Library Announces September News & Updates

Friends of the Library Fundraiser

A beer & wine tasting and raffle will be held on Sunday, Sept. 24, 1–4 pm, at Pour Richard’s Wine & Spirits, 14 Grove Street, Franklin. Tickets are $10 each in advance and are available at the library. At the door the tickets will be $15 each or 2 for $25. In addition, the Friends will hold two raffles, including one for a variety of pet-related items, including dog training, doggy day care and grooming. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Thanks to Camp Bow Wow, Behavior Buddies, Paws & Claws and PetSmart for their donations for the raffle baskets. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $5 each, with a maximum of 200 tickets to be sold. This event and raffle will raise funds for our Indy Commemorative Statue that will be placed in the newly renovated Children’s Room.  See www.bellfol.org for details.

Enlighten Bellingham

This year the library is offering a variety of programs for people of all ages under the Enlighten Bellingham program.  We are one of six libraries (3 in MA and 3 in ME) that, due to our science programming, were chosen as pilot libraries by the Maine State Library, the MA Board of Library Commissioners and Cornerstones of Science, a Maine nonprofit. The goal for the initiative is for the pilot libraries to create a field-tested, replicable science literacy method that can be used to enable their public libraries to become skilled STEM facilitators. The project seeks to empower public libraries to build their science capacity so that they can connect their communities to engaging and meaningful informal science and technology experiences, equipment, books, media and the scientific community. The topic is Environmental Literacy and will comprise programs on Alternative Energy, Recycling and Water Resources. In September the program will include the following events:

All About Electric Cars—Saturday, Sept. 9, at 10 am. The New England Electric Auto Association (NEEAA) will host a hybrid/electric car show and ride-and-drive event. There will be a panel discussion, and several dealers will be present with the latest hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric vehicles, and will be offering test drives. Actual owners will also be available to share ownership experiences. The car show will be held in the library’s parking lot, 10–11 am; then a panel discussion will take place 11 am–12 pm. Light refreshments will be provided after the panel discussion courtesy of NEEAA; the car show will resume from 12 to 1:30 pm. Please register.

Tiny Houses: Everything You Need to Know—Tuesday, Sept. 19, 6:30 pm (rescheduled from July).  As the Tiny House movement gains momentum, a growing number of people are intrigued by the concept of “living tiny.” Join us for an enlightening presentation from a national expert and local tiny houser: Tracey Powell. She will share her first-hand experience with this unique lifestyle, including pros and cons, financing, and legality. Even if you don’t plan to live “tiny” yourself, learn tips for how to live simply, safely, and sustainably. Please register.

Paper Flowers for Book Lovers with Amber Ladley—Tuesday, Sept. 26, 6 pm (for teens and adults). Learn how to repurpose discarded book pages into paper flowers using the Kusudama technique. All materials provided, but feel free to bring your own decorative accents for the center of your flowers (buttons, small sea shells, bottle caps, etc.) The library will provide the book pages, but you can bring your own if you want. Please note: a hot glue gun will be used. Space is limited so please register.

September Events

Writers’ Group for Adults—Monday, Sept. 11,  at 6:30 pm. Bellingham Library, in partnership with local area writers Amy Bartelloni and Marjorie Turner Hollman, welcomes the public for monthly evenings of reading and listening. This group, which started  in May, is off to a great start. Come hear what local writers are working on and share what you’re working on. Works of fiction or non-fiction are all welcome. Reading limit is 9 minutes per reader, with a brief opportunity for positive, personal comments only. The group meets monthly on the second Monday of the month. Please register.

Book a Librarian—Most Wednesdays at 5 and 5:45 pm. Would you like a personal introduction to resources available at the library? Do you need more time with a librarian than you can get over the phone or if you just walk in? Book a Librarian sessions are tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual. A library staff member will give undivided attention to patrons who want in-depth help with a wide variety of library services, such as learning to use a computer, tablet, email or the internet; downloading ebooks and audiobooks; researching a topic; discovering new books and authors to read and enjoy; business, nonprofit or genealogy help; or other topics you define.  Please register.

Mother/Daughter Book Club—Monday, Sept. 25, at 6:30 pm (for mothers and daughters, grades 7-8). Looking for a way to bond? Join the library’s Mother/Daughter Book Club. Each month, a mother/daughter pair selects a book that the group will read. This month’s book is Pies and Prejudice by Heather Vogel Frederick. Copies are available at the library. Please register if you’re attending for the first time.

1000 Books Before Kindergarten—The brain develops most rapidly during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. A toddler’s brain creates up to two million new connections every second. Early experiences and interactions are a key factor in a child’s brain development. The ability to learn language skills is greatest before the age of six. Early literacy skills have a lifelong impact on educational and occupational success. The most important predictor of school success is being read to at home during early childhood.

Starting on Sept. 1, use our online tracking tool to keep track of the number of books you read with your baby/toddler/preschooler. There will be incentives as you reach goals along the way. Stop by the library or visit our website for more details.

After-School Programs

The library offers opportunities for children in grades 4-12 to attend our supervised after-school programs. Parents are advised to review the Library’s Information for Parents of BMS and BHS Students Who Visit the Library After School at http://bit.ly/2w6TIqd, which outlines the programs, including supervision and attendance, library spaces, parking lot safety and keeping in touch with your child.

ASK (After School Kids) for children in grades 4-7, will be offered at least 3 days a week in the Children’s Program Room. It will include video games, Chromebooks, crafts, board games and more. Check the library calendar for details on which days and times the program will run.

Teen Room Activities will take place Monday—Friday, 2-5 pm.  Sixth- through 12-graders can stop by the Teen Room after school to use computers, play on the WiiU and XBox One, play board games, and create craft projects with your friends.

Several more after-school programs are happening. See our website calendar for details.

Regular Events for Children

• Ring-A-Ding: Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:05 and 10:50 am (for ages 0-5).  Drop in. (No Ring-a-Ding on Sept. 1, 5, 12, or 15.)
• Book Babies Playgroup: Mondays, 11:30 am, and Wednesdays, 9:30 am (for up to 23 months). Begins week of Sept. 18.
• Picnic Stories on the Town Common: Wednesdays, 2:30 pm, weather permitting. Begins Sept. 20.
• Alphabits: Mondays, at 10:10 am; Tuesdays, at 1:15 and 4:15 pm; and Wednesdays and Thursdays, at 10:10 and 11 am (for ages 2-5). Begins the week of Sept. 18.
• Potpourri Stories & Craft: Thursdays at 1:15 pm (for ages 3-5). Starts Sept. 21.

Events for Adults

• Monday, Sept. 11,  at 6:30 pm: Book Discussion Group; new members welcome. Drop in. 
• Monday, Sept. 11, at 6 pm: Coloring for Adults. Drop in.
• Thursday, Sept. 14, at 7 pm: Library Board of Trustees Meeting.
• Thursdays at 6:30 pm: Bellingham Skein Artists Adult Knitting Group. Drop in.
• Monday, Oct. 2, at 7 pm: Friends of the Library Meeting.

Bellingham Public Library hours are Mon.—Thur., 10 am—8 pm;  Fri. & Sat., 10 am—5 pm. (Sat. hours resume on Sept. 9.) Closed Monday, Sept. 4 for Labor Day. Closed Sunday.