Special Collections

Grant Collection

Nonprofit organizations and other grant seekers searching for information on fundraising, nonprofit management, grant seeking and grant writing and related subjects have access to the Cooperating Collection of the Foundation Center of New York at the Harford County Public Library Bel Air Branch.

Located in the Maryland Room of the Bel Air Library, the Harford County Public Library Grant Collection consists of a comprehensive print collection and dedicated computers to access these comprehensive resources. The collection includes the following resources: The Foundation Directory Online, which profiles more than 100,000 U.S. grant makers; Foundation Grants to Individuals Online; and Philanthropy In/Sight. Directories and proposal writing books are also available as part of this collection. For more information, please see a staff member at the Bel Air Library.

Harford County Living Treasures promotional graphic

Harford Living Treasures Oral Histories

Over 209 oral histories have been collected from various Harford County Living Treasures as recordings and transcripts of the interviews. In some cases, video or photographs are also included. These can be found in our catalog and checked out in the Bel Air Branch.

Any Harford County resident who is at least 70 years old, and has lived in the county for at least 40 years, can be nominated as a Harford Living Treasure. Please print, complete, and mail the nomination form to the Harford County Cultural Arts Board.

The first group of Harford County Living Treasures oral history interviews have been digitized in audio and/or video format and published on the Maryland Digital Cultural Heritage (MDCH) website at Living Treasures Collection Online.

Maryland Collection

This is predominantly a collection of materials that cover the history of Maryland, Harford County, and various individual communities and towns in the county. The Maryland Collection is primarily a Reference Collection and must be used in the library. There is a Maryland collection in both the adult and juvenile areas. Maryland Juvenile titles that have been identified for Homework Help circulate.

Genealogy Collection

The major part of this collection is housed in the Maryland Room of the Bel Air Branch (with introductory materials in the other branches). This is primarily a Reference Collection and must be used in the library. The emphasis of this collection is on Maryland and local history and access to various genealogical resources. This collection is supported with Online Resources.

Parent Teacher Collection (PTC)

Materials have been specfically selected for parents and teachers who work with children up to 8th grade. All branches have a Parent Teacher Collection.

Learning and Sharing Collection (LSC)

Developmental learning materials for young children and adults to enhance reading readiness skills; includes Cheers for Children, concept kits, and Young Parenting Kits. LSC Kits are at the Aberdeen, Abingdon, Bel Air, Edgewood, and Joppa branches, and are available to be requested by customers of any branch.