Varsity Force

Makerspace

Make-IT Place is a virtual maker space with moderated, step-by-step projects for all ages, including Raspberry Pi webservers, Tinkercad 3D keychains, Piskel animated sprites, and Scratch games.

The STREAM Vehicle brings makerspace activities and technologies to youth and families, including Cricut, a heat press, fiber arts, coding, music creation, gaming, virtual reality, and traditional arts and crafts.

Owings Mills and Woodlawn branches have permanent STREAM spaces with games, books, art supplies, and other materials for exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math.

The Towson Branch lists public 3D printers.

At: Woodlawn, Towson

Ages: Make-IT Place is a virtual maker space with moderated, step-by-step projects for all ages, including Raspberry Pi webservers, Tinkercad 3D keychains, Piskel animated sprites, and Scratch games. | The STREAM Vehicle brings makerspace activities and technologies to youth and families, including Cricut, a heat press, fiber arts, coding, music creation, gaming, virtual reality, and traditional arts an

3D printing

Public 3D printers are listed at the Towson Branch.

The virtual Make-IT Place includes a project for designing a 3D keychain with Tinkercad.

A 3D design learning station was available at the library technology booth during Junior Achievement Inspire.

At: Towson

Laser, CNC and vinyl cutting

The STREAM Vehicle uses Cricut maker technology and a heat press.

Sewing and textiles

A Crafts and Conversation program at Owings Mills taught four basic embroidery stitch techniques and provided supplies for embroidering a handkerchief; it was an adult program.

A Basic Machine Sewing for Adults program at Parkville-Carney taught basic machine sewing techniques while making an apron.

The Library of Things includes craft kits, with tools and instructional materials; users supply the fiber.

The Library of Things included looms in the FY20 collection.

Ages: it was an adult program. | A Basic Machine Sewing for Adults program at Parkville-Carney taught basic machine sewing techniques while making an apron.

Recording studio

The Catonsville Branch has a free recording studio for recording songs, podcasts, and spoken-word pieces. Each studio has a soundproofed recording space and a mixing space.

The recording studio provides PreSonus One software and interface, a multipurpose dynamic microphone with dedicated pre-amp, and a mini keyboard.

Recording studio users must complete training and certification before use; certified customers may reserve sessions of up to two consecutive hours.

Recording studio access requires a valid library card, training and certification, and users must be at least 14 or accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

At: Catonsville

Cost: The Catonsville Branch has a free recording studio for recording songs, podcasts, and spoken-word pieces. Each studio has a soundproofed recording space and a mixing space.

Ages: Recording studio access requires a valid library card, training and certification, and users must be at least 14 or accompanied by an adult age 18 or older.

Video production

LinkedIn Learning provides training in video editing.

Creative software

The Woodlawn Branch lists public computers with Microsoft Office.

The Towson Branch lists public computers with internet access and Microsoft Office.

The Catonsville recording studio provides PreSonus One software and interface.

Make-IT Place projects use Tinkercad, Piskel, and Scratch.

At: Woodlawn, Towson, Catonsville

Kids' STEM

Baltimore County Public Library offers year-round STEM programming and has a STEM event-search category.

Celebrate STEM: Coding was a four-week Woodlawn Branch course in which participants learned to code and create computer games.

The library’s STEM Stations include 22 activities, including liquid crystals, animation, and photo negatives, that travel throughout the system.

The STREAM Vehicle offers coding, maker technologies, virtual reality, gaming, music creation, and activities designed to build problem-solving, critical-thinking, analytical-reasoning, creativity, and collaboration skills.

At: Woodlawn

Ages: Professor Mike’s Science and Magic Show includes science experiments, magic tricks, juggling, and audience participation and is described as ideal for children age 10 and younger.

Homework help

Brainfuse provides live online tutoring 24 hours a day; Spanish-speaking tutors are available, and users may submit questions for answers within 24 hours.

Brainfuse provides live-chat tutoring from 2 p.m. to midnight seven days a week, requiring a library card number and password.

SkillSurfer provides practice in long division, reading comprehension, and other key skills.

The Writing Lab provides feedback on submitted writing samples, including structure, grammar, style, and content.

Ages: West Region Teen Advisory Board Strengthening Skills programs provide first- through fifth-grade language arts and math help, with one-on-one tutoring offered first come, first served.

Career resources

LinkedIn Learning provides training in business, media, technology, web design, music and audio, photography, and video editing.

Adults can use research-database resources for writing resumes and cover letters, GED preparation, U.S. citizenship test preparation, and Microsoft Office skills.

Junior Achievement Biztown was a simulated, fully interactive town where students explored career experiences, with library staff assisting students and sharing career information.

Ages: Adults can use research-database resources for writing resumes and cover letters, GED preparation, U.S. citizenship test preparation, and Microsoft Office skills.

Nature and farm programmes

Adventure Backpacks in the Library of Things include tools and nature guides for exploring the outdoors.

Fishing poles are available for adult checkout at the North Point Branch through a partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The Central Region Teen Advisory Board offered Party Planters, teaching the basics of caring for native plants and helping participants plant a seed to take home.

The library offers Paws to Read events at Woodlawn.

At: Woodlawn, North Point

Ages: Fishing poles are available for adult checkout at the North Point Branch through a partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. | The Central Region Teen Advisory Board offered Party Planters, teaching the basics of caring for native plants and helping participants plant a seed to take home.

Library of Things

The Library of Things includes Adventure Backpacks with tools and nature guides, more than 70 board games, book club kits with eight to 12 copies and a discussion guide, camera kits, Chromebooks, citizenship kits, craft kits, and early learning kits.

The Library of Things includes engraver pens, fishing poles, health and wellness kits, mobile hotspots, induction cooktops, karaoke kits, memory kits, and musical instruments.

Camera kits include a point-and-shoot camera, tripod, ring light, lightbox, and cables; they are available only to adults, and users must supply an SD card.

Chromebooks, hotspots, engravers, induction cooktops, and fishing poles have adult-only checkout rules; fishing poles are available at North Point Branch and must be returned to staff.

At: North Point

Ages: they are available only to adults, and users must supply an SD card. | Chromebooks, hotspots, engravers, induction cooktops, and fishing poles have adult-only checkout rules

Memory lab and digitisation

Preservation Station is a free do-it-yourself digitization lab at the Reisterstown Branch for digitizing films, tapes, and photos.

Preservation Station supports VHS, VHS-C, MiniDVs, DVCAM, audio cassettes, floppy discs, slides, 35MM negatives, and photos up to 8 by 10 inches.

Preservation Station appointments begin with staff training; customers can then work independently for up to three hours and save files to an external hard drive, USB drive, or personal cloud storage.

North Point Branch lending laptops connected to new scanners, enhancing customers’ ability to work on digitization projects.

At: Reisterstown, North Point

Cost: Preservation Station is a free do-it-yourself digitization lab at the Reisterstown Branch for digitizing films, tapes, and photos.

Proctoring and testing

Online practice tests and study materials are available for GED, SAT, ACT, Praxis, NCLEX, TOEFL, citizenship, postal, military, law-enforcement, occupational, certification, and licensing exams.

Peterson Test Prep provides online practice tests and study materials for the GED, SAT, ACT, law-enforcement tests, and other tests.

Brainfuse provides online tutoring and test preparation.

Notary

Notary services are available at designated branches during business hours except Sunday, up to one-half hour before closing; no appointment is necessary.

Library notaries can notarize legal documents such as wills, deeds, and powers of attorney. Customers must bring a valid, current photo ID, and all signers must be present.

Notary service costs $3 per signature. Payment methods include cash, check, credit, and tap-to-pay.

Mobile vehicle staff are trained notaries public and can provide notary services during scheduled mobile vehicle stops; appointments can be scheduled online or by calling 410-887-7586.

At: Essex

Cost: Notary service costs $3 per signature. Payment methods include cash, check, credit, and tap-to-pay. | Baltimore County Public Library offered free notary services for shared domicile forms for Baltimore County Public School families at Essex, Owings Mills, and White Marsh during the stated August 1–September 21 service period | additional notarized forms cost $3 per signature.

Teen space

Teen Advisory Boards are groups of middle and high school students that meet regularly at their local branch to advise staff on programs, services, and initiatives. Participants who attend all meetings earn 10 service-learning hours.

Teens can use teen areas to study, read, and meet friends; teens can also use library computers and gaming equipment.

The Towson Branch has a Teen Mezzanine and Teen Room used for Chill Time activities such as Uno, Jenga, and button making.

The Essex Branch has a teen area used for Teen Gaming Hour and teen hangout programs.

At: Towson, Essex

Ages: Teen Advisory Boards are groups of middle and high school students that meet regularly at their local branch to advise staff on programs, services, and initiatives. Participants who attend all meetings earn 10 service-learning hours. | Teens can use teen areas to study, read, and meet friends | teens can also use library computers and gaming equipment. | The Towson Branch has a Teen Mezzanine and

Gaming, esports and VR

The STREAM Vehicle offers gaming and virtual reality activities and includes a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and virtual reality headset.

The Rosedale Branch received a teen collaboration and gaming space.

Video games, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Super Mario Bros., can be borrowed for PS4, PS5, Xbox, Nintendo, and other platforms for 21 days, with a possible additional 21-day renewal if no one is waiting.

Teen Gaming Hour at Essex uses Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 for multiplayer gaming.

At: Essex, Rosedale

Ages: The Rosedale Branch received a teen collaboration and gaming space. | Teen Gaming Hour at Essex uses Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 for multiplayer gaming. | Gaming Hour at Pikesville uses Nintendo Switch and is for ages 9 and up. | The library lists gaming and recreation as programs for kids, teens, and young adults.