title: Harford County Public Library
text: # Harford County Public Library
  
  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 4 million materials and serves more than 174,000 registered borrowers.
  
  ## 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. At this time work is being done to build a new Library facility in the City of Havre de Grace.
  
  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, eBooks, sound recordings, audio books, eAudiobooks, Playaways, magazines, newspapers, video games, public meeting rooms, large-type books, DVDs, compact discs, STEM kits, puzzles, puppets, oral history, films, copy machines, public access computer catalogs with printers, microfilm reader- printer, children and adult programs, information services, Internet access, health information, tax assistance, and volunteer opportunities.
  
  For this past fiscal year, HCPL reached the circulation of 4.1 million library items.
  
  ## Branches
  
  The library has eleven service outlets, listed here by collection size.
  
  ### 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 Children's Section was renovated in 2016. The Learning and Sharing Center collection is housed in Bel Air Branch. . Location: 100 E. Pennsylvania Avenue, Bel Air, MD 21014 Size: 50,000 sq ft (5,000 $m^2).$ Collection: 255,277 as of 7/2008 Circulation FY 07 - 1,028,419
  
  Meeting Room: 1,404 sq ft (130 $m^2).$ (3 rooms at 468 sq ft (43 $m^2))$
  
  ### 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 $m^2).$ Collection: 173,822 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY07 - 879,818 Meeting Room: 1058 sq ft (2 rooms 529 sq ft (49 $m^2))$
  
  ### 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 $m^2).$ Collection: 96,300 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 320,124
  
  Meeting Room: 750 sq ft (70 $m^2).$
  
  ### Edgewood
  
  Edgewood Branch Library (Edgewood, Maryland) opened in 1962 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 $m^2).$ Collection: 92,168 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 248,445 Meeting Room: 720 sq ft (67 $m^2).$ (2 rooms 360 sq ft (33 $m^2))$
  
  ### 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 $m^2)$ Collection: 92,608 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 308,628 Meeting Room: 760 sq ft (71 $m^2).$
  
  ### Joppa
  
  Joppa Branch Library (Joppa, Maryland) opened in 1980. Location: 655 Towne Center Drive, Joppa, MD 21085 Size: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 $m^2).$ Collection: 74,931 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 202,028
  
  Meeting Room: 832 sq ft (77 $m^2).$
  
  ### Havre de Grace
  
  Havre de Grace Branch Library (Havre de Grace, Maryland) opened in its present location in 1987 and was rebuilt in 2015. Location: 120 N. Union Avenue, Havre de Grace, MD 21078 Size: 8,520 sq ft (792 $m^2).$ Collection: 62,952 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 220,867 Meeting Room: 95 sq ft (9 $m^2).$
  
  ### Whiteford
  
  Whiteford Branch Library (Whiteford, Maryland) opened on June 23, 1992 was renovated and expanded in 2010. Location: 2407 Whiteford Road, MD 21160 Size: 7,300 sq ft (680 $m^2).$ Collections: 56,685 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 208,362
  
  Meeting Room: 558 sq ft (52 $m^2).$
  
  ### Jarrettsville
  
  Jarrettsville Branch Library (Jarrettsville, Maryland) opened May 1, 2006. Location: 3722 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsivlle, MD 21084 Size: 14,000 sq ft (1,300 $m^2).$ Collection: 67,992 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY07 - 282,345 Meeting Room: 1,036 sq ft (96 $m^2).$
  
  ### Norrisville
  
  Norrisville Branch Library (Norrisville, Maryland) opened at its present location on February 1, 2003. Location: 5310 Norrisville Road, White Hall, MD 21161 Size: 4,000 sq ft (400 $m^2).$ Collection: 35,619 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 104,856 Meeting Room: 800 sq ft (74 $m^2).$ shared with Parks and Recreation
  
  ### Darlington
  
  Darlington Branch Library (Darlington, Maryland) moved to its present location in 1979. A new location is under construction.
  
  Location: 1134 Main Street, Darlington, MD 21034 Size: 576 sq ft (54 $m^2).$ Collection: 17,741 as of 7/2008 Circulation: FY 07 - 51,500
  
  Meeting Room: none
  
  ### Other services
  
  **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 FY07 Circulation: 4,075 Collection Size: 9,688 as of 7/2008
  
  **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 - 6,365
  
  Collection Size: 4,695 as of 7/2008
  
  **Harford County Detention Center**
  
  FY07 Circulation: 18,825
  
  