Temporary Closure: The Schooner Cove area at the Havre de Grace Library will be closed on Friday, May 9, for a refresh. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Monday, February 17, in observance of Presidents Day.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Friday, April 18, in observance of Good Friday.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Sunday, April 20, in observance of Easter.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Monday, May 26, in observance of Memorial Day.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, June 19, in observance of Juneteenth.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
Library Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Monday, October 13, for Staff In-Service Day.
Library Closure: Abingdon Library will be closed Friday, October 31, for a Private Event.
Library Closure: Abingdon Library will be closed Saturday, November 1, for a Private Event.
Library Closure: Abingdon Library will be closed Sunday, November 2, for a Private Event.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Tuesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.
Early Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will close early at 5 PM Wednesday, November 26.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, November 27, in observance of Thanksgiving.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Friday, November 28, in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Wednesday, December 24, in observance of Christmas Eve.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, December 25, in observance of Christmas Day.
Library Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Sunday, December 28.
Early Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will close early at 5 PM Wednesday, December 31.
Holiday Closure: All Harford County Public Library locations will be closed Thursday, January 1, 2026, in observance of New Year’s Day.
HCPL believes in the importance of play and the use of toys to promote early literacy. Parent-child interaction with books and toys is critical for school readiness and early childhood success.
In 1975, HCPL received a federal grant that funded the purchase of books and puppets to be used with the Sharing the Gift volunteer outreach program. The materials were the basis of the Learning and Sharing Collection, which has been open to the public for 40 years.
The Learning and Sharing Collection includes toys, puppets, puzzles, books, and kits designed for children ages birth to five, as well as sets of books for the Sharing the Gift volunteers. Learning and Sharing Collection toys are available at all 11 HCPL branches. Items can be borrowed for 21 days.
The Learning and Sharing Collection contains over 100 titles with multiple copies that are used for library programming. These titles can also be borrowed to use in the classroom! Check out the titles available as Learning and Sharing Classroom Book Sets.
Kits in the Learning and Sharing Collection contain age-appropriate materials selected by librarians to support specific skill development and different stages of early childhood. Use the words “early literacy kit” when searching in the library catalog to find a complete list of kits in the Learning and Sharing Collection.
Click on the links below to view different types of toys in the Learning and Sharing Collection:
Sharing the Gift, sponsored by HCPL since 1975, is a story time outreach program staffed by community volunteers, using materials supplied by the library’s Learning and Sharing Collection. The theme-based story time programs, prepared by the Sharing the Gift Librarian, include age-appropriate books, fingerplays, action rhymes, songs, and puppets for preschool children ages two to five. Each month from October to May, Sharing the Gift volunteers present story time at licensed day care centers, nursery schools, and preschools throughout Harford County.
Adults interested in volunteering may contact the Sharing the Gift Librarian at the Bel Air Branch (410-638-3151). HCPL children’s services staff train new volunteers every September.
Day care or preschool directors and teachers who would like a Sharing the Gift volunteer to present story time at their centers may contact the Sharing the Gift Librarian at the Bel Air Branch (410-638-3151).