TOWSON, MD—Baltimore County Public Library this week announced that Sunday hours are returning this weekend, Sunday, September 8, at seven (7) of its 19 branches.  The service will run annually starting the Sunday after Labor Day through the Sunday before Memorial Day weekend. The following branches will open to the public on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

• Arbutus
• Cockeysville
• North Point
• Owings Mills
• Perry Hall
• Pikesville
• Towson

The seven branches remain the same as the seven selected when the library opened for Sundays during the 2023-2024 school year. These locations saw the most use on pre-pandemic Sundays among other factors, such as space, parking and physical resources like computers.

“We are thrilled to once again extend our services to seven days a week by opening our doors on Sunday afternoons,” said Sonia Alcántara-Antoine, Baltimore County Public Library’s CEO. “As a community connector, this creates a space where people can come and check out their favorite books or movies but also connects the community to vital resources like computers and Wi-Fi. As heating and cooling centers for the community, libraries also provide a respite from the weather outside. We look forward to welcoming our community back on Sundays!”

The library is open on Sundays for core services, such as access to the physical collection, computers, meeting rooms and study rooms and printing, copying and faxing. Programs are also returning to Sundays. Some services will not be available, including My Librarian, notary or passports appointments.

To kick off the return of Sunday hours, the library is hosting Wild About Sundays throughout September and October. Programs include meeting the Wild Thing from Where the Wild Things Are, creating a “wild” succulent garden and meeting exotic animals with Eco Adventures. The schedule is as follows:

• September 8—Where the Wild Things Are Character Appearance • 2 p.m. • Arbutus Branch
• September 15—Succulent Giveaway • 1 p.m. • Pikesville Branch
• September 22—Where the Wild Things Are Character Appearance • 2 p.m. • Perry Hall Branch
• September 29—Succulent Giveaway • 1 p.m. • Towson Branch
• October 6—Reptile Show With Eco Adventures • 2 p.m. • North Point Branch
• October 13—Succulent Giveaway • 1 p.m. • Cockeysville Branch
• October 27—Reptile Show With Eco Adventures • 2 p.m. • Owings Mills

Anyone who comes into a branch on any Sunday between September 8 and October 27, 2024, to borrow a physical item will be entered to win one (1) of three (3) Wild About Sundays prize packs. Prizes are as follows:

• Two (2) lucky winners will receive a certificate for an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge Perryville in a Standard Family Suite along with goodies for your visit, including one (1) insulated cooler, two (2) beach towels, two (2) pairs of goggles and two (2) sets of animal ears. Courtesy of our friends at Great Wolf Lodge.
• One (1) lucky winner will receive a Wild About Sundays prize pack complete with one (1) $75 VISA gift card, one (1) $25 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings and other wild-themed snacks, libations and treats.

The contest will be open to anyone who uses a child or adult library card to borrow at least one (1) item on any Sunday in September and October 2024; more items does not mean more entries. Winners will be notified via email on Friday, November 1, and will be able to pick up their prize at their home branch. The odds of winning are based on the number of qualifying participants. Employees of Baltimore County Public Library and their immediate family and household members of such employees are not eligible. Students who use their student account identification are also not eligible to win.

September is also Library Card Sign Up Month. Sticking with the wild theme, starting Monday, September 9, new cardholders will receive a bookmark that can also be planted to grow wildflowers.

While you must visit the library on a Sunday to qualify for the prizes, the digital library is open 24/7, and is filled with audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, movies, music and more. Find full hours on the BCPL website, bcpl.info.

Photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash