Friends of the Catonsville Library

06/13/2026

06/13/2026

Absolutely!

Read! at the Library

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

During WWII, the US military was dangerously short on intelligence after decades of underfunding. The unlikely solution? Librarians. They were recruited to gather vital information from library shelves, and some were sent overseas as spies, crossing enemy lines to smuggle documents out of occupied Europe.

As libraries face shrinking budgets today, this story is a powerful reminder that they are far more than quiet reading rooms. Read the full article to discover the incredible untold story of America's librarian spies.

Read more: https://magazine.1000libraries.com/how-librarians-became-americas-greatest-asset-in-wwii-intelligence/

06/11/2026

Our favorite Raven is returning to our branches this summer! Poe, the Baltimore Ravens mascot, is joining story time at the following branches:
• Wednesday, June 17— Catonsville (10:30 a.m.) and Pikesville (1 p.m.) branches
• Thursday, June 18— North Point at Jalapeno Market (10:30 a.m.) and Cockeysville Branch (1 p.m.)
• Wednesday, June 24— White Marsh (10 a.m.) and Essex (2 p.m.) branches
• Wednesday, July 15— Perry Hall (9:30 a.m.) and Sollers Point (12:30 p.m.) branches
• Thursday, July 16—Owings Mills (10 a.m.) and Arbutus (12:30 p.m.) branches

06/08/2026

06/08/2026

As June is Gun Safety Awareness Month, we want to remind the community we partner with Baltimore County Department of Health and Human Services to give away free gun safety locks at all 18 open branches. County residents who are 18 years old and up can receive the locks at our service desks, while supplies last. No proof of residency is required.

06/04/2026

On this day in 1919, Congress approved the woman’s suffrage amendment and sent it to the states for ratification. Adding the amendment to the Constitution required ratification by three-fourths of the states, which at that time was 36 of 48.

The National Woman’s Party led by Alice Paul began sewing stars on a giant purple, white, and gold flag. Each time a state ratified the 19th Amendment, a new star would be sewn on the flag.

The 19th Amendment became law more than a year after Congress approved the amendment. The 36th state, Tennessee, voted to ratify on August 18, 1920. This image shows Alice Paul unfurling that flag from the suffrage headquarters on that day.

The Library of Congress is home to the NWP records and library collection.

Image: Photo shows a group of women waving their arms in celebration while the ratification banner with its 36 victory stars hangs from the balcony of the National Woman's Party headquarters. 1920. Photo by Harris & Ewing. National Women's Party Records, Library of Congress.