Carroll County Public Library

Ask HSP: Human Services Programs of Carroll County

Human Services Programs of Carroll County (HSP) assists families by leveraging public services like housing and shelter services, financial education and assistance, and family support. Staff from HSP will be available at the library every other month to meet with anyone with questions or in need of assistance. Stop by and see how they can help you! 

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Move and Learn

A theme-based storytime featuring an age-appropriate story, songs, and learning activities, with a concentration on creative movement.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Making for Seniors: Engrave a Simple Anodized Aluminum Project

Learning new technology should be fun, not intimidating! Join us for a basic hands-on session where we'll use Adobe Illustrator to create a simple project to be engraved on an anodized aluminum item and watch your project being made on our Fusion Pro Laser Cutter. Previous basic computer experience is required. No previous experience with laser cutting or design software is needed. This class does not result in independent laser use certification.

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Potomac Community Services

A client engagement specialist will visit the branch to share available services for both adults and children. Adult Services offers mental health case management focused on advocacy, education, connecting individuals to community resources, and supporting treatment to improve quality of life. The Children’s Program provides coordinated mental health support for ages 6–18, helping families set goals, access benefits and resources, improve stability, and promote healthy development.

Drop-In Diamond Painting

Join us for a drop-in session of diamond painting! No experience is necessary!

Italian Biscotti

Learn how to make crispy, twice-baked Italian Biscotti Cookies. Each table will make a different flavor batch to be split evenly among registrants. We'll make espresso drinks while the cookies bake so we can enjoy our biscotti as a traditional treat dipped in coffee!

Line Dancing with Lori

Join us for an evening of fun and fitness in this beginner's line dancing class. We suggest bringing water and wearing comfortable shoes and clothing for the class. 

Dungeons & Dragons Online

Join us for a session of Dungeons & Dragons played entirely online! Pre-generated characters will be available, and registrants will meet on Zoom the day before to become familiar with any websites used. This session is for beginners and avid players alike.

Dungeons & Dragons is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. © 2015 Wizards. All Rights Reserved.

Prehistoric Projects: Laser-Engraved Dinosaur Puzzles

Come celebrate Summer Reading with a special prehistoric project: laser-engraved dinosaur puzzles! This is a pairs-making class. It is intended for one child that is 8-12 years old and one accompanying adult. Each adult may only be registered with one child. 

Each registration must include:

• One child aged 8-12

• One adult

North Carroll Writers Group

Bring your writing, works-in-progress, or works-in-thought. This writing group allows beginners, unpublished writers, and published writers to network, learn, vent, and feel inspired to move to the next level. All genres are welcome: novel, short story, essay, poetry, memoirs, spiritual, sci-fi, fiction, and nonfiction. This group is led by Barbara D. Duffey, an experienced writing workshop leader and author of five books.

Knit and Chat

Join us for this monthly meet-up with other knitters of all ages to relax, knit, get ideas for projects, receive help on current projects, gain new skills, and learn to knit if you don't know how. There will also be an optional show-and-tell and a yarn exchange each month.

Open Mah Jongg

Join us for a friendly game of American Mah Jongg. We welcome experienced players and newer players ready for casual, non-competitive play. Please bring a current National Mah Jongg League card. If you don't have a card, one will be provided. An instructor may not be present.

Pajama Party Storytime

Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffed animal, and listen to stories before bed. This storytime introduces stories through books, songs, and activities appropriate for young children.

Pajama Party Storytime

Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffed animal, and listen to stories before bed. This storytime introduces stories through books, songs, and activities appropriate for young children.

TRIVIA NIGHT at Bistro 91 in Finksburg

What trivia tidbits are rattling around in your head? Grab a few friends and join us for Trivia Night at Bistro 91! All prizes are provided by Bistro 91.

If your team needs to cancel or change your team size on the day of the program, please call Bistro 91 at 410.861.8841. 

Registration required. Only one person per team needs to register. Please keep the team size to 8 or less.

Writing Group

Writers of all levels and genres are invited to join our weekly writing group. It is a flexible, drop-in, stay-as-long-as-you-like environment. The primary goal is to dedicate quiet time away from the daily chaos to make consistent progress on your novel or children's book. Bring your current project to work on during this time. At 10 AM, we will brainstorm, critique, and share knowledge about upcoming events and the book publishing industry. You are welcome to share a short piece of writing during this time for critique.

Move & Groove Storytime

This energetic storytime encourages creative movement and dance to help develop gross motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness while fostering a love of stories.

Sewing Skills: Interfacing Basics

Learn how to use interfacing to improve the structure and finish of your sewing projects. This beginner-level class will introduce common types of interfacing and explain when and how to use them in both garment and project construction. Students will work with different types of interfacing and leave with samples. The class will also review sewing terminology and construction concepts. Resource handouts will be provided.

Class Prerequisites: Exploration Commons' Sewing Machine Certification

Required Materials: A sewing machine and all materials will be provided. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Mount Airy Knitters

Join the Mount Airy Knitters for a weekly roundtable of knitting, conversation, and fun. All experience levels are welcome. 

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Carroll County Workforce Development Day

Explore invaluable career resources at Carroll County Workforce Development's pop-up event. Discover free training opportunities, learn how to connect with employers, and receive personalized support to revamp your resume.

Move & Groove Storytime

This energetic storytime encourages creative movement and dance to help develop gross motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness while fostering a love of stories.

North Carroll Senior Center Wednesday Book Club: How to Age Disgracefully

This month's selection is How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley.

Ready, Set, School!

An independent storytime that prepares children for school. Fun, hands-on activities will teach listening, pre-reading, math, movement, music, and art skills.

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Sparkly Seashell Ornament

Diamond painting takes a detour as we use diamond gems to embellish a seashell ornament. Enjoy creating coastal décor with a bit of sparkle.

Next Steps with Onshape

Welcome to the world of 3D modeling and design. In this class, we will review the computer-aided design (CAD) software Onshape by diving into the fundamentals and techniques to make a claw assembly. It is recommended that you have taken an Introduction to Onshape and 3D Printing class or are familiar with Onshape before taking this class.

English Conversation Group

Join us for a friendly group gathering to practice speaking English. This program, led by a partner from the Literacy Council of Carroll County, is geared toward adults who are English language learners. All levels welcome.  

Wok Cooking Basics

In this hands-on class, gain an introductory understanding of wok cooking and learn how to prepare your recipe for the best results. We will prepare a plant-based recipe to practice our new cooking skill. 

Class format: Class capacity is 10 people. Registrants will cook with one other attendee in this class to prepare a dish to share between them.

Taneytown Teen Anime Club

Join us each month for an anime-themed craft and a chance to watch the latest and greatest anime with other Taneytown teens!

Eldersburg Branch Anime Club

Join us at CCPL's Eldersburg Branch for all things anime and manga! Watch the first episode of an anime, make anime-themed crafts, discuss your favorite series, share your artwork, and more!

Eldersburg Hooked on Crochet

Join this friendly crochet group open to beginners and experienced crocheters alike. Those new to crocheting should bring a size J hook and a light-colored, worsted-weight yarn to the class.

Midweek Movie and Munch: Elio

Join us for an evening of movie magic and a snack. Doors open at 5:50 to find your seat and get your snacks; showtime is at 6! Please bring your own bottle of water to enjoy with our salty popcorn.

This week we will be showing the space adventure Elio! The film is rated PG with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes.

Family Fun Night

Wear your pajamas and listen to stories before bed. Join us for family fun, featuring stories, music, crafts, play, and time with friends.

Puzzle Party

Join us for puzzles, riddles, and brainteasers! Solve on your own or with a friend.

Tech Talk: Using Nature Apps to Identify Plants, Birds, and More

In the past, if you wanted to go hiking and identify the plants and animals you encountered, you had to bring along a field guide. Today, there are free mobile apps that can identify birds by their songs and recognize plants, fungi, amphibians, insects, and more from a photo. In this talk, education specialists from the Department of Natural Resources will discuss how to use these apps responsibly and how to verify your identifications using other reliable sources.

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Twos and Threes Together

This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.

North Carroll Writers Group

Bring your writing, works-in-progress, or works-in-thought. This writing group allows beginners, unpublished writers, and published writers to network, learn, vent, and feel inspired to move to the next level. All genres are welcome: novel, short story, essay, poetry, memoirs, spiritual, sci-fi, fiction, and nonfiction. This group is led by Barbara D. Duffey, an experienced writing workshop leader and author of five books.

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Club Friendship: Libraries Are for Everyone

The library is more than just books. It's a place to come together as a community. We welcome teens and adults of all abilities, along with support staff, to join us for games, crafts, music, and more in a sensory-friendly environment!

Basic Knife Skills

This hands-on class will cover everything you need to know about caring for your knives and how to use them. You'll learn how to chop, dice, and mince and get plenty of practice with other professional cuts. This is a beginner class.

North Carroll Senior Center Thursday Book Club: Go as a River

This month's selection is Go as a River by Shelley Read.

CCGS Research Thursday

Volunteers from the Carroll County Genealogical Society are available to help with your family history research. 

Please contact volunteers at info@ccgsmd.org to schedule a time if you require CCGS staff assistance.

Risky Business: Fraud and Scam Prevention

• Understand the local impact of scams, fraud, and phishing
• Recognize common red flags in texts, emails, and calls
• Learn simple steps to protect your personal and financial information

Intro to Carvera CNC

This two-day CNC certification class will introduce you to the design basics, machine use, and safety procedures for our new Makera Carvera desktop CNC machine. This class will cover project design utilizing Makera's congruent software, MakeraCAM, along with other compatible software available at Exploration Commons. The first session may end earlier than the given time.

Successful completion of the Prerequisite Module for the In-Person Carvera CNC Class is required prior to attending this class. 

Customers aged 12 to 15 who complete their certification are required to have a certified adult with them to use the CNC machine independently.

Papercraft Studio

Interested in meeting other scrapbookers, card makers, and papercraft people? Attend our monthly session on second Thursdays to work on scrapbooking, cardmaking, finishing projects, sharing ideas and layouts, sharing or exchanging supplies, and having fun! Bring your own supplies and projects. We can't wait to see what you're working on! 

Pajama Party Storytime

Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffed animal, and listen to stories before bed. This storytime introduces stories through books, songs, and activities appropriate for young children.

Pajama Party Storytime

Wear your pajamas, bring your favorite stuffed animal, and listen to stories before bed. This storytime introduces stories through books, songs, and activities appropriate for young children.

Crochet Circle

Gentle Yoga

This gentle yoga class allows students of various abilities and physical conditions to develop their yoga practice comfortably. Yoga has many appealing aspects, including increased flexibility, relaxation, strength, improved balance, and stress and pain relief. No experience is necessary. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat and a blanket.

Q&A with the Small Business Administration

Meet with a representative from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for a 30-minute, one-on-one appointment to learn about resources available for small businesses. Whether you want to start a business or are interested in learning to improve the business you have, the SBA can assist you. 

Schedule an appointment at CCPL's Eldersburg Branch on Eventbrite or email SBA representative Denise Hayes. Walk-ins are welcomed as time allows.

Sensory Sensitive Storytime

This inclusive program welcomes children of all abilities and their caregivers to a supportive, judgment-free storytime.

Nurturing Touch: Infant Massage Class

Join us for a supportive, hands-on group for caregivers and their babies from birth to one year of age. Led by a certified infant massage instructor, this class guides caregivers through gentle massage strokes with their baby that can promote sleep, ease discomfort from colic and teething, and strengthen caregiver-infant bonds. Caregivers will learn these techniques in a calm, nurturing environment and leave with skills to support their baby’s comfort and development. Registration is encouraged, but drop-ins are welcome!

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Coffee with the Classics: Life with Father

Join us as we celebrate Father's Day with the William Powell classic, Life with Father.

Sensory Sensitive PAWS to Read

An inclusive visit with book-loving therapy animals for people and children of all abilities. Research shows that reading to animals boosts reading skills and helps with social skills and emotional health for all ages. Registration is preferred, but walk-ins are welcome.

Walking in Watkins Park

Do you want to exercise and socialize at the same time? If so, please join us for a monthly walking group from May through October at Watkins Park! We’ll explore both the Rail Trail and the Loop. Wear comfortable shoes; please bring bottled water and sunscreen. We'll meet rain or shine by the flagpole next to the tennis courts at 11 AM. Let’s get walking and talking!

Chair Yoga at the Library

Focus on simple stretches, mindful breathing, and relaxation techniques through chair yoga at the library! This class is a great way to improve your flexibility, balance, and overall well-being in a welcoming environment. No prior yoga experience or supplies are needed—just bring your curiosity and a smile! 

Open Mah Jongg

Join us for a friendly game of American Mah Jongg. We welcome experienced players and newer players for casual, non-competitive play. Please bring a current National Mah Jongg League card. If you don’t have a card, one will be provided.

Nintendo Afternoon

Join us in our Young Adult Area for gaming on our Nintendo Switch. Bring your friends and take turns playing Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros., and more. Games will be provided. 

Pride Crafternoon

Join us for an afternoon of Pride-themed crafts and activities, with plenty of books to read and share! 

Saturday Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

College Prep 101

Whether you're a soon-to-be-senior or the parent of a prospective grad, don't be intimidated by college and financial aid applications. Our special guest from Carroll Community College will help make sure you know what you need to take your next steps in higher education and career development. 

Saturday Adventures

Come to the library every Saturday morning for a new adventure! Stories, songs, dancing—there will be something new and different each week. The one thing that will always happen? Fun!

Open Sewing Studio (Bring Your Own Sewing Machine)

Open Sewing Studio (Reserve a Sewing Machine)

Open Sewing Studio is an opportunity to enjoy freestyle sewing with other sewists. Come in and work on your sewing projects in the company of others. A volunteer will be available to answer questions or provide feedback during this program. All skill levels are welcome. You must bring your own sewing supplies and tools.

Note: This is not an instructional class; no materials will be provided.

This registration will reserve a sewing machine for use. You must be certified for independent use to register for this program. 

If you want to bring your own sewing machine, please register for the other version of this program.

Eldersburg Ask a Master Gardener

Bring your questions about gardening to a Carroll County Master Gardener and pick up tips, handouts, and more. 

Salute to America!

All ages are invited to celebrate America's 250^th anniversary with the Old Line Statesmen Chorus! Hear this rousing local men's a cappella chorus that has been singing four-part harmony since 1982. You will not be disappointed with patriotic songs and other favorites that celebrate the beginning of the USA. Come tap your toes, wave your flags, and be warmed by this soothing harmony as we celebrate the birthday of the home of the free and the brave!

In honor of the 250^th anniversary of the USA, students from The Ballet Slipper will perform Medora Lynn’s original choreography to John Philip Sousa’s "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Carroll County Writers Group

Please join us for the monthly meeting of the Carroll County Chapter of the Maryland Writers Association. MWA chapter meetings are open to the public.

Rocks and Geodes

Join us to crack open natural geodes and see what's inside! All materials will be provided for you.

Intro to Laser Cutting

• Take an Intro to Adobe Illustrator class (in person at Exploration Commons or on LinkedIn Learning — use Library ID: carroll).
   
• Take a laser project class at Exploration Commons (one that does not require participants to be laser certified).
   
• Work through the online portion of the Exploration Commons hybrid laser certification module. (No need to take the quiz; we will do that at the end of class.)

Free Spirit Book Club: The Devil in the White City

This month's selection is The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.

More Than a Sock Puppet

This isn't your same old sock puppet! Create a hand puppet using everyday supplies. You can create a person, an animal, or the most fantastical creature your imagination can conjure! Your puppet will even have the chance to perform a short skit if it's not too shy!

Dungeons & Dragons Summer Adventure

Calling brave heroes for a quest in Dungeons & Dragons! Whether this is your first adventure or your twentieth, join us for an afternoon of fantastic deeds!

The small town of Breechill has sent out its monthly Call for Heroes—a dog has run off, there are rats in the tavern cellar, and old Warble Bumblebrasher is asking for someone to investigate her disappearing clan mates. Some say that fishy things are going on at the dilapidated Citadel Alteran, with noises wafting down to town on the breeze at night… What adventure will await you?

A choice of playable third-level characters, dice, pencils, and other necessary supplies will be provided.  

Dungeons & Dragons is a trademark of Wizards of the Coast LLC in the United States and other countries. © 2015 Wizards. All Rights Reserved.

The Tangle Circle

Relax and learn the simple, meditative art of Zentangle. Join CZTs Melissa Grim & Barb Szaro in person to relax and create beautiful patterns one stroke at a time. No art experience needed.

Carroll County Critique Group

Join our critique group and take your writing to the next level! This is a welcoming space where writers come together to share their work, receive thoughtful, constructive feedback, and grow through the power of revision and rewriting. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Family Storytime

We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children. 

Read and Play

Join your little one at a storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize.

Let's Move!

Join us for an interactive storytime where we're learning through movement. We'll explore books, rhymes, and songs with lots of wiggles and giggles!

Move and Learn

A theme-based storytime featuring an age-appropriate story, songs, and learning activities, with a concentration on creative movement.

Super Mario Galaxy Escape Room

Oh no, Bowser Jr. is causing trouble on a galactic scale! Will you be able to work together to find the clues and solve the puzzles in this Super Mario-themed escape room and help Mario & Luigi save the galaxy before it's too late? 

Super Mario Galaxy Escape Room

Oh no, Bowser Jr. is causing trouble on a galactic scale! Will you be able to work together to find the clues and solve the puzzles in this Super Mario-themed escape room and help Mario & Luigi save the galaxy before it's too late? 

Celebrate National Foam Party Day

Celebrate National Foam Party Day with a fun foam celebration! Join us for a foam party. We'll have flying foam, squirt guns, and fun. Be prepared to get wet; bring a towel.

Role-Playing Game Night

Tabletop role-playing games are story-based games focused on player choice and randomized encounters, built around cooperation and group learning. Role-playing games also feature cross-disciplinary activities and skill-building, such as reading, presentation, mathematics, and socio-emotional learning.

We will be playing a rules-light game focusing on cooperation and storytelling!

Italian Biscotti

Learn how to make crispy, twice-baked Italian Biscotti Cookies. Each table will make a different flavor batch to be split evenly among registrants. We'll make espresso drinks while the cookies bake so we can enjoy our biscotti as a traditional treat dipped in coffee!

Yoga with Meditation

Experience the many benefits of yoga and meditation. This class welcomes students of all levels. Adaptations for using a chair will be shared if participants are uncomfortable getting on the floor. Meditation exercises will be incorporated into the practice. Please wear comfortable clothing; bring a blanket, yoga mat, and a strap (or belt or towel).

Discover the Night Sky!

Join the Westminster Astronomical Society and CCPL's Finksburg Branch for an evening of stargazing with inexpensive high-tech telescopes. Start by learning about the telescopes and the wonders of the night sky. Then, weather permitting, step outside to explore a variety of celestial sights!