The Summer Read

2026 Pick:
North Woods
by Daniel Mason

Join Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and our partners for an exciting community-wide summer event! The Summer Read will allow members of the Boothbay Region to read the same book during the summer and join in discussion with other community members.

Join us!

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READ: Borrow a copy of North Woods from the Library. Or borrow a digital copy of the ebook or audiobook using CloudLibrary. Books will be available for check out starting June 11.

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DISCUSS: Attend a book discussion group. No registration necessary—just show up!

Discussion Groups

Wednesday, July 22 at 5:30 PM
at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
Saturday, August 8 at 1:30 PM
at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
Wednesday, August 12 at 11:00 AM
at Southport Memorial Library

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CELEBRATE: Join us to celebrate our summer of reading with an Ice Cream Social at the Library on Friday, August 14, 1:00–3:00 PM

This year’s theme: Our 2026 Summer Reading Theme is Unearth a Story and we want to get adults involved in the joy of this program. Daniel Mason’s novel North Woods ties into this theme perfectly as it allows readers to uncover the stories of the inhabitants of a beloved home over the course of its history! This book also nods to nationwide celebrations of the semiquincentennial (250th anniversary) by exploring the history of a home that predates the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

About the book: When two young lovers abscond from a Puritan colony, little do they know that their humble cabin in the woods will become the home of an extraordinary succession of human and nonhuman characters alike. An English soldier, destined for glory, abandons the battlefields of the New World to devote himself to growing apples. A pair of spinster twins navigate war and famine, envy and desire. A crime reporter unearths an ancient mass grave—only to discover that the earth refuse to give up their secrets. A lovelorn painter, a sinister con man, a stalking panther, a lusty beetle: As the inhabitants confront the wonder and mystery around them, they begin to realize that the dark, raucous, beautiful past is very much alive.

This magisterial and highly inventive novel from Pulitzer Prize finalist Daniel Mason brims with love and madness, humor and hope. Following the cycles of history, nature, and even language, North Woods shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment, to history, and to one another. It is not just an unforgettable novel about secrets and destinies, but a way of looking at the world that asks the timeless question: How do we live on, even after we’re gone?

Past Summer Read books:

2025 Summer Read: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

This coming-of-age story follows two childhood best friends as they reconnect in adulthood and start a revolutionary video game company. The book is a story of friendship, love, failure, and fame that dips into literary and historical fiction. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a New York Times bestseller and was named one of the NYT’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century, claiming the #7 spot of reader-chosen titles.

Plus, don’t forget to check out the Summer Reading Challenge where you can earn great prizes!

Summer Reading Challenge

A big thank you to our Community Partners who help to make this community-wide event possible!

*Currently Great Room use & Community Room use is restricted due to space constraints. Public Programs are held on the first floor of the library in the Great Room.

The Library welcomes the use of the Community Room & Great Room by groups for educational, cultural, and civic activities. Consistent with the Library’s commitment to openness and inclusiveness, programs and meetings are encouraged to be free and open to the public. Both the Great Room and the Community Room seat up to 20 people; please note there is currently no elevator access to the second floor. The Community Room and the Great Room are available to request for use during library operating hours:

Tuesday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Wednesday 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Thursday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Saturday 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Please refer to the fee schedule below for private use of the Community Room. The Great Room is not available for private use. Scheduling priority is given to library sponsored programs and activities.

Meetings that are open to the public and within normal library operating hours will not be charged fees, and may be listed on the library’s public calendar. The Library may choose to advertise these events at the discretion of the Library Director. Any meeting that is not public will not be advertised and will be governed by the Private Meeting Fee Schedule below.

Private Meeting Fee Schedule	For Profit	Non-Profit	Co-Sponsored by BHML
First 2 hours	$150	$25	No Fee
Each additional hour	$25	$5	No fee
Staff fee per hour beyond library hours (for both public & private meetings)	$50	$50	No Fee
Additional equipment setup fee (projector, screen, laptop, speakers): $25

Community Room Use Rules

All reservations will be reviewed and must be approved by the Director or their designee.

The individual or the designated person submitting the request, shall be responsible for following all BHML guidelines for use of the Community Room. Those who use the Community Room must leave the room in the same condition in which it was found. Failure to comply with this agreement will result in a loss of privileges to reserve library spaces.

Reservations

Reservations can be made by contacting BHML, or by filling out the online form.
- When reserving the room, be sure to include time for set up and clean up.
Cancellations should be made as early as possible to allow others to use the room.
Failure to notify the Library of a cancellation may jeopardize future reservations.
BHML reserves the right to cancel a room reservation under special circumstances.
No more than six meetings in a six-month period will be accommodated.

Set Up and Clean Up

Groups are responsible for their own room set up.
Groups are responsible for cleaning up the room before leaving and returning all furniture back to its original arrangement.
Light refreshments may be served.
All trash must be removed by the group.

General rules:

No alcoholic beverages may be served without necessary licensing and prior permission from the Library.
Smoking is prohibited
Unless otherwise negotiated, no admission fees will be charged (Room Use Policy)
Hanging anything directly on the walls using tape, nails, or adhesives, is prohibited.
Insuring property is the responsibility of the individual and/or group using the room. Proof of insurance may be required.
BHML is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
The Group shall be responsible for any damage to Library property resulting from the Group’s use of BHML facilities.
Youth groups may use the Community Room with supervision by an official sponsor.
Any violation of these stipulated rules will result in the Individual and/or Group being responsible for cleaning fees or any additional custodial services required that includes cleaning of carpets, repair and/or replacement of damaged furnishings, walls, equipment, etc.

Adopted 2014
Amended 6-2019
Amended 1-2025

Library Card Policy & Requirements

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library serves the following townships: Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, and Edgecomb.

All persons applying for library cards must complete the registration form.

Additional requirements:

Year round residents
Photo ID (excepting children, see “Children and Library Cards”)
Seasonal property owners

Photo ID
Home ownership verification (accessible online via town websites)
Non-Residents and/or Visitors may purchase a one (1) year membership

Photo ID
Local and permanent address required
Membership fee, $35 (cash or check)

Non-Residents Eligible for Courtesy Cards:

Southport residents. Students and full-time or seasonal employees working in Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, Edgecomb, or Southport.

Photo ID
Employer reference or student I.D.

Courtesy cards entitle the member to full borrowing privileges, but do not include access to the digital service, Hoopla. If patrons are interested in Hoopla, we encourage them to check with their hometown library for availability.

Acceptable Photo IDDrivers License / permitPassportMilitary IDStudent IDNon-US Drivers License or permitResident Alien Card

Acceptable Proof of Home OwnershipMortgage papers or deedTax document or listingTown Report Listing

Children & Library Cards

Children 5 years and up can get their own library card.

Children 12 years and under: we recommend a parent or guardian co-sign on the account in order to be responsible for the replacement/payment of lost or damaged items. However, we allow anyone to get a library card that can provide the information required on the Library’s registration form.

In accordance with our interpretation of Maine State Law, once a minor gets their own library account, our communications about that account are directed to the account holder.

We encourage parents and children to link accounts if they wish to share information.

Updated 6/2017

Updated 9/28/22

Updated 6/2017

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library Policy

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Community Room Use Rules

Reservations

Set Up and Clean Up

General rules:

Cloud Library

Hoopla

Hoopla

Hoopla

Digital Maine LIbrary

Cloud Library

Hoopla

Learning Express