Anne Arundel County’s status as a “book sanctuary” is on full display this week, amid the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, through Oct. 11.
Read the complete story at https://www.capitalgazette.com/2025/10/08/book-sanctuary-anne-arundel-censorship/.
By Meredith Winter
As they processed the devastation of losing their first child, Edward and Jessica Nie quickly began to channel their grief and the outpouring of kindness from those around them into something that would not only memorialize their beloved son but also benefit their hometown of Severna Park.
Four years ago, Yvonne Cottrell moved to Maryland and became a regular at the Crofton Library. Over time, she noticed that the plants seemed to be multiplying.
BALTIMORE, MD. -- The Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) launched its Chromebook lending program on Wednesday at its Brooklyn Park branch.
Brooklyn Park Library customers are now able to check out one of 56 Chromebook kits equipped with a hotspot for up to 12 weeks.
As a result, the Anne Arundel County Public Library has launched a pilot program that lends Chromebooks for the long term to help those who don't have one.
Grace Planalp was the first to check out one of 56 Chromebooks under Brooklyn Park Library's new long-term lending program.
ANNAPOLIS, MD. — In honor of Banned Books Week, Anne Arundel County announced the first book sanctuary in the state.
The public library joins 12 other library systems across North America, offering access to banned materials.
The Anne Arundel County Public Library hopes that by doing this, it ensures all stories and perspectives are protected.
At an event Wednesday where the Anne Arundel County Public Library System declared itself a “book sanctuary,” County Executive Steuart Pittman took it a step further, declaring all of Anne Arundel County a “book sanctuary.”
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Becoming a safe driver is an essential part of many young people's lives. But it's a challenge that can present several hurdles.
Now, the Anne Arundel Public Library Foundation has a way for new drivers to get some practical experience behind the wheel. WMAR got an inside look at the library's solution to this issue.
Usually, libraries offer more than just free books — you can often find free tools and other educational resources. But this Maryland library wants to teach you how to drive without leaving the building.
Parents and kids join together to help with creating some important Chesapeake Bay habitat. The project is a joint effort involving the Annapolis Busch Library and the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland.
Watch the Maryland Public Television video here: https://youtu.be/SeoBTqbZEFE
ANNAPOLIS, MD — A library in Annapolis recently added a driving simulator, helping people learn to navigate the roads before they actually get there.
The driving simulator offers multiple educational courses. It can help rookie drivers and experienced drivers who want to test their reaction times. Gabby Norton lobbied for it.
ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Mothers needing to breastfeed their children in public have a new option in Anne Arundel County. Today at Discoveries: The Library at the Mall in Westfield Mall, they had a ribbon cutting for a new Mamava Lactation pod.
Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman and members of the county library system handed out more than 200 Chromebook laptops at the Linthicum library location Wednesday as part of a program aiming to bridge digital and internet access gaps.
FarmUnity and the Anne Arundel County Public Library held a Harvest Festival at the Crofton branch to celebrate the first year of their community garden, Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
Five months after the county first launched a free gun lock giveaway
ANNAPOLIS, MD — Pouring up a cold one for a cause, the public library in Anne Arundel County is teaming up with breweries to raise money to support the libraries efforts in keeping books available to all.
Across the United States, some malls are undergoing big changes. Businesses such as animal shelters, trampoline parks and movie theaters are filling the spaces that have been left empty in recent years. NBC News’ Brian Cheung has the story.
Rebuilding healthy local waterways is a team effort. The Coastal Conservation Association and the Anne Arundel County Public Library recently hosted their second annual oyster reef-building program and FOX 5 photojournalist Ama Arthur-Asmah was there! “Coastal Conservation Association is a nationwide organization.
Families are cleaning the Chesapeake Bay, one oyster ball at a time. Today's rain couldn't stop this group at the library in Annapolis from helping the environment. Kids and parents mixed concrete to make reef ball molds. Tomorrow, they'll be put on to trailer and sent to a warehouse, where they'll cure for a year. Then, they're covered with baby oysters and sent off to the
Tuesday was National Library Workers Day. This is traditionally a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation’s hardworking library employees.
In 1950s Annapolis, one would not be caught dead walking down Main Street without a hat. It was a key piece of the ensemble. Luckily, there was Mrs. Musterman’s shop.
Opened in 1921 at 197 Main St., L.P. Musterman Hat Shop sold the finest in hat couture, outfitting legislators, Naval Academy personnel and local leaders.
In Anne Arundel county all 16 libraries have a story time program. That's when families can come in and young children have books read to them, it also get the kids up to speed for starting school.
It's been one year since the Anne Arundel County Public Library opened a community pantry at its Westfield Annapolis location. Manager Rachel Myers joins WJZ at 9 with an update on how things are going.
Watch the interview here.
From Eye on Annapolis
The Anne Arundel County Public Library is offering the following programs to celebrate Women’s History Month.
“Picturing Women Inventors” Smithsonian Poster Exhibition
March 1-31 at the Odenton Library
WTOP Radio
By Scott Gelman
In recent weeks, the start of Aryssa Damron’s day as a children’s librarian at Capitol View Neighborhood Library in D.C.’s Ward 7 has changed.
Pasadena Voice
Allgair, Emily
Capital Gazette
Padilla, Irene and Auld, Skip
Imagine having to wait outside for other patrons to leave a library before you could enter. Or being one of hundreds of children turned away each year because your library’s meeting room was limited to fifteen.
American Library Association News
McFadden, Trish
ALA and United for Libraries have named William A. Shorter, Jr., Anne Arundel County Public Library (Md.) Board of Trustees Chair, a recipient of the ALA Trustee Citation.
Capital Gazette
Kachevas, Sarah
Capital Gazette
staff reports
Anne Arundel Public Library CEO Skip Auld was joined by a County Executive Steuart Pittman, House Minority Leader Nic Kipke and others Friday to break ground on the $15.9 million Riviera Beach Library in Pasadena.
Capital Gazette
Jackson, Kelley
What’s your mental picture of a librarian? Perhaps it includes gray hair, glasses and being told to be quiet.
Today’s library staff breaks this outdated stereotype. They are detectives, musicians, social workers and tech gurus of all ages.
Capital Gazette
Kachevas, Sarah
Bay Weekly
Colbert, Judy
I was a wide-eyed 12-year-old when I saw a book in my local library with my last name on the spine. The book was by Marvin Mudrick, a distant relative. We never met, but he definitely influenced my life as I promised myself that one day, I’d have a book with my name on the spine.
Romance in the pages and online: Anne Arundel County Public Library celebrates 100 years of evolution from book repository to broad public resource
Capital Gazette
Sanchez, Olivia
Frances Smith has only lived five of her 77 years without knowing William Smith Jr. — the first five.