshops for young people in grades 9 - 12. It will be conducted every other Thursday by Therapeutic Connections and each workshop will feature a different mental wellness topic. You must register for each workshop individually - signing up once does not guarantee you a seat in the others.
This week's topic is TBD (to be determined).
It is a small registered class - NO DROP-INS.
FAM - Fun At Miller
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 01/23/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Reads of Acceptance (Online)
Date: 01/27/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: 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.
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 Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune.
Asian American Literature Book Club (Online)
Date: 01/27/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join our monthly discussion of Asian American literary titles.
- Sept.16 2024 Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now by Jeff Yang
- Oct. 21 2024 The Mountains Sing by Nguyẽ̂n Phan Qué̂ Mai
- Nov. 18 2024 On the noodle road : from Beijing to Rome, with love and pasta by Jen Lin-Liu
- Dec. 16 2024 Stay True: a memoir by Hua Hsu
- Jan. 27 2025 Lies and Weddings: a novel by Kevin Kwan
- Feb. 24 2025 Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
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.
World Languages Cafe @ East Columbia 50+ Center (in person)
Date: 01/28/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:45pm
Branch: Off Site
Age group: Teens, Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
The World Languages Cafe is now being held at the new East Columbia 50+ Center; 6610 Cradlerock way, Columbia, Md. 21045 on the 4th Tuesday of each month.
Established by the Columbia Association’s International Exchange & Multicultural Program 10 years ago, the World Languages Café (WLC) provides a venue where people meet to practice a world language with fellow community members, facilitated by a native or fluent speaker of that language. Over the years, the WLC has featured languages including Arabic, *American Sign Language, *Chinese, *Catonese, *Dutch, *French, German, Hebrew, *Irish Gaelic, *Italian, *Japanese, *Korean, *Portuguese, and *Spanish. (*Currently available at East Columbia Branch 50+ Center)
4th Tuesday of the month from 7 - 8:45 pm. at East Columbia Senior Center
2nd Thursday of the month from 7 - 8:45 pm at the Miller Branch Library
The World Languages Café is free, and registration is preferred, but not required. Please indicate in the registration comments field the language(s) you would like to practice. Ages 13+.
We are also seeking language table hosts. If you are interested in connecting with community members by volunteering to host a table in the language of your choice at HCLS Miller Branch Library, or East Columbia 50+ Center, please email [email protected] or call 410-924-2226.
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 01/30/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Recipe Exchange: Ethiopian Food
Date: 02/01/25Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Branch: Savage Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Attention, Foodies! Do you find yourself looking for new creative ways to spice up your cooking repertoire? Searching for new tried-and-true recipes to add to your own skill set as well as easy, dependable recipes that your family will love? We’ll discuss some notable Ethiopian chefs who are making their mark on cuisine, discuss their recipes, and then share our own. Meet up with other foodies and indulge your culinary curiosity at our recipe exchange!
Food will be provided for sampling.
Registration is optional. Register if you wish to receive email reminders and updates about this class and related events. All seating is first-come, first-served.
This session is part of HCLS' Black History Month series. Please click here for the complete schedule of classes and events.
Veterans Book Group 2025 (Online)
Date: 02/02/25Time: 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Branch: Online Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
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 2 - June 1 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.
Reading Selections:
February 2: Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor by Clinton Romesha
March 2: The Fine Art of Camouflage by Lauren Kay Johnson
April 6: The Special Prisoner by Jim Lehrer
June 1: In Pharaoh’s Army: Memories of the Lost War by Tobias Wolff
Image credit: Generated using AI
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.
Questions? Please email [email protected].
Makeup is for Everyone: Gender-Affirming Contouring
Date: 02/04/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Central Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Learn how to transform your face through the art of contouring!
We’ll discuss the different uses of this makeup technique before diving into a demonstration and hands-on workshop. Both masculine and feminine contouring techniques will be demonstrated, taught by a trans/non-binary instructor.
Supplies will be provided for the first eight registrants. Wait-listed registrants are welcome to attend if you'd like to bring your own makeup or just observe.
Open to anyone looking to explore makeup in a safe space; must be 18+ to participate.
Interested in more makeup skills? Check out the next class in this series, Understanding Foundation & Color Theory.
Bilingual Stories and Playtime (all ages with adult) TK
Date: 02/06/25Time: 6:30pm - 7:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Children, Everyone
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
All ages with adult; 30 min. Ticket required.
Únase a nosotros para cuentos, canciones y rimas bilingues. Seguido de un tiempo de juego. Join us for bilingual stories, songs and rhymes. Followed by a playtime.
Tickets will be available at the children's desk 15 minutes before class.
Afrofuturism ArtLab: Learn & Create!
Date: 02/08/25Time: 3:00pm - 5:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Teens
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Ages 11-18 | Walk-in, feel free to register for a reminder.
What is Afrofuturism? Explore this multimedia concept, then create your own related art work. Your work may be chosen for Miller's Afrofuturism Student Art Exhibit for Black History Month. All materials supplied, but feel free to bring anything you would like.
This event is part of Miller's Afrofuturism Series for Black History Month, see other events HERE. Visit Miller between February 10-28, to view the Afrofuturism Student Art Exhibit.
This session is part of HCLS' Black History Month series. Please click here for the complete schedule of classes and events.
FAM: Fun at Miller
Adult Beyond Words
Date: 02/10/25Time: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Tech Skills or STEAM
Description:
Step into the fun and active world of Adult Beyond Words, an inclusive monthly class designed to spark joy and ignite the imagination of people (ages 18+) with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities.
Participants may partake in five engaging stations, that include:
Motor Skills - with activities that celebrate fine motor movement and coordination
Arts & Crafts - where imagination and artistic vision come to life, giving voice to the unique expressions within
Cognitive Skills - with puzzles and cognitive challenges that nurture intellectual growth and problem-solving skills
Movement - with active games, physical challenges, and other movement exploration that focuses on gross motor skills, balance, etc.to get participants up and moving
Sensory - where calm, relaxation, and play combine to stimulate and regulate the senses to reduce anxiety and stress
With a new theme and different stations each month, Adult Beyond Words is not just a class; it's an invitation to celebrate the joy of discovery and the magic of shared experiences while creating personal connection and growth.
Participants may stay for as little or as long as they want.
Caregivers must stay with participants at all times.
The theme for this month is
Marlena Jareaux: Pre-Civil War African-American History in Howard County
Date: 02/10/25Time: 6:00pm - 8:30pm
Branch: Miller Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
Join researcher and historian Marlena Jareaux as she shares the results of years of her research. Marlena Jareaux is the Executive Director of Howard County Lynching Truth & Reconciliation, Inc., and her archival research has revealed some narrative changing information about what life was really like for Black and Mulatto people here in Howard County, both free and enslaved.
Jareaux's research was funded in part by a Maryland Heritage Areas Authority grant.
This free event is co-sponsored by the Howard County Library System and the Howard County Historical Society.
This session is part of HCLS' Black History Month series. Please click here for the complete schedule of classes and events.
Author Works: The Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
Date: 02/18/25Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Branch: Elkridge Branch
Age group: Adults
Program type: Race, Equity & Inclusion
Description:
On the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance
Meet the Heartbeat of its Black Literary Revolution
100 years after the Harlem Renaissance, a new novel profiles the “literary midwife” who discovered and nurtured literary giants like Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston…all while having an affair and love story with civil rights legend W. E. B. Du Bois.
“A page turner and history lesson at once, Harlem Rhapsody reminds us that our stories are our generational wealth— this book and the real lives that inspired it.”—Tayari Jones, New York Times bestselling author of An American Marriage
HARLEM RHAPSODY brings readers into glittering 1920’s Harlem through the lens of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the heartbeat of its literary revolution. Not only did Jessie discover and nurture icons like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Nella Larsen and Zora Neale Hurston. She was also caught up in a decade-long affair and “parallel marriage” with the professor and civil rights activist W. E. B. Du Bois—also her boss in her role as the literary editor of the NAACP’s The Crisis magazine.
In the 1920s, Harlem flourished as a place of Black pride. As the novel follows Fauset’s career, the reader is privy to both the brilliant creativity happening at this time while simultaneously understanding the experience of a Black woman who had to combat incredible sexism and racism to succeed.
Another of Jessie’s most complex yet loving relationships was with her stepmother, Isabella Huff, who was both Jewish and a staunch integrationist. Isabella deeply resented her daughter’s involvement with a married man. But she reveled in Jessie’s influence as someone using words to fight racism. Before the Harlem Renaissance, many if not all Black stories had been written by white writers. In The Crisis, Jessie had finally made available a space for Black writers to publish their own stories.
About the Author:
With almost three million books in print, NAACP Image Award-winning author Victoria Christopher Murray is one of the country’s top Black contemporary writers. Her prominence skyrocketed with recent forays into the inner lives and stories of underappreciated Black women. As the co-author with Marie Benedict of the breakout hits and New York Times bestsellers The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, she traced the lives of Belle de Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, and the Black civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.
Books will be available for purchase at the event, and the author will be signing books post-event.
Please register with an email address to receive an immediate registration confirmation.
