Friends,

​This year’s enforced social isolation has been a challenge for many. People naturally seek connections, and the library has always been a place to make them – whether at a children’s early literacy class or an adult author event. When Howard County Library System (HCLS) closed its doors in mid-March due to the pandemic, it saw an opportunity to expand community engagement and focus on improving local wellbeing through a series of “Pandemic Pivots.”
 
Here are five important ways Friends & Foundation of HCLS has supported HCLS through this challenging year, so the Library can better support YOU:

• Safety: Special funding for PPE allowed staff to execute contactless pickup of materials. This keeps Library staff and the community safe while providing books and other materials. Returns came pouring back into the branches when HCLS re-opened in late June, and customers reserved more than 70,000 items in the first month of contactless pickup. HCLS missed you, too!

 

• Access for All: Public computers with free online access and free wifi for personal devices are among the many reasons libraries continue to be valued so highly in communities around the country. The need is even greater with local public-school education happening virtually for now and many people looking for a job or reliable health information. 

 

• Economic Success for Immigrants: Project Literacy helps adults pursue English language literacy and employment goals, and COVID-19 has particularly affected low income families and immigrants who do not speak English fluently. In April, tutors made the transition to virtual learning and introduced a new class: English Conversation for Parents. This new class helps parents assist their children navigate virtual learning from home. This long-standing HCLS program received a $100,000 planning grant from IMLS (Institute for Museum and Library Services) to expand classes to skilled immigrants.

 

• Student Success and School Readiness: Through HiTech, HCLS provided extra math classes and fun STEM activities during the summer to help mitigate “summer slide,” a time in which students may lose crucial skills when schools are closed. Additionally, HiTech turned its summer carnival into a Carnival in a Bag this fall, giving student hands-on activities to complete at home while interacting with instructors and other kids virtually.

 

• Equity: HCLS started a Libraries Stand Against Racism online directory of resources about anti-racism and racial equity, and increased programming and collaboration in this space. In August, HCLS removed late fines from most materials and cleared all accounts of past due amounts. Our community is stronger and healthier when everyone has access to the materials they need to pursue their educational, career, family, and life goals. Going fine free is aligned with HCLS’ commitment to equity and positions the Library to more fully live its mission of providing high quality public education for all Howard County residents.

 
The success of the Library’s “Pandemic Pivot” this year is directly connected to the support from the Friends & Foundation of HCLS. Please consider a donation to the Friends & Foundation of HCLS to help our continued support of these expanded and added services.

​You can donate through our new website: friendshcls.org.
 
Thank you!
 
Mickey Gomez, Chair
Friends & Foundation of Howard County Library System

Dear Friends,
 
As we head toward the Thanksgiving holiday and take stock of what we are grateful for, we want to take a moment to thank all of you.
 
Without your support of the Friends & Foundation of HCLS, we wouldn’t be able to support the many fantastic programs of the Howard County Library System.
 
It’s because all of you – our #Friends – that we are able to ensure that we have programs like:

• Battle of the Books
• HCLS Spelling Bee
• HCLS BumbleBee
• HiTech STEM classes and events
• Notable Author Events
• HCLS Project Literary Graduation
• Rube Goldberg Challenge
• Summer Ready Kickoff and Clubs
• Children’s Discovery Fair
• Teen Time
• Online Homework Assistance
• Enchanted Garden
• Family Movie Nights

 
While this past year with COVID-19 has been challenging and has changed how we are currently interacting with our fabulous Howard County Library System, we are so grateful for their incredible efforts and ability to pivot during the pandemic.
 
And, we know you are too – because we are hearing from you:
 
“We are most grateful for the library’s efforts during the COVID outbreak to keep the community engaged. The contactless pickup has been very valuable to our family in supplying us with lots of reading material. This has helped ease the burden of being less active in the community day-to-day. We are proud to be a small part of helping to keep these programs going. Cheers.”
 
And:

"Giving to Friends of HCLS is rewarding to us. I've enjoyed taking advantage of the Library's current borrowing scheme with its contactless pickup.  That's certainly very innovative of the staff and is part of what makes HCLS the best system in the country."

Thanks to you all for your ongoing support.

This holiday season we are very grateful for you.
 
Sincerely,
 
Mickey Gomez, Chair
Friends & Foundation of HCLS Board
www.friendshcls.org