11/21: Tech Talk—Holiday Gift Guide

Tech Talk: Holiday Gift Guide

Tech Talk: Holiday Gift Guide

Tuesday, November 21
1:00–2:00 p.m.
in the Great Room

Holiday Gift Guide graphic

Not sure where to start when it comes to buying technology for your kids, parents or friends?

Join our Technology Manager, Bethany, for a look at some of the most popular tech gifts of the season. We’ll explore gifts for people of all ages and levels of tech-savvy. We’ll also take a peek at some Black Friday and Cyber Monday gift deals so you’re prepared to buy and save with confidence.

Questions? Email Bethany at tech@bbhlibrary.org or call the library at 207-633-3112.

Talking to Children About Tragedy and Grief

Picture Book Story Time
Books about Grief

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes

Swimmy by Leo Lionni

 

Resources for talking to children about mass shootings:
An Age-by-Age Guide to Talking to Children About Mass Shootings from The New York Times
How to talk to kids about shootings – Picture books that help from Books for Littles
Books to Read with Kids After a Tragedy from We Are Teachers

Booktoberfest is here!

Our annual book sale fundraiser has arrived!

Booktoberfest will take place Saturday, October 14 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on the Library Lawn. All proceeds from the sale of books will go toward funding for library services and programming, which benefits our whole community. Make sure to stop by and bring a friend (or ten)!

The book sale is name your own price! Find books for all ages in a huge assortment of genres. Books are generously supplied by the amazing volunteers of the Friends of the Library

If books aren’t enough to lure you to the event, stop by for lots of extra special festivities like:

  • Craft Fair: Find amazing handmade goodies from BHML’s fiber arts group, Stitch Craft!
  • Plot Twist Pretzels: Grab a literary-themed soft pretzel to satisfy your bookish appetite.
  • Veggies to Table: Buy beautiful flower bouquets that support a mission to feed Mainers in need.
  • Boothbay Region Amateur Radio Station: Join members of the N1MHC Ham radio team to learn about the fascinating world of amateur radio and send a message to a friend anywhere in the world!
  • Lawn games and raffles throughout the day!

Bonus treat from our friends and co-sponsors, Footbridge Brewery: Spend $10 at the book sale and get a ticket for a free pour of your favorite brew at Footbridge Brewery!

2023 Summer Reading Recommendations!

Find your next great read from book recommendations from our Adult Summer Reading participants!

Books you WOULD recommend!

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Breaking Point by C.J. Box
The House in the Pines by Ana Reyes
Where are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
Fairytale by Danielle Steel
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Why We Can’t Sleep by Ada Calhoun
Raising Ryland by Hillary Whittington
The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George
Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvag
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang
Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman
Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson
Tumble by C. Perez
The Hacking of the American Mind by Robert Lustig
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
Bridge to Terribithia by Cahterine Patterson
At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier
Running Blind by Lee Child
The Spy’s Daughter by Adam Brookes
Lyrial by Garth Nix
Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder
Jennie O. by Elizabeth Ogilvie
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
Night of the Living Rez by Morgan Talty
This Other Eden by Paul Harding
The Drowning Sea by Sarah Stewart Taylor
Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro
The Light We Carry by Michelle Obama
Between the Mountain and the Sky by Maggie Doyne
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See

Red at Night by Jerry Farnham
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Sentence by Louise Erdrich
Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots
Undercover Protection by Maggie K. Black
Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore
Rooks and Ruin by Melissa Caruso
Starstruck by Sarafina El-Badry Nance
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
The Guest House by Robin Morgan-Bentley
The Light Pilot by David Johnston
Holes by Louis Sachar
Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
The Outdoor Cook
My Grandmother Asked Me To Tell You She’s Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
Misery by Stephen King
A Coup of Tea by Casey Blair
The Winners by Fredrik Backman
The Summer Place by Jennifer Weiner
The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman
American Whitelash by Wesley Lowery
Horse by Geraldine Brooks
Genealogy of a Murder by Lisa Belkin
American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin
The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Untold Power by Rebecca Roberts
Lucky Turtle by Bill Roorbach
Sloop of War by Alexander Kent
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Four Novels of the Eighties by Elmore Leonard
Ace by Angela Chen
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Old Enough by Haley Jakobson
The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek
The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Books you would NOT recommend!

It Is Wood, It Is Stone by Gabriella Burnham
The Temptation of Forgiveness by Donna Leon
Fairy Tales by Stephen King
Save the Girls by Terry Toler
Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado
Where are the Children Now? by Mary Higgins-Clark
Hatchet Island by Paul Doiron
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Welcome to Beach Town by Susan Wiggs
On Earth as It Is on Television by Emily Jane
Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napalitano
The Poseidon Project by David Bosco

After School Clubs update

Dear Club Families & Clubbers:

In response to the change in BRES early release schedule:

Starting Wednesday, March 22, 2023, Lego Club and Gaming Club (3rd and 4th graders) will meet from 2:30—3:30 p.m.

There will be two exceptions on April 5 and May 3 when BRES releases school early. On those two dates, clubs will meet from 1:30—2:30 p.m.

LEGO & Gaming Club Schedule for the remainder of the school year:

March 22: 2:30—3:30 p.m.
March 29: 2:30—3:30 p.m.

*April 5: 1:30—2:30 p.m.
April 12: 2:30—3:30 p.m.
April 19: April break! No Clubs: Join us for Family Gaming Get-Together from 3:30—5:00 p.m.
April 26: 2:30—3:30 p.m.

*May 3: 1:30—2:30 p.m.
May 10: 2:30—3:30 p.m.
May 17: 2:30—3:30 p.m.
May 24: 2:30—3:30 p.m. Last day of clubs!

 

Girls Who Code will continue to meet on Tuesdays at 3:15 p.m.
Gaming Club (5th-8th graders) will continue to meet on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m.

Books We Love!

Dear Reader,

‘Tis the season of love and as a special treat, we’ve compiled a list of books about love that we love that we’d love to share with you (too much love in one sentence—never!). We hope you find reading inspiration from our picks and that you share your love of reading with others on this loveliest of days.

Happy Valentine’s Day,
Your friends at BHML

Jen’s picks for adults:

The Rosie Project by Graeme C. Simsion – A hilarious and heartwarming love story!

Seven Husbands of Evelyn HugoThe Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Reid Jenkins – A  tug-on-your-heartstrings story of finding real & lasting love set in the glitz and glamor of Hollywood’s heyday.  Full of unexpected twists, romantic entanglements, and betrayals that will keep you turning the pages!

Beach Read by Emily Henry – A romance writer who no longer believes in love and a literary writer stuck in a rut engage in a summer-long challenge that may just upend everything they believe about happily ever afters.

Jen’s picks for Kids:

Love Around the WorldLove Around the World: Family and Friendship Across the Globe by Alli Brydon – Beautifully illustrated picture book about how love is expressed in different cultures and countries all around the world.

I Love You Already by Jory John & Benji Davies – A Fun picture book that highlights the love between two friends.

Love book coverLove by Matt De La Pena and Loren Long – Lyrical, soothing, and inspirational.  Explores love from the beginning of life throughout childhood and beyond.  Beautifully written and illustrated!

Bethany’s picks

Something WilderSomething Wilder by Christina Lauren – A light, fun adventure with a heartwarming romance at its core; “Romancing the Stone” but in book form!

Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman – Classic Rom-Com-Nov (Romantic Comedy Novel—yes, I did just make that up) with a twist…your celebrity crush has a crush on you!

Big FriendshipBig Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman – Written by two best friends, this book celebrates the love we share in our closest friendships.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner – Love stories aren’t just for lovers. This beautiful and touching memoir centers around the author’s relationship with her mother.

Bones and All by Camille Deangelis – Girl meets boy…but girl and boy are cannibals?! Strangely whimsical and endearing.

John’s picks

Brideshead RevisitedBrideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

As You Like It by William Shakespeare 

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the HorseThe Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy

Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach

Lady Chatterley’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence

 

Joanna’s picks

Home BodyHome Body by Rupi Kaur

The Selected Poems of Wendell Berry

In Search of Small Gods by Jim Harrison

20-Minute Retreats by Rachel Harris

The Love Object by Edna O’Brien

Volunteer picks

KatherineAbby:

Katherine by Anya Seton and Horse by Geraldine Brooks

 

The Story of Arthur Truluv

Meri:

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, With Love from London by Sarah Jio, Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, and The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg

 

Shadow SpellBetsy:

Shadow Spell by Nora Roberts

3/3: Literary Lunch with Brandon Ying Kit Boey

Karma of the SunLiterary Lunch with
Brandon Ying Kit Boey

Karma of the Sun

Friday, March 3 at noon in the Great Room

Join us in the Great Room for a fun & informal lunch gathering with Maine Author Brandon Ying Kit Boey.

Seating registration is free (bring your own lunch) or choose a specialty lunch catered by Eventide for $12. Register by Wednesday, March 1 in-person or by calling the library at 207-633-3112. Sign up early as space is limited.

Brandon Ying Kit Boey

Brandon Ying Kit Boey is a novelist, poet, and lawyer living in the State of Maine, United States of America. He was born in California, but grew up transiently, cycling through a series of homes, hotels, and schools before settling in Maine with his family. He was educated at New York University and Brigham Young University Law School, and has worked as a child actor, intern at Marvel, investment banker, and lawyer, among other things—the one constant occupation being writing.

Book description:

In the isolation of the Himalayas, the snows still fall, but they are tinged with the ash of a nuclear winter; the winds still blow, but they wail with the cry of ghosts. The seventh and final blast is near. As the world heaves its final breaths, the people of the Tibetan plateau—civilization’s final survivors—are haunted by spirits and terrorized by warlords. Though the last of the seven prophesied cataclysms is at hand, young Karma searches for a father who disappeared ten years earlier, presumed dead. Driven by a yearning to see his father again before the end, and called by an eerie horn unheard by anyone else, Karma forges into the Himalayas and discovers that his father’s disappearance may be linked to a mystical mountain said to connect the physical world with the spirit lands—and a possible way to save their doomed future.

 

“A hero’s journey for the end of the world, KARMA OF THE SUN is a must-read for anyone reckoning with where we are now and where we will go next.”

Erin Swan, author of Walk the Vanished Earth

 

Selected Book Reviews:

Booklist Starred Review 1

Foreword Review

Library Journal Review with Dec 2022 Cover

12/14: Luminary Making

Luminary MakingLuminary Making 2

Wednesday, December 14
2:00 pm—7:00 pm in the Great Room

Drop in to make a candle luminary in honor of a loved one, in memory of someone lost in 2022 or to commemorate a moment from the past year.

Luminary supplies and instructions will be available in the Great Room from 2:00-7:00 p.m. for self-guided creation.

Then, join us for:

Lighting of the Luminaries
Wednesday, December 21 at Sunset (4:04 p.m.) on the Library Lawn

Join us as we light the luminaries outside the library as the sun sets.
Take time to reflect before heading inside for warm drinks and reminiscing.

Luminary Making

12/6: Tech Talk—I’ll Be On Zoom for the Holidays

I'll Be On Zoom...
Tuesday, December 6
1:00–2:00 p.m.
in the Great Room

Just in time for the holidays! In this workshop for tech users of all skill levels, we’ll learn all about video calling.

We’ll talk about the different video call apps available and discuss the pros and cons from each app. Then, we’ll practice making video calls and learn some of the special features of each app. We’ll go over pricing, free options and safety and security of video calling.

This free program is for all ages and levels of tech savviness.

Questions? Call the library at 207-633-3112 or email our Community Technology Coordinator, Bethany at tech@bhmlnext100.org.

11/8: Tech Talk—Streaming Services

Tech Talk Streaming Services
Tuesday, November 8
1:00–2:00 p.m.
in the Great Room

Join us for our next Tech Talk with Community Technology Coordinator, Bethany.

We’ll talk all about the multitude of streaming service options you can use to watch your favorite movies and TV shows. We’ll discuss how to use the services on your TV and/or smart device and if your devices are optimal for streaming. Plus, we’ll talk about streaming bundles and free options for watching the shows and movies you love.

This program is for all ages and levels of tech savviness.

Questions? Call the library at 207-633-3112 and ask for Bethany, or email her at tech@bhmlnext100.org.