During the upcoming heatwave, don't suffer in a hot home or pay to cool it.

Instead, you can visit a local library branch, read a book and stay cool for free.

During extreme heat—such as the 100-degree weather expected Wednesday and Thursday—Baltimore County recommends going to any of its public libraries and senior centers to stay cool.

Libraries, including the Pikesville, Randallstown and Woodlawn branches, are open their regular hours, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., on both days.

• Pikesville Branch Library:1301 Reisterstown Rd.
• Randallstown Branch Library: 8604 Liberty Rd.
• Woodlawn Branch Library: 1811 Woodlawn Dr.

For more info on libraries, call 410-887-6100, or visit the Baltimore County Public Library website for a list of other branches.

The Pikesville Senior Center, located right above the library, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, as are other Baltimore County Senior Centers.

For more info on senior centers, call the Department of Aging Senior Center Information and Assistance line at 410-887-2594.

Baltimore City also recommends the Northwest Community Action Center at 3939 Reisterstown Road. For more info, call the center at 443-984-1384.

For other cooling centers in the city, visit the Baltimore City Health Department website.

Other places you can go to stay cool, according to the Baltimore County website, include:

• Community Centers
• Churches
• Malls
• Movie Theaters
• Museums
• Neighbor's home with air conditioning
• Restaurants

Where do you go to escape the heat and stay cool? In the comments box below, please recommend some specific places.