TOWSON, MD—After a year of commemorating its 75th anniversary, Baltimore County Public Library is hosting a big celebration with a week of events. Starting Monday, October 16, through Sunday, October 22, the library is inviting the community to participate with birthday parties, a meet-and-greet with a prolific author, and a giveaway.

The library is kicking off the week with a scratch-off contest. Starting October 16, anyone 18 and older can head to the branch service desk to receive one scratch-off per library card. Customers then scratch the diamond on the top right of the card to see if they won a magnet, notebook, or tote. Those prizes are available immediately. Three grand prize winners will receive a diamond necklace, courtesy of Smyth Jewelers. Those who do not receive a prize can enter to win the Second Chance Drawing of a $75 VISA gift card. There is one given away per branch. Those winners will be notified by Monday, November 6. Full contest rules are available at https://www.bcpl.info.

The library is also hosting one of the largest birthday parties Baltimore County has seen in years. Its 18 open branches are hosting a Happy Birthday to Us program on Saturday, October 21, taking place at various times. The event will feature presenters from Pam the Kindersinger to Danny Joe’s Tree House, balloon artists, face painting, and more.

The week wraps up with An Afternoon With Joyce Carol Oates at BCPL’s Owings Mills Branch on Sunday, October 22, at 2 p.m. Oates will be in conversation with Dr. Ron Tanner, director of the Writers Retreat at Good Contrivance Farm and former chair of Loyola University’s Writing Department. Book sales and signings will follow the event.

If customers cannot make it to next week’s events, they can still celebrate from afar. The library suggests checking out one of the top titles spanning the last 75 years or see how its system has evolved over the decades through videos on its YouTube page.

Featured photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash