Library News

Holiday Closings

The library will be closed on Monday, December 25 and Monday, January 1 for the Christmas and New Year holidays.  We will be open our regular hours otherwise.  And we are wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Bold Bead Necklaces

A good statement necklace can make or break an outfit, and now you’ll have a chance to craft your own.  Register anytime, and then pick up a bag containing wooden beads and all the other items you’ll need starting January 12.  Whether you paint your beads or keep it natural with wood stains, your necklace is sure to let everyone know you are a force to be reckoned with.  Ages 16 and up, registration required.

Winter Reading Program

Grab a book, a blanket, and get comfy in your favorite reading spot because Portland District Library’s Winter Reading Program returns on Saturday, December 23. Get everyone in the family reading; patrons can decide between using PDL’s virtual reading tracker, Beanstack, or picking up a traditional paper tracker at the library. Adult readers will be entered to win a grand prize for each badge they earn and then can collect a prize from the library after earning all five badges. Youth readers, ages 18 and under, will be competing for weekly prizes for each age group: Littles (ages 0-5), Middles (ages 6-12), and Teens (ages 13-18). Program will run until Saturday, February 3.

Children’s and Teen

Petey L.’s Blizzard Adventures

Petey L. is back again this winter, and ready to go on more exciting adventures with our youngest patrons! Ages 8 & under, pick up a Take-and-Make bag from the Youth Desk starting Wednesday, January 3. Supplies are included to make your very own version of Petey L., who is ready to explore all the highlights of the winter season with you. From drinking hot cocoa, to playing in the snow outside, to snuggling up on the couch to read your favorite book, Petey L. can’t wait to see what you do together! Don’t forget to take a picture with Petey L., submit it to the library, and wait to hear if you’re a winner. Patrons can submit as many photos as they’d like each week – they’ll be on display in the Youth Department – and winners will be drawn every Friday until January 26.

Virtual STEM Club: Circuit Critters: 

This month's Virtual STEM Club: Circuit Critters finds us working with circuits and creating unique light-up critters using some fun craft supplies. Registration for Take-and-Make bags begins Wednesday, December 20. This program is recommended for ages 6-12, requires parental supervision, and is limited to 35 patrons.

Page Turners

Portland District Library's teen book club, Page Turners, has chosen “Powerless,” written by Lauren Roberts, for their next book. In this dystopian fantasy romance, some survivors of the Plague were gifted powers and called the Elite. Others were not so lucky and were deemed the Ordinary. The Ordinary were to be banished from the kingdom of Ilya and were considered felons.

Paedyn survives the slums as an Ordinary pretending to be an Elite with psychic powers. She unwittingly saves the life of one of the princes and finds herself thrown into the Purging Trials with other Elites. Paedyn starts falling in love with the prince. Will her secret be revealed? Does he feel the same? Will she survive the brutal trials? 

To find out, join Page Turners this winter. Registration begins Friday, December 1. Pick up your free copy of the book when you sign up. Meetings are scheduled for Saturday, December 30 and January 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Community Room. Space is limited to 10 teens, ages 13 to 18.