Several Essex, Middle River Schools to Offer Summer Library Hours

, and Victory Villa elementary schools are among some Baltimore County schools that have summer library hours as a way of encouraging students to read.

In all, more than half of the county's public school libraries allowed students to check out books over the summer. In addition, students were allowed to exchange books and to participate in special reading-related activities.

The following is a partial list of schools offering summer library hours and their upcoming schedules:

• Baltimore Highlands Elementary - 4200 Annapolis Road, 21227, 410-887-0919. Dates open: July 12, 14, 26 and 28 from 9-11:30 a.m. (supported by the Baltimore Highlands Recreation Council)

• Battle Monument - 7801 E. Collingham Drive, 21222, 410-877-7000. Please call for exact days and hours.

• Bedford Elementary - 7407 Dorman Drive, 21208, 410-887-1200. Dates open: July 11 - August 5

•  Dulaney High - 255 Padonia Road, 21093, 410-887-7633. Dates open: August 17, all day with informal book sharing and snacks

•  Featherbed Lane Elementary - 6700 Richardson Road, 21207, 410-887-1302. Dates open: July 5 to July 25 during summer school hours

• General John Stricker Middle, 7855 Trappe Road, 21222, 410-887-7038. Dates open: July 11 to August 5 during summer school hours

• Halethorpe Elementary - 4300 Maple Avenue, 21227, 410-887-1406. Dates open: July 11 and Aug. 8, all day

• Oliver Beach Elementary - 12912 Cunninghill Cove Road, 21220, 410-887-5943. Dates open: July 11 and July 25 from 10 a.m.- noon

• Owings Mills High- 124 Tollgate Road, 21117, 410-887-1700. Dates open: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in July (with the exception of July 5, 6 and 7, when the library will be closed)

• Perry Hall High - 4601 Ebenezer Road, 21236, 410-887-5108. Dates open: July 21 from 10 a.m.–noon and 1–3 p.m. 

• Seneca Elementary - 545 Carrollwood Road, 21220, 410-887-5945. Dates open: July 7 and 28 from 9-11 a.m.

• Victory Villa Elementary - 500 Compass Road, 21220, 410-887-0184. Dates open: Tuesdays and Thursdays from July 5 through Aug. 4, from 12:30-2:30 p.m. for book checkout, story time and various crafts

• Woodlawn High - 1801 Woodlawn Drive, 21207, 410-887-1309. Dates open: Three days, yet to be determined, for members of the Woodlawn High School summer book club Wiki

• Woodmoor Elementary - 3200 Elba Drive, 21207, 410-887-1318. Dates open: Thursday mornings in July

In addition, Baltimore County Public Schools students have 24/7 access to e-books and interactive digital content from a portal on the BCPS website at bcps.org/offices/lis/feebased/index.html. If a BCPS student needs another copy of the password handout that was distributed to all students during the 2010-2011 school year, he or she should contact the Office of Library Information Services at 410-887-4035.