Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System

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Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System

www.jointhefriends.org

Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports Howard County Library System in its mission to deliver high-quality public education for all ages. Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System (HCLS) is a nonprofit organization that supports HCLS in its mission to deliver high quality education for all ages.

09/08/2026

We’re full-on Back to School here in Howard County! Congratulations to the 518 official Kindergarteners that attended one or more of the 27 HCLS “Kindergarten Here I Come!” classes this summer. You did it!

We hope you all had a fantastic start to the school year. And to the 400 parents/caregivers that brought them to learn and play at the library this summer — Thank you!

09/04/2026

Happy Labor Day weekend from Friends & Foundation of HCLS! We hope you enjoy a relaxing and fun weekend in the sun. Wherever your end-of-summer adventures bring you, remember to pack a good book!

09/02/2026

Taking a moment to say ‘Thank You’ to Columbia’s Reckless Shepherd Brewery for hosting night-one of Bauder Adult Battle of the Books!

If you haven’t been to this in-house brewery, restaurant, and entertainment venue in one, you’re definitely in for a fun night. Best of all, there’s plenty of space available for contestants and spectators alike, so go ahead and bring your cheering section! See you on the battlefield Tuesday, October 20.

If you’re interested in hosting a future Friends & Foundation of HCLS fundraising event, reach out through our website. We’re happy to work with you!

📸 courtesy of Reckless Shepherd Instagram page

09/01/2026

Good news! Commemorative 2026 Bauder Adult Battle of the Books T-shirts are now available for a limited time through the Friends & Foundation website.

With a $15 donation to Friends you can claim your custom shirt today and pick it up at your designated battle. Interested? Get on the list before September 18th, when donation opportunities close: https://loom.ly/xAtzdxo

08/27/2026

Here’s a fun photo share from June when HCLS specialists Alisha Chandler and Cari Gast represented the Summer Reading Adventures: Into the Wild! summer reading program at Government House on June 27th. They were there to participate in Governor Wes Moore’s Summer Reading Celebration, an event highlighting the statewide literacy campaign, an initiative aimed to inspire Maryland students to read.

Nearly 100 Marylander students and their families attended the event hosted by the Governor Wes Moore and Dawn Moore, First Lady of Maryland, participating in activities, crafts, and games. At the end of the event, each student took home an age-appropriate book to kickstart their summer reading adventure!

As these photos clearly show, a great time was had by all!

08/25/2026

In case you haven’t heard… The HCLS 2026 Bookmark Contest winners have been announced! 🔖

Once again, the number of submissions this year was outstanding — almost as impressive as the talent itself! Check out the winning designs below, and visit the HCLS homepage to read about the six artists who created them.

Thank you to Howard County Library System for creating community-oriented opportunities like this to help make reading fun in HoCo. Friends & Foundation is honored to be a sponsor for this annual tradition, funding the production of the winning bookmark designs for everyone to enjoy! Make sure to visit your local branch to get one for yourself.

08/20/2026

With the Bauder Adult Battle of the Books events quickly approaching, we wanted to show some love for the three venues that will be hosting our fierce competitors this year!

Kicking off this ‘Thank You’ tour with returning event venue Oscar's Alehouse Woodstock a family-friendly restaurant in Woodstock, MD, featuring a wood-burning grill and 27 beers on draft! Great food, great service, fun vibes — what more can you ask for?? A big thanks to Oscars for having us back. We can’t wait!

If you’re interested in hosting a future Friends & Foundation of HCLS fundraising event, reach out through our website. We’re happy to work with you!

📸: photos from the 2025 Bauder Adult Battle of the Books event at Oscar’s

08/18/2026

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

Meet John Dove, current Board Chair of Friends & Foundation of HCLS. Born and raised in Howard County, MD, John and his wife are raising their two young daughters here too. Living and working in HoCo, John is fully invested in the success of our community — which makes him a great fit for our Friends board.

“I love what the Friends do for the Howard County Library System and that their mission is rooted in helping the people of Howard County. For me, libraries mean connection and community. They are a place to come together and grow together.”

We couldn’t agree more, which is why we’re so grateful for all of the individuals who volunteer their time, services, and talents to help make it all happen!

Learn about all of the amazing ways you can get involved with HCLS and Friends to help our community thrive. Visit our website (link in comments).

📸 Friends & Foundation Board Chair John Dove with his family.

08/12/2026

Like and follow Friends & Foundation of HCLS to see the programs, events, and community impact your support makes. Your engagement helps us grow even stronger. 💚

Tag a friend, share a post, and encourage others to join our circle of support. Together, we’re growing something great! Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

08/10/2026

Yesterday (8/9) was National Book Lovers Day! 📖

To celebrate, we asked our Friends & Foundation board members what's on their nightstands this summer — and their picks are as varied as our library community itself.

From sci-fi epics to quiet literary fiction, there's a little something for every kind of reader on this list. What's on your summer reading list? Tell us in the comments! 👇

Address

9411 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD
21042

Website

https://www.friendshcls.org/

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