May 2023

Welcome to the Portland Library! Come on in! 
Come in and browse for items or use a computer or the copier. Curbside Delivery is also available; reserve items online and let us know when you want to pick up the items.

Wifi print from your mobile device or from home now available!

The bookdrop is open 24/7, is emptied frequently. The library is now fine free.

Children's Department

Spring Storytimes

Registration for spring storytimes opened on March 1 and all sessions are currently full. You can add your name to the waiting list through the calendar on our website calendar at www.portlandlibraryct.org or by calling the library at 860-342-6770.
 
Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.,
May 2, 9, 16, 23 (no program April 11)
Join us in our Wagner Room for stories, songs, and rhymes that encourage literacy and social skills and help get your preschooler prepared for kindergarten. We will offer a craft related to the weekly theme at the end of the program that can be done at the library or brought home.

Storytime for Toddlers and Tots: Mother Goose on the Loose
Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.,
May 3, 10, 17, 24  (no program April 12)
Mother Goose on the Loose, a fun-filled interactive session for our youngest patrons, uses rhymes, a story, songs, puppets, scarves, and more to stimulate the learning process of babies and toddlers. Two sessions will be offered each Wednesday to keep group sizes small and interactions personalized.

Drop-In Playdates
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. through May 25
Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us on Thursday mornings for an hour of socialization and open play with our story room toys. No registration is required for this program.

Ancient Egyptian Adventure
Grades K-5
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
May 4, 11

Travel back in time with us as we decode secret messages written in hieroglyphics, learn about mummies and make some of our own, and take part in a forensic investigation to see whether King Tut was murdered.
 
Registration is required and space is limited.

Family Craft Night:
Easter Egg Cacti
Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m.

Now that Easter is over, we’ll be repurposing wooden eggs into an adorable cactus that can be
displayed all year long. This activity has steps that are appropriate for all ages, but a parent or guardian must be with children to help with supervision.

Registration is required and space is limited.

Lock In for Literacy: Welcome to Camp Half Blood!
Friday, May 19
6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
Grades 4-6

Welcome to Camp Half Blood! This special after-hours activity night based on Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series has been created by PHS junior Abby Keaveny to
introduce her passion for reading to other kids in Portland. 

After determining what Greek god(dess)'s cabin you'll represent, you'll get to take part in trivia, a scavenger hunt, craft activities and sample some Greek cuisine. A permission slip for this event will be sent to registered attendees a few days before the program. Registration is required.

May Teen Events

Teen Advisory Group Meeting
Monday, May 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Come share your thoughts with us on what you would like to see the library offer in terms of programs, materials and more while enjoying some snacks and laughs with friends. You will earn community service hours for each meeting you attend. Registration is required.
 
Summer Reading Volunteer Training
Thursday, June 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Kids and teens entering grades 7-up are welcome to apply for Portland Library’s Summer Reading Volunteer program. This is an excellent way to get involved in your community, beat the heat, get some enriching work experience for your resume, and have a lot of fun! Interested applicants should visit the library or the Teen section of our website to pick up an application. Volunteers are needed for program preparation and assistance, logging reading minutes and awarding prizes, and staffing the summer reading desk. Volunteers will be expected to attend a mandatory training session on Thursday, June 1 at 3:30 p.m. For more information, call the library at 860-342-6770.
 
LGBTQ+ Social and Support Groups
The Portland Library, in conjunction with Portland Youth and Family Services and QPlus, and supported by Health Care Advocates International  (HCAI), will be hosting social and support groups for LGBTQ+ youth. Teens are invited to social meetups at the library on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Support groups will meet on the third Wednesday of the month, with a parent and caregiver support group running concurrently in another room at the library.
For more information, contact Jenn Renk at 860-342-6770.

Click Here to view the full Portland Library Happenings for May 2023.