Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy., Columbia. 410-313-7800.
•All Together Now. Saturdays, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. All ages; 30 minutes.
•Cryptography 101. Learn techniques for secure communication as practiced in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Gold-bug." Ages 11-17. Registration required.
•Eclectic Evenings. Second Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
•English Conversation Club. Mondays, 10 a.m.; and Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. Practice speaking and understanding English in a group setting. Register before attending.
•Halloween Costume Parade. Oct. 31, 6:45 p.m. All ages.
•Noontime. Third Thursdays, noon.
•Putting it all Together with Simple Machines. Fri., Oct. 18, 2 p.m. Experiment with six simple machines to build a complex contraption. Ages 9-10. Ticket required.
•Rudimentary Robots. Oct. 28, 7 p.m. Ages 11-17. Registration required.
East ColumbiaBranch
6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia. 410-313-7700.
•All Together Now. Wednesdays, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. All ages; 30 minutes.
•Black Fiction. First Saturdays, 1 p.m.
•Meet the Author: Vaddey Ratner. Tue., Oct. 22, 7 p.m. A survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, Vaddey Ratner wrote The New York Times bestseller "In the Shadow of the Banyan." Registration required.
•Readers' Club. Tue., Oct. 22, 4 p.m. Drop-in after school to share books. Ages 8 and older.
•Rockin' Library. Fri., Oct. 18, 3 p.m. Learn to play instruments and sing by playing "Rocksmith" and 'Rockband 3." Ages 11-17.
•Romance. Third Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
•Share a Scare. Oct. 31, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Have a laugh with not-so-scary stories, songs and activities. Ages 3-5. Ticket required.
•Teen Investor. Wed., Oct. 23, 7 p.m. Students learn how to pick stocks to maximize returns. Ages 13-17.
Elkridge Branch
6540 Washington Blvd., Elkridge. 410-313-5077.
•Elks Excellent Reads. Second Tuesdays, 12:30 p.m.
•Literary Explorers Club. Mon., Oct. 21, 7 p.m.
•Play Partners. Tuesdays, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m.; Saturdays, 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. Ages up to 23 months with adult; 20-30 minutes.
Glenwood Branch
2350 Route 97, Cooksville. 410-313-5577.
•Beyond the Pumpkin. Sat., Oct. 19, 2:30 p.m. Decorate pumpkins and other fall vegetables. Registration required.
•The Count's Halloween Hullabaloo. Oct. 28, 7 p.m., Oct. 29, 10:30 a.m., and Oct. 30, 10:30 a.m. Celebrate Halloween Sesame Street style. Ages 2-6. Registration required.
•Fly Guy Fun. Oct. 24, 7 p.m. Fly facts, stories and a craft. Ages 4-7. Registration required.
•Game Day. Oct. 25, 3 p.m. Meet and compete with friends. 3 p.m. Ages 11-17.
•Journey Cover to Cover. Third Thursdays, 10 a.m.
•Picture Book Parade. Fridays, 10:30 a.m. Ages 2-5 with adult.
Howard CountyLaw Library
8360 Court Ave., Ellicott City. 410-313-2135.
•Law Advice. First three Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-noon. An attorney is available to give free legal advice to self-represented litigants in civil, nonfamily matters. No appointment necessary.
Miller Branch
9421 Frederick Road, Ellicott City. 410-313-1950.
•Asian American Literature. Third Mondays, 7 p.m.
•Bas Bleu. Third Wednesdays, 7 p.m.
•Dudes on Books. Second Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
•English Conversation Class. Wednesdays, 7:45 p.m.
•Fact Check Book Club. Second Mondays, 7 p.m.
•Genealogy Help Desk. Third Saturdays, 1-4 p.m. The help desk is open to genealogical research in all areas of the United States, Europe and other countries. 410-480-3250.
•New and True. Wed., Oct. 23, 4:30 and 7 p.m. Get first dibs at the latest nonfiction books. Ages 7-10. Ticket required.
•Pajama Time. Mon., Oct. 21, 7 p.m. Stories and music just before bedtime. All ages.
•Share a Scare. Oct. 31, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m. Have a laugh with not-so-scary stories, songs and activities. Ages 3-5. Ticket required.
•Spine Tinglers. Oct. 29, 7 p.m. Enjoy scary stories, campfire tales, activities and a craft. Ages 6-9. Ticket required.
•Tea and Tomes. Third Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.