This April, as we celebrate National Library Giving Day and National Library Week, Foundation for Baltimore County Public Library invites you to Find Your Joy at the library. For many in our community, that joy begins with discovering a new story, finding a welcoming space to gather or accessing resources that make learning and life a little easier.
One of the most impactful ways Baltimore County Public Library brings joy to families each year is through the Summer Reading Challenge. While summer is a time to relax and recharge, it can also bring the “summer slide,” when students lose some of the skills they built during the school year. The Summer Reading Challenge helps keep young minds engaged while making reading fun and rewarding. Last year alone, participants logged more than 1.1 million minutes of reading, demonstrating the powerful role the library plays in supporting literacy and lifelong learning.
Every child who registers for the challenge receives a book to keep, helping build home libraries and encouraging a love of reading that lasts long after summer ends. Families can also access free meals for children at many branches and even vision exams during the season—because students learn best when they are nourished, supported and able to see the page in front of them.
Your support helps make these opportunities possible. Together, we can ensure that every child and family in Baltimore County has the chance to discover something meaningful, build new skills, and find their joy at Baltimore County Public Library.