The library will be closed Monday, September 5 in observance of Labor Day. Saturday hours return September 10.
Saturday 10:00AM - 2:00PM
If you are sick: Please don't come in! Call 865-3307 when you arrive at the library and a staff person will bag up your items and place them outside the front door for you.
Special news bulletins:
There's a new face at the library!
Andrew Hutchinson is our new Adult Services Assistant Librarian. He mostly likes to read nonfiction about natural science and U.S. history, especially first-hand accounts of expeditions and adventure! He’s looking forward to developing some new adult programming at the library.
The Annual Friends of the Freeport Community Library Book Sale is back! The sale is a great opportunity for readers of all ages to pick up books, DVDs, and audiobooks at a great price while also supporting the Library. Donations in good condition will be accepted at the library from September 7-21. Please only donate books that you would purchase for yourself or a friend (no damaged, wet, or moldy items). We do not accept textbooks, encyclopedias, Readers’ Digest condensed books, magazines, cassette tapes, or VHS.
A preview night will be held September 22 from 4-8PM and is open to the public (admission is $20 per family/$10 with a physical FCL library card). The general sale will be held September 23-25 from 10:00AM-4:00PM. Credit cards accepted. Dealers encouraged to attend. See you there!
Banned Books Week (September 18-24, 2022)
Books unite us. Censorship divides us.
Banned Books Week is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Typically held during the last week of September, it spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. It brings together the entire book community — librarians, booksellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.
The books featured during Banned Books Week have all been targeted for removal or restriction in libraries and schools. To be clear: the censorious attempted murder of author Salman Rushdie and the historic number of book bans documented by the ALA in 2021 threaten our collective freedoms. Book bans, whatever their impetus or focus, deny American citizens of their right to access information at their public and school libraries. By focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books, Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship. Now and into the future, Freeport Community Library will continue to lead by our mission:
Our library is a safe, welcoming, community space connecting people to information, ideas, and each other to promote curiosity, discovery, and informed citizenship.
Bill Berlinghoff Acoustic Folk Music
Wednesday, September 14, 5:30-6:30PM
FCL is pleased to host Bill Berlinghoff, a folk music entertainer with more than half a century of performing experience, for an in-person indoor evening show. Bill performs acoustic music in the Peter Seeger tradition and will draw from a personal repertoire of more than 300 songs, spanning a wide spectrum of traditions and tastes.
His first guitar came from Uncle Jim, but it stayed in a closet until Pete Seeger and The Weavers broke through the McCarthy era blacklist and gave a concert at Carnegie Hall on Christmas Eve, 1955. That concert album was so popular with Bill and his high school friends (and LOTS of other folks) that he dug out Uncle Jim’s guitar and began to learn those songs. From then on, folk music became his lifelong avocation.
Two cross-country summer trips to the Pacific Northwest and back, doing impromptu gigs, preceded a final move to Maine, where he has lived for 30 years. Since then he has been playing mostly (but not exclusively) in Maine, always looking for opportunities that give him an excuse to travel, and writing a few songs, too. His songs are well received everywhere he goes.
September Spice Club: Berbere Pickup begins Tuesday, September 27 @ 3:00PM
Spice Club is a monthly take-and-make craft for adults. Swing by the library to pick up the month's unique spice and try one of the included recipes, or seek out your own inspiration!
The featured September spice is berbere spice blend. Spice Club kits include pre-portioned spice as well as regional/cultural background and at least two recipes printed on cardstock. Pickup begins Tuesday, September 27 at 3:00PM and will continue until supplies run out. This take-and-make craft is free and open to the public.
Storytime with Taylor Mondays and Thursdays 10:15AM and 10:45AM
In-person event outside the library
Storytime continues in September outside under the tents four times a week. It's designed for kids 0-3 but all are welcome. Upcoming dates are: September 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, and 26. (The Sing-a-Long with Matt Loosigian will be in place of storytime on September 29.)
Superhero Training Course
September 12 - 19
Fly to the library and get ready to fight bad guys and save the world! In this self-guided program, kids and families can find stations outside the library starting at the black mailbox to test their superhero skills and see if they have what it takes to earn their own superhero cape to keep. Enjoy this program anytime, during and outside library hours.
Paws and Read with Therapy Dogs
Mondays 3:30 - 4:30PM starting September 12
Paws and read to one of our therapy dogs, or just sit and spend time with them. The dogs will visit every Monday. Call or stop by the Youth Services desk to sign up for a 15-minute session, or drop by for the event on a Monday in case of an opening.
String Games: A Grab-and-Go Craft
Tuesday, September 13 at 3:15PM
Go beyond Cat’s Cradle and learn new string games from around the world with this grab-and-go craft. Kids ages 8 and up can pick up a string kit, while supplies last, with a how-to video to learn new string games to play by themselves or with friends.
Taco Cord Holders: A Grab-and-Go Craft
Wednesday, September 28 at 2:15PM
Keep cords organized in a fun way! Pick up a kit at the Youth Services desk to assemble and sew a felt taco that’ll bring cheer to cord storage for chargers, headphones, and more. This grab-and-go craft is for teens grades 6 and up. Kits can be picked up during regular library hours while supplies last.
Earth Jams Sing-a-Long with Matt Loosigian
Thursday, September 29, 10:30-11:15AM
Sing-a-long with Matt Loosigian of Earth Jams! Matt is a Brunswick-based folk singer, guitarist, and songwriter specializing in playful, funny songs about ecology and being green. This fun, interactive music show is for kids — babies through elementary ages — and their parents.
The concert will take place outside FCL by the white tents, instead of storytime for that day. If there is severe weather, the rain date will be October 6 at 10:30AM.
Interested in going electric? Don't miss Electrify Freeport! on Sept. 25th, 10-2 at Freeport High School! This information-packed, FREE event will feature many models of plug-in vehicles available to test drive, as well as electric bikes, boats, lawn equipment and more! Owners and experts will be on site, sharing their knowledge and experience.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTS
10:30 -11:15: Plug-in Vehicles - Options, rebates and more
11:30 -12:15: Technology For your Home - Heat pumps, solar panels
12:30 -1:15: Switching to Electric Equipment - E-bikes, snowmobiles, boats, lawn equipment
The Friends of Freeport Community Library and the Freeport Conservation Trust generously donate several family museum and park passes each year to FCL patrons. All passes are good for either free or reduced admission.
It’s easy to reserve your pass! Reservations can be made online or by phone. Passes should be picked up no sooner than a week in advance. When you stop by the library to pick up the pass, make sure to bring your library card. Passes can only be issued to card holders in good standing; please be aware that courtesy Teacher and Student cards are not eligible to use the passes. We are only able to issue one pass a day for each attraction so if your plans change let us know so that the pass may be used by others. Please give us a call at 865-3307 for more information.
