Carroll County Public Library

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 features books, rhymes, and songs with lots of wiggles and giggles! We’ll learn through movement and foster a love of stories. 

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.

Read & Play: Halloween Storytime

Join your little one at a special Halloween storytime featuring interactive books, rhymes, music, and movement, followed by playgroup activities that allow children to practice skills and socialize. Costumes are welcome, and snacks will be served.

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.

Mount Airy Knitters

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

Move & Groove Storytime

This energetic storytime features books, rhymes, and songs with lots of wiggles and giggles! We’ll learn through movement and foster a love of stories. 

Ready, Set, School!

This special storytime for preschoolers promotes pre-reading and school readiness skills. Get ready for kindergarten through books, songs, activities, and lots of fun! 

Preschool Move and Learn: Halloween Storytime

Join us for an interactive storytime where we develop school readiness skills using movement, music, and more, while fostering a love of learning! This fun program includes art projects and hands-on learning stations. Costumes are welcome, and snacks will be served.

Ready, Set, School!

This special storytime for preschoolers promotes pre-reading and school readiness skills. Get ready for kindergarten through books, songs, activities, and lots of fun! 

Twos and Threes Together

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

Focaccia Bread & Roasted Pepper and Tomato Soup Two-Day Class

On day one, participants will prepare the focaccia dough and the roasted red bell pepper and tomato soup. On day two, participants will bake the focaccia and enjoy it paired with warmed soup. 

Adobe Illustrator Project: Paper Rose

In this class, we will be going over various tools in Adobe Illustrator to make a rose design from scratch that we will then be cutting out of cardstock on our Epilog Fusion Edge. Basic knowledge of Adobe Illustrator and Laser Cutter Certification are required.

Westminster Book Club: James

This month's selection is James by Percival Everett. Books will be available for pickup at CCPL's Westminster Branch.

Westminster Branch Dungeons & Dragons Club

Welcome, adventurers! Join our table(s) as we embark on fun-filled campaigns! Our games are friendly to both new and returning players. We will have a number of pre-made character sheets for you to make your own. Dungeon Masters who help run club campaigns will also receive service hours for their time. 

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

Chess at the Library

Are you a chess champion or want to learn? Show off your best moves against other chess players! Experienced and novice chess players are welcome.

Intro to Embroidery Digitizing with Hatch

Learn how machine embroidery files are created with Hatch Embroidery Digitizer 3 software. We will review the basics of machine embroidery digitizing, discuss key aspects of selecting and preparing your artwork, and walk through the basic digitizing process from start to finish. This is an introductory, demonstration-based class for those with no digitizing experience. Participants can apply what they learn using Hatch Embroidery Digitizer 3 software, available for public use in the makerspace.

Open Chess

Are you a chess expert or learning to play? Drop in to show your skills with other chess players! Chess players of all levels are welcome.

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.

Family Fun Night

Join us for a fun-filled time of a story, music, games, and creativity! After a story and group activities, families have a choice of playing games and making crafts together. Perfect for all ages!

Storytime Under the Stars

Join us for storytime under the stars, where we'll read books, enjoy music, and do a craft. Weather permitting, we will look at the nighttime sky through special telescopes.

Carroll 250: American Revolutionary War Tavern Exhibit

Taverns during the American Revolution fostered the spirit of revolution and community. The themes presented in the Tavern exhibit highlight the local history of Carroll County to ignite conversation, civic engagement, community service, and what it means to be an American today.

This program is part of the Carroll 250 Speaker Series celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence.

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.

Beginner Sewing Level 1: Sew a Reversible Drawstring Bag (Class 8)

Get acquainted with the sewing machine and basic tools of the trade. Learn how to sew a channel onto a fully lined bag and insert drawstrings that will close the bag. Learn about using different fabric combinations to add visual interest and how to use 'boxed bottom' techniques to create a sturdy base.

Class Prerequisites: Exploration Commons' Sewing Machine Certification

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

About Beginner Sewing Level 1: These classes introduce new or less experienced sewists to beginning sewing information and resources with hands-on practice.

Beginner Sewing Level 1 classes introduce and practice the following skills:

• basic sewing tools
• cutting, measuring, and marking fabric
• pressing with an iron
• basting and sewing

You can take Level 1 classes in any order, but beginners will benefit most by taking the first three classes, Class 1, 2, and 3, in sequence.

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: Halloween Storytime

Costumes are welcomed.

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.

Mini Musicians

Join us for a creative and exploratory first introduction to music! This program will incorporate piano playing, boomwhackers, and rhythm instruments while teaching children the basics of pitch, patterns, and rhythm. We will learn skills that are beneficial for future piano lessons and other musical instruments too!

Focaccia Bread & Roasted Pepper and Tomato Soup Two-Day Class

On day one, participants will prepare the focaccia dough and the roasted red bell pepper and tomato soup. On day two, participants will bake the focaccia and enjoy it paired with warmed soup. 

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.

Virtual Ghost Tour of Mount Airy

Back by popular demand! Join us for a tour through Mount Airy's haunted past and hear ghostly tales from beyond the grave without the walking! Explore Mount Airy's violent past of murders on Main Street, shoot-outs at the station, deadly railroad riots, mysterious fires, and ghostly apparitions in town. All are welcome! This program is an accessible option to the Historical Society of Mount Airy walking tours.  

Brush Lettering Basics

Want to learn brush lettering? Join us to learn and practice simple strokes that, when combined, turn into beautiful lettering. No experience is needed, and all the supplies will be provided.

Ghost Walk of Westminster

Join us for a ghost presentation and stroll through Westminster to visit our local ghosts and legends. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles. Registrants will be contacted with updates in the event of bad weather.

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.

Ghosts of Gettysburg

Join local historian Nancy Householder, a tour guide for Mark Nesbitt's Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours, for a night of chilling tales and stories.

Carroll 250: American Revolutionary War Tavern Exhibit

Taverns during the American Revolution fostered the spirit of revolution and community. The themes presented in the Tavern exhibit highlight the local history of Carroll County to ignite conversation, civic engagement, community service, and what it means to be an American today.

This program is part of the Carroll 250 Speaker Series celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence.

Mount Scary: Going Batty!

We're going batty for Halloween! Drop by the Mount Airy Town Hall for some not-so-scary stories about our flying friends with former First Lady Mary Hushour and the library. Come in costume — we'll be trick-or-treating downtown after storytime! 

Boo Bash

Join us for fun, not-too-scary stories followed by a costume parade.

Pete the Cat Meet and Greet

Meet Pete the Cat, our groooovy special friend! Pete, a costumed mascot, is always happy to meet his fans and pose for a photo. Join the fun as we celebrate Pete with a story, a craft, and a book to take home! (Limited to one book per family, while supplies last.) 

Thank you to Park Books on Main for supporting this program.

Candied Pecan Gift Bags

Get ready for the holidays with this seasonal favorite, candied pecans. After learning how to make these treats, package them up to take home and share with loved ones!

Please remember to wear closed-toed shoes when you attend!

Coffee with the Classics: The Birds

Celebrate the spooky season with our October selection, Hitchcock's horror classic The Birds. 

Preschool Science: Spooky Science

Join us as we investigate not-so-scary science! There will be a variety of hands-on learning activities for kids. We will read a book, sing, and have a messy time! Costumes are welcome, but not too spooky.

Spanish Language Practice Circle

Join us for a friendly and informal group gathering to practice speaking Spanish together. This program is for intermediate and advanced-level Spanish speakers. A partner from The Literacy Council of Carroll County will lead this program.

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! 

Ghost Walk of Westminster

Join us for a ghost presentation and stroll through Westminster to visit our local ghosts and legends. The walk is approximately 1.5 miles. Registrants will be contacted with updates in the event of bad weather.

Carroll 250: American Revolutionary War Tavern Exhibit

Taverns during the American Revolution fostered the spirit of revolution and community. The themes presented in the Tavern exhibit highlight the local history of Carroll County to ignite conversation, civic engagement, community service, and what it means to be an American today.

This program is part of the Carroll 250 Speaker Series celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence.

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!

Spooky Storytime

Join us for a not-so-scary storytime as we celebrate the spooky time of year!

Open Sewing Studio (Bring Your Own 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 is for individuals bringing their own sewing machine. You must have a working knowledge of how to thread and operate your machine to register.

If you want to reserve a sewing machine, please register for the other version of this program.

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.

Recycled Crafts: Jack-o'-Lantern

Come and make a jack-o'-lantern out of recycled coffee creamer bottles.

Stop the Bleed® Lifesaving Training

This hands-on training demonstrates three quick lifesaving techniques you can use to keep someone from bleeding out in case of injury. Learn how to apply pressure to a wound with your hands, pack a wound to control bleeding, and correctly apply a tourniquet. All participants receive a free personal Stop the Bleed^® kit. Presented by R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center. 

Sykesville Painting Club Workshop with Karen Peck and Mike Tebo

The library is partnering with the Sykesville Painting Club to offer a framing class with Karen Peck and Mike Tebo.

Please register online.

Please take note of the materials you will need to bring. 

Halloween Horror d'Oeuvres

"Bone" Appetit!  Have a hauntingly good time making a variety of spooky-themed treats! Bloody Mary deviled eggs, fiendish shrimp fingers, roasted date roaches, antipasto char-BOO-terie, and skull caprese salad.

Scrappy Monsters

Mix-and-match pattern pieces to invent your own scrappy monster, just in time for Halloween! We will provide the material; you just need to bring your creativity. No sewing experience is necessary, but you must be able to handle fabric scissors. This workshop is a fantastic way for kids to engage in imaginative play and create something uniquely their own. Children under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult.

Baking Basics: Classic Pumpkin Roll

This hands-on bake-along class teaches you how to make a classic pumpkin roll with cream cheese filling. Participants will take home their delicious dessert to eat or freeze for Thanksgiving. CCPL's Westminster Branch staff member, Tina Mawhinney, and the Exploration Commons Teaching Kitchen staff will be teaching.  If you have previously taken this class at EC50, please do not register so that someone else may have the opportunity to attend. Registration for all sessions  of this class will open on 10/22.

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.

Alphabet Train

Climb aboard each week to explore a different letter of the alphabet through books, songs, and activities. All adult caregivers are welcome.

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.

Move & Groove Storytime

This energetic storytime features books, rhymes, and songs with lots of wiggles and giggles! We’ll learn through movement and foster a love of stories. 

Alphabet Train

Climb aboard each week to explore a different letter of the alphabet through books, songs, and activities. All adult caregivers are welcome.

Apple Experiments: Explore, Build, & Create!

Do you like apples? Explore the science behind one of fall’s favorite crunchy fruits! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll investigate why apples turn brown and how we can slow the process down. Young scientists will experiment with various liquids to discover which ones help keep apples from turning brown. Then, put on your engineer hat! Using apple pieces, challenge yourself to build the tallest tower you can. Along the way, we’ll explore what makes a structure sturdy and discover strategies for building a tall, stable tower. We’ll finish with an apple painting experiment, combining creativity and science to create art with apples. Come explore, experiment, build, and create with apples!

North Carroll Needle and Fiber Arts

Bring your knitting, crocheting, embroidery, or other fiber arts projects to this group gathering to share tips, patterns, and inspiration. All skill levels are welcome.

Cooking for Wellness: Low-Carb Stuffing

Stuffing is a holiday favorite for many, but if you’re trying to manage your carb intake, it may be difficult to decide what other carbs to sacrifice to stay on track. Enjoy more with this nutritious low-carb stuffing recipe. Make this recipe and enjoy a presentation on diabetes and low-carb eating with a registered dietitian. This class is provided through our partnership with Carroll Hospital.

Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Falls are the leading cause of admission to Shock Trauma, but they are not a normal part of aging. Led by a Shock Trauma expert, this fall prevention class shares simple, practical ways to help you stay safe and confident. Topics include how to speak with your doctor, easy home safety tips, medication management, nutrition, safe ways to get up after a fall, gentle exercises, and more. 

Hooks & Needles

Bring your crochet, knitting, embroidery, or any other portable project to the library to work alongside other crafters. Get out of the house and enjoy some company while you stitch a few more rows. Drop in anytime; no instruction will be provided.

Open Mah Jongg

Join us for a friendly game of casual, non-competitive American Mah Jongg. This program is for experienced and newer players with some play experience. An instructor will be present. Please bring a current National Mah Jongg League card. If you don’t have a card, one will be provided. 

Quick Dinner Series: Creamy Pumpkin Gnocchi

In this Quick Dinner Series class, we will work in pairs to make a creamy pumpkin gnocchi with spinach and sausage. We will enjoy our meal together in the Teaching Kitchen. 

Robot Pumpkin Smash

Join the Robo-Lions, a team of students, as they fire up their robots for Robot Pumpkin Smash! Find out how long it takes a robot to crack open a pumpkin. This program is a collaboration between PIE3 (Partnership in Inspiration for Engineering Education and Entrepreneurship), Robo-Lions, and Carroll County Public Library.

Carroll 250: Living Democracy: Elections, Campaigns, and Union Mills

Join Kyle Dalton, Executive Director of the Union Mills Homestead Foundation, as he discusses the history of Carroll County's elections and polling places while exploring how residents' ideas about representative democracy have changed over the centuries.  

This program is part of the Carroll 250 Speaker Series celebrating the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250^th anniversary of the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence.

Yoga with Meditation

Experience the many benefits of yoga and meditation. This class, taught by Rebecca Berg, 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).

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 & Groove Storytime

This energetic storytime features books, rhymes, and songs with lots of wiggles and giggles! We’ll learn through movement and foster a love of stories. 

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.

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.

Pete the Cat Meet and Greet

Meet Pete the Cat, our groooovy special friend! Pete, a costumed mascot, is always happy to meet his fans and pose for a photo. Join the fun as we celebrate Pete with a story, a craft, and a book to take home! (Limited to one book per family, while supplies last.) 

Thank you to Park Books on Main for supporting this program.

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.

Pokémon Trading Card Party!

Party like you're a Pikachu with Pokémon card giveaways, trades, and battles. Free Pokémon card packs will be provided while supplies last. Cards from home as well as utilizing the Pokémon TCGP app are encouraged but not required. 

Drop-In Diamond Painting

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

Amazing Race: America's 250th Birthday Library Edition

Join a team to compete in an amazing race to learn and show what you know about the American Colonies in 1776.

Tabletop Tuesday: Custom Dice Towers

Level up game night with our Tabletop Tuesday programs! In this class, participants will make a custom wooden dice tower using Adobe Illustrator and the Epilog Fusion laser. No prior experience designing or using the laser is required.

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.  

Transitioning to Medicare Part 1

Are you or someone you care about eligible for Medicare? Come and find out how to maximize your Medicare health benefits. There are many decisions to make when you are transitioning to Medicare. This seminar will cover the four parts of Medicare (Parts A, B, C, and D), Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans, available preventive services, and how to protect yourself from healthcare fraud. We will also cover Medicare Savings Programs, which help pay out-of-pocket costs for Medicare beneficiaries. These are not all low-income programs.

Diamond Painting

Join us for a monthly session of diamond painting! We'll have a new project each month, and no experience is necessary!

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.

DIY Candle Painting

Looking to express some of your creativity? Our candle painting program is just for you! Join us as we design and paint candlesticks with melted, colored wax to create beautiful hand-painted décor you can light and enjoy!

Tai Chi for Relaxation

Tai Chi for Relaxation is terrific for adults of all fitness levels and abilities! Tai Chi Ch'uan has been practiced for fitness and health for hundreds of years. The slow, graceful movements and fluid natural postures can help improve balance, coordination, posture, breathing, and concentration. This program is being taught by a local professional instructor. Please wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.  

Program dates are the first Tuesday of the month, and registration is required.

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.

Eldersburg Branch LEO Club

Sponsored by CCPL's Eldersburg Branch and the South Carroll Lioness Club, this group has been organized to promote service activities throughout the community and to develop in its members the individual qualities of leadership, experience, and opportunity. Join us to connect with your community and earn service learning hours while collaborating on projects that will benefit Eldersburg and beyond. 

The LEO club has invited a highly decorated US veteran to speak to them about the duties and responsibilities of service to their country. In response to this information, the club will be redesigning their sign on the library grounds to reflect and honor our community's veterans. Pictures with the sign can be taken on November 11 from 12 PM to 4 PM.

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.