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Community Corner

"Love is in the Air" at the Broadneck Branch Library

Local libraries offer range of family activities but many branches may be facing shorter hours and fewer programs due to proposed county budget cuts.

A handful of eager preschoolers turned out for Broadneck Library’s “Love is in the Air” Valentine’s event on Monday evening. Librarian Ann Fleer led the activities that included singing, dancing and crafting—all based around love and hearts.

Cape St. Claire resident Kristin Hurff brought her two children, four-year Caroline and infant Emma, who enjoyed watching the show from the comfort of her mother’s carrier. As a longtime local resident, Hurff is familiar with the Broadneck branch’s ongoing activities and has recently started bringing Emma to their monthly Babies in Bloom program. “I would have thought she’d be too young, but she really seems to get a lot out of it,” says Hurff.

This time, Hurff brought her friend Susanne Ford, a newcomer to Severna Park. Ford’s two children, four-year-old Emily and three-year-old Jacob, got their groove on with Hurff’s daughter. “This is only our second time to this library,” says Ford, “but I like to come here [to Broadneck] and also to Severna Park for lots of different activities.”

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After dancing and storytime, the children moved to a craft table to allow their creativity run free. Doilies, paper hearts, rubber stamps, construction paper, markers, crayons and embellishments were neatly laid out to make cards, posters or door hangers.

Just shy of an hour later, parents and children departed—the youngsters cheerful and spirited thanks to the handmade treasures clutched tightly in their hands.

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Librarian Fleer, who has only been at the Broadneck branch for six months but is a 15-year member of the county’s library system, often works with the children’s programs, though she is just one of several branch librarians who plan and lead the entire year’s calendar of events, which are offered free of charge.

Many of their programs celebrate the seasons, she says, and are always planned well in advance for inclusion in their Happenings newsletter.

Her love for her job is reflected in her enthusiasm but a big concern facing all the county branches are upcoming proposed budget cuts. Working under a ten percent reduction mandated by Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold, Library Administrator Hampton “Skip” Auld has suggested reducing library hours and days in order to prevent any staff layoffs.

The most recent mandates are just part of an ongoing series of cuts that the library system has experienced. According to Auld’s office, the library’s budget has been cut 16 percent over the past four years—more than any other county agency.

Fleer encourages library patrons to attend one of three upcoming town hall meetings next month to learn how the library is funded and also to voice concerns about the proposed cuts to elected officials who will be in attendance.

Taking place over three consecutive Thursdays in March, the meetings will be open to any resident of the county who wishes to hear and speak about the potential cuts that also could jeopardize books, services and programs like Monday’s “Love is in the Air” event.

The first town hall meeting takes place on Thurs., March 10 at 7 p.m. at the West County Area Library in Odenton and is followed by Annapolis Area Library’s meeting on Thurs., March 17 at 7 p.m. The series wraps up at the North County Area Library in Glen Burnie on Thurs., March 24 at 7 p.m.

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