Harford County Public Library
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Harford County Public Library is a public library serving Harford County, Maryland. It has 11 branches (plus one in design phase) and an administration and support services building. The library has an annual circulation of over 3,000,000 materials and serves more than 174,000 registered borrowers.
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[edit] History
In June 1945, Harford County became the first county in Maryland to implement the new tax-supported Public Library Law. By January 1946, the first Harford County Board of Library Trustees was formed and the old Methodist Church Building on Main Street in Bel Air was bought to provide headquarters for the County library system.
The Harford County Public Library borrower's card is free and available to a person of any age. Included in the services and materials that the library offers to the community are: books, recordings, cassettes, magazines, newspapers, video tapes, public meeting rooms, large-type books, DVDs, compact discs, CD ROMs, puzzles, puppets, oral history, films, copy machines, audiovisual equipment, public access computer catalogs with printers, microfilm reader- printer, children and adult programs, information services, reading development materials, an online community information directory, Internet access, health information, tax assistance, and volunteer opportunities.
[edit] Branches
The library has eleven service outlets, listed here by collection size.
[edit] Bel Air
Bel Air Branch Library (Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland) has been the largest branch in the system since its beginning in 1947. The building was constructed in 1960 and renovated and expanded in 1967. A second renovation and expansion occurred in 1998. The Learning and Sharing Center collection is housed in Bel Air Branch. We also have the Library Store, a gift shop for all ages.
Location: 100 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014
Size: 50,000 sq ft (5,000 m²).
Collection: 272,402 as of 3/2006
Circulation FY 05 - 1,019,08
Meeting Room: 1,404 sq ft (130 m²). (3 rooms at 468 sq ft (43 m²))
[edit] Abingdon
Abingdon Branch Library (Abingdon, Maryland) opened May 17, 2004.
Location: 2510 S. Tollgate Road, Bel Air, MD 21015
Size: 35,000 sq ft (3,300 m²).
Collection: 157,039 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY05 - 712,002
Meeting Room: 1058 sq ft (2 rooms 529 sq ft (49 m²))
[edit] Aberdeen
Aberdeen Branch Library (Aberdeen, Maryland) opened in its present location in 1974.
Location: 21 Franklin Street, Aberdeen, MD 21001
Size: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²).
Collection: 102,800 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 278,237
Meeting Room: 750 sq ft (70 m²).
[edit] Edgewood
Edgewood Branch Library (Edgewood, Maryland) opened in 1963 and was renovated and expanded in 1979. A second renovation and expansion occurred in 2001.
Location: 629 Edgewood Road, Edgewood, MD 21040
Size: 16,500 sq ft (1,530 m²).
Collection: 96,038 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 229,231
Meeting Room: 720 sq ft (67 m²). (2 rooms 360 sq ft (33 m²))
[edit] Fallston
Fallston Branch Library (Fallston, Maryland) opened in December 1984 as the Fallston/Jarrettsville Branch, now serving primarily the Fallston area.
Location: 1461 Fallston Road, Fallston, MD 21047
Size: 13,400 sq ft (1,240 m²)
Collection: 93,069 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 331,951
Meeting Room: 760 sq ft (71 m²).
[edit] Joppa
Joppa Branch Library (Joppa, Maryland) opened in 1980.
Location: 655 Towne Center Drive, Joppa, MD 21085
Size: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²).
Collection: 74,217 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 155,498
Meeting Room: 832 sq ft (77 m²).
[edit] Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace Branch Library (Havre de Grace, Maryland) opened in its present location in 1987.
Location: 120 N. Union Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Size: 8,520 sq ft (792 m²).
Collection: 66,684 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 159,666
Meeting Room: 95 sq ft (9 m²).
[edit] Whiteford
Whiteford Branch Library (Whiteford, Maryland) opened on June 23, 1992.
Location: 2407 Whiteford Road, MD 21160
Size: 7,300 sq ft (680 m²).
Collections: 58,880 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 182,361
Meeting Room: 558 sq ft (52 m²).
[edit] Jarrettsville
Jarrettsville Branch Library (Jarrettsville, Maryland) opened May 1, 2006.
Location: 3722 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsivlle, MD 21084
Size: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 m²).
Collection: 50, 884 as of 3/2006
Circulation: n/a
Meeting Room: 1,036 sq ft (96 m²).
[edit] Norrisville
Norrisville Branch Library (Norrisville, Maryland) opened at its present location in February 1, 2003 and has doubled its circulation in a single year.
Location: 5310 Norrisville Road, White Hall, MD 21161
Size: 4,000 sq ft (400 m²).
Collection: 33,813 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 84,256
Meeting Room: 800 sq ft (74 m²). shared with Parks and Recreation
[edit] Darlington
Darlington Branch Library (Darlington, Maryland) moved to its present location in 1979.
Location: 1134 Main Street, Darlington, MD 21034
Size: 576 sq ft (54 m²).
Collection: 17,360 as of 3/2006
Circulation: FY 05 - 37,256
Meeting Room: none
[edit] Unique Collections
[edit] Rolling Reader
The Rolling Reader is one of many outreach services the Library provides to Harford County residents. The Rolling Reader promotes reading for pleasure, visiting after school programs that target at-risk children in grades K through 8.
Service Began: January 2001
FY05 Circulation: 3,929
Collection Size: 10,598 as of 3/2006
[edit] Silver Reader
The Silver Reader, a mobile library vehicle, will begin visiting Senior Centers, Senior Housing, Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes throughout the county later this spring. The vehicle is equipped with a lift so customers in wheelchairs will be able to board the vehicle and choose materials for themselves, with help from library staff if they like. At facilities where some customers may need more assistance, the Silver Reader staff can take materials inside for customers to review and check out.
Service Began: March 2006
Annual Circulation - n/a
Collection Size: 2,973 as of 3/2006
[edit] Highland Commons Library
Location: 707 Highland Road, Street 21154
FY05 Circulation: 3,499
[edit] Harford County Detention Center
FY05 Circulation: 7,020
