Thanks everyone for another great summer reading season!
Welcome to Summer Reading 2020, Social Distance Edition!
This year, thanks to the Maine State Library, we have a fun and remote way to do summer reading so you can still read to win awesome summer reading prizes!
The more you read, the more chances you have to win! Enter the summer reading challenge that’s right for you: Kids, Teen, or Adult!
Good Luck!
Summer Reading 2020 Q & A
What do I need to sign up?
Only your name, a username, and a password are required. When you write book reviews, they’ll show up under your username, so think about whether you want it to be identifiable or not.
If you want to win a prize, be sure to provide an email address or phone number – that’s the only way for us to contact you!
Do I need a library card?
No. You do need to be a resident of our service region (Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb, and Southport) to win a prize, and we sure recommend you have a card, but it’s not required.
How do I unlock badges?
Every hour of reading you log via the website or app will unlock a new badge. Logging is simple: just click on the “Log Reading and Activities” button in the upper left corner of the Summer Reading Challenge website, select the day that you read, and enter the number of minutes or hours you spent reading. You can choose to enter the title and author of your book, but you don’t have to.
Every time you complete another hour of reading, you’ll unlock another badge. You’ll also unlock badges for submitting written or picture book reviews, or for completing activities.
How do I get tickets?
Tickets are awarded automatically when you unlock badges. You’ll get one ticket with the One Hour of Reading badge; two tickets with the Two Hours of Reading badge; and so forth. Tickets are also earned with the Book Review and Activity badges.
How do I choose where my tickets go?
Click on the “Ticket Drawings” tab. You’ll see how many tickets you have, and you’ll be able to choose how many tickets to put in each drawing.
How will I know if I won a prize?
We’ll call or email you if you’ve won a prize! But remember to provide some kind of contact information when you register!
What a long strange trip it’s been…and will continue to be!
Since the statewide closures, BHML has connected patrons to digital books and content, collected dozens of poems by local poets through the POETRY NOW project, shared virtual storytimes and remote reference; now, BHML is excited to reconnect patrons with the library’s *physical* collection.
Beginning June 2, we will offer curbside pickup service. Library members will be able to request Boothbay Harbor Library-owned materials using the online catalog (or by phone/email) and we will pack them up for you and arrange a pick up time.
Providing this service in the safest possible way while adhering to state and CDC guidelines is our number one priority. Your cooperation and understanding are essential as we navigate this new lending model! Patrons are welcome to start browsing the online catalog and placing requests now, however we won’t begin scheduling pickup times until June arrives.
From everyone at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library: we hope all is well with you and yours. We can’t wait to see (the top of) people’s faces again!
Happy Spring,
Joanna M. Breen, Executive Director
Curbside Pickup Service By Appointment, Beginning June 2
Here’s How…It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1) Request your items. *Items must be available at BHML. Help us preserve PPE and bagging materials: please request multiple items at a time and limit trips.
2) BHML staff will call you to schedule your pickup within two business days of your requests (beginning June 2).
3) Arrive at BHML at your appointed time to pick up your items. We ask that patrons please note signage and follow all instructions. Social distancing and masks required.
Please note, appointments and pickups will not begin to be scheduled until June 2.
Q: When can I pick up my items?
A: BHML staff will call you to schedule a pickup time. Unfortunately, no walk-up or unscheduled contact is allowed at this time. All items must be pre-requested. Pickup times will be offered on the following days and hours:
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – Noon AND 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM Wednesday: Noon – 2:00 PM AND 5:00 PM – 6:45 PM Thursday: 10:00 AM – Noon AND 2:00 – 4:00 PM Friday: 10:00 AM – Noon AND 2:00 – 4:00 PM Saturday: 10:00 AM – Noon
Q: How long will it take to get my items?
A: BHML staff run a pull list every morning. We will contact you within 2 business days of your request for items to schedule a pickup time.
A: For now, 10 items total (including max of 7 DVDs and 7 audiobooks)
Q: What if I can’t pick up my items at my scheduled time?
A: Let us know as soon as possible so that we can reschedule your pickup time. Please do not just drop by. If you have not made contact in the 1 week following your missed appointment, we will re-shelve your items. We are not allowing unscheduled pickups.
Q: Is curbside service going to be available all summer?
A: Yes, unless federal, state, or local guidelines change or there is a surge in Covid-19 cases in the State of Maine. If necessary to keep everyone safe, closing the library at any time is at the discretion of the Executive Director.
Q: What safety measures are in place?
A: For curbside service the BHML staff will be following the CDC guidelines for social distancing and wearing masks and gloves while preparing your items for pick-up. All items will be packed into clean bags and marked with the name of the person picking up, with social distance procedures and signage directing pickup. Cleaning and sanitizing procedures will be strictly adhered to. All returned items will be quarantined for a minimum 7 days. We ask that you help us too, by wearing masks, staying in your car until you are waived on to get your bag of items, and maintaining 6 feet of social distancing at all times between other people.
Special thanks to the following organizations and businesses for helping us with the supplies necessary to lend library materials as safely as possible!
To tide us over until we’re back together again, Miss Harolyn posts a new storytime favorite each Friday. Join us, so we can continue to say “Hello, Friend!” and share a story together even while the library building is closed.
Missing storytime? Us, too! While we’re apart check out this little list of places on the web where you can go for an online storytime! (Grownups, there’s even one for you!) Keep an eye on bhmlnext100.org/online-storytimes where we will keep and grow this list.
Sincerely, Miss Harolyn
Author Chris Van Dusen reads his books! Watch him on Facebook or YouTube.
Rockport Public Library is posting storytimes on their website ; watch Mr. Ben read some of his favorites.
The Brooklyn Public Library is taking its storytimes online! Watch ’em live via their website and Facebook.
HarperKids from Home: the team at HarperKids will hold a storytime with read-alouds and activities, pure entertainment every day at noon. Via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube every weekday at noon.
Storyline Online is an award-winning, interactive children’s literacy site that features famous actors like Kevin Costner, Betty White, James Earl Jones, Eva Longoria, and others reading children’s books alongside minor animation elements.
And for the grownups….Check out this Podcast LeVar Burton Reads “The best short fiction, handpicked by the best voice in podcasting. In every episode, host LeVar Burton (Roots, Reading Rainbow, Star Trek) invites you to take a break from your daily life, and dive into a great story.”
The Boothbay Register keeps us up to date with important state and local information–everything you need to know about news in the Boothbay Region.
The Digital Maine Library connects you to thousands of newspaper publications to keep you connected to the nation and the globe. You don’t need a library card to access these resources, all you need to be is in the State of Maine.
BHML staff is monitoring phone and email messages Monday – Friday. If you need help accessing any of the following sites, call the library at 207-633-3112, or email bbhlibrary@bmpl.lib.me.us.
Wall Street Journal (ProQuest) A daily business and financial newspaper with high marks for factual reporting. It has a focus upon business and economy but often reports on related topics in politics, arts and world events.
Maine News (ProQuest) Search through the Bangor Daily News, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, Maine Times, Portland Press Herald and Sun Journal dating back to 1980.
Newsstand (Gale) A full-text newspaper resource searchable by title, headline, date, author, newspaper section, or other fields. Access to more than 2,300 major U.S. regional, national, and local newspapers, as well as leading titles from around the world. It also includes thousands of images, radio and TV broadcasts and transcripts.
US Newsstream (ProQuest) US Newsstream provides access to the most recent premium U.S. news content, as well as archives which stretch back into the 1980s featuring newspapers, newswires, blogs, and news sites in active full-text format.
TumbleBooks’ databases are easy to use, and feature unlimited access from home on any device. There are no check-outs, holds, or bulky downloads. Books are available instantly.
Features: K-6 Children’s Ebooks; Grades 7-12 Ebooks; All Ages Audiobooks; and Romance Novels.
TumbleBookLibrary Premium has over 1100 titles for grades K-6, and includes our unique animated, talking picture books, read-along chapter books, National Geographic videos, non-fiction books, playlists, as well as books in Spanish and French. Plus, the collection features Graphic Novels – a student favorite!
K-6: Math Ebooks
TumbleMath has the most comprehensive collection of math stories available anywhere- all in our world famous TumbleBook format which combines animation, narration, and sound to create a compelling and enticing story book for students of all ages. The books are all accompanied by supplementary materials such as lesson plans, educational games, plus quizzes in order to test and track progress. TumbleMath is your one stop destination for engaging and entertaining math stories; educators have long known that one of the most effective ways to teach math concepts, especially to reluctant learners, is by using stories and literature!
Grades 7-12: Ebooks
Teen Book Cloud features over 1,000 titles, including student-favorite Graphic Novels, enhanced e-books with full audio narration and highlighted text, classic literature, national geographic videos, and more! The site supports a wide range of readers’ interests and levels. We’ve partnered with Orca Books and Saddleback books to bring you hundreds of High-Interest/Low-Level content. In addition, our new AP English section makes hundreds of curriculum books available to readers at the click of a button.
All Ages: Audiobook Database
AudioBookCloud features over 1200 titles, including dozens of genres and interest levels. The collection includes popular literature, classics, children’s and teen books, mystery, sci-fi, history, biography, and more! The audio books are always available; there are no special programs to install, or files to download. The site’s also completely mobile compatible, and the audio books can be streamed directly to whichever device you wish to use.
A collection of steamy Romance novels for the older crowd!
These digital services are brought you for FREE from the folks at Tumblebooks.
**PROGRAM CANCELLED. Will reschedule for another date!**
Thursdays from 1- 3:30 p.m. March 12, 19 and 26
Workshop enrollment is limited to 10. To sign up, call the Library at 633-3112 or send an email to director@bhmlnext100.org. There is no charge for the workshop.
During three Thursday afternoons in March, people who would like to capture, in writing, a story from their life can take part in a workshop at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library (BHML), 4 Oak St., Boothbay Harbor, led by Barbara Burt, founder of From Memories to Memoir.
The workshop will consist of three sessions on consecutive Thursdays from 1- 3:30 p.m. March 12, 19 and 26. During the three sessions, each participant will work on completing a story about one particular happening from their life. There will be time to write during the sessions, but participants will also be encouraged to continue their working on their projects between sessions. Sharing written work, learning by hearing others’ stories, and receiving helpful feedback are all part of the workshop, as are a variety of creativity exercises and other games used to elicit detailed memories.
“We all have a life full of stories, but sometimes we don’t recognize the importance of our own,” explained Burt. “I firmly believe that everyone is a writer. If you can speak, you can tell a story. And your stories, which you may think are mundane, are fascinating to others.”
Burt says that personal narrative, while specific to the teller, often has universal appeal. Her goal as workshop leader and writing coach is to help writers—no matter their level of experience—to shape and polish their stories for others to enjoy.
“Memoir writing isn’t autobiography, it’s about finding those slices of life that illuminate an important relationship or event in one’s life,” says Burt. “Often we learn something surprising about our life in the course of writing about it.” The stories that come out of the workshop may be written for personal satisfaction, given to family members or friends as a sort of history, or offered for publication. No writing experience is necessary. (For more information on the philosophy behind the workshop, visit memories2memoir.com.)
**PROGRAM CANCELLED. Will reschedule for another date!**
Tuesday, March 24, 1:00 PM
Join us for a book talk and signing with mystery author Bruce Robert Coffin.
A former detective sergeant with nearly thirty years in law enforcement, Bruce is the award-winning author of the bestselling Detective Byron Mystery Series. Winner of Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion for Best Procedural, Bruce’s third novel, Beyond the Truth, was also a finalist for the Agatha Award for Contemporary Mystery and Maine Literary Award for Crime Fiction. His short fiction has appeared in a number of anthologies including 2016 Best American Mystery Stories.
Visit BHML to get your new 14-digital library card to become eligible to participate in the Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program.
The Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program allows anyone with a valid library card from one of 68 participating libraries to visit any of the other participating libraries and check out materials in person. It’s referred to as “walk-in” borrowing because it essentially turns your local library card into a “statewide” library card!
The program launched in September 2019 as a one year pilot test. Following review of the pilot in August 2020 and incorporating any needed changes, the Maine State Library hopes the program will be formalized and grow over time.
Stop by the library to pick up your new card, and then map out a Reciprocal Borrowing road trip! Some libraries where your new library card will work are: Skidompha Public Library (Damariscotta), Rockland Public Library, Camden Public Library, and Witherle Memorial Library (Castine).
New BHML library cards feature art by three local artists. It’s a miniature piece of fine art that unlocks the world of culture and literature throughout the state of Maine. Pretty awesome!
What a long strange trip it’s been…and will continue to be!
