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.

Sarah Duffy, Library Assistant

How to Keep Children Reading During the Summer

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Summer is a great time to get your children excited about reading and sharpen their reading skills at the same time!

 

Relax a little bit — try not to worry about a daily time requirement or minimum number of pages; instead, let them choose what, when, and where they read.
There are lots of ways to keep kids reading this summer.
Read aloud
 
Take turns reading aloud with your child. You can each read a page, or for older readers, you can take turns reading chapters. Kids never get too old to be read aloud to, and listening to you model good reading helps them develop strong skills. Take time to ask questions as you go along, to check for understanding.
Have a good variety of reading material.
Chapter books are wonderful, but don’t forget non-fiction!
Magazines and newspapers are great too.  You never know what might spark their interest!
Be a good reading model
If kids see the adults around them reading often, they will see that reading is enjoyable.  Talking to your kids about what you’re reading shows them that reading is an important and meaningful experience.
Going somewhere?
Summertime is a great time to explore museums, parks, and the beach.  If you are planning a trip somewhere, encourage them to read a book about where you are going.
If you’re taking an extended trip, be sure to bring your child’s favorite series.
Find time to read.
Summer can be a very busy time, filled with vacations as well as all kinds of activities. Make sure to set aside time for them to read.
Learn something new!
Books can teach kids how to make or do something, such as make crafts or build a fairy house.
“How-to books” are a great way to get kids reading, learning, and keep them busy!
Make sure to visit the library!

 

 Our summer reading program is in full swing– be sure to stop by the children’s room and ask about it!  Our theme this year is “Everyday Heroes”, and we have lots of activities to go along with it. Also, if your child doesn’t have a library card, summer is a great time to sign up for one!

April is Poetry Month

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April is National Poetry Month—hope you’ve stopped by to see our “Poet-tree” at the main desk! Even for avid readers, poetry is often thought of as being hard to read or understand. I’ll admit it’s been a while since I’ve read a poem. But being the word nerd that I am, I thought I’d share some of my favorites.

 
My grandmother gave me Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verses when I was a little girl. I was enthralled by the beautifully detailed illustrations and quickly became enamored with the way the words flowed. It’s quite possible that this book was what triggered my lifelong passion for words.                            
 
In high school, my favorite English teacher introduced us to many great authors. It was in Mr. Cummins’s class that I discovered the eloquence and poignancy of “The Road Not Taken”, and it has stuck with me all these years. It remains today my favorite poem. Early Frost contains the author’s first three books, one of which is Mountain Intervalwhere “The Road Not Taken” can be found.   
It was also in high school that I discovered “Nature’s First Green is Gold”, which was notably referred to in S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. Much to my delight, the poem was written by Robert Frost and it led me to discover many others by him. “Nature’s First Green is Gold” can be found in New Hampshire, along with “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “Fire and Ice”.                        
 
One of my latest favorites is Sharon Creech’s Love that Dog, which is actually free verse. It’s written in the form of a diary, from the perspective of a boy who refuses to do his poetry assignments. It’s a quick read and makes a great point about the way we perceive things. As a teacher, it’s assigned reading for all my students. I even try to make my friends and family read it too. And now I challenge you to read it! 
Sarah Duffy, Library Assistant

Sure Signs that Spring is Coming!

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Backyard Grilling: Last weekend, I joyfully cooked hamburgers and hotdogs outside on the grill with friends and family. Of course, the ground was covered with snow, but the food and camaraderie were fantastic.

2.    No Jackets: On Wednesday of this week, we had a delightful taste of Spring weather. I rebelled in the morning by not wearing a jacket as I headed to work, and on the way home I had the windows rolled down in the car as I enjoyed 53 degrees. Okay, so it was only one day, but it was simply gorgeous.
3.    Walking: People are beginning to take leisurely strolls to enjoy the sunshine. At work, people are taking walks outside on their lunch-break instead of eating, just so they can soak up the warm sunshine.
4.    Productivity Increase: After yawning all week due to the time change, I am finally feeling great and full of energy, ready to tackle my To Do list in full force and with a smile!
5.    Birds: While washing dishes, I looked out my kitchen window and was pleasantly surprised to see a little Robin Redbreast happily fluttering in the tree. A sure sign!
So winter can have one last hurrah this weekend, and I will enjoy snowshoeing one last time. Then I shall declare winter OVER. I know Spring is coming, because yesterday, on the way home from work, I saw MOVING WATER in an otherwise frozen lake. So bring on the thaw! Bring on mud season! Soon I will be having lunch outside at my favorite spot, the Gardiner Waterfront, doing my favorite thing, reading a book (checked out of course from the Gardiner Public Library).