Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System

06/17/2026

🌿 Summer Reading is HERE — Into the Wild edition!

Howard County Library System Summer Reading Adventures kicks off this week ( June 15), and every reader has their own adventure. 🦋 Little ones: Butterfly gameboard 🐟 Kids: River adventure gameboard 🎟️ Teens: Raffle tickets & local prizes
📖 Adults: Reading challenge field guide

No rules. No tests. Just reading all summer long — with a free book prize at the end! 📚

Friends & Foundation is proud to support the celebrations, bookmarks, and book prizes that make it all happen. 💚Celebration events run through June and July! Check out some of the fun had at events throughout this last year 👇

Grab your gameboard at any HCLS branch and view their website for upcoming events this summer. 👉 https://loom.ly/-A__MwM

06/15/2026

Registration if FULL. What an incredible response! Thank you!!

⏰ Book lovers and trivia buffs, TONIGHT is the night!

Registration for the 2nd Annual Bauder Adult Battle of the Books opens TONIGHT, June 15, at 7:00 PM — and spots go FAST. Last year, all 61 teams filled up in under 12 hours!

NEW this year: Team Costume Contest! Start brainstorming those creative looks now and we’ll see you in October!

Don’t miss out. Bookmark this link and be ready to go at 7 PM tonight: https://loom.ly/LdulW6s

06/11/2026

The kids have been doing it for years. Adults, it's your turn. 🎭

This year's Bauder Adult Battle of the Books is adding a team costume contest to the mix — because reading is serious business, but showing up in costume is seriously fun.

Honestly, last year's teams inspired us to make it official — and if you need a little inspiration, look no further. 👀⬇️

Start planning your team theme now. Registration opens Monday, June 15 at 7 PM and fills up FAST. https://loom.ly/LdulW6s

06/09/2026

Want to read more about the upcoming Bauder Adult Battle of the Books? Go straight to the SOURCE. The recent edition of HCLS SOURCE Magazine is ready for viewing on their website: https://loom.ly/mFma6xo

Step into summer with new stories, celebrations, and hands‑on adventures for all ages. Explore the May/June issue to see what’s happening at the Library.

06/04/2026

We’re counting down the days until registration for this year’s Bauder Adult Battle of the Books event opens on June 15th! Missed last year’s battle? Not sure what to expect? Here’s what last year’s attendees had to say👇:

“I loved this event and was so happy to be a part of it!”
“An excellent community building event.”
“It was so much fun, great job and THANK YOU!”

Whether you’re a returning player or new to the game, we’d love to have you join in on the fun! Learn how here: https://loom.ly/LdulW6s

06/02/2026

🎨 Calling all artists — young AND young at heart!

The HCLS Bookmark Contest is open now through June 30, and this year adults (18+) have their own category for the first time! Design a bookmark around the optional theme "Finding Joy!" and yours could end up in HCLS branches across Howard County by the end of summer.

Friends & Foundation of HCLS is proud to support the Summer Reading Program by funding the production of the winning designs. We can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Deadline: June 30
Download an entry form or pick one up at your local Howard County Library System branch: https://loom.ly/_BejfLw

05/28/2026

📚 Don’t miss your shot — this one fills up FAST.

Registration for Bauder Adult Battle of the Books opens June 15 at 7 PM, and last year all spots were claimed in under 12 hours!

Get your team ready now… before we close the book on this year’s event. 👀

👉 Bookmark this link and mark your calendar. Register here: https://loom.ly/LdulW6s

05/26/2026

🎓 A little something for the teachers who inspired us, and the grads ready for their next chapter. 📚

Celebrate the end of the school year with a gift that gives back! Friends & Foundation merch is perfect for book lovers, educators, and lifelong learners — and every purchase supports Howard County Library System programs. Shop now: https://loom.ly/2tsmU-8

05/22/2026

You’ve got a Friend at the Howard County Library System! 💚

Meet one of the amazing community members behind Friends & Foundation of HCLS. After volunteering at last year’s Plant a Flower, Grow a Reader event, Ryan was inspired to get more involved — and now helps support the programs that make our library so special.

“I volunteered at the Plant a Flower, Grow a Reader event last year and immediately fell in love with the idea of helping to promote amazing programs the library has to offer. It's been such a fun and enriching experience meeting new people and promoting all the ways the Friends & Foundation help build the library's programs.”

We’re so grateful for the people who help make it all happen!

📸 Friends & Foundation Board Member Ryan Pfoutz with just a small sampling of her great reads this year.

Learn about all of the amazing (and different) ways you can get involved with HCLS and Friends here: https://loom.ly/w8UwB0g

05/20/2026

Through her partnership with Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System, Dr. Bauder helps bring the Bauder Adult Battle of the Books to life — one of our newest and most exciting community events!

What started as a new idea quickly became one of our biggest events of the year, bringing hundreds of readers together for connection, competition, and fun.

Because adults want to have fun with books too. 📚

Her support also creates the Bauder Book Talks, an annual author event for underserved students in grades 6-8, as well as the Bauder Battle of the Books Author Event—connecting students with the authors who inspire them and deepening their love of reading.

We’re so grateful for Dr. Bauder’s continued support and honored to call her one of our friends.

Learn more about the Bauder Adult Battle of the Books (and how to sign up on June 15th) here: https://loom.ly/LdulW6s