Carroll County Public Library

ServSafe® Food Protection Manager One Day Course & Exam

The ServSafe® Food Protection Manager Course is for individuals preparing to take the ServSafe^® Food Protection Manager Certification Exam. After taking the course and passing the proctored, multiple-choice exam, participants will receive a Food Protection Manager Certificate, valid for up to five (5) years. This course covers Food Safety Training; Foodborne Illness; Hygiene, Health & Food Safety; Flow of Food: Purchasing, Receiving, Storing, Preparing, Cooking and Serving; Environment: Equipment, Cleaning, Sanitizing, Pest Control and Facilities; and the HACCP System. This is a one-day version of this class, best suited for those with prior food manager experience or anyone looking to renew their certification. Once registered, participants should pick up their course book at Exploration Commons and complete 8 hours of self-study and chapter reviews.

_{©2018 National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (National Restaurant Association). All rights reserved. ServSafe is a trademark of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. National Restaurant Association® and the arc design are trademarks of the National Restaurant Association.}

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Donate blood and save a life. Set up an appointment or drop in. 

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.

Book Chat

Join us for an hour of chatting about books! Come and share what you are reading and get ideas from others about what to read next!

Writer's Circle

Join this fun group of writers and aspiring writers as we share what we are working on and listen to feedback from others. Whether you write novels, short stories, poems, or anything in between, this group is for you!

Adam Gidwitz: Battle of the Books Celebration

Presented by Carroll County Public Library and Park Books on Main. 

All are welcome as we celebrate another Battle of the Books season! Meet Battle of the Books author Adam Gidwitz! 

Schedule of Events: 

• 6:00 PM: Doors open with special activities
• 6:30 PM: Book Signing 
• 7:00 PM: Author Talk
• 8:00 PM: Book Signing

We will be giving out free copies of Adam's latest book, Max in the Land of Lies, the sequel to Max and the House of Spies, while supplies last, one per family. Additional books will be available for sale and signing.

About Adam Gidwitz

Adam Gidwitz is the bestselling author of A TALE DARK AND GRIMM, IN A GLASS GRIMMLY, and THE GRIMM CONCLUSION, as well as STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: SO YOU WANT TO BE A JEDI?, Newbery Honored novel THE INQUISITOR’S TALE, THE UNICORN RESCUE SOCIETY series, and the #2 New York Times Bestseller, MAX IN THE HOUSE OF SPIES. He is also the creator of the #1 podcast for kids, GRIMM, GRIMMER, GRIMMEST.

Special thanks to CCPS and Westminster High School. 

Stock Up for Summer Book Sale

$5 Bag Sale! Get ready for summer with some great reads! Stock up on books, videos, music, and more at our $5 (plus sales tax) sale. Special-priced items are not included in our bag sale. Note, standard-sized plastic grocery bags are $5; larger tote bags will be charged $8.

Volunteer Opportunity at the Finksburg Branch Garden

Are you in need of service hours? Do you like working outside and don't mind getting your hands dirty? If so, this may be the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! We are looking for students ages 14 - 17 to assist our local Master Gardeners with the maintenance of the Finksburg Branch Garden. Please dress appropriately, wear sunscreen, and bring water. Garden clean-up days are weather-dependent. 

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!

Unearth Your Story: A Bubble, Comedy, and Music Show

Get out your cameras and your paleontology tools because we are about to go on a dancing adventure with some really rad dinosaurs! Kids will pop bubbles, dance, sing, laugh, use their imaginations, and connect with the coolest dinosaurs that have ever walked on this planet. The show is crafted to be inclusive for all children, including children on the autism spectrum, and a great time for parents and caregivers! Each song in our high-energy show is accompanied by hands-on, visual, and sensory experiences designed to help kids learn and have fun at the same time. 

Unearthing the Past: A Beginner's Guide to Fossils

Enjoy a relaxed, family-friendly, easy introduction to how fossils form and why they matter. You’ll get to see real examples from around Maryland and hear what they reveal about the state’s ancient environments. By the end, you’ll have a clearer sense of how fossils help  piece together Earth’s story. This program is offered by the Natural History Society of Maryland.

DIY Dinosaur Terrarium

Have a roaring good time with us as we assemble mini dinosaur terrariums with REAL LIVE moss! 

Tropical Paint Party

Learn how to create a tropical painting in this hands-on, basic beginner's painting class. Participants can use their imagination and creativity to follow the presenter's example or dream up a warm-weather painting themselves. Each participant will be able to take home their masterpiece!

Dungeons and Dragons Club

Welcome, adventurers! Join our table as we embark on a fun-filled campaign! Our game is friendly to both new and returning players. Our characters are currently level 1. We will have a number of pre-made character sheets for you to make your own!

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

Open Paint-In with Sykesville Painting Club

Bring an art project and your own supplies. Work in our shared space with other artists.

Create a Marble Maze with the CNC

In this program we will create a personalized mini-marble maze by utilizing our Carvera Desktop CNC! Basic computer experience is required, but no experience with the Carvera CNC is needed. 

Note that the class is strictly for designing your project; they will be fully fabricated by Exploration Commons staff after this class is over. You will then be contacted to come pick up your project once it is completed. 

This class does not result in CNC Certification for independent use.

Diamond Painting Bookmark

Create a shimmering mosaic bookmark by placing tiny, colored resin "diamonds" onto a sticky, symbol-coded canvas, similar to paint-by-numbers or cross stitch but easier! All supplies 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. 

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.

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.)

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!

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Come Create

Doing crafts improves your mood, reduces stress, and is fun! Explore your inner artist. All supplies will be provided.

Veterans Book Club: Codename Nemo

In partnership with the Carroll County Veterans Advisory Council, we invite veterans, current military and reservists, and family members to join us for an evening of discussion, fellowship, and camaraderie. This month's selection is Codename Nemo: The Hunt for a Nazi U-boat and the Elusive Enigma Machine by Charles Lachman.

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.

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!