FY 23 Approved Budget Book

AN OVERVIEW OF HARFORD COUNTY, MARYLAND

THE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM

Harford County’s Public Library System was established in 1946 and re-established in 1981 as a County agency operating under State law. The Library Board of Trustees was authorized by the Laws of Maryland Article 77 and the Harford County Code Article 21, Chapter 9. The Board of Trustees are appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council to overlapping five year terms. Their duties were established by State law:

◦ To establish and operate a free library ◦ To set library policy ◦ To advise in the budget process and control spending of funds

The system operates eleven branches, a Rolling Reader Program, a Silver Reader Program, the Highlands Common Library, and provides library services to the Harford County Detention Center.

HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Harford Community College was founded in 1957 as a public community college. The College occupies approximately 350 acre site on Thomas Run Road, three miles east of Bel Air, Maryland. The mission of Harford Community College (HCC) is to provide high quality, accessible and affordable educational opportunities and services. These include university transfer, career, developmental and continuing education programs, that promote professional competence and economic development and improve the quality of life in a multicultural community. As the primary resource for and coordinator of higher education in the County, the College serves as a center of culture and recreation. Programs and services provide lifelong learning for residents with an emphasis on adult instruction in classrooms, laboratories, and clinics, and on electronic systems, as well as intergenerational courses and workshops in recreation, business applications, and specialty areas, plus fine and performing arts. THE HIGHER EDUCATION AND CONFERENCE CENTER AT HEAT The Higher Education & Conference Center at HEAT (Higher Education and Applied Technology Center) , located in Aberdeen, Maryland, at the juncture of Interstate 95 and Rt. 22, provides expanded higher education access to the citizens of northeastern Maryland. Baccalaureate and graduate programs are offered by colleges and universities in support of the educational needs of the region. Harford Community College coordinates the academic programs and maintains the facility. Partnering institutions provide the faculty and establish the requirements of their individual programs. Each institution sets its own tuition rate. Students enroll directly with the partnering institutions that collect all tuition and fees and confer all degrees. The Center is the official satellite in Harford County for degree programs by Johns Hopkins University, The College of Notre Dame, Towson University, The University of Maryland, College Park, Morgan State University, University of Maryland University College, and the University of Phoenix. Training is offered at the Higher Education and Conference Center for businesses, industries, and local governments through the Continuing Education and Training Division at Harford Community College.

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