What's New at BML

Spring Into Summer Event

Wednesday, June 19th 3:00 - 6:30pm

This event kicks off our summer reading programs and is also a “Thank You” to the community for its support over the past year.

FEATURING:
Free: Hot Dogs, Snow Cones, Crafts and so much more…..

“TOUCH THE TRUCK”
Vehicles from: Gorham Police Department; Gorham Fire Department & Gorham Public Works Department.

STORYTELLER ANTONIO ROCHA
@ 4:30pm in Youth Services Department Antonio Rocha is a Maine-based internationally known entertainer. Mr. Rocha’s unique solo shows of stories, sounds effects, zany characters, physical comedy and mime have been performed from Singapore to Hawaii and many places in between including 14 countries on six continents. Mr. Rocha’s performance is sponsored by the Baxter Memorial Library Board of Trustees in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of the Baxter Memorial Library Renovation and Expansion.

Baxter Memorial Library Summer Reading Programs

Wednesday, June 19th is the kick-off to our summer reading programs.

To enter the Youth Services program, simply stop in and pick up your Summer Reading bookmark. Track your time spent reading by crossing out one of the words READ found on the back of the bookmark. Set your own goal by deciding if each READ should represent 10, 15, 20 or more minutes of reading or being read to. Cross out the READ each time your goal has been met. Bring back your bookmark anytime between August 12th and 30th to enter our prize drawing. Bookmarks may be returned after August 30th for a free book.

To enter the Adult Services program, stop by the circulation desk and pick up a Frequent Reader card. We will punch your card for each book you complete. Read eight books and turn in your card to be entered into the final drawing for a variety of prizes, including $25 gift cards to the Bookworm!! Each filled card gains entry into the drawing. The more you read the better your chances. Cards for the prize drawing must be turned in by 4pm Friday, August 30th.

Both programs are FREE and designed for their respective age groups. For our purposes, adults must be High School students or older by Fall 2013. Older teens may choose to participate in either the Adult or Youth Services program, but can not do both.

The Friends of Baxter Memorial Library have generously sponsored our membership to BookSizzle, a resource for finding reviews, keeping up on what's new at the library, and learning what titles are being talked about on NPR, Good Morning America, and other media outlets.

The site it takes you to is still sort of a "beta" version. We'll be adding more titles and customizing as we go.

This service also allows you to subscribe to the library newsletter by using the form to the right, just below our Facebook/Twitter/RSS buttons. Enjoy!

LearningExpress Online Resource

Simply click the link to visit LearningExpress, the latest addition to our online services.

Funded by the Maine State Librarys BTOP grant and available to Maine public library patrons, LearningExpress Library is an interactive online learning platform featuring over 770 practice tests, tutorials, and eBooks related to job search and workplace skills improvement, career certification and licensing exam preparation, college entrance and graduate school admissions exam preparation, GED exam preparation, and basic skills improvement in reading, writing, and math, for all ages.

You will get immediate scoring, complete answer explanations, and an individualized analysis of your results. In addition, you will find interactive popular software tutorials/courses that are video-based and allow you to learn at your own pace.

Downloadable Books

Baxter Memorial Library is pleased to offer downloadable audio books and e-books through the Maine InfoNet Download Library! Simply click the image above to visit http://download.maineinfonet.org and get started today.

Essentially every device is now supported in one way or another, including the Kindle, Nook, iPod, iPhone, and Anroid devices.

A variety of online help resources can be found at http://download.maineinfonet.org/Help.htm.

Also, don't forget that the library offers free, personal, 30-minute tutorials on how to use all this wonderful new technology. If you'd like to sign up for one, or just need a quick walk-through, please call James at 222-1190 or email jrathbun@msln.net to reserve your time today!

This service is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Friends of Baxter Memorial Library.

View Our Newsletter Online

Our newsletter is now available in PDF format online! View current and past issues here:

June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013

Portland Public Library Cards

Did you know that all residents of Cumberland and York counties are eligible for a free Portland Public Library card and, with the 14-digit number it provides, access to their amazing online resources? It's true. Many of the most valuable resources Portland Public Library has to offer can be accessed for free without ever leaving your home. All you need is a library card.

With that in mind, you will now be able to obtain a free Portland Public Library card at the circulation desk here at Baxter Memorial Library.

Highlights of what PPL has to offer include:

- Genealogy information from HeritageQuest and Ancestry Plus
- Learn-a-Language audiobooks from the Pimsleur Language series
- Thousands of audiobooks you can download to your MP3 player
- Auto Repair manuals
- Learn-a-Test programs you can use from home
- Business Research from Mergent and other references
- Kids' e-books from Tumblebooks Library

For more information, please ask the helpful staff at the front desk or call 222-1190.

The Grocery Cart at BML

The Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry was formed in 1996 when Gorham area churches banded together to provide assistance to the community. The grocery cart that sits in the lobby of Baxter Memorial Library is also part of that cause and donations of non-perishable items are welcome.

Maine Legal Help Resource

Visit www.helpmelaw.org to find people who may be able to help you with a specific legal problem, information about the laws that affect you, a library of legal resources, contact information for low-cost legal help, and many other valuable legal resources.

Maine Answers Tough Times

Whether it is called a recession or a depression, all of us are now facing an economic downturn that can be simply described as tough times. How we respond and what we need to make it through these tough times will differ from person to person; family to family.

With that in mind, the Maine State Library has created a list of links and resources to help us all get through these hard times; whatever form they may take. For more information, please visit Maine Answers Tough Times.

What is Your Library Worth?

Have you ever stopped to consider the dollar value of the services you enjoy at Baxter? We did. Based on our last fiscal year's circulation figures entered into the Library Use Value Calculator, Baxter Memorial Library delivered $2,862,908 in services to our patrons on a budget of $442,645. Which is to say that for every $1.00 in funding the library received it returned nearly $6.50 in value.

Why not try out the Library Use Value Calculator yourself. It will help you put a price on the materials, programs, passes and functions of the library that you use most. You may be surprised just how much that little library card is really worth!

Literary Map of Maine

The Portland Press Herald / Sunday Telegram has posted their Literary Map of Maine online. It can be viewed by clicking here.

We have a mailing list

Curious about Library closings and other special bulletins? Wondering what our Friends group is up to? Want to stay fully abreast of all that we offer in upcoming programs and events but not interested in checking our online calendar of events? Why not subscribe to our mailing list? We'll send all the news you need to know directly to your email!

Simply follow this link: BML Email Subscription. It will take you to the Town of Gorham's website, where you can subscribe (or unsubscribe) to any of a number of lists the Town offers, including ours!