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Baltimore County Public Library

Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL), established in 1948, is a public library system located in central Maryland and headquartered in Towson, Maryland[4][5] BCPL serves Baltimore County, Maryland, which surrounds but does not include the city of Baltimore.[6] Still, occasionally the two library systems share resources and expertise.[7]

Baltimore County Public Library
Interior view of the Towson Branch
39°23′04″N 76°34′23″W / 39.38441°N 76.57315°W / 39.38441; -76.57315
LocationBaltimore County, Maryland
TypePublic library
Established1948 (1948)
Branches19[1][2]
Collection
Size1.8 million (2018)[2]
Access and use
Circulation11.2 million (2018)[2]
Population served831,128 (2018)[2]
Other information
BudgetUS$44,583,291 (2018)[2]
DirectorSonia Alcántara-Antoine[3]
Employees503.3 FTE (2018)[2]
Websitewww.bcpl.info

BCPL has 19 branch locations. BCPL's Mobile Library Services operates 4 bookmobiles, with the two largest branches at Catonsville and North Point, while fulfilling environmental and sustainable goals.[8][9] The branches are strategically located around Baltimore County. Baltimore County has no incorporated towns or communities.[10][5] Yet the unincorporated areas have names and are considered communities by many residents despite having no clear-cut boundaries, meaning that many of these communities have a BCPL branch located within them.[11][12]

BCPL offers a wide variety of services, with its branches offering a collection of current, high-demand print and non-print items, including books on compact discs, DVDs, and video games, as well as access to online research databases, downloadable audiobooks, ebooks, and much more.[13][14][15] All branches provide public computer access, are Wi-Fi accessible, and offer free programs and activities for all ages.[16] Librarians are available at each branch to respond to the information needs of customers who walk-in or phone-in with questions.[17][18]

History edit

The BCPL System from the 1940s until the 1970s edit

In 1948, the BCPL system was established by combining "twelve independent libraries into one system," each of which was "started by a private association to meet public needs," with most of them organizing by the 1940s, but the current branches in Reistertown, Sparrows Point, founded with space provided by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Towson, and Relay, opened before 1936, with all the others opening sometime after 1940.[5][19] This new library system had a board of trustees to consolidate these 12 independent libraries.[20] By October of the same year, an administrative office had opened, at its temporary location sitting on Towson's 120 West Pennsylvania Avenue and a county librarian, Richard D. Minnich, was appointed.[19] The following year, the Cockeysville Branch of the BCPL had moved to a space in the "former Zink residence" which was a "small house located near the Cockeysville School" and sitting on York Road.[21]

By the 1950s, the BCPL system began to change. The Arbutus Branch of the BCPL moved itself into a larger space above an A&P supermarket," just like the branch in Pikesville, while the Parkville community, until 1952, continued to host an independent library which eventually moved to the basement of Saint Ursula's Church.[22][23][24] When the Parkville Library closed its doors, the BCPL started to provide library services to the community using a bookmobile.[23]

Jumping forward to the 1960s, the BCPL branches improved by leaps and bounds. In 1961, the Parkville Branch opened at rented quarters, the Cockeysville Branch opened in a "3,000 square feet building," and the Reistertown Branch, which occupies a building dating back to the 1820s when it was Franklin Academy, was created.[23][21][25] In the following years there were more improvements. For one, in 1962, the Arbutus Branch moved to a "more modern building" on Sulphur Spring Road, and the year after that, the current Catonsville Branch was dedicated on what was formerly the site of Castle Thunder, home of English businessman Richard Caton and Polly Carroll," the latter who was the daughter of Charles Carroll, a singer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.[22][26] The same year, the original Perry Hall Branch opened on Belair Road.[27][28] Many years later, in January 1968, the Cockeysville Branch "was expanded...to an 11,000 square foot facility."[21]

In the 1970s, the BCPL system again expanded. In January 1971, the Parkville-Carney Branch opened at its current location, renamed from the Parkville Branch after "an appeal by residents of Carney to show that both communities were served by the facility.[23] Years later, in May 1974, the current structure which comprises the Towson Branch was constructed, which is in a brutalist style.[29][30]

The BCPL System in the 1980s and 1990s edit

In the 1980s the library system again changed with the times. In February 1982, the Cockeyville Branch opened at its current location, being one "of the first libraries in the nation featuring open-face bookstore display shelving and neon signage."[21] In the same year, the Pikesville Branch opened on the Pikesville Community Center's first level, a building which currently "houses a senior center and a health center" as well.[24] The following year, the PTA of Hereford High School initiated the idea for a library in the Northern part of Baltimore County.[31] In later years, the Towson Branch would be recognized for its accomplishments. In 1985, the Baltimore City Paper would give the branch the "Best Library award" and the year after that the County Executive would recognize the branch for its "outstanding contributions" to the community.[29] Two years later, in 1988, the Hereford Branch opened "on the first floor of the Hereford Center building" with Dennis Rasmussen, then County Executive and Dutch Ruppersberger, then a County Councilman, cutting the ribbon to open the facility.[31] The same year the White Marsh Branch opened in "15,000 square-foot" facility, which is within the current White Marsh Town Center.[32]

In the 1990s, there were further changes. The Towson Branch was expanded in 1990, becoming a "landmark building in the heart of Towson."[29] The same year all branches of the BCPL were closed for Staff Day.[33] In later years, the Reisterstown Branch was renovated, in 1995 with an expanded "parking lot and a 1,800 square foot addition," and the Heidelbach Memorial Garden, in the Catonsville Branch, was dedicated after a push by the Catonsville Garden Club.[25][26][34]

The BCPL System in the 21st century edit

In the 2000s numerous BCPL branches were expanded. In 2001 the Towson Branch added a "medieval castle with arched windows, turrets and a majestic entrance" in the children's area of the library to, hopefully, "make more families decide to spend their together time at the library rather than at a mall."[35] The following year, the Hereford Branch expanded "to 7,500 square feet" and extended operating hours 2006, with the Pikeville Branch expanded with a "$3.6 million expansion and renovation" and re-opened in July 2007.[31][24] In 2009, the existing Perry Hall Branch "was replaced by the current 25,000 square foot green building" which currently sits on Honeygo Boulevard and the Cockeysville Branch was renovated.[27][21]

In 2010, the Perry Hall Branch added a reading garden which includes "benches, sculptures...a picturesque view of the small nearby pond" and a walkway that is "made of recycled materials from the renovation of the North Point Branch plaza" the same year.[27] Also that year, the Arbutus Branch moved to a new $11 million "library, community center and senior center" on Sulphur Spring Road, which is a 25,000 square foot space and is a certified LEED silver building.[22] The following year, in 2011, The Baltimore Sun reported that an FBI agent, Kyra M. Dressler, "asked a federal judge to sign search warrants for computers and hard drives in the Baltimore County Public Library's branches in Woodlawn and Catonsville," where a Nicaraguan-born man named Antonio Martinez, who they suspected of being a "terrorist," had reportedly used the library's public computers.[36] The same year "a $30 million, six-story building" which houses the Owings Mills Branch and the "center for the Community College of Baltimore County" began to be constructed, and was completed in 2013.[37]

In 2013, the BCPL recorded "nearly 5 million in-person visits, circulated nearly 10.6 million items, set a record of over 48,400 participants in our Summer Reading Club, and added nearly 20,000 new cardholders" in the previous years.[38][39] The following year, the Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball was established at the new Owings Mills Branch, opened only the year before, a free museum which is "open during all library operating hours" and has exhibits and historical displays of "Maryland and U.S. Negro Leagues."[40][41][42][43][44] In September of the same year Richard William Parsons, a librarian who had worked in the BCPL library system since 1962, died.[45] Due to a large snowstorm in March 2014, all BCPL branches were closed.[46]

Also in 2014, Kevin Kamenetz proposed a controversial plan for shifting IT positions within the BCPL system. His budget involved the transfer of 28 positions within the system "to the county's Office of Information Technology (OIT) starting July 1" with administration officials saying it would make the government "more efficient" with no cuts in jobs, but library advocates across the state worried that this did not follow due process and set a bad precedent.[47] Paula Miller, formerly the head of the Pikes Peak Library District in El Paso County, Colorado, was chosen as the new administrator of the BCPL library system.[48] Not only was she "the first woman to serve in that role" but she was the fourth director of the system since 1948.

In 2015 and 2016, the Hereford Branch's renovation was sped up. In July 2015, a broken water pipe damaged the interior of the Branch, closing it for one year so it could "undergo the $3 million extensive renovation and expansion," and it was reopened in June 2016 with increased space for "books, computers and meeting areas," covering a total of 15,000 square feet, including "self-service kiosks for checking out books, several computers for public use, a bar with outlets for laptop use," among other aspects.[31]

Unionization edit

In April 2021, several Maryland General Assembly legislators drafted and passed legislation, supported by workers and union officials, allowing Baltimore County Public Library staff to collectively bargain in April 2021. The bill gave the requirement that after union organizers collect signatures from 30% of a library systems employees, then at least 50% have to vote in favor of joining a union before negotiations with library administration begins. Prior to the bill's approval, libraries in Montgomery County and Prince George's County formed unions, while Baltimore County Public Library employees noted an intention to hold an election in September 2021.[49]

On December 31, 2021, workers in Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) system unionized with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, after a several-year-long union drive.[50] The union vote passed with a 77% approval rating.[51]

On May 1, 2022, 460 BCPL employees, from the library's administrative office and 19 library branches, ratified "their first union contract" with overwhelming support. The agreement includes pay increases and paid leave for employees.[52] On September 13, 2022, the financial portions of the first contract were ratified after Baltimore County Council approved money to be allocated for this purpose.[53]

Branches edit

The following BCPL branches are open to the public:[54]

  • Arbutus Branch
  • Catonsville Branch
  • Cockeysville Branch
  • Essex Branch
  • Hereford Branch
  • Lansdowne Branch
  • Loch Raven Mini Branch
  • North Point Branch
  • Owings Mills Branch
  • Parkville-Carney Branch
  • Perry Hall Branch
  • Pikesville Branch
  • Randallstown Branch
  • Reistertown Branch
  • Rosedale Branch
  • Sollers Point Branch
  • Towson Branch
  • White Marsh Branch
  • Woodlawn Branch

Mobile libraries are also available for both adults and children, which visit senior retirement homes, assisted living facilities, special needs schools, and other places.[54]

Public services edit

The BCPL library system provides many public services. These include foreign language materials, local history resources, online databases, showing of films within library branches, and much more, in an effort to generate community participation.

Foreign languages and local history edit

Numerous foreign language resources are available across the library system. At the Cockeysville, Parkville, and Towson branches, Korean fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children are available, while the Pikesville, and Randallstown branches, Russian materials for adults and children can be found.[55] At all branches, Spanish children's books, mainly picture books, in Spanish and bi-lingual Spanish and English can be found, while at the Catonsville, Essex, North Point, and Towson branches Spanish collections of fiction and non-fiction for adults and older children can be requested.[56] As of 2016, the Rosetta Stone program is "available for free" within BCPL branches.[57]

Local history can be accessed across the library system. A collection of local historic photographs with annotations are included in Legacy Web, Baltimore County Public Library's online photo archive, with these photographs covering most aspects of life in Baltimore County for the last 130 years. In April 2010, the images in the Legacy Web were added to the Baltimore County Public Library online catalog. The Arbutus, Catonsville, and Reisterstown branches house historical archives on the local communities they serve.[58] The local community history information may include rare and out-of-print books, newspaper clippings, and historical prints of local sites.[59] These materials can be used within specific branches and are sometimes accessible with prior appointment at the appropriate BCPL branch.[60]

Databases and movie showings edit

Many databases are available to patrons across the BCPL library system. A variety of online databases are available for use, which include information on health, business, homework topics, and test preparation.[61][62] Most databases provide access to articles in magazines, newspapers, and encyclopedias and can be used for research, schoolwork or other needs since they can be accessed from a BCPL branch or from home, work or school through the official BCPL website with a BCPL card. Such services are accompanied by "public computers, free WiFi, laptop bars with charging stations...study rooms, a quiet reading room...single use and collaborative workspaces" at Randallstown and other BCPL branches.[63] The BCPL has also partnered with the Baltimore County Bar Association to host a "Baltimore County Pro Bono Day" at BCPL's Owings Mills Branch to discuss legal problems with a volunteer attorney.[64] Additionally, the BCPL had partnered with WBAL-TV to promote reading for the "2017 Baltimore County Public Library Reading Challenge."[65]

Current Hollywood films, documentary and non-documentary, are sometimes shown within branches of the BCPL to the broader community. In March 2017, the Arbutus, Loch Raven, North Point, Pikesville, Reisterstown, Rosedale, Towson, and Woodlawn BCPL branches invited the public (and general community) to view, free-of-charge, Ava DuVernay's documentary 13TH, which explores "ties between slavery, the current mass incarceration of African Americans and the profits of the prison-industrial complex," which was followed by "a guided discussion."[66]

Other community activities edit

The BCPL also engages in varying activities to engage the community. Over the years, branches have had interactive displays about outer space,[67] held a behind-the-scenes open house for the library system's bookmobile,[68] and hosted cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher (KAL),[69] Other programs have included working with members of the cast of Annie who performed in White Marsh Mall to promote the BCPL's summer reading program,[70] publishing a directory of "more than 3,500 nonprofit organizations in the county,"[71] and having a "presentation and discussion on recent research in reading and education."[72]

Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library edit

The Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library provides "funding for projects that encourage children and young adults to cultivate enthusiasm for reading and learning" such as the Storyville, My First Library Card and Summer Reading Club programs, along with raising "funds for programs or projects that enhance systemwide library goals and objectives."[73] In order to provide "additional resources to enrich the library's commitment to empower the citizens of Baltimore County" to learn, create, connect, and explore, it is registered 501(c)(3) organization.[74]

In particular, the Storyville program, created with the funding of the Foundation, BCPL, State of Maryland, and private sources, has been a resounding success. Designed and created "to foster early literacy and school readiness skills," it serves as a place "where books and purposeful play come together to provide valuable experiences that nurture young children and support parents and caregivers."[75][76][77] It is located at the Woodlawn and Rosedale Branches of the BCPL. Jim Fish, the longtime administrator of the BCPL, who retired in 2014, also counts "the library's work on early childhood services among his most important accomplishments" which includes the Storyville program.[78]

In July 2010, the president of the Foundation, Jeffrey Smith, wrote a letter to the editors of The Baltimore Sun, stating that the addition the Cockeysville Branch would "allow for an increase in total public space in this library while also offering the chance to improve and maximize overall public accessibility" and that such improvements are only the "most recent in a series of investments in the system," and arguing that despite the fact that the times are "economically challenging," libraries are vital, and thanked residents of the county and local elected officials for having "the foresight to ensure sufficient funding to support this growth in use."[79] He further argued that this meant that there was "recognition of the importance of libraries as an essential public service will allow BCPL to continue to effectively respond to the increasing needs of Baltimore County citizens."

In 2014, the vice president of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce, Christine Crawford, who had joined the Chamber of Commerce in July 2005 and represents the chamber in many capacities, became a board member of the foundation.[73] At the time, the president of the Foundation, Jeffrey Smith, welcomed Crawford, saying that "it is truly an honor to welcome" her to the board and that he was "confident that her enthusiasm, extensive connections and civic-minded spirit will be invaluable assets as our organization continuously broadens its capacity to support the good works" of the BCPL library system.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Find a Branch". Baltimore County Public Library. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f IMLS FY2018 Public Libraries Survey: Baltimore County Public Library (MD0004). Washington, D.C.: Institute of Museum and Library Services. July 31, 2020. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  3. ^ "Mission and Administration – Baltimore County Public Library". www.bcpl.info. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "Public Library". Maryland Manual On-Line. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c Maryland State Archives,Baltimore County, Maryland: Public Library, September 29, 2015.
  6. ^ Baltimore City is served by the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
  7. ^ Mary Gill Hare, "Pratt and Balto Co. libraries to share nearly $1 million bequest," The Baltimore Sun, July 8, 2011.
  8. ^ Explore Baltimore Heritage Team, "North Point Branch – Baltimore County Public Library", April 5, 2016
  9. ^ Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Maryland Green Application: Baltimore County Public Library, April 2016. MDE is not the same as Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
  10. ^ BCPL, "Map of Library Locations," July 14, 2015.
  11. ^ There are branches in Arbutus, Catonsville, Cockeysville, Essex, Hereford, Lansdowne, Loch Raven, North Point, Owings Mills, Parkville-Carney, Perry Hall, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown,Rosedale, Sollers Point,Towson, White Marsh, and Woodlawn. There is also Mobile Library Services as part of the BCPL system.
  12. ^ Lorraine Mirabella, "Eggspectation will open at Metro Centre at Owings Mills next year," The Baltimore Sun, August 22, 2014.
  13. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Towson to help library system debut 'cloud' service for e-Books," August 30, 2012.
  14. ^ Phyllis Brill, "Where to find information on AIDS for children," The Baltimore Sun, November 12, 1991.
  15. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Books on looks," February 20, 1991.
  16. ^ Alison Knezevich, "Balto. Co. libraries' summer reading program breaks record," The Baltimore Sun, September 4, 2012.
  17. ^ BCPL, Ask a Question, 2017.
  18. ^ BCPL participates in the Maryland AskUsNow! chat reference service staffed 24/7 by Maryland librarians or librarians nationwide.
  19. ^ a b Lynn Wheeler, "," 1948. Material for this webpage derives from "The Public Library, Baltimore County, Maryland, Annual Report, 1948."
  20. ^ These libraries were located in Arbutus-Halethorpe, Catonsville and its Banneker High School branch, Cockeysville, Dundalk and its Turner Station branch, Essex, Middle River, Pikesville, Relay, Sparrows Point, and Towson.
  21. ^ a b c d e BCPL, "Cockeysville Branch, History: About This Branch," October 25, 2016.
  22. ^ a b c BCPL, "Arbutus Branch, History: About This Branch," December 15, 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d BCPL, "Parkville-Carney Branch, History: About This Branch," January 23, 2017.
  24. ^ a b c BCPL, "Pikesville Branch, History: About This Branch," March 17, 2017.
  25. ^ a b BCPL, "Reisterstown Branch, History: About This Branch," December 20, 2016.
  26. ^ a b BCPL, "Catonsville Branch, History: About This Branch," October 5, 2016.
  27. ^ a b c BCPL, "Perry Hall Branch, History: About This Branch," March 21, 2017.
  28. ^ Shelley Silwick, "Perry Hall library celebrates 50 years in the books," The Baltimore Sun, September 9, 2013.
  29. ^ a b c BCPL, "Towson Branch, History: About This Branch," December 9, 2016.
  30. ^ Loni Ingram, "Towson Library celebrates 40 years at current site on May 17," The Baltimore Sun, May 15, 2014.
  31. ^ a b c d BCPL, "Hereford Branch, History: About This Branch," February 24, 2017.
  32. ^ BCPL, "White Marsh Branch, History: About This Branch," March 21, 2017.
  33. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Staff Day to close county's libraries," October 3, 1990.
  34. ^ In the Heidelbach Memorial Garden, "each panel depicts a scene from a children's literature classic and was created by the students of Hillcrest, Maiden Choice, Catonsville Middle, Saint Mark's, Westowne, Saint Agnes, Saint Paul, and Delrey schools."
  35. ^ Lynn Anderson, "Reading in a fantasy world," The Baltimore Sun, May 13, 2001.
  36. ^ Nick Madigan, "Man accused in Catonsville bomb plot urged holy war, feds say," The Baltimore Sun, February 10, 2011. The article adds that FBI agents watched him, as he "pulled up jihadist videos on computers in Baltimore County libraries," accessing "the Internet about 481 times at county libraries, and remained logged on an average of one to two hours". At one point he lost access to the library computers because he had failed to pay a $10.50 fine, but regained access by using his stepfather's library card.
  37. ^ Raven L. Hill, "Start of Owings Mills development raises hopes," The Baltimore Sun, July 28, 2011.
  38. ^ James H. Fish, "Balto. Co. library is more vibrant than ever," The Baltimore Sun, April 23, 2013. The writer is director of the Baltimore County Public Library.
  39. ^ Similarly, the Towson Branch "chalked up 475,495 visits" and was described by the Baltimore Sun as "one of the busiest branches in the BCPL system."
  40. ^ BCPL, Owings Mills Branch, 2017.
  41. ^ BCPL, "Community: The Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball," February 18, 2016.
  42. ^ Jim Joyner, "County library at Owings Mills' Metro Centre slated to open March 21," The Baltimore Sun, March 11, 2013.
  43. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Opening day at Hubert V. Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball in Owings Mills," March 27, 2014.
  44. ^ Arthur Hirsch, "Negro Leagues museum to play bigger crowds in Baltimore County," The Baltimore Sun, November 20, 2013.
  45. ^ Jacques Kelly, "Richard W. Parsons, Baltimore County librarian," The Baltimore Sun, September 17, 2014.
  46. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Baltimore-area attractions closed due to snow," March 3, 2014.
  47. ^ Alison Knezevich, "Librarians question Baltimore County plan to shift IT positions," The Baltimore Sun, May 21, 2014.
  48. ^ Alison Knezevich, "New Baltimore County libraries chief named," The Baltimore Sun, May 2, 2014.
  49. ^ DeVille, Taylor (April 14, 2021). "General Assembly approves legislation allowing Baltimore County librarians to unionize". The Baltimore Sun. from the original on May 3, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  50. ^ Deville, Taylor (January 7, 2022). "Baltimore County library staff votes to form union". Baltimore Sun. from the original on January 7, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  51. ^ "Baltimore County Public Library Employees Vote Overwhelmingly to Join Machinists Union". International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. December 30, 2021. from the original on May 6, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  52. ^ "Baltimore County Public Library Employees Vote to Ratify First Machinists Union Contract Following Groundbreaking Organizing Campaign". International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. May 2, 2022. from the original on June 8, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
  53. ^ "Baltimore County Public Library Employees Complete Two-Year Process To Unionize". Towson Patch. September 2, 2022. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  54. ^ a b "Locations". Baltimore County Public Library. Retrieved September 5, 2021.
  55. ^ A small collection of entertainment or feature DVDs in Russian for adults are available at the Pikesville and Reisterstown branches.
  56. ^ Books and CDs for learning foreign languages are available at all branches and can be found in the non-fiction section of the branch.
  57. ^ WMAR-TV, "Rosetta Stone now available for free at Baltimore County Public Library," September 1, 2016.
  58. ^ Ann Lee, "Helping patrons explore history in Catonsville," The Baltimore Sun, June 16, 2003.
  59. ^ "Franklin Academy – Baltimore County Public Library," Digital Maryland, 2017.
  60. ^ Julie Scharper, "Monumental mystery, potential answer," The Baltimore Sun, February 8, 2014.
  61. ^ "Baltimore County Public Library," libraries.org.
  62. ^ Baltimore County Public Library: Research Databases & Tools, BCPL, January 9, 2017.
  63. ^ Baltimore County Government, "Construction begins on $1.1 million total renovation of Randallstown Library Branch," February 6, 2017.
  64. ^ Baltimore County Pro Bono Day March 28, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, The People's Law Library of Maryland, 2017.
  65. ^ WBAL-TV, "Baltimore County Public Library Partners with WBAL-TV 11 for reading challenge," December 27, 2016.
  66. ^ Baltimore Times, "Baltimore County Public Library to Screen Oscar-Nominated 13TH at Multiple Locations in Late March", March 22, 2017.
  67. ^ Kim Brynes, "library patrons explore final frontier in Discover Space exhibit," The Baltimore Sun, September 7, 2014.
  68. ^ Mary Gail Hare, "Bookmobile holds open house in Dundalk," The Baltimore Sun, April 14, 2011.
  69. ^ Sharon Rydell, "Cartoonist KAL comes to Pikesville Library for book signing," The Baltimore Sun, April 8, 2013.
  70. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "In Baltimore County 'Annie' cast members to perform at," June 4, 2000.
  71. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Library updates guide," January 21, 1991.
  72. ^ The Baltimore Sun, Research in reading to be discussed at Cockeysville, January 7, 2001.
  73. ^ a b The Baltimore Sun, "County chamber VP is new member of Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library," February 28, 2014. Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library Press Release.
  74. ^ [Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library Homepage http://www.foundationforbcpl.org/], accessed March 27, 2017.
  75. ^ BCPL, "About Storyville," September 23, 2016.
  76. ^ James Bradberry Architects, "Storyville: Baltimore, MD March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine," 2017.
  77. ^ The Baltimore Sun, "Woodlawn library Storyville closes for two-day project," July 15, 2014.
  78. ^ Alison Knezevich, "Jim Fish closes the book on career at Baltimore County Public Library," The Baltimore Sun, July 31, 2014.
  79. ^ Jeffrey Smith, "Balto. Co. wise to invest in its libraries," The Baltimore Sun, July 1, 2010.

External links edit

  • Official website  
  • American Library Association
  • Maryland Library Association
  • Public Library Association

baltimore, county, public, library, this, article, contains, content, that, written, like, advertisement, please, help, improve, removing, promotional, content, inappropriate, external, links, adding, encyclopedic, content, written, from, neutral, point, view,. This article contains content that is written like an advertisement Please help improve it by removing promotional content and inappropriate external links and by adding encyclopedic content written from a neutral point of view November 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Baltimore County Public Library BCPL established in 1948 is a public library system located in central Maryland and headquartered in Towson Maryland 4 5 BCPL serves Baltimore County Maryland which surrounds but does not include the city of Baltimore 6 Still occasionally the two library systems share resources and expertise 7 Baltimore County Public LibraryInterior view of the Towson Branch39 23 04 N 76 34 23 W 39 38441 N 76 57315 W 39 38441 76 57315LocationBaltimore County MarylandTypePublic libraryEstablished1948 1948 Branches19 1 2 CollectionSize1 8 million 2018 2 Access and useCirculation11 2 million 2018 2 Population served831 128 2018 2 Other informationBudgetUS 44 583 291 2018 2 DirectorSonia Alcantara Antoine 3 Employees503 3 FTE 2018 2 Websitewww wbr bcpl wbr infoBCPL has 19 branch locations BCPL s Mobile Library Services operates 4 bookmobiles with the two largest branches at Catonsville and North Point while fulfilling environmental and sustainable goals 8 9 The branches are strategically located around Baltimore County Baltimore County has no incorporated towns or communities 10 5 Yet the unincorporated areas have names and are considered communities by many residents despite having no clear cut boundaries meaning that many of these communities have a BCPL branch located within them 11 12 BCPL offers a wide variety of services with its branches offering a collection of current high demand print and non print items including books on compact discs DVDs and video games as well as access to online research databases downloadable audiobooks ebooks and much more 13 14 15 All branches provide public computer access are Wi Fi accessible and offer free programs and activities for all ages 16 Librarians are available at each branch to respond to the information needs of customers who walk in or phone in with questions 17 18 Contents 1 History 1 1 The BCPL System from the 1940s until the 1970s 1 2 The BCPL System in the 1980s and 1990s 1 3 The BCPL System in the 21st century 1 4 Unionization 2 Branches 3 Public services 3 1 Foreign languages and local history 3 2 Databases and movie showings 3 3 Other community activities 4 Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe BCPL System from the 1940s until the 1970s edit In 1948 the BCPL system was established by combining twelve independent libraries into one system each of which was started by a private association to meet public needs with most of them organizing by the 1940s but the current branches in Reistertown Sparrows Point founded with space provided by the Bethlehem Steel Corporation Towson and Relay opened before 1936 with all the others opening sometime after 1940 5 19 This new library system had a board of trustees to consolidate these 12 independent libraries 20 By October of the same year an administrative office had opened at its temporary location sitting on Towson s 120 West Pennsylvania Avenue and a county librarian Richard D Minnich was appointed 19 The following year the Cockeysville Branch of the BCPL had moved to a space in the former Zink residence which was a small house located near the Cockeysville School and sitting on York Road 21 By the 1950s the BCPL system began to change The Arbutus Branch of the BCPL moved itself into a larger space above an A amp P supermarket just like the branch in Pikesville while the Parkville community until 1952 continued to host an independent library which eventually moved to the basement of Saint Ursula s Church 22 23 24 When the Parkville Library closed its doors the BCPL started to provide library services to the community using a bookmobile 23 Jumping forward to the 1960s the BCPL branches improved by leaps and bounds In 1961 the Parkville Branch opened at rented quarters the Cockeysville Branch opened in a 3 000 square feet building and the Reistertown Branch which occupies a building dating back to the 1820s when it was Franklin Academy was created 23 21 25 In the following years there were more improvements For one in 1962 the Arbutus Branch moved to a more modern building on Sulphur Spring Road and the year after that the current Catonsville Branch was dedicated on what was formerly the site of Castle Thunder home of English businessman Richard Caton and Polly Carroll the latter who was the daughter of Charles Carroll a singer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 22 26 The same year the original Perry Hall Branch opened on Belair Road 27 28 Many years later in January 1968 the Cockeysville Branch was expanded to an 11 000 square foot facility 21 In the 1970s the BCPL system again expanded In January 1971 the Parkville Carney Branch opened at its current location renamed from the Parkville Branch after an appeal by residents of Carney to show that both communities were served by the facility 23 Years later in May 1974 the current structure which comprises the Towson Branch was constructed which is in a brutalist style 29 30 The BCPL System in the 1980s and 1990s edit In the 1980s the library system again changed with the times In February 1982 the Cockeyville Branch opened at its current location being one of the first libraries in the nation featuring open face bookstore display shelving and neon signage 21 In the same year the Pikesville Branch opened on the Pikesville Community Center s first level a building which currently houses a senior center and a health center as well 24 The following year the PTA of Hereford High School initiated the idea for a library in the Northern part of Baltimore County 31 In later years the Towson Branch would be recognized for its accomplishments In 1985 the Baltimore City Paper would give the branch the Best Library award and the year after that the County Executive would recognize the branch for its outstanding contributions to the community 29 Two years later in 1988 the Hereford Branch opened on the first floor of the Hereford Center building with Dennis Rasmussen then County Executive and Dutch Ruppersberger then a County Councilman cutting the ribbon to open the facility 31 The same year the White Marsh Branch opened in 15 000 square foot facility which is within the current White Marsh Town Center 32 In the 1990s there were further changes The Towson Branch was expanded in 1990 becoming a landmark building in the heart of Towson 29 The same year all branches of the BCPL were closed for Staff Day 33 In later years the Reisterstown Branch was renovated in 1995 with an expanded parking lot and a 1 800 square foot addition and the Heidelbach Memorial Garden in the Catonsville Branch was dedicated after a push by the Catonsville Garden Club 25 26 34 The BCPL System in the 21st century edit In the 2000s numerous BCPL branches were expanded In 2001 the Towson Branch added a medieval castle with arched windows turrets and a majestic entrance in the children s area of the library to hopefully make more families decide to spend their together time at the library rather than at a mall 35 The following year the Hereford Branch expanded to 7 500 square feet and extended operating hours 2006 with the Pikeville Branch expanded with a 3 6 million expansion and renovation and re opened in July 2007 31 24 In 2009 the existing Perry Hall Branch was replaced by the current 25 000 square foot green building which currently sits on Honeygo Boulevard and the Cockeysville Branch was renovated 27 21 In 2010 the Perry Hall Branch added a reading garden which includes benches sculptures a picturesque view of the small nearby pond and a walkway that is made of recycled materials from the renovation of the North Point Branch plaza the same year 27 Also that year the Arbutus Branch moved to a new 11 million library community center and senior center on Sulphur Spring Road which is a 25 000 square foot space and is a certified LEED silver building 22 The following year in 2011 The Baltimore Sun reported that an FBI agent Kyra M Dressler asked a federal judge to sign search warrants for computers and hard drives in the Baltimore County Public Library s branches in Woodlawn and Catonsville where a Nicaraguan born man named Antonio Martinez who they suspected of being a terrorist had reportedly used the library s public computers 36 The same year a 30 million six story building which houses the Owings Mills Branch and the center for the Community College of Baltimore County began to be constructed and was completed in 2013 37 In 2013 the BCPL recorded nearly 5 million in person visits circulated nearly 10 6 million items set a record of over 48 400 participants in our Summer Reading Club and added nearly 20 000 new cardholders in the previous years 38 39 The following year the Hubert V Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball was established at the new Owings Mills Branch opened only the year before a free museum which is open during all library operating hours and has exhibits and historical displays of Maryland and U S Negro Leagues 40 41 42 43 44 In September of the same year Richard William Parsons a librarian who had worked in the BCPL library system since 1962 died 45 Due to a large snowstorm in March 2014 all BCPL branches were closed 46 Also in 2014 Kevin Kamenetz proposed a controversial plan for shifting IT positions within the BCPL system His budget involved the transfer of 28 positions within the system to the county s Office of Information Technology OIT starting July 1 with administration officials saying it would make the government more efficient with no cuts in jobs but library advocates across the state worried that this did not follow due process and set a bad precedent 47 Paula Miller formerly the head of the Pikes Peak Library District in El Paso County Colorado was chosen as the new administrator of the BCPL library system 48 Not only was she the first woman to serve in that role but she was the fourth director of the system since 1948 In 2015 and 2016 the Hereford Branch s renovation was sped up In July 2015 a broken water pipe damaged the interior of the Branch closing it for one year so it could undergo the 3 million extensive renovation and expansion and it was reopened in June 2016 with increased space for books computers and meeting areas covering a total of 15 000 square feet including self service kiosks for checking out books several computers for public use a bar with outlets for laptop use among other aspects 31 Unionization edit In April 2021 several Maryland General Assembly legislators drafted and passed legislation supported by workers and union officials allowing Baltimore County Public Library staff to collectively bargain in April 2021 The bill gave the requirement that after union organizers collect signatures from 30 of a library systems employees then at least 50 have to vote in favor of joining a union before negotiations with library administration begins Prior to the bill s approval libraries in Montgomery County and Prince George s County formed unions while Baltimore County Public Library employees noted an intention to hold an election in September 2021 49 On December 31 2021 workers in Baltimore County Public Library BCPL system unionized with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers after a several year long union drive 50 The union vote passed with a 77 approval rating 51 On May 1 2022 460 BCPL employees from the library s administrative office and 19 library branches ratified their first union contract with overwhelming support The agreement includes pay increases and paid leave for employees 52 On September 13 2022 the financial portions of the first contract were ratified after Baltimore County Council approved money to be allocated for this purpose 53 Branches editThe following BCPL branches are open to the public 54 Arbutus Branch Catonsville Branch Cockeysville Branch Essex Branch Hereford Branch Lansdowne Branch Loch Raven Mini Branch North Point Branch Owings Mills Branch Parkville Carney Branch Perry Hall Branch Pikesville Branch Randallstown Branch Reistertown Branch Rosedale Branch Sollers Point Branch Towson Branch White Marsh Branch Woodlawn BranchMobile libraries are also available for both adults and children which visit senior retirement homes assisted living facilities special needs schools and other places 54 Public services editThe BCPL library system provides many public services These include foreign language materials local history resources online databases showing of films within library branches and much more in an effort to generate community participation Foreign languages and local history edit Numerous foreign language resources are available across the library system At the Cockeysville Parkville and Towson branches Korean fiction and non fiction books for adults and children are available while the Pikesville and Randallstown branches Russian materials for adults and children can be found 55 At all branches Spanish children s books mainly picture books in Spanish and bi lingual Spanish and English can be found while at the Catonsville Essex North Point and Towson branches Spanish collections of fiction and non fiction for adults and older children can be requested 56 As of 2016 the Rosetta Stone program is available for free within BCPL branches 57 Local history can be accessed across the library system A collection of local historic photographs with annotations are included in Legacy Web Baltimore County Public Library s online photo archive with these photographs covering most aspects of life in Baltimore County for the last 130 years In April 2010 the images in the Legacy Web were added to the Baltimore County Public Library online catalog The Arbutus Catonsville and Reisterstown branches house historical archives on the local communities they serve 58 The local community history information may include rare and out of print books newspaper clippings and historical prints of local sites 59 These materials can be used within specific branches and are sometimes accessible with prior appointment at the appropriate BCPL branch 60 Databases and movie showings edit Many databases are available to patrons across the BCPL library system A variety of online databases are available for use which include information on health business homework topics and test preparation 61 62 Most databases provide access to articles in magazines newspapers and encyclopedias and can be used for research schoolwork or other needs since they can be accessed from a BCPL branch or from home work or school through the official BCPL website with a BCPL card Such services are accompanied by public computers free WiFi laptop bars with charging stations study rooms a quiet reading room single use and collaborative workspaces at Randallstown and other BCPL branches 63 The BCPL has also partnered with the Baltimore County Bar Association to host a Baltimore County Pro Bono Day at BCPL s Owings Mills Branch to discuss legal problems with a volunteer attorney 64 Additionally the BCPL had partnered with WBAL TV to promote reading for the 2017 Baltimore County Public Library Reading Challenge 65 Current Hollywood films documentary and non documentary are sometimes shown within branches of the BCPL to the broader community In March 2017 the Arbutus Loch Raven North Point Pikesville Reisterstown Rosedale Towson and Woodlawn BCPL branches invited the public and general community to view free of charge Ava DuVernay s documentary 13TH which explores ties between slavery the current mass incarceration of African Americans and the profits of the prison industrial complex which was followed by a guided discussion 66 Other community activities edit The BCPL also engages in varying activities to engage the community Over the years branches have had interactive displays about outer space 67 held a behind the scenes open house for the library system s bookmobile 68 and hosted cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher KAL 69 Other programs have included working with members of the cast of Annie who performed in White Marsh Mall to promote the BCPL s summer reading program 70 publishing a directory of more than 3 500 nonprofit organizations in the county 71 and having a presentation and discussion on recent research in reading and education 72 Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library editThe Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library provides funding for projects that encourage children and young adults to cultivate enthusiasm for reading and learning such as the Storyville My First Library Card and Summer Reading Club programs along with raising funds for programs or projects that enhance systemwide library goals and objectives 73 In order to provide additional resources to enrich the library s commitment to empower the citizens of Baltimore County to learn create connect and explore it is registered 501 c 3 organization 74 In particular the Storyville program created with the funding of the Foundation BCPL State of Maryland and private sources has been a resounding success Designed and created to foster early literacy and school readiness skills it serves as a place where books and purposeful play come together to provide valuable experiences that nurture young children and support parents and caregivers 75 76 77 It is located at the Woodlawn and Rosedale Branches of the BCPL Jim Fish the longtime administrator of the BCPL who retired in 2014 also counts the library s work on early childhood services among his most important accomplishments which includes the Storyville program 78 In July 2010 the president of the Foundation Jeffrey Smith wrote a letter to the editors of The Baltimore Sun stating that the addition the Cockeysville Branch would allow for an increase in total public space in this library while also offering the chance to improve and maximize overall public accessibility and that such improvements are only the most recent in a series of investments in the system and arguing that despite the fact that the times are economically challenging libraries are vital and thanked residents of the county and local elected officials for having the foresight to ensure sufficient funding to support this growth in use 79 He further argued that this meant that there was recognition of the importance of libraries as an essential public service will allow BCPL to continue to effectively respond to the increasing needs of Baltimore County citizens In 2014 the vice president of the Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Christine Crawford who had joined the Chamber of Commerce in July 2005 and represents the chamber in many capacities became a board member of the foundation 73 At the time the president of the Foundation Jeffrey Smith welcomed Crawford saying that it is truly an honor to welcome her to the board and that he was confident that her enthusiasm extensive connections and civic minded spirit will be invaluable assets as our organization continuously broadens its capacity to support the good works of the BCPL library system See also edit nbsp Maryland portalList of libraries Baltimore County Maryland Maryland Public libraryReferences edit Find a Branch Baltimore County Public Library Retrieved August 16 2022 a b c d e f IMLS FY2018 Public Libraries Survey Baltimore County Public Library MD0004 Washington D C Institute of Museum and Library Services July 31 2020 Retrieved April 4 2021 Mission and Administration Baltimore County Public Library www bcpl info Retrieved March 9 2021 Public Library Maryland Manual On Line Retrieved August 16 2022 a b c Maryland State Archives Baltimore County Maryland Public Library September 29 2015 Baltimore City is served by the Enoch Pratt Free Library Mary Gill Hare Pratt and Balto Co libraries to share nearly 1 million bequest The Baltimore Sun July 8 2011 Explore Baltimore Heritage Team North Point Branch Baltimore County Public Library April 5 2016 Maryland Department of the Environment MDE Maryland Green Application Baltimore County Public Library April 2016 MDE is not the same as Maryland Department of Natural Resources BCPL Map of Library Locations July 14 2015 There are branches in Arbutus Catonsville Cockeysville Essex Hereford Lansdowne Loch Raven North Point Owings Mills Parkville Carney Perry Hall Pikesville Randallstown Reisterstown Rosedale Sollers Point Towson White Marsh and Woodlawn There is also Mobile Library Services as part of the BCPL system Lorraine Mirabella Eggspectation will open at Metro Centre at Owings Mills next year The Baltimore Sun August 22 2014 The Baltimore Sun Towson to help library system debut cloud service for e Books August 30 2012 Phyllis Brill Where to find information on AIDS for children The Baltimore Sun November 12 1991 The Baltimore Sun Books on looks February 20 1991 Alison Knezevich Balto Co libraries summer reading program breaks record The Baltimore Sun September 4 2012 BCPL Ask a Question 2017 BCPL participates in the Maryland AskUsNow chat reference service staffed 24 7 by Maryland librarians or librarians nationwide a b Lynn Wheeler Baltimore County Public Library s Early History 1948 Material for this webpage derives from The Public Library Baltimore County Maryland Annual Report 1948 These libraries were located in Arbutus Halethorpe Catonsville and its Banneker High School branch Cockeysville Dundalk and its Turner Station branch Essex Middle River Pikesville Relay Sparrows Point and Towson a b c d e BCPL Cockeysville Branch History About This Branch October 25 2016 a b c BCPL Arbutus Branch History About This Branch December 15 2016 a b c d BCPL Parkville Carney Branch History About This Branch January 23 2017 a b c BCPL Pikesville Branch History About This Branch March 17 2017 a b BCPL Reisterstown Branch History About This Branch December 20 2016 a b BCPL Catonsville Branch History About This Branch October 5 2016 a b c BCPL Perry Hall Branch History About This Branch March 21 2017 Shelley Silwick Perry Hall library celebrates 50 years in the books The Baltimore Sun September 9 2013 a b c BCPL Towson Branch History About This Branch December 9 2016 Loni Ingram Towson Library celebrates 40 years at current site on May 17 The Baltimore Sun May 15 2014 a b c d BCPL Hereford Branch History About This Branch February 24 2017 BCPL White Marsh Branch History About This Branch March 21 2017 The Baltimore Sun Staff Day to close county s libraries October 3 1990 In the Heidelbach Memorial Garden each panel depicts a scene from a children s literature classic and was created by the students of Hillcrest Maiden Choice Catonsville Middle Saint Mark s Westowne Saint Agnes Saint Paul and Delrey schools Lynn Anderson Reading in a fantasy world The Baltimore Sun May 13 2001 Nick Madigan Man accused in Catonsville bomb plot urged holy war feds say The Baltimore Sun February 10 2011 The article adds that FBI agents watched him as he pulled up jihadist videos on computers in Baltimore County libraries accessing the Internet about 481 times at county libraries and remained logged on an average of one to two hours At one point he lost access to the library computers because he had failed to pay a 10 50 fine but regained access by using his stepfather s library card Raven L Hill Start of Owings Mills development raises hopes The Baltimore Sun July 28 2011 James H Fish Balto Co library is more vibrant than ever The Baltimore Sun April 23 2013 The writer is director of the Baltimore County Public Library Similarly the Towson Branch chalked up 475 495 visits and was described by the Baltimore Sun as one of the busiest branches in the BCPL system BCPL Owings Mills Branch 2017 BCPL Community The Hubert V Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball February 18 2016 Jim Joyner County library at Owings Mills Metro Centre slated to open March 21 The Baltimore Sun March 11 2013 The Baltimore Sun Opening day at Hubert V Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball in Owings Mills March 27 2014 Arthur Hirsch Negro Leagues museum to play bigger crowds in Baltimore County The Baltimore Sun November 20 2013 Jacques Kelly Richard W Parsons Baltimore County librarian The Baltimore Sun September 17 2014 The Baltimore Sun Baltimore area attractions closed due to snow March 3 2014 Alison Knezevich Librarians question Baltimore County plan to shift IT positions The Baltimore Sun May 21 2014 Alison Knezevich New Baltimore County libraries chief named The Baltimore Sun May 2 2014 DeVille Taylor April 14 2021 General Assembly approves legislation allowing Baltimore County librarians to unionize The Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on May 3 2022 Retrieved July 10 2022 Deville Taylor January 7 2022 Baltimore County library staff votes to form union Baltimore Sun Archived from the original on January 7 2022 Retrieved July 10 2022 Baltimore County Public Library Employees Vote Overwhelmingly to Join Machinists Union International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers December 30 2021 Archived from the original on May 6 2022 Retrieved July 10 2022 Baltimore County Public Library Employees Vote to Ratify First Machinists Union Contract Following Groundbreaking Organizing Campaign International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers May 2 2022 Archived from the original on June 8 2022 Retrieved July 10 2022 Baltimore County Public Library Employees Complete Two Year Process To Unionize Towson Patch September 2 2022 Retrieved October 2 2022 a b Locations Baltimore County Public Library Retrieved September 5 2021 A small collection of entertainment or feature DVDs in Russian for adults are available at the Pikesville and Reisterstown branches Books and CDs for learning foreign languages are available at all branches and can be found in the non fiction section of the branch WMAR TV Rosetta Stone now available for free at Baltimore County Public Library September 1 2016 Ann Lee Helping patrons explore history in Catonsville The Baltimore Sun June 16 2003 Franklin Academy Baltimore County Public Library Digital Maryland 2017 Julie Scharper Monumental mystery potential answer The Baltimore Sun February 8 2014 Baltimore County Public Library libraries org Baltimore County Public Library Research Databases amp Tools BCPL January 9 2017 Baltimore County Government Construction begins on 1 1 million total renovation of Randallstown Library Branch February 6 2017 Baltimore County Pro Bono Day Archived March 28 2017 at the Wayback Machine The People s Law Library of Maryland 2017 WBAL TV Baltimore County Public Library Partners with WBAL TV 11 for reading challenge December 27 2016 Baltimore Times Baltimore County Public Library to Screen Oscar Nominated 13TH at Multiple Locations in Late March March 22 2017 Kim Brynes library patrons explore final frontier in Discover Space exhibit The Baltimore Sun September 7 2014 Mary Gail Hare Bookmobile holds open house in Dundalk The Baltimore Sun April 14 2011 Sharon Rydell Cartoonist KAL comes to Pikesville Library for book signing The Baltimore Sun April 8 2013 The Baltimore Sun In Baltimore County Annie cast members to perform at June 4 2000 The Baltimore Sun Library updates guide January 21 1991 The Baltimore Sun Research in reading to be discussed at Cockeysville January 7 2001 a b The Baltimore Sun County chamber VP is new member of Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library February 28 2014 Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library Press Release Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library Homepage http www foundationforbcpl org accessed March 27 2017 BCPL About Storyville September 23 2016 James Bradberry Architects Storyville Baltimore MD Archived March 3 2016 at the Wayback Machine 2017 The Baltimore Sun Woodlawn library Storyville closes for two day project July 15 2014 Alison Knezevich Jim Fish closes the book on career at Baltimore County Public Library The Baltimore Sun July 31 2014 Jeffrey Smith Balto Co wise to invest in its libraries The Baltimore Sun July 1 2010 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baltimore County Public Library Official website nbsp American Library Association Maryland Library Association Public Library Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Baltimore County Public Library amp oldid 1177313623, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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