What's New at BML

Tax Help at the Library

AARP volunteers will be at Baxter Memorial Library on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, February 2nd through April 13th. This is a free service available to all low and middle income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and over.

While in the past it has been first-come-first-served, this year appointments are preferred. Walk-ins are still welcome but those with appointments will be given priority for their time slot. Please call 839-7439 to reserve your spot.

Annual Writing Contests

The Friends of Baxter Memorial Library are holding their annual writing contests for adults and for students in grades 3-12.

All submissions must be at the Library by 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 20, 2010.

For more information, official rules and details on the prizes, please visit Baxter Memorial Library, contact us at 839-5031, or simply view the PDFs below:

Elementary School Poetry Contest

Middle School / High School Writing Contest

Adult Writing Contest

The Giving Tree

What a success! This year's Giving Tree was the best we can remember. Approximately 175 items were donated! These will be distributed by the Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry in cooperation with St. Anne's Catholic Parish and will benefit Gorham families in need, helping to make this a very happy holiday season for all. Thank you to all donors for your wonderful generosity.

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.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Pass

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay (www.mainegardens.org) is the latest organization to participate in our free pass program. Two passes (good for one person each and valued at $10) are available for a three day loan period. This pass works a bit differently than our other passes in that the organization does not accept photocopies so the two physical passes we have are all that's available. They must be returned promptly so that others may enjoy them.

We are happy to take reservations for these passes as they as they become available but reservations may not be made more than 24 hours in advance. For more information, please call 839-5031.

Downloadable Audio Books Now Available

Baxter Memorial Library is pleased to announce that downloadable audio books will now be available through the Maine InfoNet Download Library!

Simply click the image above to visit http://download.maineinfonet.org and get started today.

A PDF version of the instructional brochure is available by clicking here and the official FAQ is located at http://download.maineinfonet.org/help.htm.

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

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!

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 839-5031.

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!

The Baxter Memorial Library and the Friends of Baxter Memorial Library have just added a free, subscription-based email service for news and other announcements. 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!

Recent Acquisitions

New Adult Fiction

New Non-Fiction

New DVDs

New Books on CD

New YA Fiction

Movies

View a complete list of our DVD Holdings

View a complete list of our VHS Holdings