Welcome to the Portland Library! Come on in! 
Come in and browse for items or use a computer or the copier. Curbside Delivery is also available; reserve items online and let us know when you want to pick up the items.

Wifi print from your mobile device or from home now available!

The bookdrop is open 24/7, is emptied frequently. The library is now fine free.

Children's Department

Fall Storytimes

Registration is required and can be done through our website calendar or by calling the library at
860-342-6770 or registering through our library calendar at www.portlandlibraryct.org.

Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
November 1, 15 (no program November 8 as there is no school)
Join us in our Wagner Room for stories, songs, and rhymes that encourage literacy and social skills and help get your preschooler prepared for kindergarten. We will offer a craft related to the weekly theme at the end of the program that can be done at the library or brought home.

Storytime for Toddlers and Tots:
Mother Goose on the Loose
Wednesdays at 10:15 a.m. or 11:15 a.m.
November 2, 9, 16
Mother Goose on the Loose, a fun-filled interactive session for our youngest patrons, uses rhymes, a
story, songs, puppets, scarves, and more to stimulate the learning process of babies and toddlers. Two
sessions will be offered each Wednesday to keep group sizes small and interactions personalized.

Superhero Training Academy
Tuesday, November 8 at 10:30 a.m. 
November 8 may be a day off from school, but kids in grades pre-K through grade 2 are invited to a different kind of training: our Superhero Academy! Join us to master superhero skills ranging from leaping over buildings to practicing their x-ray vision to decontaminating a kryptonite zone!

Registration is required and space is limited.

Drop In Playdates
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
November 29, 30, December 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 & 21
Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings in late November and early December from 10:30-11:30 for an hour of socialization and open play with our story room toys. No registration is required.

Pokemon Party
Grades K-2
Thursday, November 3, at 3:30 p.m.
There’s one week left of our Pokemon Party program! We’ll be wrapping up our program by getting our Pokemon Master certificates and trading cards, playing some Pokemon BINGO and enjoying a yummy treat! Registration is required.

Family Craft Night: Seasonal Wood Gnomes
Wednesday, November 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Recycle unused Halloween decorations into fall and winter holiday décor. This activity has steps that are appropriate for all ages, but a parent or guardian must be with children to help with
supervision. Registration is required and space is limited.

Makeup Family Hike at Portland Reservoir
Saturday, November 5 at 11:00 a.m.

Join us for a family hike at the Portland Reservoir. This hike is an extension of the hikes run for the
library's "Beyond the Beaten Path" Summer Reading program. The hike will be led by high-school senior Annette Leshane for her Capstone project.  Materials for a scavenger hunt will be provided on the hike and parent/adult guardians are required to attend for all ages! Even though the hike is not difficult, we suggest bringing water, epipen/medication if needed, comfortable shoes and clothing to walk in, as well as bug spray and sunscreen. Registration is required and space is limited. 

November Teen Events

Monday, November 7 at 3:30 p.m.: Teen Advisory Group Meeting—Come share your thoughts with us on what you would like to see the library offer in terms of programs, materials and more while enjoying some snacks and laughs with friends. You will earn community service hours for each meeting you attend. Registration is required. 

Wednesday, November 16 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.: Transgender Awareness Month—Teens in grades 6 and up are welcome to drop by for a celebration of Transgender Awareness Month. We’ll have snacks, and activities will include games and T-shirt and button-making. Registration is recommended, but not required for this event.

Holiday Craft and Snacktivity
Tuesday, November 22 at 1pm
Kids in grades K-5 are welcome to join us after the half-day at school for some turkey-themed
activities. We’ll create a centerpieces for our holiday tables, make a delicious treat to enjoy, and play some games. Registration is required and space is limited.

The Library is open 
the following hours:
Monday -- Thursday 10:00-8:00
Friday                         10:00-5:00
Saturday                    10:00-3:00

Curbside Pickup  Services available!

The Library is closed Friday November 11th in honor of Veterans' Day. 
The Library is closing Wednesday November 23rd at 5:00p.m. and is closed Thursday November 24th and Friday November 25th!
We will be OPEN Saturday November 26th 10:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

New!!  Seed Library
A seed library is a place where community members can find free seeds and may donate their own saved seeds. If you have saved a good number of seeds from your garden and would like to share your bounty, please consider donating seeds to the library, to help build a Portland Library Seed Garden.  Collection envelopes and donation forms will be made available beginning mid-November. The Seed Library is made possible with
assistance from volunteer Melissa Kelley and supported through generous funding from the Peach Pit Foundation and the County Foundation of Middlesex County. The grand opening of the Seed Library will take place February 2023, in time to plan for a spring garden.

November is Native American Heritage Month!
Programs & Events
Thanksgiving Food for Thought: 
Institute for American Indian Studies

Tuesday November 8th @6:30p.m. Zoom Program
What does Thanksgiving mean to you and how do you celebrate it? Is it a day to spend time with family and friends? Is it a time to eat lots of delicious food? Is it a time to be thankful for the positive things in your life? As you can see, the same holiday can mean different things to different people. Indeed, for many Native Americans living today, answering the questions above is not so simple. Join Education Director Darlene Kascak from the Institute for American Indian Studies, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation for a discussion about the myths and misconceptions surrounding this holiday. 
Registration Requested!

Join remote meeting access through Zoom 
the Meeting ID is 8603426777 and  the Passcode is Portland

Indigenous Music in the 21st Century
Wednesday November 16th @ 6:30p.m. in the Mary Flood Room
Join musician and educator, Craig Harris to learn more about Indigenous Music in the 21st Century.  Combining research-based storytelling and archival audio/visual, this program celebrates the eclectic sounds and vibrant
musicians creating today's Indigenous
music.  For all Ages 5th grade and up. 
Music historian, educator, storyteller,  percussionist, photographer, and radio show host, Craig Harris presented a 50th Anniversary Woodstock program at the Library.  Registration Requested!

Wednesday November 2 6:00p.m.
Market Corrections, Recessions & the consequences for Retirement
USA Financial, Michael Alimo
Investment Advisor 
Registration Requested!

Movies: Wednesdays @ 1:00 p.m.
November 9th:  Elvis

Artist Reception:
Saturday November 19th
1:00-3:00p.m.  
Michael Beck, local Portland artist, photographs of local scenes

Book Clubs
November

Tuesday November 1st @ 1:00p.m.
Talk about Books (T. A. B.)
The Night Watchamn
by Louise Erdrich

Thursday November 3rd @ 6:30p.m.
FTNBC (First Thursday Night Book Club)
LaRose
by Louise Erdrich

Tuesday November 22nd @ 1:00p.m.
Mystery Lovers’ Book Club
Ordinary Grace
by  William Kent Krueger

Copies of all of these books are available!

On Display:
Cozy Mystery Fiction
Native American Heritage
nonfiction & fiction
Pies & other food for Thanksgiving
Staff Picks 

For all your wonderful support for our library!  
  Books: Carolyn Freeman
               Bruce Stevens
               Henry Strom     

Museum Passes

Book a trip today!

List of Museums & Yard Games.

Looking for something to do? Book a pass at the Portland Library for one of over 20 museums and zoos.  Patrons (18 and over) may check out the passes;  the passes allow for a set number of people to attend the museum for a reduced rate or free admission. 

The Museum Pass Program is provided by the Friends of Portland Library.  Thank you, Friends!

Library Meetings
in the Van Beynum Room 
Friends of the Portland Library
Monday November 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Library Board of Directors
Thursday November 17th at 7:00 p.m.
Library Director
Janet Nocek 
[email protected]
website: www.portlandlibraryct.org