News

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

“Variety is the very spice of life, That gives it all its flavor.” The line is from an 18th-century poem by William Cowper and captures what many of us like best about working in a 21st-century library: the diverse experiences, people, tasks, and conversations. Book and program topics range wildly, as do people’s interests. Anyone can explore almost anything. May at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft is as varied the month itself.

It’s more important than ever to fulfill our civic duty. That’s why the Highlands Regional League of Women Voters of Maine is holding a non-partisan candidate forum at the library on Tuesday, May 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. for all declared Dover-Foxcroft Select Board candidates. A great chance to ask questions about local issues that matter to you.

We’re still in voter mode as the LWV offers a “Guide to the June 2026 Primary Elections” on Tuesday, May 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. They’ll cover political party vs. unenrolled voters and also explain semi-open primaries and ranked choice voting. It’s a practical way to get ready for the June 9 primaries.

Multi-talented Gale Robinson (Leaves and Blooms Greenhouse) is back with another fun and easy craft project on Thursday, May 14 at 1:30 p.m. with “Decoupage 101: Mason Jar Tissue Holder.” She’ll guide us through transforming a quart-size mason jar into a decorative tissue holder by applying patterned napkins, tissue paper, or fabric—creating a fabulous and functional decor piece. (All supplies provided.)

TFL’s Reading Group chooses books that run the gamut which make for engaging discussions. They’ll share their thoughts about The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker on May 14 at 6 p.m. From The Guardian’s review: “On a university campus in Southern California, a college student falls asleep and cannot be woken. Over the following weeks, an inexplicable sleeping sickness sweeps through the nearby town, causing an epidemic that baffles medical experts and puts the community in quarantine. . . Lyrical and beguiling, The Dreamers is a deeply immersive novel about a community in peril, collective hysteria, and the moral, emotional, individual and group choices we make when our lives, and those of our loved ones, are in danger.” (Contact the library for a copy. New group members welcome.)

With a title that nails the chaotic and uncomfortable state of limbo where many caregivers exist, Neither Wife nor Widow author Dale Ruth Sherburne visits the library to talk about her book on Thursday, May 21 at 6 p.m. It’s described as “a riveting, straight-from-the-trenches memoir about the emotions experienced while caregiving for a family member with dementia. Through dozens of conversational vignettes, the author bares her feelings with raw, unapologetic honesty. Stories range from humorous to touching to wrenching, and shed a previously unseen light into a caregiver’s mind.” Dale is a Maine native who raised two daughters with her husband, Russ, in an 1850s farmhouse with a menagerie of beloved pets.

Now we make a U-turn back to one of our favorite subjects—the paranormal—with author, researcher, and content creator Nomar Slevik. He’s come to TFL before to talk about UFOs Over Maine and Humanoid Encounters. This time, he plans to share some stories from his new book In The Pines: True Stories of Mystery, Mayhem, and Monsters in Maine. His latest work includes unexplained encounters of everyday Mainers. From crop circles and spontaneous human combustion to alien visitations and bizarre true crime, each account reveals a side of the Pine Tree State that is as unsettling as it is unforgettable.

The seasonal shift is almost complete. We have free passes to Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay (opens 5/1) Discovery Museum in Bangor, Harrigan Museum in Milo, Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Center Theatre and the Maine State Parks Vehicle Pass (Peaks-Kenny opens 5/15) to loan out to our patrons. (Contact the library for details.)

You’ll want to keep these scheduling updates in mind: TFL will close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 due to a staffing issue and we will be closed on Tuesday, May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday. We apologize for any inconvenience.

In the spice rack of months, May might be cardamom: aromatic (think chai latte!), warm, fresh with complex flavors that can be sweet, minty, and citrusy. Flowers blooming, greenery popping, energy shifting. This month join us for a wide-ranging mix of activities—maybe even try a new author or genre—and kick things up a notch. Variety is the spice of libraries too!

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public. Free Wi-Fi available 24/7 in the parking lot.

By Kim Brawn

April gives us a taste of spring. Although the weather may have other ideas. But whatever precipitation falls our way, this month the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft caters to a variety of tastes—from tangy to earthy to literary, even a program that will tempt (or test) your tastebuds.

Nothing ushers in spring at TFL like our seed library! We offer donated seeds from our community and various other donors for free. If you have extra seeds from previous years that you don’t need, please bring them in to share with your neighbors. If you’re interested in trying a new type of plant or flower in your garden this year, stop in and check out what we have to offer. Over the years we’ve had donations from Burpee, Fedco, Ripley Farm, Helios Horsepower Farm, Bob’s Hardware, and many, many patrons.

If you want a taste of academia’s high stakes politics, come hear Robert Klose discuss his novel Trigger Warning on Thursday, April 2 at 6 p.m. Robert teaches at UMaine and writes for various publications. His previous TFL talk focused on his books about his adoptive sons, Aloysha from Russia and Anton from the Ukraine. Trigger Warning is a satirical novel about a tenured biology professor, “T,” who faces termination for refusing to comply with a new college policy requiring trigger warnings in syllabi, leading to a mystery involving a student complaint and the administration’s hidden motives.

It’s easy to become a more informed voter by attending an educational Ranked-Choice Voting Mock Election and Question Session on Saturday, April 4 from 10-11:30 a.m. Maine uses the ranked-choice voting election method for some races, including many in the upcoming June 9 primary election. This is a nonpartisan voter education event put on by Maine’s Department of the Secretary of State. (All ages are welcome.)

We’re very excited to have Mary Margaret Ripley (of Dover’s Ripley Farm) kick off this year’s 101 series. She hosts “Kefir 101” on Thursday, April 9 at 1:30 p.m. downstairs at the library. What is kefir? If you’re like me, it sounds familiar and you have a vague concept and maybe lump it together with kombucha and matcha, etc. A quick google says it’s a tangy, fermented probiotic beverage. Mary Margaret describes it as “kinda like drinkable yogurt.” It’s also very versatile—it can be consumed plain, blended into smoothies, used in baking, or as a base for dressings and dips. Join us to listen, watch, taste, ask questions, and even make your own batch to take home—just bring a pint of milk in a jar!

TFL’s Reading Group meets April 9 at 6 p.m. with a twist, it’s open to everyone not just group members. Special guest Lynn Olsen Brown discusses her book Alice, Frankenstein and Saturday Night Beans. Lynn, who is Andrea Thurlow’s sister, details her memories as a young girl of visits to their aunt’s Bradford Farm in Patten, Maine which played a huge role in the economy of that town. Themes of community, love, faith, hard work and its rewards are interwoven throughout its pages. Lynn will also display some artifacts from the farm giving attendees a taste of what farm life was like back in the 50s and 60s in that area.

A reminder to grades 5-12, TFL’s Teen Space is a great place to chill, read, write, or study. Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan revamped the YA section complete with new bookshelves, comfy furniture, and cool games hoping to attract more teens to the library. We even having teen only hours: Tues & Thurs: 2:30-7; Weds & Fri. 2:30-5; Sat. 9-1. Be sure to let the middle and high schoolers in your life know about it. (Please note: adults and younger kids may still pick up YA books during those times.)

April is filled with much promise or as Shakespeare wrote, “April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” It teases a taste of what might be—seemingly unlimited potential fused with vibrant memories. Come experience this new season with us and relish the expansive diversity libraries have to offer.

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public. Free Wi-Fi available 24/7 in the parking lot.

Our February newsletter is out now! Click Here or on the image below to read it.

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

Change wears many faces. I’m reminded of the Buddhism class I took back in college where we learned about impermanence being one of the universal truths—that everything is in a constant state of flux, arising and ceasing (thinking of you, Eastern Gazette). At the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft we’ve let go of our familiar library system and jumped into a new, fully-featured platform called Koha, which at first sounded to me like some sort of Klingon battle cry.

Thankfully we are adjusting and becoming more familiar with it—hands-on is the best way to learn. TFL director Jon Knepp is working out the bugs and believes the switch will be well worth it, “We hope the new Koha system is more reliable, flexible, and easier for our staff and patrons and we look forward to big things, like integrating with MaineCat, the statewide library catalog, in the near future.”

A really cool feature is automatic renewals as Jon explains, “Now, as long as no one else is waiting for an item, it will be automatically renewed on its due date. We hope this relieves some stress for you and some headaches for us! You can still renew books yourself or ask us to do it if you’d like. Please make sure to bring your books as soon as you can and be mindful that new and/or popular books are often in high demand.”

You can access your account and our online catalog either by clicking on the catalog icon (book with a magnifying glass) in the upper right corner of thompsonfreelibrary.org or go to bit.ly/tflcat. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the new system.

Koha has been the big news and major focus, but we still have lots on the calendar in February. Sensory Play Group returns on Tuesday, February 3 at 3:30 p.m. downstairs at the library. It’s geared towards children with disabilities or who are neurodivergent, and their caregivers, but all abilities are welcome. There are therapy balls, play mats, and sensory bins available to use.

A big draw of book clubs is that you read a different book each month, a great way to change things up and keep discussions interesting and fresh. TFL’s Reading Group meets Thursday, February 12 at 6 p.m. but this time there is no specific book of the month. Instead, they’ll chat about what everyone’s been reading and brainstorm book ideas for 2026. It’s the perfect opportunity to join the group for the first time—or get back into the swing of things if you haven’t attended in a while.

Family time is fleeting so make the most of it by joining us for Family Fun Night on Friday, February 13 at 5:30 p.m. Fire up those neurons and bring your appetite because there will be trivia and chili!

You never know which of Jon’s fabulous felines will guest star on TFL’s popular Caturday series. Stop by Saturday, February 14 during our 9-1 shift and find out who’s serving up some major catitude!!

Youth services librarian Michelle Fagan has seen so many library kids grow up. The faces may change but February vacation is a mainstay and the perfect time to enjoy special activities. There will be an Arts and Crafts program with a variety of projects on Tuesday, February 17 at 3 p.m. (Geared towards grades K-4.)

Grades 5-12 get their turn on Wednesday, February 18 at 3 p.m. with Fantasy Map Making. They will use stamps and draw their own fantasy world maps—good for kids who love to read fantasy books and for fans of Dungeons and Dragons.

Sadly, loss is another face of change and last week at TFL, despite knowing he was gone, I still expected our dear “liberry” friend and neighbor, Jefferson Prestridge, to walk through the door and make us laugh, shake our heads, and marvel at his deadpan delivery. He was a permanent presence inside and (literally) outside the library. Michelle’s social media post is a wonderful tribute to him—and eloquently captures what is truly special about libraries, especially ours:

“I have always believed that a good library creates a community. You become friendly with people. You share wins and losses. You celebrate. You share family news the good and the bad. You look forward to seeing people and worry when you haven’t seen them for a while. But like any community people move, people get illnesses, and sadly people pass away.
We lost a favorite this week. Jefferson was a navy man, he was a helper, he was intelligent, kind, funny, artistic guy. He was a great storyteller. Our library family will miss him, our community will miss him.”

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library

As November drops, you may ask yourself “Well, how did I get here?” Incredulous that once again we’re rushing around prepping for winter—with the holidays anxiously waiting in the wings. This month at the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft we focus on ways to feed your mind, body, and soul. 

Many of us don’t give eating breakfast a second thought, it’s just a routine way to start the day and fuel ourselves. For lots of individuals and families, though, food insecurity is a big problem, but there’s an easy way to help: TFL’s Cereal Drive. Drop off new, unopened boxes of cereal at the library through November 25.  All cereal we collect will go to Piscataquis Regional Food Center to be distributed locally & in surrounding communities. 

Kids with special needs and their caregivers can find nurturing support and connection with the Sensory Play Group on Tuesday, November 4 at 5:30 p.m. downstairs at the library. (Geared towards kids with disabilities or who are neurodiverse, but all are welcome.)

TFL’s Michelle Fagan is coordinating a Read & Feed vegetable distribution on Friday, November 7 starting at 9 a.m. “People can stop in the library and pick up some veggies. We ask that people only take what they will use. People can pick up for others within reason,” says Michelle.

Bond over books with TFL’s Reading Group on Thursday, November 13 at 6 p.m. when they discuss This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger. In her Amazon review Sheila the Reader describes the book as “a breathtaking epic that follows four orphaned children—Odie, Albert, Mose, and Emmy—on an unforgettable journey during the Great Depression. Fleeing the cruelty of the Lincoln Indian Training School, the children embark on a life-changing adventure down the Gilead River, encountering both the harshness and beauty of humanity. Their odyssey is filled with challenges, heartbreak, and moments of grace as they search for a place to call home.” (Copies available at the library.)

Forget black Friday and cyber Monday, spend your hard-earned money—or just browse and soak up the colorful vibes, at TFL’s Authors and Artisans Night Market from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, November 15. This exciting event is another creative brainchild from Michelle (2024’s Maine librarian of the year) who sets the scene for us, “We’ll have Maine authors of adult and children’s books selling books and chatting in the library and outside under the warm glow of lights we will have vendors with lots of different products such as soap, cookies, art, and other fun gift ideas. We will also be having the FA Key Club offering coffee and hot cocoa and Penquis Youth Hockey Association selling soups, chili and more to warm people up.”

Community Health and Counseling Services’ Michelle Osterman will be at TFL on Wednesday, November 19 from 10:30-12:30 and every third Wednesday after that. She’ll have a table near the computers and be ready to provide a wealth of information, crisis support, and useful resources.  She’s also just fun to talk to and comes bearing cool swag!

Enjoy family time together and let someone else do the cooking at Family Fun Night on Friday, November 21 at 5:30 p.m. Play a trivia game and enjoy pulled pork sandwiches!

You know why I love scrolling TFL’s  Instagram feed? Because nestled in between Aislinn Sarnacki’s and Ed Muennich’s beautiful nature photos, Mountain Blaze Arts’ vibrant hats and wild stories, and Turning Page Farm’s adorable goats and cool cabins, there be cats and more cats! If you also find feline energy comforting, be sure to join us on Saturday, November 22  from 9-1 for Caturday starring director Jon Knepp’s rascally friends, Freya and Andy, Jr.

This November we’re throwing our support behind area authors, artisans, businesses, and organizations and invite you to do the same. When we help others, we nourish ourselves and build positive momentum and change. Libraries help sustain communities in so many ways. We hope you take advantage of our programs, resources, and services in addition to checking out the latest books!

Plan ahead: the library will be closed Tuesday, November 11 (Veterans Day) and November 27-29 (Thursday-Saturday for the Thanksgiving holiday). 

TFL hours: Tues & Thurs 9-7, Weds & Fri 9-5, & Sat 9-1. Visit our website: thompsonfreelibrary.org, our Facebook page, Instagram @tf_library, or contact us at thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or 207/564-3350. All programs are free & open to the public. Free Wi-Fi available 24/7 in the parking lot.