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

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.

Family Craft Night: Gingerbread Houses
Wednesday, December 7 at 6:30 p.m.

 Use your imagination to create a unique and tasty house to bring home with you using graham crackers, frosting and other delicious supplies. 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.

Crafty Thursdays
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
December 1, 8, 15
Grades K-5
Join us for some no-rules creative crafting in the Wagner Room. There will be plenty of fun supplies and the only limit on what you can create is your own imagination! This is a drop-in program and no registration is required.  

Celebrate Hanukkah!
Tuesday, December 13 at 4:00 p.m.

You are invited to celebrate Hanukkah in this program led by Portland residents Barbara
Sequenzia and Liz Hibino. Whether you actively celebrate Hanukkah or just want to learn more about this holiday, you are invited to join us for stories, songs, games and some delicious latkes. This
program is geared towards kids in grades K-3, but all are  welcome. Registration is required.

Winter Storytimes

Registration is required and opens on Monday, December 19. Registration can be done through our website calendar at www.portlandlibraryct.org or by calling the library at 860-342-6770.

Preschool Storytime
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
January 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21 and 28
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.
January 11, 18, 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22 , March 1
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. 

Meet and Greet with the Snow Sisters
Tuesday, December 27 at 11:00 a.m.

Calling all fans of Elsa and Anna!

The Snow Sisters will be visiting the Portland Library for a morning of songs, games, crafts and plenty of photo opportunities.
 
Registration is  required and space is limited.

November Teen Events

Monday, December 5 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.

Monday, December 12 from 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Melted Crayon Jewelry—Learn how to make
colorful pendants from discarded art supplies. Make one for yourself and one to gift this holiday season.
This program is limited to kids and teens in grades 6-up. Registration is required.

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 Saturday December 24th and Monday December 26th for the Christmas holiday.

The Library is closed Saturday December 31st and Monday January 2nd for New Years holiday.

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.  The Seed Library is made possible with assistance from volunteer Melissa Kelley and supported through generous funding from the Peach Pit Foundation and the Community Foundation of Middlesex County. The grand opening of the Seed Library will take place February 2023, in time to plan for a spring garden.

Movies: Wednesdays @ 1:00 p.m.
December 14th: 
Where the Crawdads Sing

Save the Dates:
Saturday January 14th 10am-12pm
Read & Recycle.
Gently used donations welcome!

Wednesday January 25th 7pm
Milkweed & Baptista 
Garden Program with Master Gardener Lynn Keller & co-sponsored by the
CT River Valley Garden Club
in the Mary Flood Room
When you’re planting milkweed from seed, give them the period of stratification (exposure to cold, moist conditions) they need to encourage spring
germination and ensure a good display of flowers the following summer. Bring an empty milk jug to bring home starter seeds.  Registration Required!

January 31, 2023 6pm
Zoom presentation from CHS (Connecticut Historical Society)
Katharine Hepburn from Hartford to
Hollywood

Book Clubs
December
Thursday December 1st @ 6:30p.m.
FTNBC (First Thursday Night Book Club)
Hamnet

by Maggie O'Farrell
Tuesday December 6th @ 1:00p.m.
Talk about Books (T. A. B.)
The Moon, the Stars & Madam Burova
by Ruth Hogan

Tuesday December 13th @ 1:00p.m.
Mystery Lovers’ Book Club
Murder for Christmas
by Francis Duncan

Copies of all of these books are available!

On Display:
Holiday Fiction
Do-It-Yourself Gifts & Cards
Staff Picks 

For all your wonderful support for our library!  
 Books: Carolyn Freeman 2 books
               William Sullivan
Endowment: Sandra Handel
              in memory of Kathleen Rogers   

Museum Passes

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 December 5th at 7:00 p.m.
Library Board of Directors
Thursday December 15th at 7:00 p.m.
Library Director
Janet Nocek