Summer Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: CLOSED
Bangor Public Library News-August 2015
Summer is flying by and lots of progress is being
made on the library's renovations. Most of the
new front path which will lead to our new front
entrance is complete and the area that will
become our new glass atrium/seating area is
prepped and ready for when building begins
later on. A new opening has been made
between what used to be the Bangor Room and
the microfilm room making way for what will be
a beautiful new art gallery, replacing the Bangor
Room, that will flow into a fantastic history
room, replacing the microfilm room, and will
showcase the wonderful art, artifacts and book
collections we have at the library but are
currently unavailable to be viewed due to lack of
space. For all of you fiction fanatics, we are hopeful that the new Fiction
Cellar will be open to patrons in early August.
The third floor area which will become the new Youth Services Department is
busy with workers finishing construction and renovation. This space is set to
be available to the public after Labor Day. NOTE TO PATRONS: The Youth
Services collection, including the children's and teen's books, is set to be
moved during the week of August 31 to September 4, 2015. During this
time, the entire Youth Services collection will be unavailable for check out.
If you think you might have books you need for schooling or just want to
grab the latest, greatest new releases, please try to come in before August
31 and get what you need before the collection is unavailable.
The Bangor Public Library is pleased to announce our Brown Bag Lunch
Series beginning in September. The series will bring authors of great
contemporary books to the library for discussion. You bring a lunch and
we'll provide refreshments and dessert. More on this series in next month's
newsletter.
The American Library Association (ALA) has just published a new book titled
Archives Alive: Expanding Engagement with Public Library Archives and
Special Collections detailing how libraries are working with communities to
develop and expand knowledge of special collections held by local libraries
and, in doing so, develop and expand knowledge of local history. A section
of the book is devoted to our own local history department which has spent
many hours in local schools working with students to get them more
interested and excited about our state's great history. A copy of this book is
available in the Bangor Room on the second floor of the library. Come in
and check it out.
Newly Arrived at Bangor Public Library – A Rigol Digital Oscilloscope! Do-ityourself electronics hackers/makers with a Bangor Public Library card in
good standing can now check out an oscilloscope beginning the first week of
August. The Rigol Digital Oscilloscope has four channels, 50 MHz Bandwidth
and a 7 inch screen. Data can be saved to a flash drive. The oscilloscope
comes with a power cord, 4 probes, a USB cable, user guide, software and a
carrying case. Adult patrons who have a permanent card and do not have
any billed items, fees or fines are eligible to check the oscilloscope. Patrons
must also have a current, picture identification. For more information or to
reserve or check out the oscilloscope visit the Reference Desk in person, call
947-8336 x 129 or email refdesk@bpl.lib.me.us. Funding was provided
through a grant from the Maine Charity Fund of the Maine Community
Foundation.
Upcoming Author Visits
September will offer you several opportunities to meet some great authors.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the
Lecture Hall
Brown Bag Lunch Series: Mike Bond
Killing Maine is the second in the Pono Hawkins thriller series after the
critically-acclaimed bestseller, Saving Paradise. Author Mike Bond’s Killing
Maine is a mind-blowing tale of murder, bribery, nefarious politics and
industrial crime against the state’s magical and fast-disappearing natural
beauty. Why the hell was internationally-known surfer Pono Hawkins
freezing his board shorts off in Maine? Only a phone call from the wife of his
old Special Forces buddy, Bucky Franklin, would drag Pono off the sunny
beaches of Hawaii. But Bucky was in trouble, big trouble, and trying to get
to the bottom of it to clear his name was murder. In Mike Bond’s newest
existential thriller based on his own life experience, Killing Maine, Pono must
find out who framed Bucky for the death of an environmentalist—and just
how deep the political corruption goes in the Pine Tree State. Pono quickly
learns that Maine is as politically corrupt as Hawaii, with huge energy
corporations gobbling up the state’s beautiful mountains, destroying Maine’s
pristine wilderness and purchasing its politicians at rock bottom prices.
Stirring up this hornet’s nest is why Pono is hunted, shot at, betrayed, and
stalked by knife-wielding assassins while trying to find the true murderer
and free Bucky. Nothing is certain. No one can be trusted. No place is safe—
and everyone he cares for is in grave danger. And with a rap sheet that
includes two undeserved jail sentences, Pono is a target for every cop in the
state, all who will do anything to lock him up for good. Join us as we
welcome author, Mike Bond, as he discusses his book! Books are available
for purchase and for signing. Bring your lunch for this exciting conversation!
Wednesday, September 16, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the
Lecture Hall
Brown Bag Lunch Series: Richard Klose
Grover Cleveland College is dying, and the shock is too much for the
college’s founder and president, Cyrus Cleveland—a direct descendant of
President Grover Cleveland—who begins to die in tandem with his school. In
a last bid to save his beloved institution, he wills the college to his nephew
Marcus Cleveland, a used car salesman in New Jersey who has never been to
college, much less administered one. Marcus heads north to see what he can
do to live up to his uncle’s expectations and save the day. Facing the
impending calamity with cheer, an incorrigibly sunny attitude, and ample
naivete, he is totally unprepared for the stew of discontented faculty,
internecine rivalries, and unforeseen events that threaten to upend his every
effort to rescue the school from the threat of extinction. About the
Author: Robert Klose lives and writes in Orono, Maine, where he raised his
two adopted sons from Russia and Ukraine. He is a biology professor at the
Bangor campus of the University of Maine at Augusta. Besides being a longtime contributor of essays to The Christian Science Monitor, he is the author
of five books. His newest title, "Long Live Grover Cleveland," is published by
Medallion Press and was released in July. Previous titles are "Adopting
Alyosha — A Single Man Finds a Son in Russia," "Small Worlds — Adopted
Sons, Pet Piranhas & Other Mortal Concerns," "The Three-Legged Woman &
Other Excursions in Teaching," and a children's book, "The Legend of the
River Pumpkins." His work has also appeared in Newsweek, The Boston
Globe, Reader's Digest, Exquisite Corpse, and elsewhere. He is a four-time
winner of the Maine Press Association's annual award for opinion writing. An
avid traveler, he has recently returned from Greenland, where he explored
the ruins of the Viking settlers. Reviews of his books can be found on his
Amazon author's page. Join us as we welcome Robert Klose for our Brown
Bag Lunch Series! Bring your lunch and join us for this exciting conversation.
Books will be available for purchase.
Friday, September 25, 2015 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm in the Lecture Hall
Author Talk: Dr. Carlos Villacorta Gonzales
Alicia, esto es el capitalismo portrays the life of a young couple trying to
survive the violence and homelessness in Peru, a country experiencing a
political and economic dictatorship during the nineties. Thus, the novel is
divided into three parts, which depicts the experience of Tigrillo and Alicia,
the young people who move through a city that is adverse to them when not
cruel, while looking for a job but also a way to rebuild their own home.
During the nineties in Peru, Alberto Fujimori consolidated his authoritarian
government and pushed his neoliberal economic agenda. There were a lot of
ways he controlled the media and bribed politicians—and not only politicians.
He reached into everyone’s lives: actors, athletes, broadcasters, our own
lives, etc. Very little has been written in fiction about those years—about the
impact of Fujimori’s economic policy and his authoritarian dictatorship over
Peruvian families. How to depict this process in a book? Alicia, esto es el
capitalismo focuses on a couple and their survival between 1996 and 1997,
their troubles to find a job and education in a country with new economic
rules that, for most Peruvians, remained obscure and enigmatic as Fujimori’s
dictatorship. Join us for this opportunity to hear Dr. Villacorta speak about
his book! Books will be available for purchase and signing!
Wednesday, September 30, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in the
Lecture Hall
Brown Bag Lunch Series: David Bergquist
Join us and author David Bergquist, while he discusses his new book, Bangor
in World War II: From the Homefront to the Embattled Skies. This is the
newest addition to The History Press' Military series. The book, by the local
author, David H. Bergquist was released on July 27th and features patriotic
images of Bangor preparing for Battle. As the specter of a second world war
grew, so did Bangor's strategic importance in eastern Maine. National Draft
Day saw 3,157 local men register to serve, and the city built up its Dow Field
as the nation braced for war. Nearly 6,000 servicemen and women called
Dow their home base throughout World War II. Organizations like the local
Soldier's Welfare Council and the USO welcomed the troops even as women
stepped into roles vacated by enlisted men and worked tirelessly to keep up
the community's patriotic spirit. Bangor and its world-class air base stood
strong at home as its native sons fought valiantly on the waterfront. Bring
your lunch and join us for this riveting conversation. Books will be available
for purchase and can be signed. Light refreshments consisting of coffee,
water and dessert will be available.
ART
We are sorry to inform that, due to the renovation and reconstruction here
at the library over the next several months, we will be unable to display any
new artwork through this time period. We wish to maintain the integrity and
security of the artists work and feel these might be compromised in an
environment subject to demolition and reconstruction. However, those
artists who are still slated to display their artwork here at the library through
the month of December have been given the opportunity to display their
work at Arthaus, a showroom connected to Nocturnem in Downtown
Bangor. Also, those artists who have been displaced will have first chance to
display their artwork in our newly designed show areas when they are
completed. We are also unable to accept any applications for artists to
display their work for the entirety of 2015. We apologize for any
inconvenience this may cause.
***All of the artwork at the library has now been removed to a more
secure location. We apologize for any inconvenience this may
cause. We look forward to seeing all of that great artwork
decorating this library once renovations are complete.
Computer Classes
Get comfortable and confident with
computers with the Bangor Public
Library’s Computer Lab sessions on
Wednesday afternoons from 2-4 PM.
Wednesdays from 2-4 pm the reference librarians are
offering drop-in computer assistance. Struggling with that new tablet? Need
help setting up an email account? Curious about using our online catalog of
e-books and audio books? Come on by with your questions; bring your
laptop, e-reader, tablet, or smart phone; or we can use the library
computers to get you up and going.
Events
To see all of the great programs the library will be offering in the month of
September, check out our Event Calendar.
Book Groups
Lit Chicks: Our Lit Chick Book Group is the library's
more traditional book group. Led by Maggie, one of
our wonderful reference librarians, the group meets on
the first Tuesday of every month at 2:00 pm. All the
reads are chosen by Maggie and lean toward
contemporary and literary fiction. Please be aware
that participants are not limited to females, but the
book selections may be decidedly feminine. The Lit
Chicks book group does not meet in August. Check
back next newsletter for future books and meeting dates.
Military History Group: If you are interested in
military history, you are invited to join with others to
discuss books on the topic. We gather all history
enthusiasts for some great military discussions. We
read and discuss all books, old or new, fiction or nonfiction, from the ancient world to the present. This is
a relaxed group, facilitated by Bill Cook, from the
library’s Local History Department. Members will read
what interests them and then talk about it in the
group. The group does not meet this month. Check in next month for
September's meeting date.
Field’s Pond Book Group: While the Bangor
Public Library is undergoing renovations, the
Field's Pond Reading Group will meet in the
Community Room of the Orono Public Library at
6:30 PM on the 2nd Thursday of the month. Join
Joyce Rumery to discuss books and topics that deal
with environmental issues. For more information,
contact Joyce Rumery by phone: 581-1655, or email:
rumery@maine.edu. This book group has no
scheduled meeting date for August. Check back next month for future books
and meeting dates.
Not Your Ordinary Book Group: We read popular
fiction, edgy and uncensored, and meet once a month
on Thursday nights at 6:00 pm. This is NOT your
traditional literary fiction book group. All books are
chosen by our members, with an initial online vote to
narrow down our choices. The final books are decided
in person at the meetings. The next meeting will be
Thursday, August 20, 2015 and the books being
discussed will be Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee
and Strong for Potatoes by Cynthia Thayer.
The Usual Suspects: This book group is dedicated to
mystery readers. Registration is not required. Just
come to our next scheduled meeting. This group
has changed meeting nights. The next meeting will
be on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at 6:00 pm in the
Story Room and the book being discussed will be
Human Sacrifice by James P. Moore.
Amicus and Friends Book Group: The Bangor
Public Library is working together with Amicus and has
formed a book group focused on sharing the love of
reading with friends and learning about library skills
and etiquette. The reading pace will be slow with lots
of opportunity for discussions. The group meets on
the first and third Tuesday of each month. The next
meetings will be on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 and
Tuesday, August 18, 2015. The book being discussed
will by Holes by Louis Sachar. For more information, contact our Reference
Department at kalley@bpl.lib.me.us.
Donations, Endowments and Gifts
To give donations or learn how to help the library raise funds, visit our
website.
CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS
(Our regularly scheduled programs have ended. We will begin again
in September. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Summer
Reading Program.)
Mondays: Super Crafting
w/Maryann @ 11:00 am
Tuesdays: Super Hero Story
Time w/Diana @ 11:00 am
Wednesdays: Mother Goose
w/Megan @10:15 am and Tiny
Tots Story Time w/Megan @
11:00 am
Thursdays: Hero and Movie
Day @ 11:00 am
Fridays: Super Foods
w/Shane @ 11:00 am
Special Events:
Finale Party!!!
Friday, August 7
@ 11:00 AM
Monday,
August 10
@ 11:00 am
Mad Science
Hero Adaptations
All programs are free and open to the public.
For complete details of all of our Story Times and After School
Programs, check out our website.
TEEN PROGRAMS
(Our regularly scheduled programs have ended. We will begin again
in September. In the meantime, be sure to check out our Teen
Summer Reading Program.)
Friday, August 7: Comic-Con @ the BPL
@ 3:00 PM
To learn more about these events, check
out our website.
All programs are FREE and
open to the public
The Teen Department is excited to finally be
on Facebook. If you are or have a teenager,
the teen Facebook page is a great way to find
out what is going on at the library, what new
books are out and what cool things are
happening in the area. Be sure to check out
Teen Scene at the Bangor Public Library.