News & Views -- technology & science center

HCPL is leading the way with new technology and plans for a science center.


HCPL embraces technology
Harford Business Ledger http://www.harfordledger.com/webedition/more_hcplcaplan.htm
by Mary Paramore HBL Associate Editor 09/18/08
Audra Caplan may be director of Harford County Public Library system, but she’s also a satisfied customer. Her latest favorite? Playaways, a new audio format that combines content and player in an easy-to-use, small, lightweight medium for audio books.
Caplan was guest speaker at the Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Sept. 16, where she mentioned her recent trip to Peru. She took with her four Playaways, each a pocket-sized digital audio player with bookmark memory and universal headphone jacks to accommodate ear buds, portable speakers, FM transmitters and audio cables.
Caplan said the library has about 700 Playaways, but plans to purchase many more. “When something is new, we start small. They are very popular,” she said.
Caplan’s Chamber presentation focused on where Harford County’s libraries came from, and where they are going. She said the county’s first library opened at Bel Air’s Grace Methodist Church in 1946, with the Darlington Branch opening in 1948 and Aberdeen opening in 1952. The Harford County Public Library now has 11 branches, plus its Belcamp headquarters.
That count will rise to 12 when a branch in Churchville opens. Caplan described a joint project between the County’s Parks and Recreation Department and the library to co-locate in a 34,000 sq. ft. facility. She said 13,500 sq. ft. would be library space, with an additional 1,500 sq. ft. dedicated to what she believes will be the first public library science center. The Maryland Science Center in Baltimore will assist with the new science center’s educational displays.
“This is a direct response to BRAC and the need to build its workforce,” she said, referring to the Defense Department’s Base Realignment and Closure initiative that is bringing thousands of science and technology jobs to Harford County.
Caplan said the Whiteford branch will soon double in size to 14,000 sq. ft. and that a feasibility study to expand the Havre de Grace branch will be presented to County Executive David Craig this fall. Caplan also said the library plans to conduct, but do not yet have funding for, a feasibility study to expand the Aberdeen branch. She said, “That will be a challenge on the existing property. Parking is already an issue.”
Caplan said six library branches are equipped with radio frequency identification technology. “RFID permits self-checkout, helps us inventory the collection and is a security system,” she said. Every branch, however, has wireless Internet. Caplan said that, even with 366 computer stations system-wide, there are “never enough.”
The library director also encouraged Chamber members to access the library’s free downloadable movie service as well as 28 databases accessible online, 24 hours a day.
“If it’s 10 p.m. and you have a kid who hasn’t done research for a paper, we have those resources online,” she said. “All you need is a library card number for access.”