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Greetings!

On Wednesday, October 22 we invited the library community to share their biggest ideas and wildest dreams to help us shape the future of technology here at Patten Free Library. It was a night of possibility and inspiration in a set of conversation cafés. Participants were asked two open-ended questions, and one bonus question:

Question One:



• What would you see if you were to visit Patten Free Library in ten years?  (What will you be doing at the library? What will the teens be doing? The younger ones? Our elders? How will they be doing it? What will library staff be doing? How will the technology affect the physical space, the resources, and the services the library provides?) 

Question Two:

• What will be the role of the library beyond its four walls?  (How will you use the library from your homes, offices, and gathering places? What new services will the library bring to you? ) 

Bonus Question:

• How can technology be used to expand library reach? (How best to reach all community members, including those who may not use the library now? What challenges will the library face when providing universal access and expanded services? What partnerships and local resources will the library make use of? )

The ideas generated at this community visioning session will help us anticipate the role of the library over the next decade of rapid technological evolution. As we develop a strategic plan for technology, we want to hear from you! If you couldn’t be there in person, send us your biggest ideas and wildest dreams by clicking the button below.

We can't wait to hear from you!

Patten Free Library Staff

Development News and Updates

This December, we invite your business to help us create something magical for our community: Starry Night. This enchanting evening features a candlelit luminary walk, live music, and festive cheer—bringing neighbors and families together to celebrate the season and the library they love. Sponsorship includes recognition before, during, and after the event, reaching both the hundreds of attendees who stroll through our candlelit paths and the thousands of community members who support Patten Free Library year-round. Complete the Sponsorship Form or contact our Development Director and become a sponsor today.

The Library Park Parking Lot will be closed Monday. November 3.

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.

Our solar panels are operational! Over the next month, we’ll be wrapping up our energy efficiency project with EMC, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Thanks to the addition of solar power, our historic building will soon operate using little to no fossil fuels while benefiting from long-term energy savings. Visitors are now enjoying a comfortably climate-controlled environment, and an automated system coming soon will make our heating and cooling even more efficient!

Visit our website to learn more about the project. Questions? Email us!

Special Events

Abby's Book Group

Tuesday, November 4 at 3:30pm

Kids ages 6-10

Show and tell book group for kids, by kids!

Plastic Pollution and Plastic Solutions Part 2: Town Efforts on Plastic and What to Do About Plastics at Home?

Wednesday, November 5 at 5pm

Adults

Learn about the plastic challenges we face from local experts. Presented in partnership with First Parish Church of Brunswick, The Neighborhood UCC of Bath, and Curtis Memorial Library.

OystHers Book Club - Winter Edition

Wednesday, November 5 at 5:30pm

Adults

Share what you're currently reading, books on your to-be-read list, or old favorites you’ve loved.

Grab and Go Kits

Friday, November 7

Take PFL home! Available for all ages while supplies last.

Kids: Pumpkin House

Teens: Kawaii Sticker Scene

Adults: Cat Heating Pads

First Friday Coffee

Friday, November 7 at 10am

Adults

Coffee generously provided by Bracketts and available while supplies last.

Read to a Dog

Greta: 1st Wednesdays at 3pm

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.

Hungry? We can help!

The Sharing Table is a free resource of fresh vegetables gleaned from local farms provided by the Merrymeeting Gleaners and Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program. It is available every Tuesday from 12-2:30pm outside the Children's Room from September-May and in the Gazebo during the summer. This table is there for anyone who needs it. There are no age or income requirements.

The Teen Pantry is available in the Teen Space whenever the library is open to those in grades 6-12. It provides snacks and instant meals like mac and cheese and ramen, as well as school supplies and toiletries.

A guide of additional local resources can be found at the Reference Desk.

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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