Westminster branch
50 East Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157
Christina Ogle, Branch Manager
Branch hours
Monday - Thursday: 9 AM - 8 PM
Friday - Saturday: 9 AM - 5 PM
Directions
Upcoming programs and events
Check Currents publication (PDF) or the Calendar of Events site for more events.
Tiny Library Treasures
Westminster BranchMonday, June 29, 2026 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Ages: 12 - 17
Class registration and more information
Tiny thoughts lead to big ideas! Paint a mini canvas and create tiny art masterpieces to display in the library. Participants may paint their canvas in the library or take a kit home. Canvases will be available while supplies last. You can earn up to two service hours for doing this project; participants must be at least 12 years old to earn service hours.
Participants can pick up their kits between 9:00 AM on Monday, June 29, and 5:00 PM on Friday, July 3. Projects must be returned to the library by 5:00 PM on Saturday, August 1.
Twos and Threes Together
Westminster BranchThursday, July 2, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: 2 - 3
Class information
This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.
Family Storytime
Westminster BranchThursday, July 2, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: Birth - 8
Class information
We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children.
CCGS Research Thursday
Westminster BranchThursday, July 2, 2026 - 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Ages: 13 - Adults, Adults
Class information
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.
Westminster Branch Chess Club
Westminster BranchThursday, July 2, 2026 - 5:30pm - 7:00pm
Ages: 11 - Adults, Adults
Class registration and more information
Whether you are a chess newbie or an expert, you will find a community here in Westminster Branch's Chess Club and walk away having learned something new from our personal instructor. All pawns, bishops, knights, rooks, queens, and kings are welcome! Our club sessions consist of 30 minutes of instruction and one hour of open play. Boards and pieces will be provided, but you are welcome to bring your own set(s) from home.
Little Red Hen Puppet Show
Westminster BranchFriday, July 3, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: 3 - 12
Class information
Little Red Hen is tired of eating boring old chicken feed for supper. She wants something new, bold, and different; pizza is the solution! But who will help Little Red Hen make her pizza? Horse and Lizard are always ready to help, but can they cook? Join us and the animals as we embark on a wacky and maybe a little messy kitchen adventure!
Lunchtime Concerts: Wild Eclipse
Westminster BranchFriday, July 3, 2026 - 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Ages: All Ages
Class information
Join us for our summer Lunchtime Concerts series featuring Wild Eclipse as they bring their folk-funk vibe to our park. Feel free to bring a lawn chair or blanket.
In partnership with Fine Tuned Presents.
Super Awesome Dance Party with Mr. Craig: DINO Edition!
Westminster BranchFriday, July 3, 2026 - 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Ages: Birth - 12
Class information
Join us for one of Mr. Craig's raucous dance parties!
Family Storytime
Westminster BranchMonday, July 6, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: Birth - 8
Class information
We’ll share books, stories, rhymes, music, and movement. Come talk, sing, read, write, and play together in a format appropriate for young children.
Make a Wire-Wrapped Stone Pendant and Bracelet
Westminster BranchMonday, July 6, 2026 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ages: 11 - 17
Class registration and more information
Join us to make a wire-wrapped stone pendant and a wire-wrapped bead bracelet. We will provide the tools and supplies; you supply the creativity.
Open Mah Jongg
Westminster BranchMonday, July 6, 2026 - 5:15pm - 7:30pm
Ages: Adults
Class information
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.
Read and Play
Westminster BranchTuesday, July 7, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: Birth - 24 Months
Class information
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
Westminster BranchTuesday, July 7, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: 2 - 3
Class information
This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.
Pajama Party Storytime
Westminster BranchTuesday, July 7, 2026 - 7:00pm - 8:00pm
Ages: Birth - 8
Class information
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.
Read and Play
Westminster BranchWednesday, July 8, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: Birth - 24 Months
Class information
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
Westminster BranchWednesday, July 8, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: 2 - 3
Class information
This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.
Transitioning to Medicare Part 1
Westminster BranchWednesday, July 8, 2026 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Ages: Adults
Class registration and more information
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.
Meeting rooms
Meeting rooms are available for public use Monday through Saturday, excluding library-observed holidays.
We have the following meeting rooms available for public use:
Large Meeting Room - Capacity: 50
Small Meeting Room - Capacity: 8
1 Study Room - Capacity: 4 people
Services
24/7 book drop access
Free Wi-Fi access
Branch history
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, opened at 50 E. Main Street in March, 1980.
A major interior and exterior renovation to the building and park began in 2008. The interior renovation included a complete redesign of interior public space and features a train-themed children's area. Improvements to the Mary Lou Dewey Park in front of the branch included a redesigned entrance, new landscaping and walkways, and the Booth Memorial Stage, a performance platform for concerts and educational programming. Private funding made the addition of Wild Imaginings, a library-inspired sculpture by world-renown artist Bart Walter, possible.