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Do you love books?: Email Newsletters | Between the Covers | Book Lists | Book Lovers' Corner | Special Collections | Hot Titles | Unique Critiques
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Books come in some pretty non-traditional formats these days and these digital formats are particularly useful for people on the go. These formats include audiobooks (including books on CD, downloadable audio, and "playaways") to listen to and eBooks (downloadable eBooks and web-based virtual Reference ebooks) to be read on a computer or personal device.
You must have a valid library card to enjoy any of these free services or materials. Visit our Downloadable Audiobooks and eBooks page for more details on our downloadable books.
Check out new Books on CD that have been purchased by the library by visiting our Hot Titles pages.
Read-Along Kits
Designed for the child just learning to read, each kit contains a CD version of the book as well as a print copy of the book. To find these kits search our catalog (link opens new window)
The library has created a number of small (8 copy) and large (12 copy) book club kits that include multiple copies of a title and a discussion guide for the convenience of your book club. Kits will circulate for 6 weeks and qualify for renewal. Book club kits are created on an ongoing basis. Learn more about the policies regarding these kits or browse our collection.
BCPL has a small collection of Braille board and picture books suitable for children from birth to five years and 6 to 8 years. These can be used by a sighted child learning to read assisted by a parent who is blind or a child who is blind learning Braille. To find Braille books in the BCPL catalog, type "Braille Books" in the catalog search box or click here.
BCPL provides you access at no charge to a variety of online databases, including magazines, journals, newspapers, automotive and engine repair, biographies, test and exam practice tests, health, business, encyclopedias and more. Databases are very useful for research and school assignments. Databases are available at Baltimore County Public Library branches and most are available from home, work or school through the Baltimore County Public Library home page. All you need is a valid library card registered at the Baltimore County Public Library.
Electronic reference books or Virtual Reference eBooks are similar to databases in that the content can be searched online and printed. These books do not have to be checked out or downloaded, and are always available for use either at a branch or from home. Topics covered in these electronic books include world religions, law, nations, clothing and fashion, multicultural America, literature, and more. You can access Virtual Reference eBooks online at any branch or from home with a valid library card registered at the Baltimore County Public Library.
Check out current releases of for both adults and children's titles available on DVD. Please see DVD policies and fees for more information about this collection since they do have lending policies that are substantially different than those established for the book collection.
Check out new DVD releases on the library's Hot Titles pages.
BCPL does its part to help secure the community. The library has engravers available for checking out. Use these to engrave your belongings such as bikes or other valuables. These devices can be placed on hold and checked out just like our books. Check to see if your branch has an engraver available or to place a request for an engraver at the branch of your choice.
All branches have a wide variety of both fiction and non-fiction large type books. These materials are listed in the library's online catalog and can be identified by the prefix of "Large Type" as a part of the call number.
You can also review new large type fiction and non-fiction titles that have been purchased by the library by visiting our Hot Titles pages.
Browse our fascinating collection of local historic photographs on the Web. The collection contains almost 18,000 images! All aspects of life in Baltimore County for the last 130 years are contained in Legacy Web, a "digital collection" included in the library's online catalog. Included are most aspects of rural living, including photographs of people, buildings, sites, and events in the Baltimore County area. Search or browse this growing archive of annotated, digitized photographs of Baltimore County. You can even buy copies of most of the photos.
Prints of the historic photographs found in the digital collection of the BCPL catalog may be purchased. They are available in the following sizes:
5" X 7"
11" X 14"
20" X 24"
8" X 10"
16" X 20"
24" X 30"
Special arrangements may be made for larger sized prints. Prints measuring 11" x 14" and below are glossy. Larger prints are semi-matte. Sepia tone is available for an additional fee. Depending on the size of your order, allow two to four weeks for print orders.
For prices of these services, and any other charges which may apply, call Richard Parsons at 410-887-6194, mornings, Monday through Friday. When ordering please describe your selections using the details provided in the catalog and the Publisher Number found in the Full Description of each photo. Many of these photographs come from old family albums, captured by amateurs. Charges, delivery and billing procedures will be explained when you call. You may also email: rparsons1926@gmail.com
Arbutus, Catonsville, Reisterstown and Towson branches have historical materials about the local communities they serve. The local community history information consists of rare and out-of-print books, newspaper clippings, and historical prints of local sites. These materials are non-circulating and in some cases are accessible by appointment only. Please call the branch to determine whether you need an appointment to view their historical collection.
Whether planning an excursion, delving into history, locating government information, answering school assignment questions, or just browsing for photographs, sports, and more, this collection includes abroad spectrum of material. All branches have a wide variety of materials about Maryland and Baltimore County.
Towson and Catonsville Branches have microfilm readers and microfilm of older and current newspapers and magazines. See our Microfilm Newspaper and Magazine page for a list of the names and years of newspapers and magazines available.
ProQuest Virtual Microfilm: Baltimore Sun: Jan 2008-Current
This online digital microfilm is not searchable but allows users to specify a date and to see the digital images of the Baltimore Sun for that date's edition. Current issues run about six month behind. Available at Baltimore County Public Library branches and most are available from home, work or school through the Baltimore County Public Library home page. All you need is a valid library card registered at the Baltimore County Public Library.
BCPL carries a wide variety of music on CD. These CDs can be checked out for 21 days, can be renewed, and be requested for you.
Be sure to check out the new and on order CDs at the Baltimore County Public Library's Hot Titles pages.
All branches have current subscriptions to a newspapers and a variety of magazines in print. Library and branch holdings for magazines and newspapers can be found in the library's online catalog.
BCPL also provides access at no charge to a variety of online databases of magazines, journals and newspapers. They are available at Baltimore County Public Library branches and most are available from home, work or school through the Baltimore County Public Library home page. All you need is a valid library card registered at the Baltimore County Public Library.
The library also offers downloadable digital magazines through our Zinio service.
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BCPL provides self contained devices called Playaways and Playaway Views for your listening and viewing convenience.
Playaways are battery operated listening devices that come conveniently pre-loaded with an audio book. Playaways are owned at all branches. Please note that the library does not provide earbuds or batteries with Playaways but those supplies are available for purchase in our branches. Customers can place holds on Playaways and they can be returned to any branch. Playaways can be renewed, twice.
Be sure to check out the new and on order Playaways at the Baltimore County Public Library's Hot Titles pages.
Playaway Views are re-chargeable video devices that come conveniently pre-loaded with a movie. The videos appeal to young children, and include Sesame Street, and classic stories such as Caps for Sale and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble. Playaway Views circulate for seven days and are available at all BCPL branches. Customers can place holds on Playaway Views and they can be returned to any branch. Playaway Views can be renewed, twice. Replacement costs for lost or damaged items are clearly labeled on the packaging.
You should familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures for borrowing these devices.
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The Robert Joseph Wortman American Sign Language Collection of adult and children's DVDs is housed at the North Point Branch. This collection covers many issues of interest to the deaf community, including teaching or learning Sign Language as well as information for the hearing parents of a deaf child.
The DVDs from this special collection can be checked out, renewed, and requested. A request can be place and the DVD can be sent to your local branch.
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The Library has a large and free selection of videogames for your enjoyment. However, they are not located in our branches. Customers may borrow up to three games, free of charge, for twenty-one days.
To have a video game sent to your branch for you to borrow, just click on the box below for your preferred gaming system, find and click on the title/s you want, click the place request button for that title/s. If the game is available and on the shelf, it will usually be sent and waiting for you in the branch of your choice within one to two business days. If not available, you wll be notified when the item is available for you to pick-up. Click here to read more about the borrowing policies for video games or for more information on requesting a video game.
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Try Mango, an online language-learning system that teaches conversation skills for twelve different languages including English as a Second Language. Mango is available at Baltimore County Public Library branches and from home, work or school. All you need is a valid library card registered at the Baltimore County Public Library. |
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The library has a small collection of titles in three non-English languages. Titles can be sent to any of our branches, just make a request (place a hold) at any
