BCPL Library Services page.
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Library Services


Assistive Technology

Assistive or adaptive technology equipment is available on a first-come first-served basis at Catonsville, North Point, Pikesville, Randallstown and Towson branches. Ask at the Information Desk to use the equipment which includes

The meeting rooms at the Catonsville, North Point, Randallstown, Towson and White Marsh Branches are equipped with Phonic Ear VocaLight, an infrared transmitter-receiver sound field amplification system.

Each library has a magnifying glass at the Information Desk for customer use.

You can speak directly to a librarian at any of our libraries or with the Administrative Offices using your TTY or computer modem. Our TTY number is 410-821-5705 or contact us through Maryland Relay. The librarians use a computer telephone service called TICAL, which stands for TTY Information and Communication Access for Libraries.

InfoEyes is a question and answer service for people with a visual impairment or other print limitation. Librarians from the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and Maryland AskUsNow and across the country provide the service. You can use it from the library or from home, school or work. You can schedule an appointment to talk live with a librarian on the Internet or you can email a question to a librarian. Service is available during normal business hours, Monday through Saturday, except holidays.

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Book Ahead (Placing Holds on Items That Are On Order)

Is the book, talking book, or other material you want still "on order" and not yet received at your library? Do you want to be among the first to receive new materials? Then our Book Ahead service is the answer. You may place a hold on “On Order” titles that appear in the BCPL catalog for $1.00 each. You will be notified by email or automated phone call when they arrive at your branch. The items will be held for you for seven days. There is an additional fee of $1.00 on each item if you do not pick up the items within the seven day period following notification.
You may place a Book Ahead hold yourself through our online catalog or by calling or visiting your local branch and asking for assistance. You will need to have your library card number to use the online system. A few items cannot be Booked Ahead, including magazines and comic books.

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Community Information Directory

An online Community Information Database listing thousands of non-profit organizations and agencies that serve Baltimore County residents. The organizations cover a broad range of topics such as business associations, community improvement groups, cultural, educational, governmental, health care, recreational, and tourism organizations. Individuals providing a unique service for example tutors, notaries public, interpreters and translators are included. The directory is searchable by name, subject, zip code or keyword.
Call the Information Services Department, Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm, at 410-887-6124 if you are interested in having your organization listed in the Directory.

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Direct Loan or Interlibrary Loan

If Baltimore County Public Library does not own what you are looking for, Direct Loan is a way for you to have material sent from a participating Central Maryland public library system to the Baltimore County Public Library branch of your choice. Interlibrary Loan expands your possibilities by having materials sent from beyond Central Maryland library systems.

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Fax / Photocopying / Printing

The library will fax up to four pages of library information to a home or business free of charge. If you need a longer document, please visit the library. No charge for information faxed to our libraries from another library, including libraries outside of Baltimore County Public Library, for a customer. At the librarian's discretion, some libraries will accept and send personal faxes for customers. Contact a Baltimore County Public Library branch to check if this service is available at their location.

Always check with the library branch before having a personal fax sent to the library.

• Fee for sending a fax to a local or toll-free number is $1.00 per page.
• Fee for sending a long distance fax is $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page.
• We will not fax to international numbers.
• There is a charge of $0.25 a page for personal faxes received at a branch for customers.

Photocopiers and printers are available for customer use. Copies made using the library’s photocopiers and printouts made from the library’s public computers are $0.15 per page.

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Government Applications and Forms

These should be available at every branch of the Baltimore County Public Library as well as online at the following links. Ask at the Information Desk for these forms.

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Language Line Service

Baltimore County Public Library staff has access to over the phone interpreters or translators in over 140 languages to help any customer who may not be fluent in English. Please call or visit any of our branches.

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Licenses and Permits

This service is offered by Baltimore County Department of Permits and Development Management and Baltimore County Public Library. You can apply for several Baltimore County permits and licenses at all library branches. The licenses and permits available are the annual animal license or renewal, electrical post card permit issued to licensed electricians and residents which allow work and generate inspections, and plumbing post card permit used by licensed plumbers to allow work and generate inspections. A convenience fee of $2.00 is charged for each license and permit. Annual cat and dog license applications are available online and at Baltimore County Public Library branches except Loch Raven. Fill out the application form, show the animal's current rabies inoculation certificate, and pay the appropriate charge for the license plus the $2.00 convenience fee per license.

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Meeting Room Reservations

Hold a meeting for your organization in one of our meeting rooms. Meeting rooms at branch libraries can be reserved by non-profits, community interest groups, for-profit businesses or organizations. Please see our Meeting Room Policy [PDF] for fees and details. Meeting rooms are not available at Hereford or Parkville branches. All fees must be paid in advance before the meeting room reservation is confirmed.

All meeting rooms, except the Loch Raven Library and Perry Hall Library, are accessible to people with disabilities. The meeting rooms at the Catonsville, North Point, Randallstown, Towson and White Marsh Libraries are equipped with Phonic Ear VocaLight, an infrared transmitter receiver sound field amplification system.

Call the Interlibrary Loan Department at 410-887-6109, Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. to request the use of a library meeting room. Please read our Meeting Room Policy [PDF]. A signed copy must be on file with the Interlibrary Loan Department prior to using the meeting room.

Registered Baltimore County home school organizations or individuals may book a meeting room for one three-hour period once a month at no charge . Meeting room reservations must be arranged through the Interlibrary Loan Department. Baltimore County Public School verification is needed.

The branches' Library Managers or the librarian in charge may approve the no charge use of their meeting room on a drop-in basis, for one on one tutoring. Tutors must be from a recognized non-profit organization that serves the state or metropolitan area. The tutoring session must be one on one, one tutor and one student, not a group of students. Approval is for immediate use not future dates.

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Mobile Library Services

Baltimore County Public Library's Mobile Library Services operates four vehicles to serve the citizens of Baltimore County. All four vehicles are accessible to people with disabilities and have a wheelchair lift.

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Notification

Several methods are available to notify customers about requested holds (also known as reserves), overdue items, lost materials, and fines owed. Depending upon the circumstances, notification methods may include email, automated phone service, and US mail. Customers can sign up online to receive email notification. They can also sign up for this service when they get a library card for the first time, or by adding their e-mail address to their library account at the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk or the Information Desk at any Baltimore County Public Library branch. Customers will not receive any unsolicited notices without giving permission on their registration form. Please notify the Circulation or Borrower Services Desk at any Baltimore County Public Library branch if your email or phone number changes. This is the only way the customer will benefit from this fast and reliable notification system.

The status of your library account, including items you have placed on hold, is available by calling the SHELF HELP Line at 410-494-9063. You can also check the status of your holds and library account online.

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Programs and Story Times

Baltimore County Public Library does not require tickets or registration for most programs. Instead, just come to the library program of your choice and take a seat. The seating is first-come, first served up to legal capacity of the room. Because of space limitations in meeting rooms, to be sure of seating, it is important to plan an early arrival time. Doors open 10 minutes before the start of the program.

For some programs where a small group is desirable, such as Baby Boosters Story Time for children ages 0 to 23 months and hands-on technology programs, registration is necessary. These programs are noted in the Calendar of Events listing as "registration required". To register visit or phone the library branch having the program during the week preceding the program.

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Tax Forms

Baltimore County Public Library participates in both the Federal and State tax form programs. A limited assortment of basic forms is available for pick-up during the tax season. Branches provide reproducible sets of both Maryland and Federal forms. Visit our web page for online access to tax forms and information.

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This page is provided by the Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, Maryland USA.
The text version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
The graphics version of this page was last revised on 26 August 2008.
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