Patten Free Library Weekly News and Updates


January 10, 2025

SUPPORT | VOLUNTEER | CONTACT | VISIT | CATALOG | FRIENDS

Hello Patten Free,


Tomorrow is the first day of the 21st annual Town History Series! This event is a long-standing library tradition that brings together Patten Free Library’s member communities to learn about and celebrate each town. Since 2004, the town of Arrowsic and the historical societies of Bath, Georgetown, West Bath, and Woolwich have each selected a speaker to present on an aspect of their local history.


Due to space constraints, registration is required to attend in person. Patrons must sign up for each individual program, and walk-ins will only be allowed if there is space in the room at the time of the program’s start.  The series will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel and a recording will be available shortly thereafter.


The Town History Series runs Saturday mornings at 10:30am from January 18-February 15. To learn more about this year’s Town History Series or to register, visit the link below. Registrations can also be made by calling The History Room at 207-443-5141 x1018.


Patten Free Library Staff

Learn More

Work is ongoing installing AC and heat pumps. You can expect some noise and disruption throughout the process. Thank you for your patience during this exciting time!


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

Special Events

Printable January Calendar

Town History Series (Bath): Roy Lawrence's Bath: Past & Present

Saturday, January 18 at 10:30

Adults

Registration Required

A revisitation of Roy Lawrence's talk and slideshow on Bath: Past & Present (the talk that was the very first talk at the very first Town History Series in 2005)! Presented by Joe Minott.

NDEC: Cloud Based Back-Up Solutions

Wednesday, January 22 at 4pm

Adults

Registration Required

Explore the most popular, free, cloud-based platforms to safely back-up the information that is important to you. Presented in partnership with the National Digital Equity Association, Age Friendly Communities of the Lower Kennebec, and Age Friendly Georgetown.

History Room Highlight: January


January is here and the New Year has been rung-in, which means it's time again for the Town History Series! 2025 marks the 21st year of the series and we're thrilled to bring you an exciting slate of presenters from all five of our member communities. Every Saturday morning from January 18 to February 15 at 10:30am, a community historian will offer up their expertise and explore a topic in local history.


Kicking things off on January 18th, Joe Minott of the Bath Historical Society will present a retrospective on the first-ever Town History Series lecture--Roy Lawrence's "Bath: Past and Present." January 25th will see Malcolm Persen revisit his 2018 lecture chronicling one house's role in the storied history of Arrowsic. On February 1st, first-time presenter and PFL Trustee Lauren Bray will discuss Josephine Newman and the legacy of the preserve she left to Georgetown. On February 8th, Prof. Jim Brophy of West Bath will be returning to the Town History Series to chronicle the creation and legacy of the (notoriously pungent) New Meadows Lake. Finally, Allison Hepler will close out the year by reexamining the history of U.S. Route 1 and its vital role in the town of Woolwich.


Due to space constraints, registration is required to attend in person.  You must register for each individual program, and walk-ins will only be accepted if there is space in the room at the time of the program’s start.  Register at the link below or call The History Room at 207-443-5141 x1018.


Don't worry if a talk fills up, though; the full series will also be streamed live on the Patten Free Library YouTube channel! This is also a perfect option for those who don't live locally or don't feel up to braving those blustery winter mornings. Full recordings will also be available shortly after the programs.

Register to Attend a Town History Series Talk

Friends of PFL News and Updates


The library bookstore will be closed from January 1-14.

What to Read Next

Staff Picks: Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon


The plot centers around the son of a bookseller and a mysterious book that is being systematically destroyed. A book found in a secret library named "The Cemetery of Forgotten Books". Is it surprising that a librarian loves this novel?


-Meredith, Children's Room

Read the Review
Read More Staff Picks

Children's Room Shout Out: Meredith


Bramble and Maggie: Snow Day by Jessie Haas and Illustrated by Alison Friend


Plenty of delightfully colorful illustrations, and the perfect mix of dialogue and action. A fantastic pick for newly independent chapter book readers.

Read the Review
Read More Shout Outs
Did you know?

We are looking for donations of teacups and mugs for an upcoming program! Gift us your clean, unbroken items of any size, shape, or material and we will give them a second life. Drop off in the bin between the doors closest to the Children's Room entrance.

Digital Resources

Patten Free Library | 33 Summer Street | 207-443-5141 | www.patten.lib.me.us

STAY CONNECTED

Facebook  Instagram  Youtube