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.
Read and Play
Westminster BranchTuesday, August 25, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: Birth - 2
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, August 25, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: 2 - 3
Class information
This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.
Diverse Voices Book Club: Atmosphere
Westminster BranchTuesday, August 25, 2026 - 5:00pm - 6:30pm
Ages: 16 - Adults, Adults
Class registration and more information
Join us for a monthly book discussion focusing on a diverse author's work. Each month, we will select a young adult or adult title written by an author from a diverse background so we can learn from others' perspectives. Our August selection is Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Attendees are welcome to attend in person at CCPL's Westminster Branch or virtually through Zoom.
Pajama Party Storytime
Westminster BranchTuesday, August 25, 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, August 26, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:00am
Ages: Birth - 2
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, August 26, 2026 - 11:00am - 12:00pm
Ages: 2 - 3
Class information
This lively, fast-paced storytime for young children includes books, songs, fingerplays, and movement.
Westminster Book Club: The Lovely Bones
Westminster BranchWednesday, August 26, 2026 - 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Ages: Adults
Class information
This month's selection is The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Books will be available for pickup at CCPL's Westminster Branch.
Westminster Branch Dungeons & Dragons Club
Westminster BranchWednesday, August 26, 2026 - 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Ages: 12 - 17
Class registration and more information
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.
Ready Carroll 'On the Go' Emergency Preparedness
Westminster BranchWednesday, August 26, 2026 - 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Ages: Adults
Class registration and more information
Are you prepared for a tornado or flood to visit your town? Ready Carroll "On the Go" is part of Carroll County’s emergency preparedness series that consists of safety tips and guides so you may be better prepared at home in the event of a local emergency. This program will also inform participants how they can get more involved with emergency preparedness in their own community. Engage with Emergency Management staff so you are not caught off guard when the next disaster strikes! Featuring a fire simulator, 911 call simulator, and giveaways!
Twos and Threes Together
Westminster BranchThursday, August 27, 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, August 27, 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, August 27, 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, August 27, 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.
Getting Started in Cybersecurity: From Basics to Real-World Skills
Westminster BranchSaturday, August 29, 2026 - 10:00am - 11:30am
Ages: 12 - Adults, Adults
Class registration and more information
This program introduces attendees to the fundamentals of cybersecurity, explaining how common attacks work, how defenses are built, and how to start building hands-on skills with real tools. The focus is on making cybersecurity approachable, practical, and relevant for everyone.
In this class we will:
- Learn how to think like both an attacker and a defender
- Gain familiarity with core tools and concepts used in real-world security roles
- Develop foundational skills for exploring further training or a career in cybersecurity
- Build confidence in identifying and responding to common security risk
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
Peer Support Services - schedule varies, please contact us
Public Internet computers
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.