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

2023 Summer Reading Program
for Families and Children: Oceans of Possibilities

How It Works
Visit the library to pick up your registration kit, which includes your reading log, a scavenger hunt card, and your first summer reading badge. Start logging the minutes you read on or after June 14. Each day you read 20 minutes or more counts towards your summer reading goal. Earn prizes and new badges each time you reach 5 days. Logging can be done through the ReadSquared portal on our library website. You can also pick up a lined journal at the library to write down the titles of your books or a sticker sheet to log your minutes if you prefer. There are plenty of other ways to earn badges besides reading. You can adopt a shell from the library, vote in our "Who Would Win?" contests, or take a picture of your favorite place to read in the summer.
Registration for all programs begins on Tuesday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m.

Summertime Stories (ages 0-5)
(Mondays at 10:30 a.m., June 26, July 10, 17, 24, 31)
Join us in our Mary Flood Room to enjoy stories, rhymes and songs about the ocean and its many animals. A craft project will be offered at the end of the program.

Ocean Adventures (going into grades K-2)
(Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m., June 21, 28, July 12, 19, 26, August 2)
Come on an ocean adventure with Ms. Patty as we explore animals and games about ocean life. We’ll do some crafting, experiment with chemical reactions, make edible aquariums, and even crack some pirate codes to escape a deserted island!

Mysteries Under the Sea (going into grades 3-5)
(Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m., June 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, August 1)
The ocean is full of mysteries, legends and lore. Over the course of this six-week program, we’ll use the ocean and its stories and inhabitants as inspiration for projects such as creating coral reef crystals, making
bioluminescent paintings, exploring aquatic cryptids, and analyzing unsolved shipwrecks.

Thank you to the Friends of the Portland Library for sponsoring all of our
Summer Programs for Children and Families.

Summer Reading Kickoff : BMX Champ Chris Poulos
Wednesday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m.
All ages welcome!
Join us in the Portland High School Gymnasium for a one-of-a-kind BMX
demonstration. Chris is a world champion athlete and youth motivational speaker who shares powerful life lessons as he demonstrates amazing bicycle stunts.

Wednesday Night Family Programs

Every Wednesday night from June 21 through August 2 (no program July 6), Portland Library will host FREE family shows! Call 860-342-6770 or visit www.portlandlibraryct.org to register and get updated times and locations.

June 21: Comic Mime Robert Rivest
Through spoken word, physical comedy, and a zany cast of characters, Robert Rivest brings pure hilarity!

June 28: Touch Tanks from Mystic Aquarium
Get up and close and personal with some live sea creatures! Guides from Mystic Aquarium will be on hand to answer questions and provide info.

July 12: Pirate Night @ Portland Library
Ahoy, maties! Come build a pirate ship, sing some pirate songs and walk the plank!

July 19: Meet Ariel and Moana!
Disney princesses Ariel and Moana will be at the library with songs, stories hula lessons, and of course, plenty of photo ops!

July 26: Magician Ed Popielarczyk
Magician Ed Pop will make you laugh as he entertains you with stories and magic tricks. This interactive show involves A LOT of audience participation.

August 2: Stuffed Animal Sleepover
Leave your favorite stuffed animal at the library after a special storytime and then pick them up the next day to hear about their adventures!

Summer Programs and Opportunities for Teens

Summer Reading Volunteer Training
Thursday, June 1 at 3:30 p.m.
Kids and teens entering grades 7-up are welcome to apply for Portland Library’s Summer Reading Volunteer program. This is an excellent way to get involved in your community, beat the heat, get some enriching work experience for your resume, and have a lot of fun! Interested applicants should visit the library or the Teen section of our website to pick up an application. Volunteers are needed for program preparation and assistance,
logging reading minutes and awarding prizes, and staffing the summer reading desk. Volunteers will be expected to attend a mandatory training session on Thursday, June 1 at 3:30 p.m. For more
information, call the library at 860-342-6770.

LGBTQ+ Social and Support Groups
The Portland Library, in conjunction with Portland Youth and Family Services and QPlus, and supported by Health Care Advocates International  (HCAI), will be hosting social and support groups for LGBTQ+ youth. Teens are invited to social meetups at the library on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. Support groups will meet on the third Wednesday of the month, with a parent and caregiver support group running concurrently in another room at the library. For more information, contact Jenn Renk at 860-342-6770.

Candy Sushi (going into grades 6-up)
Thursday, June 22 at 3:00 p.m.
We guarantee this is the sweetest sushi you've ever had! Come make and try these delicious rolls with chopsticks.

Sand and Seashell Mosaics (going into grades 6-up)
Thursday, June 29 at 3:00 p.m.
This hybrid paint and sand/seashell mosaic is fun to make and will look great in any room!

Pandemonium at the Poolside: A Murder Mystery (going into grades 6-up)
Thursday, July 13 at 3:00 p.m.
A pool party goes wrong as one of the guests suddenly drops dead and all the clues point to
murder. Can you figure out who committed the crime?

DIY Cloud Lamps (going into grades 6-up)
Thursday, July 20 at 3:00 p.m.
Bring the outdoors inside by crafting an easy, fluffy cloud lamp for your room.

Library “Luau” Lock-In (going into grades 6-up)
Friday, July 28 from 7:00-10:00 p.m.
Our annual lock-in is going tropical this year! Teens are invited to visit the library after closing time for this after-hours program. Wear your best Hawaiian shirt and join us for games, crafts, and of course, food! This is one of our most popular events of the year, so sign up early!

Registration required for all programs! Space is limited!
Registration opens on Monday, May 30 at 10:00 a.m. 

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