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Carroll County Public Library to unveil outdoor music garden in Mount Airy; branch highlights services and usage
Summary
Library manager Carrie Kelly announced an interactive bell sculpture and a community unveiling on Sept. 13, highlighted library card signup month, and summarized services and usage statistics for the Mount Airy branch.
Carrie Kelly, manager of the Mount Airy branch of the Carroll County Public Library, briefed the town council Sept. 8 about an outdoor “music garden” installation donated by the Kiwanis Club of Mount Airy and scheduled for unveiling at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 13.
Kelly said the installation, made by a company called Percussion Play, is a set of musical sculptures designed for outdoor play. The unveiling will include a ribbon cutting by Mayor Bryan Hushauer, remarks from Carroll County Public Library director Andrea Bersler, a free concert and community activities. Kelly said the installation is intended for all ages and complements library programming.
Kelly used the presentation to reintroduce services available at the Mount Airy branch and to promote September as library‑card sign‑up month. She distributed packets for residents summarizing library services, which include physical and digital collections, a “library of things” (fishing poles, Chromebooks, board games), statewide digital access to newspapers and an online tutoring and language‑learning platform. Kelly provided usage statistics for the fiscal year July 1, 2024–June 30, 2025: about 103,902 visitors, 439,396 items loaned, 1,775 new library cards, 712 free programs and 18,389 program attendees; the branch recorded 4,271 room reservations.
Why it matters: The new outdoor music garden is a public amenity funded by a local service club and supports inclusive, intergenerational programming. The statistics underscore the branch’s heavy use and the library’s role in community services beyond book lending.
Next steps: The library invited the public to the ribbon cutting Sept. 13 at 10 a.m. and encouraged residents to check their library cards and consider signing up during September’s promotion.
