Howard County Library System

This is my favorite library branch of all time, mostly because it’s pretty new (built 2012), has plenty of natural light and seating areas, not to mention the rows of public computers. There’s also an outdoor seating area upstairs, near the green roof, which I think is a really cool feature. There’s also a small garden area outside, along with a pond/​fountain.
My only complaint with this library is that it gets pretty crowded on weekends and you end up having to park pretty far from the building.

Absolutely the best library I have ever been to! The staff is so friendly and welcoming. And HELPFUL! We took our nieces to play, read, and see «Polar Express» thanks to the Friends of the Library group. It was wonderful! Everything was so well organized, clean and what a pleasure to take children somewhere where they can play and learn! Thank you so much for all you did to make our afternoon with our precious nieces so fun and memorable!

This is the best howard county library! It is perfect for college students, graduate students, and students in general who want to do serious studying. The quiet rooms are great for focusing and there are private rooms for group study so as to not disturb others on the floor from studying. The library is not loud and most people are respectful of others around them. I have been coming here since I started college at UMBC. If I am at home I come to this library even though its not as close as the central branch. I found that the central branch is too loud and the people there are rude. At this branch, the staff, the customers, and everyone are really nice. If your time is up in the study room (reserve only for 2 hours) there is no conflict when the new people come to claim their study room (just like in college). My only con is that I do wish there was more tables on both floors for studying.
I cannot end this review without mentioning how beautiful the building is and clean! The staff are kind and usually ask you to clean up your crumbs/​eat the food in the VERY NICE cafeteria space on the first floor with lots of tables. I have sometimes studied in that cafeteria but it does get loud as people are in there to converse and eat. There is a gorgeous outdoor seating area on the second floor which is perfect for a nice sunny day.

I have been coming here often since starting graduate school. I am really impressed how clean and beautiful this building is. It is almost as good as my college library, which was always crowded and never had enough seating. I love their selections of books and that their desks all are hooked up to the outlets. My laptop only lasts 4 hours without a charge. I wish they had longer hours on the weekends, but that is about my only gripe.

Hands down the best library! Huge selection. Plenty of space and natural lighting. Kids programs are phenomenal. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable.

Beautiful building! There are plenty of study spots, including beautiful outdoor seating.
I’m a life-​long library lover (and a fan of alliteration), and I love this library. The staff is incredibly helpful, and they have an expansive collection of books. Also, I often get audiobooks here, and they have a pretty good collection. There’s also an app you can get (Overdrive) that allows you to download books to your phone/​device from the Maryland Library’s collection (to answer your question– yes, they have Harry Potter).

Really, really, really amazing.
Every now and again I get annoyed at the cost of living in Howard County. But then I go to the local library and I realize that I am spoiled beyond ever leaving.
A huge array of offerings, clean, wonderful staff, great website that allows you to reserve materials AND stagger how they come in so that they don’t all come in at once.
Self check out if the lines are long, a Farmer’s Market on Wednesday, the list goes on and on.
I come here weekly and I love it so much.

This is my favorite HoCo library! I live near East Columbia and Central branches too, but choose Miller 95% of the time because its the newest, and just contemporary and spacious inside!
Pros… lots of windows, good amount of small 2 person tables and 4 person tables. There’s multiple study rooms (not 100% sound proof) that requires 2 or more people… Lot more newer DVDs it seems at this location? Plus, there’s a great café room near the front entrance, in case you wanna eat a packed lunch, or talk a bit with the friend above a whisper level. Also! When it’s warm weather, you can read books at the tables outside.
It’s become a little more crowded lately due to everyone loving the place… mornings are easier to find empty tables… and expect it to get busier later in the day (due to the kids, teens, adults getting out of school and off work).

The nicest library I have been in — a palace of libraries! They could place some of the seating a little more strategically. The walking is far for people with mobility issues.

The library has been relocated to the new building for a few years now, I think, and I really truly love the new building. It’s big and beautiful and SO FANCEH! (And it’s LEED certified — the treehugger in me is so happy.)
First of all, there’s an automated drive-​through book drop, so you don’t have to even get out of your car to return your books anymore. You pull up and drop in your books, which are scanned as they are returned so that someone can check the book out IMMEDIATELY after you’ve dropped it off. You then get a little ticket/​receipt and you’re on your way. Easy.
It’s so beautiful I’m not even sure where to begin. There’s a pretty water fixture, big clean bathrooms, two floors full of wonderful books! There is space for studying, with many outlets made available at most of the tables so that you can bring your laptop, charge your cellphone, what have you, and ULTRA quiet rooms to work in also (since we’re all being quiet in the library anyway, right? :P)
The selection is great and you can even check yourself out, I’m pretty sure, although I haven’t tried those machines yet because I’m an old lady and technology sometimes scares me.
There’s a historical center upstairs, a café downstairs, solar panels, little lights in the ground that lead to the children’s section (!! so cute), outdoor tables & seating, and apparently there’s even a cute outdoor garden/​classroom?
EDIT: There is also a farmer’s market in the adjacent parking lot on Wednesdays from 2 – 6 PM. How great is that? :D
This place is simply amazing. I am the kind of nerd who would GLADLY spend her free time here. It’s beautiful and big and full of so many wonderful things!
IT IS A MUST VISIT and all Howard County residents should be taking advantage of this space if they can.

The munchkin and I dropped in here a few weeks ago to see the Jr. First Lego League expo they were holding in one the the library annexes.
I have to say this is a pretty stunning library. Totally first rate, from their selection of brand new books, their computers, their chilled out comfy corners to read in, and the super helpful staff. The building is pretty darn nice for a library too. A square brick building this ain’t.
The next time you feel like complaining that your Howard County taxes are too high just head out to this branch of the library. You’ll be able to see where your money is being spent. Totally worth it.

The Miller Branch was my childhood library and it served me well through the picture book stage to the being an obnoxious teenager «studying» with friends and being shushed stage. I recently checked out the new building and it’s wild; nicest public library I’ve ever been to. Can’t wait to have kids and take them here, although it seems as crowded as the mall during the holidays.
The selection is great, found everything I was looking for and made some mental notes for the future when I have more time to read.

Awesome Library! Huge and Big! Good selections on movies and books! The staff are nice and friendly! Free Wi-​Fi!!! Don’t have to worry about The DVD and BOOKS are still on your account. you scan it yourself and don’t have worry about if the DVD or BOOKS are still on your account. Wish they have this every library because one my staff told me that I have never return a DVD and make pay the fee for that.
(Central Library). So be carefully at that place!
Also if you have a big line, you can check yourself out to save time if you are hurry so you don’t have to wait in line.

It was hard to come up with the words for how much I love this place. I grew up going to dark and 70s-​esque Miller Branch pre-​renovation, and I spent hours just sitting and reading and checking out weird books that my parents disapproved of. Still, I was always a little bit disappointed we weren’t at a Barnes and Noble, or something similarly cheery, accommodating, and at least well-​lit.
HoCo has really outdone itself with the recent renovations. It is one of the most beautiful libraries I’ve been in, and the selection is quite large. It is an amazing place to sit and study, apply for jobs, or browse the shelves, or even just hang out outside on the rooftop with a book. In any case, it’s really something the community can be proud of and a place that has both utility and an atmosphere that is comfortable enough to make people want to go there and stay there.

This is my favorite Howard County Library. Staff is great and the building is all new which makes it like storing books in a new car. Love new car smell.

This library is HUGE!
It has a separate computer café (serving snacks, etc), a language center, a glass computer section, 2 floors, reservable study rooms… the WORKS. Plus, there’s a sweet park outside w/​tons of parking.
It’s on road that is quiet, so I call it my little secret. When the power was out, I lived in here.

This place has really stepped it up. Since the renovation, I can honestly say that I like it here. I wouldn’t have said that just a short while ago when the old building was still in use.
2 story building with private study rooms (must be reserved) and quiet rooms (do not need to be reserved). The design of the building is pretty nice, and there are even outdoor seating areas on the 2^nd floor.
Oh! And you can bring in drinks here as long as you have a drink with a secure top. This is nice :)
My only gripe about the place is the lack of seating in general. There needs to be many more tables and chairs for the amount of people who visit this library. I think that another floor simply dedicated to study and reading areas would have been awesome.
There are a good selection of books, and it looks like HCPL has opened up this branch with mostly, if not all, new books.
Funny… The Central Branch doesn’t seem so nice anymore after this place opened up… :)