The library is currently open Monday through Friday from 10:00am-5:30pm and Saturday 9:30am-12:30pm. The Children's Room and Archives are open by appointment. Please call for details: 207-582-3312.

Ann Russell, Technology Librarian

New Items ~ September 2021

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NEW FICTION

All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle. Prepare to be delighted as Jamaican immigrant Hubert rediscovers the world he’d turned his back on.

All Together Now by Matthew Norman. A witty, heartfelt story of a dying young billionaire who brings his oldest friends together for one last beach blowout.

An Ambush of Widows by Jeff Abbott. An uneasy alliance forms as two widows delve into their husbands’ deadly and dangerous secrets—as they try to protect their own.

Another Kind of Eden by James Lee Burke. A captivating tale of justice, love, brutality, and mysticism set in the turbulent 1960s.

Billy Summers by Stephen King. Billy Summers is a man in a room with a gun, a killer for hire and the best in the business. But he’ll do the job only if the target is a truly bad guy. And now Billy wants out. But first there is one last hit. So what could possibly go wrong?

The Book of Accidents by Chuck Wendig. A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still— a masterpiece of literary horror.

Castle Shade (Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes #17) by Laurie R. King. A queen, a castle, a dark and ageless threat–all await Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes in this chilling new adventure.

The Cellist (Gabriel Allon, #21) by Daniel Silva. A private intelligence service plans an act of violence that will aid Russia and divide America.

Choose Me by Tess Gerritsen. A sexy murder mystery about a reckless affair and dangerous secrets.

The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo. A debut novel that reinvents a classic of the American canon as a coming-of-age story full of magic, mystery, and glittering excess, and introduces a major new literary voice

Count the Ways by Joyce Maynard. A mesmerizing story of a family from the hopeful early days of young marriage to parenthood, divorce, and its costly aftermath that ripples through all their lives.

Cul-de-sac by Joy Fielding. A shooting lays bare the secrets harbored by five families in a sleepy suburban cul-de-sac in this riveting psychological thriller

Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson. A stunning novel about love, work, and marriage that asks how far one family and one community will go to protect their future.

Dogged by Death (A Furry Friends Mystery #1) by Laura Scott. Veterinarian Ally Winter must collar the killer of a shifty lawyer. Does the dead man’s dog know who committed the crime?

Fallen (Kate Burkholder, #13) by Linda Castillo. A rebellious Amish woman leaves the Plain life, but the secrets she takes with her will lead Chief of Police Kate Burkholder down a dark path to danger and death.

False Witness by Karin Slaughter. An ordinary life hides a devastating past, but now the past is catching up and time is running out.

Find You First by Linwood Barclay. Searching for the children he has never known, tech billionaire Miles Cookson, diagnosed with a terminal illness, discovers that, one-by-one, his potential heirs are vanishing.

An Irish Hostage (Bess Crawford #12) by Charles Todd. In the uneasy peace following World War I, nurse Crawford runs into trouble and treachery in Ireland and must unravel a dark, deceptive plot before someone she loves dies.

Island Queen by Vanessa Riley. A remarkable, sweeping historical novel based on the incredible true life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a free woman of color who rose from slavery to become one of the wealthiest and most powerful landowners in the colonial West Indies. 

The Madness of Crowds (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #17) by Louise Penny. Inspector Gamache returns to Three Pines.

The Man with the Silver Saab (Detective Varg, #3) by Alexander McCall Smith. The witty detective series returns. An eminent art historian is framed and the ace investigators of sensitive crimes are on the case.

Murder at the Lakeside Library (Lakeside Library Mystery, #1) by Holly Danvers. Returning to her family’s peaceful waterfront log cabin in Wisconsin and preparing to re-open the inherited informal library, Rain’s hopes for a peaceful life are shattered when she discovers the body of Thornton Hughes, a real estate buyer, on the premises.

Nine Lives by Danielle Steel. After tragedy upsets her stable family life, a woman who longs to avoid risk at all cost learns that men who love danger are the most exciting.

The Noise : A Thriller by James Patterson. If you hear it, it’s too late. Can two sisters save us all?

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. After sleeping with her oldest friend, Elle will have to decide between the life she has made with her genuinely beloved husband, Peter, and the life she always imagined she would have had with her childhood love, Jonas.

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby. Two ex-cons must come together and confront their own prejudices about their sons, who were married to each other, as they rain down vengeance upon those who murdered their boys.

Silver Tears (Faye’s Revenge, #2) by Camilla Läckberg. A spine-tingling tale of revenge, betrayal, and sisterhood.

Sleeping Bear by Connor Sullivan. An Army veteran seeking solitude in the Alaskan wilderness after her husband’s death—only to find herself a pawn in a deadly game with Russia.

Sooley by John Grisham. Samuel “Sooley” Sooleymon is a raw, young talent with big hoop dreams…and even bigger challenges off the court.

Steel Fear (Finn Thrillers #1) by Brandon Webb. A high-octane thriller featuring an aircraft carrier adrift with a crew the size of a small town, a killer in their midst, and the disgraced Navy SEAL who must track him down

Trial by Fire by P.T. Deutermann. Based on a true story–a dramatic WWII novel of attack, survival, and triumph on board an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.

The Turnout by Megan Abbott. A revelatory, mesmerizing novel set against the hothouse of a family-run ballet studio, and an interloper who arrives to bring down the carefully crafted Eden-like facade.

Two Old Men and a Baby : Or, How Hendrik and Evert Get Themselves into a Jam (Hendrik Groen, #3) by Hendrik Groen. Nine years before the events of The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, 83 ¼ Years Old, Hendrik and his best friend Evert embark on a madcap adventure — with an unexpected guest.

Unthinkable by Brad Parks. A new thriller about an ordinary man who may be able to save the world as we know it—but to do so, he must make an impossible choice.

Vortex by Catherine Coulter. FBI agents Sherlock and Savich find themselves dealing with very powerful figures from the past who could wreak havoc in the present.

NEW NON-FICTION

Across the Airless Wilds : The Lunar Rover and the Triumph of the Final Moon Landings by Earl Swift. Swift rediscovers the overlooked final three Apollo Moon landings- distinguished by the use of the revolutionary Lunar Roving Vehicle- as the pinnacle of human exploration.

All In : An Autobiography by Billie Jean King. An inspiring and intimate self-portrait of a champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.

Below the Edge of Darkness : A Memoir of Exploring Light and Life in the Deep Sea by Edith Widder. A pioneering marine biologist delves into the deep ocean to understand bioluminescence and what it tells us about the future of life on Earth.

Big Book of Baby Knits by Marie Claire Editions. The only baby knitting book you’ll ever need – 56 adorable projects that range in skill level.

The Blue Wonder : Why the Sea Glows, Fish Sing, and Other Astonishing Insights from the Ocean by Frauke Bagusche. An intimate account of the beauty, mystery, and amazing science of the ocean.

The Boy Who Drew Auschwitz : A Powerful True Story of Hope and Survival by Thomas Geve. The testimony of a boy who was imprisoned in Auschwitz, Gross-Rosen and Buchenwald and recorded his experiences through words and color drawings.

The Case of the Murderous Dr. Cream : The Hunt for a Victorian Era Serial Killer by Dean Jobb. Excellent storytelling makes this classic true-crime a pleasure to read.

Empire of Pain : The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty by Patrick Radden Keefe. A portrait of the Sackler family, philanthropists responsible for making and marketing OxyContin.

Five-ingredient Dinners : 100+ Fast, Flavorful Meals by America’s Test Kitchen.  Low-effort, high-reward complete weeknight dinners, ready in an hour or less.

Forgetting : The Benefits of Not Remembering by Scott A. Small. A memory researcher, Small explains why forgetfulness is not only normal but also beneficial.

How to Tell Stories to Children by Silke Rose West. With practical advice, helpful prompts, and a touch of science to explain how stories enrich our lives in so many ways, this is a must-read for parents, grandparents and educators.

The Last Things We Talk About : Your Guide to End of Life Transitions by Elizabeth T.  Boatwright. A step-by-step guide through the process of making aging and death-related decisions.

Medicare for Dummies by Patricia Barry. Medicare made simple

Modern Mending by Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald. Bring new life to your old clothes and fabrics with this fun, easy-to-follow guide to modern mending.

The Secret History of Here : A Year in the Valley by Alistair Moffat. Taking the form of a journal of a year, this is a walk through the centuries as much as the seasons;  the story of a farm in the Scottish Borders, a site occupied since pre-historic times. 

An Ugly Truth : Inside Facebook’s Battle for Domination by Sheera Frenkel and Cecilia Kang. A riveting, behind-the-scenes exposé that offers the definitive account of Facebook’s fall from grace.

Until Proven Safe by Geoff Manaugh and Nicola Twilley. Tracking the idea of quarantine around the globe, through time and space, to where the future technology of quarantine is being developed. a tour of an idea that could not be more urgent or relevant, a book full of stories, people, and insights that is as compelling as it is definitive.

What Fresh Hell Is This? Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You by Heather Corinna. An informative, blisteringly funny, somewhat cranky and always spot-on guide.

CHILDREN’S BOOKS

PICTURE BOOKS

Everyone Loves A Parade! by Andrea Denish

Happy Birthday Maine! by Lynn Plourde

How To Catch A Keeper by Stephanie Mulligan

I Sang You Down From The Stars by Tasha Spillett-Sumner

Rocky Waters by Anne Laurel

CHAPTER BOOKS

Dactyl Hill Squad : #1 by Daniel Jose Older

Dactyl Hill Squad : Freedom Fire #2 by Daniel Jose Older

Dactyl Hill Squad : Thunder Run #3 by Daniel Jose Older

Jinxed by Amy McCulloch

NON-FICTION

Dr. Fauci : How A Boy From Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor by Kate Messner

National Beginner’s United States Atlas by National Geographic

National Geographic Kids Beginner’s World Atlas by National Geographic

Sharice’s Big Voice : A Native Kid Becomes A Congresswoman by Us Congresswoman Sharice Davids

Usborne Book Of Art Skills by Fiona Watt

We Are Still Here! Native American Truths Everyone Should Know by Traci Sorell

Welcome To Maine by Asa Gilland

DVDS

Epic starring Colin Farrell

Rio 2 featuring Bruno Mars

Rock Dog 2 : Rock Around The Park directed by Mark Baldo

Sesame Street Preschool Is Cool! ABCs With Elmo by Sesame Street

Watsons Go To Birmingham starring Wood Harris

Notes from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and New York Times Book Review.

 

 

New Items ~ August 2021

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FICTION

The Blacktongue Thief by Christopher Buehlman.  Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, this is a dazzling fantasy adventure.

Blush by Jamie Brenner.  Three generations of women discover that the scandalous books they read in the past may just be the key to saving their family’s future.

Cheat Day by Liv Stratman.  Here are the unexpected consequences of one woman’s attempt to exert control over her entire life by adhering to a strict wellness regimen.

Dead by Dawn by Paul Doiron.  Maine game warden Mike Bowditch finds himself in a life-or-death chase.

Dream Girl by Laura Lippman.  This conveys the horror of being housebound and reliant on strangers, as well as the fear of losing one’s mind.

Falling by T. J. Newman.  You just boarded a flight.  There are 143 other passengers on board.  What you don’t know is that 30 minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.  For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.  The only way the family will survive is if the pilot crashes the plane.  Enjoy the flight.

The Girl Who Died by Ragnar Jonasson.  A young woman seeks to start a new life in a secluded village where a small community is desperate to protect its secrets.

The Godmothers by Camille Aubray.  Four women marry into a prosperous Greenwich Village Italian family, and then must take charge of the family’s business when their husbands are forced to leave them during World War II.

Hostage by Clare MacKintosh.  The airborne equivalent of a classic country house mystery.  It’s a claustrophobic thriller set over 20 hours on-board the inaugural nonstop flight from London to Sydney.

How Lucky by Will Leitch.  A fiercely resilient young man living with a physical disability tries to solve a mystery unfolding right outside his door.

It’s Better This Way by Debbie Macomber.  After her marriage ends, one woman’s struggle to pick up the pieces finally leads to a new beginning but is the past truly behind her?

Lights Out in Lincolnwood by Geoff Rodkey.  A mordantly funny novel about a suburban family who have to figure out how to survive themselves and their neighbors in the wake of a global calamity that upends all of modern life.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Reid.  Four famous siblings throw an epic party of celeb rate the end of the summer.  But over the course of 24 hours, their lives will change forever.

People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.  Two best friends.  Ten summer trips.  One last chance to fall in love.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict.  The remarkable story of J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, a Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nations.

The President’s Daughter by Bill Clinton and James Patterson.  Matthew Keating, a past president and former Navy SEAL, goes on his own to find his abducted teenage daughter.

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams.  A couple reconnect 20 years after they had a torrid week of love.

Smithy by Amanda Desiree.  This original haunted house tale, with a unique plot and vivid characters, moves from uneasy to creepy to all-out “keep the lights on” terror.

Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie.  A transporting love story of music, stardom, heartbreak, and a gifted young singer-songwriter who must find her own voice.

Sons of Valor by Brian Andrews.  Military thriller fans will be pleased to have a new team to root for.

The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine.  Hiding the fact that she has no memory of her past from her fiancé, Addison – a survivor of a tragic accident – cannot shake the notion that she may have done something very, very bad.

Survive the Night by Riley Sager.  A summer read that guarantees to make your heart thump and your skin crawl.

NEW MUSIC CDs

Still Woman Enough by Loretta Lynn

We Are by Jon Batiste

NEW DVDs

Promising Young Woman (2020) starring Carey Mulligan

Hemingway: a Film by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick (2021)

A Quiet Place, Part II (2021) starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski

Becket (1964) starring Richard Burton and Peter O’Toole

American Experience: Panama Canal (2011)

American Experience: The Donner Party (2004)

NON-FICTION

All that She Carried by Tiya Miles.  A renowned historian traces the life of a single object handed down through 3 generations of Black women to craft an extraordinary testament to people who are left out of the archives.

American Portrait : The Story Of Us, Told By Us.  An inspiriting and striking photographic portrait that captures the tumultuous, historic year that was 2020.

Beautiful Things by Hunter Biden.  “I come from a family forged by tragedies and bound by a remarkable, unbreakable love,” Hunter writes in this moving memoir of addiction, loss, and survival.

By the Light of Burning Dreams by David Talbot.  America’s second revolutionary generation is brought to life through seven defining radical moments of the 1960s that offer vibrant parallels and lessons for today.

The Lighter Step-By-Step Instant Pot Cookbook by Jeffrey Eisner.

On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed.  The Pulitzer Prize winner weaves together American history with personal memoir to show the importance of events in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.

Ride of Her Life by Elizabeth Letts.  The true story of a woman from Maine who rode her horse across America in the 1950s, fulfilling her dying wish to see the Pacific Ocean.

Sincerely, Your Autistic Child by Emily Ballou.  This book is absolutely required reading for parents, educators, and caregivers who interact with anyone on the autism spectrum.

Super Fly by Jonathan Balcombe.  The unexpected lives of the world’s most successful insect.  This will turn the fly on the wall into the elephant in the room.

Talk Art by Russell Tovey.  Everything you want to know about contemporary art presented in an engaging and informative way.

The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate Moore.  An inspiring story of the tireless 19th century woman who fought against gender-based injustices, a vivid look at the life and times of a little-known pioneer of woman’s rights.

 Notes from Booklist, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, Library Journal, and New York Times Book Review.

Gardiner Public Library Update

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Are you a regular library user?

We certainly hope so!!!

And also, we welcome you back to the library.

As EVERY public space/business/event center/etc. etc. etc. in Maine has done, our plans of operation have changed, morphed, shortened, closed, opened again, etc. etc. etc.

Currently we are open five days a week – Monday thru Friday from 10am – 5pm for folks to enter the building and browse our collections.

Masks – masks – masks!  What do we do about the MASKS!?!?!?  As long as our visitors have been vaccinated, we welcome you to come in without your mask.  What a concept – we can see the smiles, and entire faces!!!

The Archives and the Children’s Room are both open, however, they are open by appointment only at this time.  Both spaces are asking visitors to wear masks as this time.  Each of these spaces are small enough and or working with visitors that currently are not able to be vaccinated.

One of the wonderful changes – NO MORE FINES!!!  Yes, we do indeed want our items back, we will still send out reminders of when items are due and/or late, but as long as the items are returned to the library, our patrons will not be charged late fees!  Color us excited!!!

Recently we had our first in person event.  Mr. Drew And His Animals Too entertained, and educated about fifty folks in our Children’s Room.  For various reasons, we required folks to reserve space to attend, and we had a full house.  Very exciting from our end!

There are some staff changes as well.  Our amazing Assistant Director, Scott Handville, is retiring after more than 40 years at the Gardiner Public Library!  What a truly remarkable legacy.  The things that have changed in that amount of time would probably fill several books!  We wish Scott a wonderful, relaxing “stress free” retirement!

A second imminent retirement is our extraordinary Director Anne Davis.  Anne has been at the library more than 30 years, and is currently searching for her replacement.  Anne is now, and has been several times during her tenure in Gardiner, the Acting City Manager.  She will be missed by everyone – library staff, and patrons, as well as every person employed by the City of Gardiner,

We will miss both of these key players at the library, but I’m sure we’ll meet them somewhere in Gardiner!  Perhaps we can play “Where are the library staff?” rather than “Where’s Waldo?”

Internally, we have shifted and morphed some positions as well.

Archivist, Dawn Thistle is our new Assistant Director.  Dawn hopes to be able to continue working in the Archives as well as spending a bit more time on the adult floor of the library.

Jess Betit is our new Young Adult Librarian.  Jess began as a volunteer five or six years ago, became paid staff about three years ago, and will now take over running the YA Area of the library. 

Ann Russell will continue as the Technology Librarian, adding cataloging to her current duties.

So far, Ginni Nichols, Bob Fagan and Marlene Patten have not changed their titles and/or duties, but with a new director joining us, we’ll just have to wait and see!