Fort Kent Public Library - Newsletter 14 August '23
The Librarian’s Messy Desk
The rain continues, but at least that hot stretch of weather has come to a close.
August is upon us, and that early shivery feel to the edges of the mornings alerts everyone that summer is ending and my favorite Maine season is almost here.
The Summer Reading program was a huge hit, but August 12 is the last day to put stickers on the prize poster or turn in completed book forms for the Grand Prize raffle. We had 75 young ones participate this year, which is an amazing jump from last summer and shows just how far we’ve come in one year. Due to several requests we’ve received from young adults and older adults, we are designing a summer reading program for next year in which all ages, including adults, will be able to participate.
Interviews begin next week for the new assistant librarian position. If you or someone you know is interested in working at the library for up to 25 hours a week, be sure to drop off a resume for us, or send it by email.
The art workshop with Michael Albert went off well last week, and all the feedback indicates this was a great way to use our facility. We will have more of these types of workshop programs in the future.
We also had our Volunteer Appreciation BBQ in July, and my heart was so full to see all the people who have been making this place shine. To have a chance to stand together with them and enjoy their collective goodwill was the high mark for my year. My amazing Board of Trustees has decided to make this an annual event.
In August, we have several events occurring. The big one is the return of the Underground Book Store on the weekend of the Muskie Derby. We’re calling it the Catch a Great Book Book Sale, and it’s happening on Saturday, August 12, from 10-2 p.m.. As before, just come by and browse. Pick all the books you want and make a donation to the library for what they are worth to you or just what you can afford. This is also the last day to turn in books for the Summer Reading.
Speaking of the book store, Rhonda King is the hero of that special place. She has taken it on herself to organize the space downstairs and turn it into something special. She, with the occasional help of her husband, Clay, put in countless volunteer hours to make the bookstore a going operation. You should stop in just to check it out.
Folks should know that the book sales this past year have helped us to stretch our limited budget to keep the library open. If we play our cards right, and we have some strong book sales going into Winter, the library should be open the rest of the year.
We will also begin our Shared Remote Workspace Project. This means there will be construction going on, and soon we will have a shared work space that the public can use to do remote office work or run their own online businesses. We will also use this as a classroom to teach people, especially our older adults, digital skills that will allow them to stay in touch with family, perform common tasks like edit pictures or send emails, and even set up web-based businesses. Keep an eye out for announcements coming out soon.
Then we have our other programs in August. These include Children’s Story Time which is every Saturday at 11 a.m. the Book Lovers Club on August 9, the Writers of the First Mile on August 16 and much more. Be sure to check out the online calendar on our website or the physical calendar we have hanging in the circulation area.
Our new Friends of the Fort Kent Public Library is forming, and people who join the group will have opportunities to help us raise funds and receive special privileges that only Friends of FKPL will enjoy. This program is starting soon, and if you want to be involved, please drop us a line and we’ll hook you up with the movers and shakers who are making it all happen. The Friends will plan fundraisers (big and small) to raise money for operating funds, building maintenance, new books, and to establish a permanent endowment. An active and engaged Friends group is an essential piece of the plan to bridge funding gaps for the library. Send an email to fortkentpubliclibrary1@gmail.com.
We have lots of new books, so check out the titles at the end of this newsletter!
Regards,
Andrew Birden, Library Director
NEW TO THE FKPL COLLECTION (These are just a few of the new titles we’ve added since the last newsletter)
Dead Man's Wake by Paul Doiron
The Complete Family Guide to Alternative Medicine : An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Natural Healing
Gideon & Otto by Olivier Dunrea
This School Year Will Be the Best! By Kay Winters
What Moms Can't Do by Douglas Wood
The Bible Experience
The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson
Haywire : discord in Maine's logging woods and the unraveling of an industry by Andrew Egan
Sunflower Sisters by Martha Hall Kelly
The Devil's Web by Mary Balogh
Hand Reflexology by Barbara Kunz
The Guilt Trip by Sandy Jones
Seven days in June by Tia Williams
Flawed Dogs: The Shocking Raid on Westminster by Berke Breathed
Boomi's Boombox by Shanthi Sekaran
Sapiens : A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval N. Harari
LIBRARY HOURS
Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 12-5
Wednesday 1-7
Saturday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Monday and Sunday - Closed
Services available at the Fort Kent Public Library
Wise Folks Kaffeeklatsch
Book Lover’s Club
Focus on Homeschooling
Large Print Books
Underground Used Book Store
Printing, copying and faxing
Free Wifi
Our Online Library Catalog
Public indoor STEAM space
Meeting room
One-on-one technology help
Comics and Graphic Novels online
Online eBook and audiobook collection
If you have questions or comments, please respond to this email, call the library at 834-3048 or drop in and let us know how things are going. To make a donation, please visit our website, give us a call, or come visit and we’ll make arrangements.
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