Gardiner Public Library 152 Water Street, Gardiner, Me 04345 Main Desk: 207-582-3312 Children's Room: 207-582-6894 Director: 207-582-6893

  Wednesdays Movie Event:
Will be starting up again next winter.

  Book Discussion Group:
Meets approximately every six weeks on Tuesday evening from 6:00-7:00 to discuss a book of the group's choosing. On Tuesday, January 25, 2010. The Help by Kathryn Sockett will be discussed.  Those interested in joining the book discussion group may call the Library Director at 582-6893.

Tilbury Town Poets Poetry Discussion Group:
Named for the town made famous by Gardiner’s three-time Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Edwin Arlington Robinson, this discussion group meets the first Tuesday of every month from 6-7pm in the Hazzard Reading Room at the library to discuss favorite poems, song lyrics and authors.  Participants are also encouraged to bring their own work to read in a "poetry safe zone." 

Earle G. Shettleworth Jr. has been the director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission since 1976 and Maine state historian since 2004. Danny D. Smith is chairman of the Special Collections Committee of the Gardiner Library Association and the editor of an Edwin Arlington Robinson Web site. In 1996, Smith and Shettleworth were coauthors of Gardiner on the Kennebec, a publication of Arcadia’s Images of America series.

Proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to help defray costs from the recent restoration of the library’s Children’s Room.  Books will remain on sale for $21.99 at the library while they last.  For more information call 207-582-3312. 

Gardiner Reflections Book and Notecards for Sale:
Copies of this wonderful pictorial celebration of Gardiner's bicentennial year are available to buy at the Gardiner Library for $5.00.  Sample pages can be viewed on photographer Buddy Doyle's website.  Those "from away" may print out an order form and request a copy by mail.

The library is proud to introduce a line of boxed notecards with selected images from Gardiner Reflections.  Additionally, a gallery of framed archival prints of the 10 images and more of Mr. Doyle's work are on exhibit at the library.  Samples of the prints can be viewed here.  The framed prints are for sale at $75.  All of the proceeds from the notecards and the prints go to the library's anniversary celebration which is planned for September 23rd.  Those "from away" may print out an order form and request a copy by mail.

Stained Glass Window Restoration Update:
The Gardiner Library is the recipient of the 2006 New Century Construction/Renovation Grants for public libraries of 50,000.  Along with the money donated by patrons over the years this has enabled the complete restoration of the Rosetta stained glass window.   The window has been restored by noted local craftspersons Robin Neely and Mark Bagala.  In November 2006 the window was returned to the library after having spent nearly a year at the Neely Restoration Studio in Westbrook, Maine.  Unfortunately the weather was too cool at that point to complete the external sealing so plywood covered the outside of the window until spring.  In June 2007 the sealing work was finished so the brilliantly restored colors could be observed from the outside of the library and through the glass ceiling panels from the Children's Room.  Now completed, the stained glass window is again viewable in all its glory from every part of the Children's Room.  The New Century Grant was also used for the Children's Room Renovations which included installing a new HVAC system, removing the dropped ceiling & restoring the beautiful beams and woodwork.  Work was begun on October 29, 2007 and finished the first week of June 2008.  

CHILDREN'S ROOM  
(Call 582-6894 for more information on Children's programs)

Babies' Love Babies Play Group
Friday mornings from 10AM-11AM in the Gardiner Public Library Children's Room.  For babies aged 0-3 years with their parent or babysitter, an unstructured meeting place for babies to gather, play & socialize. Each week the library will provide a selection of board books and parenting information for the group to use.  Please bring your baby's own toys as health concerns prevent the library from providing toys.

Preschool Story Hour
Every Tuesday morning (except during summer vacation and school holidays) from 10:30 - 11:00 for toddlers 3-5 years old.

Children' Room Renovation:
The library is pleased to announce that the grand opening of the beautifully renovated Children's Room occurred on June 7th, 2008.  The Children's Room is once again open for business.  Plan on visiting the library to view the newly restored Rosetta stained-glass window, the newly polished wood floors and the gorgeous beams and woodwork that have not been seen in over 35 years!

This restoration project received the 2008 Statewide Historic Preservation Honor Award for Excellence in Restoration from Maine Preservation. It is also the completed phase one project of a 3-year renovation plan to restore the interior of the entire building. This project was completed with grants from the New Century Community Program, donations from local businesses and pledges from our community members. If you are interested in making a donation towards our future renovation plans please contact the Gardiner Library Association at 207-582-3312.

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