Resolutions Made Easy (and Free) at Your Library

  • By Baltimore County Public Library

Every January, millions of people write down New Year’s resolutions—learn something new, make more money, focus on health and wellness, or spend more time with family. We want to make these goals attainable for you with the help of the library. The best part is that it doesn’t have to cost a thing. With a Baltimore County Public Library card, you already have access to free materials, resources and programs designed to help you succeed. 

Ways to Stick to Your Goals 

According to Cigna Healthcare, here are five tips to help you stick with those goals throughout the year. 

  1. Start with small goals.
  2. Make it measurable.
  3. Be realistic.
  4. Make a plan.
  5. Stay positive. 

The Library Can Help 

Resolution: Learn Something New 

  • Attend one of our programs—We have something for every age and interest. From pasta making and music meetup to candle making, rocket making and more. You can find all programs for the month ahead on our events page.  
  • Mango Languages—Online language-learning system that teaches conversation skills for over 71 different languages as well as English as a second language for speakers of 19 languages. We also offer Little Pim for those ages birth to 6 who are looking to learn languages in age-appropriate ways.
  • LinkedIn Learning—Unlimited training on a wide variety of topics, including business skills and software, web design and development, music and audio, photography, video editing, and animation.  
  • Peterson's Test and Career Prep—Online practice tests and study materials for GED, SAT, ACT, Praxis, NCLEX, TOEFL, citizenship, postal or military exams, law enforcement, occupational tests, certification and licensing tests and more. 

Resolution: Build a Business 

According to Babson College, entrepreneurship hit a record high in 2025, at 19 percent. If you’re looking to start a new business or expand your current operation in 2026, the library has tons of free resources to help.  

  • Entrepreneur Academy—This eight-week series gives you all you need to succeed. Dive deep into market research, master effective business strategies and gain invaluable insights into business finances, marketing and crafting a winning business plan. The new cohort starts in March 2026, so look out for signup forms soon.  
  • Internet—Chromebooks and hotspots are available through our Library of Things.
  • Tax resources—We have resources to help you prepare your individual tax return. 

Resolution: Cut the Cord 

A few years ago, we saw a big shift from cable to streaming, but now even those costs are adding up! The good news is that we’re free. Here’s a few ways we can help you cut costs.  

Resolution: Spend More Time With Family 

We can’t think of a better place to master this resolution than the library. With 19 branches to choose from, there are plenty of ways to explore, learn, create and connect.  

  • Attend a program—We have a ton of family-friendly programming, including song, dance, movies, crafts and more. You can narrow it down by ages, locations and interests.
  • Visit a story trail—In 2025, we added two new story trails to the east side of the county, bringing our total to six. Walk along the trails while immersing yourself into the story.  
  • Storyville—Perfect for the little ones in your life, our Storyville at the Rosedale Branch features developmentally appropriate books, toys and activities designed to promote early literacy and school readiness skills for children ages birth to 5. Children over the age of 5 are welcome as a “Storyville Helper,” but we encourage them to enjoy the children’s area of the library where there are specific books and activities for their age group.   

And of course, if your goal is to read more or visit a Baltimore County Public Library branch more, we can help you with that too! This year, “Be All In” on yourself. The library card will take care of the rest. 

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