Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Friday and Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: CLOSED
We will be closed on Monday, April 20, 2015 in observance of Patriot’s Day
Bangor Public Library News-April 2015
Progress continues in the renovation phase of our
remodel. The Third floor will continue to be closed
as construction work proceeds on what will
eventually become the Youth Services Department.
The 800s and Biographies, normally housed on the
third floor will be inaccessible to patrons and staff
during this period and will be unavailable for check
out. The fiction books, normally housed on the third
floor have been moved to their permanent home in
the Fiction cellar but, as of now, that area is
inaccessible to patrons as well. However, staff
members still have access to this room. If there is a
fiction novel you would like that is in the fiction
cellar, please let a member of the Adult department
know and they can retrieve it for you while the room is closed to the public.
We have finished with the shifting of books and locations for this phase of
the remodel so everything should stay where it is until we begin the next
phase of the remodel. We will do our best to inform you, as soon as we
know, as to what and when shifting will begin for Phase 2. 700s and 900s,
with the exception of the 970s, collections can now be found in the second
floor stacks. The Lecture Hall, including the piano, will be inaccessible
throughout much of the remainder of the remodel. If you would like to see
pictures of the renovation, go to our Facebook page.
An Evening with Poet, Richard
Blanco
[This event is filled; RSVP's are no longer
being accepted. IF you have RSVP'd and
know that you will be unable to attend,
please email Lisa at
lisa.frazell@bangorpubliclibrary.org so we
may give your place to the next person on
our waiting list.]
To kick off National Poetry Month, the Bangor
Public Library and Bangor High School are proud
to welcome poet, Richard Blanco, for a reading
and reception in the Reading Room of the
Bangor Public Library.
Blanco, a Maine resident, was chosen to serve
as the fifth inaugural poet of the United States, following in the footsteps of
such great writers as Robert Frost and Maya Angelou. Blanco wrote One
Today, an original poem for the occasion, which he read at President
Obama’s inauguration ceremony at the Capitol on January 21, 2013.
Copies of his books are available for purchase at BookMarc's.
Your Government, Your
Neighborhood
Each month, members of Senator Angus King's
staff visit a multitude of communities throughout
Maine to meet with citizens of Maine's towns and
cities to listen to concerns and questions you
might have regarding your community. Senator
King and his staff believe in the value of peopleto-people connections and are committed to
serving the people of Maine. Members of Senator
King's staff will use the Bangor Public Library as
one of its gathering spaces. Anyone who has
questions or concerns or opinions about their
community is invited to come and speak with one
of Senator King's staff members. Staff members
will be at the library on April 9th and 23rd from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.
AARP TaxAide
Time is running out on Tax Season. If you have
been unable to file your taxes this year, you have
a little more time left. AARP Tax Aide volunteers
are still here to prepare free tax returns at the
library. Their office will be in our small
conference room, located by the Reading Room.
Assistance is on a first come-first served basis.
Their schedule is as follows:
April: Wednesdays and Thursdays From
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (until April 15th!!)
For more information, clients can call Rich Jung during the TaxAide hours at
the library, 207-947-8336 x142. During non-tax preparation hours, you may
leave a message and Rich will get back to you.
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 ebooks 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.
Tuesday, April 14th, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Computer Lab
Ebooks and Audiobooks
You've got e-readers and we've got ebooks, it's a match made in a library.
Join us Tuesday, April 14th from 2-4pm in the library computer classroom
for a FREE class on accessing our online ebook and audiobook collection
through your e-reader, tablet, smart phone, or computer. No registration
required. Please bring the device you intend to use as your e-reader.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2015 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM in the Computer Lab
Library Database Series: Overview of Marvel!
The library offers thousands magazines, newspapers, and reference books
available anywhere in the State of Maine through the online resources of
MARVEL! This class is the first of our Library Database Series and will give
you an overview of the resources available to you through this great service.
Individual lessons are available by appointment. Questions? Call the
Reference Department at 947-8336 ext 126.
Events
Every Thursday night at 6:00 pm
Knit Night
Area knitters will, once again, join forces and share the
joys of knitting and their favorite patterns, while
informally passing along knitting advice and skills.
Newcomers are always welcome. Stop at the front desk
and ask where the knitters are gathering to join the fun.
For more information, call the library at 947-8336.
Saturday, April 4, 2015 from 12:30 to 4:00 pm in the Story Room
POETS/SPEAK!
This day-long event, POETS/SPEAK! is one of
the largest free poetry festivals in Maine. This
year’s program will feature more than 25 wellknown and emerging poets from around the
state, live jazz, local Poetry Out Loud winners,
and a performance by Belfast poet laureate
Touissant St. Negritude. The festival begins at
the University of Maine Art Museum, 40 Harlow
Street, at 11 a.m. with light refreshments and an opportunity to meet the
poets and purchase their books. The festival will move to the Bangor Public
Library, 145 Harlow Street, for the afternoon events, kicking off with live
jazz by saxophonist Jay Bregman and the Swingmatism Quintet at 12:45
p.m.
This year’s festivities include well-known poets: Bucksport poet laureate
Patricia Ranzoni, former Belfast poets laureate Jacob Fricke and Ellen
Sander, Stefania Irene Marthakis, Marita O’Neill, Duff Plunkett, Bruce Pratt,
and many others. UMaine student poets and others will also participate. For
a list of time and events, click here.
This event is free and open to the public.
Thursday, April 9, 2015 and Thursday, April 23, 2015 from 10:00 am
to 12:00 pm in the Lobby
Your Government, Your Neighborhood
Each month, members of Senator Angus King's
staff visit a multitude of communities throughout
Maine to meet with citizens of Maine's towns and
cities to listen to concerns and questions you
might have regarding your community. Senator
King and his staff believe in the value of peopleto-people connections and are committed to
serving the people of Maine. Members of Senator
King's staff will use the Bangor Public Library as
one of its gathering spaces. Anyone who has
questions or concerns or opinions about their
community is invited to come and speak with one
of Senator King's staff members.
Monday, April 13, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Small
Conference Room
Bangor Writer's Group
For creative writers of fiction and poetry. Participants will bring their own
work to read to the group for comments. Participants will be expected to
read others work and comment upon them. Creative writing exercises will
be explored to pull participants out of their comfort zones. For additional
information contact Cecelia Hitte at ceciliahitte100@hotmail.com.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 2:00-4:00 in the Computer Lab
Ebooks and Audiobooks
You've got e-readers and we've got ebooks, it's a
match made in a library. Join us for a FREE class on
accessing our online ebook and audiobook collection
through your e-reader, tablet, smart phone, or
computer. No registration required. Please bring the device you intend to
use as your e-reader. For more information, contact Clare Davitt at
cdavitt@bpl.lib.me.us or by phone at 947-8336.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015 from 5:30-8:00 pm and Saturday, April 18,
2015 from 2:00-5:00 pm in the Story Room
Play Reading Group
Do you love to go to the theater? This group, open to the
public, delves into the written word: the script for the play.
Join area play lovers to read through plays - everything
from the classics to modern to everything in between! This
year's theme is focused on American Plays. This month's
reading will be August: Osage County by Tracy Letts.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015 from 2:00-4:00 pm in the Computer Lab
Library Database Series: Overview of MARVEL!
The library offers thousands of magazines,
newspapers, and reference books available anywhere
in the State of Maine through the online resources of
MARVEL! This class is the first of our Library Database
Series and will give you an overview of the resources available to you
through this great service. For more information, contact Clare Davitt at
cdavitt@bpl.lib.me.us or by calling 947-8336.
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 next
meeting will be on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. The book
being discussed will be The Dinner by Herman Koch.
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 next meeting will be on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at 5:30 pm.
Ask for the location when you arrive at the library.
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: 5811655, or email: rumery@maine.edu. The next meeting will be on
Thursday, April 9, 2015. The book being discussed will be The Sixth
Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert.
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, April 16, 2015. The books being discussed
will be Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
and Shades of Milk & Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal.
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, April 21, 2015 at 6:00 pm in the Story
Room and the book being discussed will be The Eagle
Catcher by Margaret Coel. This spring, the group
will focus on Native American Mysteries.
Teen Reads: Book group for High-School aged teens
who love to read and talk about books. Help develop
our teen collection and chat with other book lovers
about your favorite new and old books. For more
information, check out our website.
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 third Tuesday of each month. The next meeting
will be on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. The book being
discussed will by The Odyssey of KP2 by Terrie
Williams. 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 began on
January 12, 2015)
ABC Kids: Saturdays from 11:00-11:30 AM
Chapter Chums: Alternate Tuesdays from 4:00-4:45 PM
(Beginning January 13)
Crochet Club: Fridays from 4:00-4:45 PM
Full STEAM Ahead: Mondays from 4:00-4:45 PM
(Full STEAM Ahead is a new program based around Science,
Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics.
Come on in and join us and help making learning fun.)
Legomania: Alternate Wednesdays from 4:00-4:45 PM
(Beginning January 14)
Maryann's Pajama Story Time: Thursdays from 6:00-6:30 PM
Mother Goose: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10:15-10:35 AM
Tiny Tots: Wednesdays and Thursdays from
11:00-11:30 am
Transformers: Alternate Wednesdays at 4:00 PM
(Beginning January 21)
For complete details of all of our Story Times and After School Programs,
check out our website.
Tuesday April 21, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Story Room
Karaoke Krazy: Test out your singing voice on the library’s karaoke
machine. You can sing along to some great classic children’s songs or rock
out to some catchy pop songs. Please register by calling 947-8336 ext.
111 or by stopping by the Children's Department.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Story Room
Herb Party: Plant your own fresh herbs to bring home and watch grow.
Then, learn how to make some great food using the herbs you’ll be growing.
Please register by calling 947-8336 ext. 111 or by stopping by the
Children's Department.
Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Story Room
Junie B. Jones: Celebrate Barbara Park’s birthday with games and treats
taken from her Junie B. Jones books. Please register by calling 947-8336
ext. 111 or by stopping by the Children's Department.
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Story Room
Shel-a-Bration: Who loves Shel Silverstein? We love Shel Silverstein! Join
the dynamic duo of Maryann and Mary as they bring Shel’s poetry to life!
Please register by calling 947-8336 ext. 111 or by stopping by the
Children's Department.
REGISTRATION FOR THESE EVENTS BEGINS APRIL 6, 2015. All
programs are free and open to the public.
Teen Programs
(Regularly scheduled programs Began January 13,
2015)
Book Bunch (6th through 8th Graders): This Club meets every other
Tuesday from 4:00-4:45 pm (Beginning January 20)
Teen Advisory Board: 1st Wednesday of the month from 3:00-3:45 pm
Teen Book Chat: Every 3rd Wednesday from 3:00-3:45 pm
Teen Game Night: Every Second and Fourth Wednesday of the month from
5:00-7:00 pm (Beginning January 14)
Teen Improv: Every Other Monday from 3:00-3:45 (Beginning February 2)
Friday, April 24, 2015 at 2:30 pm in the Story Room
Teen Karaoke: Teens can gather with other teens to sing some great songs
on our karaoke machine. Those who wish to really show off their vocal
abilities can register to sing a capella and really impress the crowd.
This is a teen event open to teens 6th through 12th grade. Those who wish
to sing a capella should register with the Youth Services Department by
stopping in or by calling 947-8336 ext. 111.
All programs are free and open to the public.