E-books and e-readers. In partnership with

Barnes & Noble and Friends of Howard County Library, HCLS introduced Nooks to its collection in October. Designed to complement the Library’s growing e-book collection, the 60 e-readers were enthusiastically embraced by customers, with a steady wait list of 500 people. The Nooks are preloaded with 34 titles, including New York Times bestsellers and the Barnes & Noble Classics Series. In April, HCLS launched new e-books for children. An interactive picture e-book website, TumbleBooks appeals to younger children who are learning how to read. BookFLIX pairs fiction video books with nonfiction Scholastic e-books, adding interest while reinforcing basic skills. True Flix enables children who are proficient readers to watch streaming videos and read nonfiction books.

Online Homework Assistance. Through HCLS’ web site, students from Kindergarten through college can connect to a live tutor for assistance with math, science, social studies, and English assignments seven days a week. Thanks to a joint investment by HCLS and the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS), Online Homework Assistance is provided at no cost to students. More than 10,000 students improved

their grades with this curriculum component last year. Eighty-five percent of the assistance centered on homework, with the remaining 15 percent tapping the writing lab and skill-building components. The subjects used most by students included calculus, algebra, chemistry, and physics.

Summer Reading. More than 1,700 people packed the East Columbia Branch for the Summer Reading Kickoff and more than 27,000 people enrolled in one of four summer reading clubs this year. Parents registered babies and

toddlers for My World, elementary students enrolled in One World, Many Stories, teens signed up for You Are Here!, and high school students and adults embarked on Novel Destinations. Sixty-two percent of Lisbon Elementary School’s students participated, followed by 58 percent at Northfield Elementary

School. In the middle school category, Oakland Mills Middle School was the winner, followed by Lake Elkhorn Middle School.

Pass the Book. This successful initiative encouraged teens to read, register, and pass copies of Pay the Piper by Jane Yolen and Adam Stemple throughout the year. The specially labeled books have been registered in seven Maryland counties, 17 states, and six countries, including Australia, India, Japan, and the Philippines.

EDUCATION. EVERYONE.

A major component of Howard County’s strong education system, Howard County Library System (HCLS) delivers high-quality public education for all ages through a curriculum that comprises three pillars:

Self-Directed EducationResearch Assistance & InstructionInstructive & Enlightening Experiences

The year’s highlights fall under each of these pillars.

Hi

Public Libraries = Education

SELF-DIRECTEDEDUCATION

R E S E A R C HASSISTANCE &INSTRUCTIONIndividualGroup

INSTRUCTIVE &ENLIGHTENINGEXPERIENCESCommunity/Cultural CenterSignature InitiativesPartnerships

Books, etc.E-resources

Customer Service Culture

ANNUAL REPORT FY11

HOWARD COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM

hclibrary.org

6600 Cradlerock WayColumbia, MD 21045

Self-Directed Education

Kindergarten Here We Come. This popular class expanded to 27 sessions at all six HCLS branches, with 1,131 attendees. A parent at the Savage

Branch remarked, “My twin daughters attended Kindergarten, Here We Come! this year. It was a wonderful introduction to Kindergarten and how to use the Library. My daughters especially benefited from getting to board a real school bus.

Thank you for providing such a great class for new Kindergartners and nervous parents!”

HCLS Project Literacy. Nearly 500 students improved their English, basic math, and life skills through this adult basic education initiative. The students represented 35 countries and 24 different languages. Seven students earned their External High School Diploma, and three

attained their U.S. Citizenship. The student body exceeded the State’s averages in five of six ESL levels. Fifty-four percent of HCLS Project Literacy students showed significant gains in their test scores, advancing to the next achievement level during the year. FY 11 set new records in the history of the

FINANCIALOperating budget $18,146,097

REVENUE County 84%State/Grants 12%HCLS generated 4%

EXPENDITURESSalaries 69% Instruction, Customer Service, OtherBooks & Materials 16%Equipment 1%Other 14%

Research Assistance & Instruction

‘‘CLASSES & EVENTSAttendance (all) 223,010 Children’s classes 182,098 Teen classes 29,847Adult classes 11,065

SELF-DIRECTED EDUCATIONCollection items 1,059,686 Adult 69% Children 31%

Fiction 40% Non-fiction 38% E-resources 3% Non-print 19%

Items borrowed 6,971,086

RESEARCH ASSISTANCEInteractions 1,577,817

‘‘

When Money Magazine

designated Howard County

as the #2 best place to

live in the country, COUNTY

EXECUTIVE Ken Ulman

attributed this top ranking to, Our lowest unemployment rate of 5.2 percent in the state, our #1 nationally ranked library system, and #1 public school system in the state are just a few reasons why Howard County is such a special community.

Statistics

OTHERVolunteer Hours 24,845 Card Holders 262,302Virtual Visits 5,758,967 Physical Visits 2,852,978

A+ PARTNERS IN EDUCATIONA+ Interactions between HCLS instructors and HCPSS and HCC students, faculty, or parents: 98,339 A+ Library Cards Generated: 3,496 (41,356 since 2002)

A+ Educator Cards Generated: 225 (3,361 since 2005)

Materials borrowed with A+ Educator Cards: 85,159

Instructive & Enlightening ExperiencesHCLS Rube Goldberg Challenge. Nineteen teams of fourth and fifth grade students (100 students) submitted entries for this new STEM component of A+ Partners in Education. An academic competition named after the Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist, sculptor, and author, the Rube Goldberg Challenge charges students with transforming everyday materials into wacky, convoluted, innovative machines that perform a simple task. This year’s assignment? Water a plant. Congratulations to the award recipients: The Green Jelly Beans from Hollifield Station ES for Most Scientific Award; Trident of Poseidon from Hollifield Station ES for Most Humorous Award; The Mechanical Machine Masters from Hollifield Station ES for Most Complex Award; Pointers Run Inventionistas from Pointers Run ES for Most Green Award; and Trident of Poseidon from Hollifield Station ES for Community Favorite Award.

HCLS Spelling Bee. Setting a grand champion two-years-running record by correctly spelling the word “deleterious,” Clarksville Middle School student Sam Osheroff won a $1,000 college scholarship and the opportunity to represent Howard County at the 2011 National Spelling Bee. Wilde Lake Middle School eighth grade student Andrew Johnson won second place and a $750 scholarship. A total of 62 students from public and private schools and homeschool associations competed this year. FY 11 set new records in the history of the initiative in terms of student performance.

BumbleBee. A companion initiative to the HCLS Spelling Bee for younger students, the BumbleBee ceremony celebrated 43 students with a trophy. The students were recognized again on stage at the HCLS Spelling Bee.

Battle of the Books. Due to the unprecedented and overwhelming enrollment response for this academic competition, Battle of the Books was held simultaneously at two

separate venues this year. Ninety teams of fifth grade students (600 students) read 15 preselected books then vied for first place in the 50-question exam. Congratulations to the Nuclear Panther Bookworms from Northfield ES and Wizard of Books from Lisbon ES who took first place at Atholton and Marriotts Ridge, respectively. First place winners for Best Civility were Marshmallow Mayhem (Stevens Forest ES) and Mythical Readers (Deep Run ES). Best Costume winners were Oompa-Loompas (St. John’s Lane ES)

and Reading Up a Storm (Thunder Hill ES). Readers of the Round Table (St. John’s Lane ES) and Sherlock Holmies (Lisbon ES) won Best Team Name, and Pump It Up Pajama Party Girls (Clemens Crossing ES) and Next Generation Nerds (Triadelphia Ridge ES) won Best Team Spirit.

Money Matters Fair. This financial education event presented in partnership with Howard County Council Chair Calvin Ball, HCC, HCPSS, makingCHANGE, and Friends of HCL attracted 900 people. The fifth annual event featured financial education activities for children, as well as advice for teens and adults related to college savings plans, credit reports, identity theft, affordable insurance, and tax returns.

Evening in the Stacks: The Roaring 20s. Lauded by many as “the best ever,” HCLS’ annual gala attracted 500 guests and raised a record $67,000 for its educational

Meet the Author. HCLS hosted a number of bestselling author events, including Maryland’s Poet Laureate Stanley Plumly; Warren St. John, author of Outcasts United; and former CNN correspondent Kathleen Koch, author of Rising from Katrina. As part of Money Matters, bestselling author and nationally syndicated Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary spoke to a packed audience about managing money in today’s difficult economy. The highlight of the year, Alexander McCall Smith appeared in April. Internationally acclaimed and bestselling author of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, McCall Smith charmed an audience of nearly 400 with his talk, “The Very Small Things of Life.” County Council Chair Dr. Calvin Ball delivered a joint proclamation from the County Executive and County Council, declaring April 10, 2011 to be Alexander McCall Smith Day in Howard County.

Howard County Book Connection. This highly visible component of the A+ Partnership between HCLS and Howard Community College (HCC) brings people together through the reading and discussion of a selected book. The 2010-11 selection featured Listening is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life from the StoryCorps Project, edited by Dave Isay. Throughout the year, HCC and HCLS showcased a variety of educational events and activities including presentations by writer and radio commentator David Greenberger, Native American storyteller Joseph Stands with Many, local history authors Ali Kahn and Peggy Fox, and slam poets Gayle Danley and Twain Dooley.

Instructive & Enlightening Experiences While grateful to all donors, we give special

thanks to the Friends of Howard County Library,

which contributed more than $80,000 for

above-budget initiatives and events, reflecting

increased membership and $30,000 in grant

funding. Funds from the Friends are the “icing

on the cake” to HCLS’ educational initiatives.

Visit jointhefriends.org to sign up today.

DONORS

initiatives. Celebrity bartenders—County Executive Ken Ulman, Rachelina Bonacci, Vic Broccolino, Candace Dodson Reed, Dick Story, and Lara Weathersbee—wowed the crowd with drinks poured to perfection. Helen Simonson, bestselling author of Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, discussed her critically acclaimed debut novel with award-winning Washington Post fiction critic Ron Charles. Special thanks to the gala’s honorary committee: Dave Bittner, Rachelina Bonacci, Sharon Hadsell, Kevin Kelehan, Barbara Lawson, Barbara Nicklas, Candace Dodson Reed, Donna Richardson, and Kristi Simon.

Evening in the Stacks has become the place to be in February in Howard County.Choose Civility. To kick off Choose Civility Week, Howard County’s Rotary Clubs sponsored Choose Civility banners at all HCPSS high school gyms and football fields as a reminder for athletes, coaches and spectators to choose civility at sporting events. A crowd of more than 250 people attended this year’s Choose Civility Symposium, which centered around the role of civility in democracy. NPR’s Korva Coleman

moderated a panel discussion featuring P.M. Forni from Johns Hopkins University,

Susan Herbst from the University of Connecticut, William Griffith from George

Washington University, and Centennial High School student Sara Calvert. A workshop

for students and parents led by Dr. Forni followed the panel discussion

Passports. HCLS’ East Columbia Branch processed 3,360 passport applications this year, to the continued delight of residents and visitors. One such customer, who was in the process of adopting a child from Bulgaria, had just been notified that adoption procedures had been completed in record time, necessitating immediate departure. Reassuring the customer that she would be able to obtain a passport in time, HCLS instructors navigated the expedited process for the new mother — even mapping out directions to Washington, DC to pick up her passport. Another customer listed his occupation as “Baseball Player.” When asked whether he was a real baseball player, he replied, “Yes. I just got recruited by the Toronto Bluejays!” He was getting his passport for the first time so that he could go to Canada for training.

Well & Wise. Launched in May, this new health education partnership between HCLS and Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine, focuses on enhancing, elevating and advancing health education in Howard County to improve the health of the entire community. HCLS and HCGH staff, as well as guest bloggers, contribute to the new Well & Wise blog, found at hocowellandwise.org.

Glenwood Branch Anniversary. Celebrating Glenwood Branch’s 10th anniversary, Pleeze and Squeeze Reptiles opened the day, entertaining a standing room only audience with live lizards, snakes, and tortoises. Local children’s author Ann Morgan challenged children with a scavenger hunt based on her book, Library, which features photos of the Glenwood Branch. A demonstration by members of the Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club concluded the event.

Charles E. Miller Branch & Historical Center. Held in December to celebrate a milestone construction phase, the Topping Out Ceremony attracted 100 guests, who autographed the final structural beam prior to its placement in the new building. Capitalizing on community interest in the new branch, HCLS instructors taught two innovative children’s classes in partnership with Grimm + Parker Architects: Can We Build It? Yes We Can! and Today You Get to be an Architect.

ENDOWMENTFrank and Yolando Bruno FundColumbia Foundation Friends of Howard County Library FundPRESIDENTIAL CIRCLE Ascend One CorporationBB&T$10,000+

Friends of Howard County LibraryThe Horizon FoundationHoward County Public School System$5,000-$9,000Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins MedicineUnited Way of Central Maryland$1,000-$4,999The Ascend One Edge FundCollege Savings Plans of MarylandThe Columbia Bank Columbia FoundationColumbia-Patuxent Rotary ClubCorporate Office Properties TrustDC Velo LimitedGrimm + Parker ArchitectsHoward Hughes CorporationMidwest TapeOpen Sense Solutions, LLCRegan Associates, LLCSusquehanna BankTarget$250-$999The Adler FoundationAmerican Library Association Stella AyikaBaker & Taylor

Breezy Willow FarmPaula Cardinal and James StakenasDavid and Sara CarrollPatrick and Judy ClancyCarney, Kelehan, Bresler, Bennett & Scherr LLPClarksville Rotary ClubColumbia Rotary ClubColumbia Town Center Rotary ClubTracey DavidsonEllicott City Sunrise Rotary ClubFidelity Charitable Gift FundEllen Flynn GilesGlenwood Middle SchoolHoward and Mary GoValerie J. Gross and Tri Q. NguyenWerner and Andrea GruhlTeri and Wilson HarrisonRobert and Suzanne HenigNorma and George HillhocoblogsHoward BankHoward County Autism SocietyF. DeSales LacyM&T BankM & T Charitable FoundationMargaret Alexander Edwards TrustMichael and Monica MayClaire MeitlCindi MillerMOMS Club of Ellicott City CentralMervyn Monteiro and Ann F. PlutaLaura MunnsNicodemus Communications GroupNorma and Russell PettisS.M. RobisonJan RollinsBruce and Ellen RothschildBarbara L. SebodaJoseph T. & Helen M. Simpson Found.Sharon StewartWalmart FoundationHenry and Nancy YeeUP TO $250A Novel BunchAnjula BatraTom and Lisa BaumBibliobabesBarbara and Fred BomseEstelene and Matthew BoratenskiKen and Michelle BrydenClemens Crossing Book ClubChesapeake Shakespeare CompanyCommonwealth Digital Office SolutionsVirginia CurranDeborah DonovanThomas and Karen FergusonStacey FreedmanGirl Scout Troup #211Barbara P. GoldenLarry and Rona GreenRita HamletJoan M. Henry Sandra HirshIra M. and Avis M. HorowitzHoward County BookiesHoward Community CollegeMaham Bilal KhanClaire and Bernard KimNeil and Linda Kirschner

Larry and Pat Koziol Barbara LawsonThe Legends Book ClubBrigitta LewisSteve MaiselBarbara and Paul MansfieldMedImmune, LLCAndrea and Paul MisnerNoble Reader Book ClubKathleen and Thomas OckulyJames and Allison ParsonsPadma PathakGeorge PerryPirie FamilyJohn and Linda PontierAmy and Greg ReeseRenaissance Book ClubStephanie ShaneNathaniel E. SmithLawrence and Laura SorkinCraig Snydal and Jennifer ScottDonna StoutVillas of Cattail Creek Book ClubThomas C. WattsTRIBUTESIn memory of Ronald D. Brown: Carolyn J. Brown and Leonard F. AdamsIn memory of Loretta Deahl: Larry and Pat KoziolIn honor of Teri Harrison: Susan and Wayne WinokurIn memory of Pat James: Milltown QuiltersIn memory of Alice Law: Charlie and Nancy FioreIn memory of Marnie Maurer: Sandra Hirsch, Betty and Francis Marcellino, Linda and Gary Schaffner, Tessa and Thomas Turner, Elizabeth and Glenn WildesIn memory of Robert Munn: Taking Care of Business, Inc.HCLS Project Literacy Gene Klein Fund: Elizabeth W., Pamela N, and Jeffrey KleinGoerge W. Veditz Memorial Fund: Christopher M. and Katherine F. DuckIn honor of a former Miller Branch customer: Joseph P. and Patricia Anne WalderIN-KINDAcademy of Natural SciencesAIDA Bistro & Wine BarAirTran AirwaysAll About YarnAllCare of MarylandAmerican Visionary Art MuseumAntiques CenterArt CraftArt of HairB & O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City StationBach Concert SeriesBaltimore OriolesBaltimore RavensBaltimore Symphony OrchestraBarnes & NobleBead BazaarBead SoupBella Rug GalleryBeringia JewelryBetter World BooksBiago Salon and Spa

Black Belt Institute Books With a PastDeborah BosilovichBowie Bay Sox Baseball ClubLinda BrauerBreezy Willow FarmBrunswick Columbia LanesBusch GardensThe Business Monthly, Inc.Cabot CreameryCafe de ParisCamp Bow-Wow ColumbiaCynthia M. CampbellCarol MurrayCenter StageCharm City RunChesapeake Shakespeare CompanyChick-fil-AChipotle Mexican GrillCindy’s Soft ServeClark Smith PhotographyClark’s Elioak FarmClassic Photography and ImagingClayGround Studio and GalleryClyde’s Restaurant GroupColumbia AssociationThe Columbia OrchestraColumbia Pro CantareComcast CableCorridor WinesCrab ShantyCurvesDaedalus Books & MusicDamon Foreman Music AcademyDorsey’s Search Wine and SpiritsDoubleTree Hotel ColumbiaDowntown Partnership of Baltimore, Inc.Dunkin’ DonutsEastern State PenitentiaryFern EisnerElk Run VineyardsElkridge Furnace InnEverett Designers of Fine JewelryFaces by BrandiThe Family Game Store Feats, Inc.Feet First Sports, Inc.Findaway WorldFire and IceFitness 19Forever YoursFrederick KeysFun Flicks Outdoor MoviesGary J. Arthur Community CenterGiant FoodGlenwood Barber & Styling ShopGoetz Printing CompanyGood Life WellnessKristy GordonGreat Harvest Bread CompanyGreat Kids VillageGreenberriesHampton InnHands of TimeCathy HarvilleHighland GroomeryHillmuth Certified Automotive, Inc.Historic Ellicott City, Inc.HoCoMoJoHoCoPoLitSoHoliday Inn Express

Howard Community CollegeHoward Community College Educational Foundation Howard County TourismImagination StageIngram Library Services, Inc.Inn at Peralynna ManorInternational Spy MuseumIron Bridge Wine Co.J.W. Treuth & SonsJames Ferry PhotographyJiggin Gems’John and Mary Beth JohnsonKake KornerKatana SushiKendall HardwareThe Kennedy CenterKid’s First Swim SchoolKimberly Fine PortraitureKings ContrivanceLa Prima Food Group, Inc.Larriland FarmsLedo PizzaLee AndersonLeelynn’sJoanne LichtensteinLincoln Culinary InstituteLinganore Wine CellarsLoew VineyardsLongwood Gardens Looney’s PubLucero’s PizzaLufti’s International SpaLyndwood Square Wine & SpiritsMad City CoffeeThe Magnificent BodyMaile ManMano Swartz FursMarTar Swim SchoolMaryland Science CenterMason and Friends Salon and SpaDee McDonaldMedieval TimesMike’s MusicMonster Mini GolfMontpeiler MansionMumbles and Squeaks Toy ShoppeThe Nail SpaNaima’s Hair DesignNational Aquarium in BaltimoreNEST Natural ElementsNewseumOasis Day SpaOffice DepotOffice Movers Inc. - Library Services DivisionOlive GardenOlney Theatre Center for the ArtsThe Original Woodstock Snowball StandThe Out of Africa BoutiquePak Mail of GlenwoodPanera BreadParfections Handmade Gourmet ChocolatesThe Pearl SpaPettis EducationPhillips RestaurantThe Pink CabbagePizza HutPolish Pottery MartPomeroy Gymnastics, Inc.Princeton Sports and Travel

Blogshclibrary.org/highlyrecommendedhocowellandwise.org

Pub Dog Pizza and DrafthousePump It UpThe Queen’s InkRace Pace BicyclesRams Head Tavern Recorded BooksRed Hot and BlueRed LobsterRed RobinReginald F. Lewis MuseumRep StageRetropolitanRiot Creative ImagingRiver Hill Garden CenterRoad Runner SportsLee Day RobbinsRoundtop Mountain ResortRuby TuesdayThe Rumor Mill RestaurantSafewaySalon TuseySanctuary at Dellwood SpringsLois SandersSaval Foods CorporationSenior ConnectionSharps at Waterford FarmSheraton Columbia Town Center HotelKelli ShimabukuroSilver Arrow Fudge ShopSilver DinerSimply Divine BoutiqueAlan SimpsonSir Speedy BWISkin Care InstituteSmokin HotLia SophiaSouthwest AirlinesSport Styles BoutiqueSports Legend MuseumStarbucks CoffeeMark and Mary Beth SteinbrunnerAlan StephensSuchoski Family Sugarloaf Mountain VineyardSweet Simplici-TeaT.G.I. Friday’sTapas TeatroTarara WineryTen Oaks PharmacyTen Oaks TavernTerrapin AdventuresThat’s DancingThree Brothers PizzaTimeless EssenceToby’s Dinner TheatreTrader Joe’sTransportation AdvocatesJim and Karen TrennepohlAlex TrentTriadelphia Veterinary ClinicTurf Valley ResortUrban PiratesVera Bradley at the MallSharonlee VogelW.R. Grace & Co.Walters Art MuseumWatermarkWatson’s Tin BoxWegmansWeis MarketsWestwood Antiques

The Wine BinWinterthur Museum & Country EstateWomen’s JournalDennis WoodWoodhall Wine CellarsWYPR 88.1 FMY of Central Maryland

Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this list. Please call 410.313.7799 to report any errors or omissions.

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