History of Library Service in Carroll County, Maryland

WESTMINSTER

Library service in Carroll County began in 1863, when the Westminster Public Library was founded by Reverend J. A. Monroe and Dr. Charles Billingslea. The library was supported by membership dues and fines, and was open to the public on Friday afternoons. Relocating over the years from the Odd Fellows Hall to the new Times Building and then to the second floor of the Wantz Building, Westminster Public Library was still a one-room library in the 1940s.

In 1949, Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Davis announced that they would give a public library building to Westminster and provide an endowment for its support. At that time, the Westminster Public Library turned over its operation and assets to the Davis Library. The Davis Library, housed in a former Methodist church building, was formally dedicated as a library in May, 1951.

In 1958, after ten years of lobbying, a county-wide library system was established, with the Davis Library operating as the central branch. Carroll County’s first modern library facility, the Westminster Branch Library, opened at 50 E. Main Street in March, 1980. An interior and exterior renovation for the 28-year-old building is now underway.

NORTH CARROLL

The Hampstead Library was established in 1955, through the efforts of the Junior Woman’s Club of Hampstead. The club won a Federation Prize for its library project. With the establishment of a county system in 1958, the Hampstead Library became the Northeast Branch of the Carroll County Public Library. The present North Carroll Branch Library, located between Hampstead and Manchester, opened as a full-service branch in February, 1990.

MT. AIRY

In 1965, the Carroll County Commissioners gave the town of Mt. Airy permission to open a community library there, with the provision that the town raise $3,000 to refurbish and furnish a room above the town office. Four months later, after donations and fund-raising events such as a benefit shoot at the Rod and Gun Club, a dance for teens, and a book sale, the library opened. In 1974 the Mt. Airy Community Branch moved to the former American Grocery Building, and in 1993 a new full-service Mount Airy Branch Library opened on Ridge Road.

ELDERSBURG

Library service to the South Carroll area was first provided by a 2,100 square foot branch which opened in 1968 in the Eldersburg Improvement Association Building. Growth in the South Carroll area fostered strong community support for an improved library facility. The Eldersburg Branch Library opened as a full-service library on August 14, 1983, at first sharing the new South Carroll Multi-purpose building with the Carroll County Health Department and the Maryland State Police. In 1998, the library expanded into the vacated Health Department space. The branch was renovated in 2004.

TANEYTOWN

The Taneytown Community Library opened as a branch of the Carroll County Public Library on January 9, 1969 in a storefront building on Baltimore Street. Ground was broken for a full-service branch on April 18, 1988. The Taneytown Branch Library at 10 Grand Drive opened to the public in February, 1989. A 5,000 square foot expansion is planned for the Taneytown Branch.

FINKSBURG

In August 2007, construction began on the Finksburg Branch Library. The branch, located at Old Westminster Pike and Green Mill Road, will be a 15,000 square foot “green” building with a geothermal energy system and other sustainable design features. A fall 2008 opening is anticipated.The Finksburg Branch opened it doors on Jan 28 2009.

OUTREACH SERVICES

Outreach library services have expanded tremendously since 1958. In addition to service provided at its full-service branches, CCPL provides service to family day care facilities, the bookmobile visits day care centers and remote areas of the county, and a deposit collection is maintained at the Carroll County Detention Center. In 2007, the 19-year-old bookmobile was replaced with a vehicle specifically designed to allow easy access for customers and staff. The floor is only 13” above ground level in the ride position, and lowers when air is emptied from the rear suspension. An integrated ramp system meets ADA requirements for accessibility. With no steps to climb, the vehicle is ideal for children and seniors. A satellite dish will allow Internet access for staff and customers. Service to seniors began in 1971 through a volunteer program, and the Life Enrichment program. Assisted living homes, adult day care centers, retirement communities, the homebound and clients of Meals on Wheels is provided through CCPL's Library Link Service to Seniors, a program staffed by volunteers.

LIBRARY HEADQUARTERS

Library Headquarters was first located at the Westminster Branch Library. With the growth of the library system, it was necessary to relocate to expanded rented space at the Carroll County Airpark. Library Headquarters houses Materials Management, Information Technology, and other support staff. In summer 2008, Library Headquarters will move into the renovated New Windsor School building.

    CCPL Time Line

1863 - Westminster Public Library, a membership organization, was founded

1949 - The Davis Library was established through the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Walter H. Davis

1952 - Annual circulation: 28,183

1955 - Hampstead Library was founded by the Junior Woman’s Club

1958 - Carroll County Public Library, a county-wide library system was established Bookmobile service was instituted

1959 - Annual circulation: 88,390

1961 - First story hour was held at Davis Library 190 children participated in Davis Library’s summer reading program

1965 - Mount Airy Community Library opened

1968 - Eldersburg Community Library opened

1969 - Taneytown Community Library opened

1971 - Life Enrichment (now Library Link) established to serve older adults

1979 - Circulation system was automated through a partnership with Baltimore County Public Library

1980 - Westminster Branch Library opened as a full-service library branch
System-wide circulation: 504,582

1983 - Eldersburg Branch opened as a full-service library branch

1985 - System-wide circulation passed 1,000,000 in June, 1985.
Service to the Carroll County Detention Center was established

1989 - Taneytown Branch Library opened as a full-service library branch

1990 - North Carroll Branch Library opened as a full-service library branch

1992 - 3,472 children participated in CCPL’s summer reading program

1993 - Dynix, an automated, integrated library catalog and circulation system was implemented. Mt. Airy Branch Library opened as a full-service library branch

1994 - CCPL began offering Internet access through Sailor

1995 - Carroll County Public Library became the first Internet service provider in Carroll County

1999 - System-wide circulation: 2,972,224

2000 - 11,529 children and teens participated in CCPL’s summer reading program

2001 - System-wide circulation exceeded 3 million items: 3,044,266

2007 - Groundbreaking for Finksburg Branch Library took place on Aug 2

2009 - Finksburg Branch Library opened on Jan 28

CCPL has maintained the highest circulation per capita in Maryland since 1994