In: Children, Community, Events, Maine History, News, Online Program

TFL Programs

101 Series | Join us on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 pm for Soap Making 101. Brooke Isham of Lomah Farmstead in Sangerville will teach us how to make beautiful, cold processed natural soap from ingredients that can be found locally, using simple equipment.

Bicentennial Speaker Series | Thursday, June 18 at 6 pm author Mark Alan Leslie will present “Maine Burning: The Ku Klux Klan Invasion” live via Zoom.

Daily Poems | Throughout the month of April (National Poetry Month), Tom has been sharing a poem a day on the library’s Instagram account.

Philosophy Circle | TFL’s Philosophy Circle meets every other week to explore philosophical topics and questions. Next meeting: Friday, June 5 at 3:30 pm via Zoom.

Read Alouds & More with Ms. Michelle | For read alouds, book talks, and craft projects with Ms. Michelle, visit the library’s new YouTube Channel.

Reading Group | TFL’s Reading Group meets on the second Thursday of every month. On June 11 we will discuss “Campfires Rekindled.” Please contact the library to borrow a copy of the book.

Story Slam | Join the Voices from HOME Oral History Project for our next live storytelling event on Friday, June 26 at 6 pm.

Story Times | Ms. Michelle shares story times every Thursday on the library’s Facebook page.

Tom’s Circulation Desk | Interested in connecting with the library through a digital chat with Tom? Visit Tom’s (Virtual) Circulation Desk from 1-2pm on Friday afternoons!

Other Free Programs

Center Theatre | Visit the Center Theatre’s website for ways to participate in virtual cinema, virtual theatre, and other online events.

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine | Explore wildlife, makerspace, music, and theatre activities with the “At Home Together” series of online educational programming.

Cosmic Kids! Yoga | Stream yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation videos designed specially for kids aged 3+.

Maine Public | Maine Public is offering live virtual concerts with their Tiny Screen Concerts series.

Maine State Library | Visit the Statewide Library Virtual Events calendar to see what’s happening across the state. | Participate in fun activities with Science Online every Wednesday at 3:30 pm via the Maine State Library’s Facebook page.

NPR | NPR’s list of live virtual concerts offers links to stream performances from around the world.

Patten Free Library | PFL has created a Shakespeare-Themed Escape Room and Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room for you to enjoy! | History Room Live offers discussions on local history and genealogy. (Past sessions are also available to view.)

Thomas Memorial Library | TML’s Community Wellness Toolkit offers mindfulness programs and discussions facilitated by community professionals.

More coming soon… Stay tuned for more virtual program updates!

In: Community, News

The 2020 Census is happening now, and your response matters! You can complete your questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail. It should only take 10 minutes, and it has a big impact on your community.

Visit 2020census.gov to complete your questionnaire or to learn more.

How the 2020 Census helps Communities[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

In: Caregiving, Community, News, Resources

Calm | Calm Together Free meditations, sleep stories, movement exercises, journals, and music.

Centers for Disease Control | Stress and Coping Includes suggestions for parents, people at higher risk for serious illness, people coming out of quarantine, and first responders.

Child Mind Institute | Supporting Families During COVID-19 Topics include supporting children with autism, remote learning, managing anxiety, discipline and behavior, and dealing with loss.

Fred Rogers Center | Support for Helpers During Coronavirus Talking with children about coronavirus, caring for children and yourself, learning with children through play and digital media.

FrontLine WarmLine A new volunteer phone support service for Maine’s first responders and health care workers. Available from 8 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week by calling (207) 221-8196 or 866-367-4440.

G.E.A.R. Parent Network | Parents of youth with behavioral health needs are invited to visit the website or call 1-800-264-9224 for emotional support, resources and referrals, and educational workshops via webinar.

Good Therapy | Psychology, Therapy, and Mental Health Podcasts Suggestions for podcasts on mental health topics to stream during coronavirus. (For more recommended listening, visit Tom of Podcasts.)

Heart Mob | Online Harrassment Resources Being harassed online is never ok, and HeartMob is here to support you in anyway we can. On this page you’ll find links to our guides, information on supportive organizations, and other helpful resources.

NAMI Maine | NAMI Maine’s Response to COVID-19 Info about NAMI Maine’s programs including helplines and support groups, as well as mental health tips. |LGBTQ Resources A collected list of local and national LGBTQ resources. | Teen Text Support Line A peer support text line for youths 12-20 years old available daily 12pm – 10 pm by texting (207) 515-8398.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network | Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with COVID-19 [pdf] Tips on preparing your family and reducing risk, coping with stress, helping children cope by age group, and seeking additional help.

Psych Central | Coping with Coronavirus: Your Anxiety and Mental Health Links to articles, services, podcasts and videos on how to keep mentally and emotionally healthy. Psych Central also hosts a weekly “Coping with Coronavirus” livestream on their Facebook channel every Friday from 1-2 pm.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline | Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Outbreak Coping tips, helpful resources, and info about lifeline crisis centers.

University of California, SF | Emotional Well-Being and Coping During COVID-19 Includes resources for dealing with grief, maintaining sleep and physical activity, and stress reduction.

 

In: Community, Maine History, News

Help us document life in Central Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic by submitting your stories, images, oral history interviews, and videos to Heart of Maine Community Stories (a collaboration with Hartland Public Library, Newport Cultural Center, and Pittsfield Public Library).

We welcome anything created or collected by you including audio diaries, journal entries, letters, photographs, drawings, personal recollections, and interviews with friends and family.

We also invite you to share stories about living through other times of emergency and upheaval. Did you experience the April Fools’ Day Flood of 1987 or other historic disasters? What personal memories or stories of community resilience do you have of those times? What do you want to share with future generations about past events or the current pandemic?

Click here to submit a text-based story or to upload an image, oral history interview, video, or audio recording.

For questions to help guide your self-reflection or interview, please see Suggested Questions. For more information about conducting an oral history interview, see Tips for Interviewers.

Interested in sharing your story live? Join us for a virtual story slam on the theme “Free” on Friday, July 24 at 6 pm.

In: Children, Maine History, News, Resources, Teens

Free online resources from Maine cultural institutions, including virtual exhibits, interactive maps, games, lesson plans and more!

Abbe Museum

Educator Hub | Downloadable classroom and reference materials including lesson plans designed to bring Wabanki history and culture into the classroom.

Interactive Maps | Changes in the Dawnland, Languages and Landscapes, Stories of the Dawnland, and Wabanaki Today.

Colby College Museum of Art

Colby Museum @ Home | Hands-on art projects, audio & video recordings, jigsaw puzzles, virtual exhibitions and more.

Hudson Museum

Online Exhibits | View the museum’s exhibits online.

Resources for Teachers | Find websites, books and videos on Wabanaki history and culture.

Web App | Explore material culture traditions central to the Native Peoples of Maine through interviews, games, and animations.

YouTube Channel | Watch videos showcasing Wabanaki artists talking about basketmaking, birchbark and carving traditions, and more.

Maine Historical Society

Maine Memory Network | Access to thousands of historical items, lesson plans, and online exhibits.

Maine State Museum

Lessons & Resources | Lesson plans, primary source sets, and other resources to connect students with Maine State Museum exhibits and collections.

Osher Map Library

Gallery Exhibits | Virtual re-creations of Osher’s popular gallery exhibits.

Map Play 4 Kids | Slideshows, trivia, geomatching, scrambler, and links to other fun geography games.

Teach | Social studies lessons using maps, charts, and atlases as well as worksheets, board games, and other activities for K-12 students and teachers.

Penobscot Marine Museum

Online Exhibits| Take a tour of PMM’s paintings, photographs, and museum artifacts.

Penobscot Bay History Online | Educational site where students, teachers, and researchers can learn about maritime history and culture.

Story Map | Travel with Ernest W. Perkins from Boston to Buenos Aires through his diary written in 1892. Includes activity prompts.