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Greetings!

On behalf of the 1000 Books Foundation, PFL invites you to participate in this program which encourages you to read 1,000 books with your child before they start kindergarten. Register online or at the children’s desk and receive your packet with all the necessary information for this program!

Read a book (any book) to your newborn, infant, and/or toddler. The goal is to have read 1,000 books (yes, you can repeat books!) before your child starts kindergarten. If you read just 1 book a night, you will have read about 365 books in a year. That is 730 books in two years and 1,095 books in three years. If you consider that most children start kindergarten at around 5 years of age, you have more time than you think!

Let’s do this!

Patten Free Library Staff

1000 Books Mascot Mulberry the Moose

The ongoing construction in the Library Park Parking Lot continues to impact our parking and entrance accessibility, but we will remain open throughout the project. This project belongs to the City of Bath, and we encourage you to contact the city for more information.

Development News and Events

Last Saturday, we gathered in the Reading Room to recognize our most dedicated supporters with an afternoon of thanks and connection. Guests included members of the John Patten Society, campaign donors, and our major Annual Fund contributors. Local author Irene Drago shared how Bath, the Library, and the area’s maritime history have shaped her historical fiction, and everyone enjoyed treats from Wild Oats Bakery to round out the afternoon. 

Learn more about how you can join our most dedicated donors by supporting the Library.

Roofers are working on installing anchors for the solar panels. You may hear some screw gun noise while they’re working. This is one of the last steps to going live with the solar!  

Stay tuned for the next phase of this project. Questions? Email us!

Check this spot for weekly updates and visit our website to learn more about the project.

Special Events

Repair Café

Saturday, October 4 from 10am-12:30pm

All Ages

Why replace when you can repair? Our expert volunteers will help repair your electronics, lamps, furniture, jewelry and small appliances; mend clothing, and sharpen tools. Presented in partnership with the Curtis Memorial Library, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and Merrymeeting Community and Adult Education. Repair Café will rotate between locations.

Home Energy Help Desk

Saturday, October 4 from 10am-12pm

Adults

Have questions about making your home more efficient and affordable? Drop in and get advice on insulation, heat pumps, lighting, weatherization, and other ways to save energy and lower utility bills. Presented in partnership with the Bath Climate Action Commission.

Sharing Table

Tuesdays from 12-2:30pm

All Ages

The Sharing Table is moving to its winter home inside the Library! Help yourself to free fresh vegetables gleaned from local farms provided by the Merrymeeting Gleaners and Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program.

Puzzle Race

Tuesday, October 7 at 5pm

All Ages

Registration Recommended

Gather a team and race to complete a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle. Whichever team assembles their puzzle first wins a prize! 

Homeschool Social

Thursday, October 9 at 10:15am

Kids and Families

Join area homeschoolers for casual conversation, play and support.

Read to a Dog

Greta: 1st Wednesdays at 3pm

Harper: 2nd Wednesdays at 5pm

Abby: 3rd Thursdays at 3:30pm

Leila: 4th Thursdays at 3:30pm

All Ages

Registration Required

Dogs are non-judgmental listeners and help foster confidence in readers who may need a little extra encouragement. Four fifteen minute slots are available each month for signup. Reluctant readers of all ages are welcome!

History Room Highlight: October

This month, we wanted to shine a spotlight on a recent acquisition: this program for a special football game between Morse High School and Brunswick in 1944! The program was donated by David Cooke of Phippsburg who wanted to be sure it would receive the attention it deserves.

Aside from its eye-catching cover, the program includes photos of both high schools' teams alongside a printed roster. Businesses from both towns provided sponsoring advertisements with words of encouragement for their respective teams. Among these businesses are some names that are likely familiar to older residents, such as the Douglas Photo Shop, Shaw's Book Store, and Kennebec Greenhouses. Some should ring a bell to our city's newer residents too-- there were listings from Oakhurst Dairy and Hallett's Drugstore. If that last name is prickling your memory, it's still on the face of the clock on the corner of Front and Center!

Interspersed with these ads cheering on football teams are others encouraging readers to buy more war bonds. The second to last is a full-page spread from a mill in Brunswick warning about the dangers of "absenteeism" at work! It makes a fascinating reminder of the ways major historical events intertwine themselves with more pedestrian issues like high school sports.

If you'd like to thumb through the program yourself or learn more about the historic businesses that advertised in it, come visit the History Room! The History Room is open Tuesday-Friday from 12-4pm and Saturday from 10am-1pm.

The Knitting Circle is accepting yarn for community

projects. If you are cleaning out your stash for winter

and have yarn to donate drop it off at the Library front

desk. It will get put to good use.

The Knitting Circle meets every Tuesday from 3-5pm and

is always accepting new members. Drop in and knit,

crochet, and craft the afternoon away!

Patten Free Library | 33 Summer Street | 207-443-5141 | pattenfreelibrary.org

Patten Free Library is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We receive some municipal support and we rely heavily on the generosity of our communities to support our work.

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