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Director Updates:
September 2026
The Library Lookout
Official Newsletter of the Skowhegan Free Public Library
Upcoming Events:
There’s a saying around town that when the fair ends, so goes summer. Well, the Skowhegan State Fair has come and gone, kids are back in school, and I’m even starting to see a few leaves change color. I guess summer really is winding down! The hustle and bustle of our summer reading programs may be over, but our librarians aren’t slowing down. In fact, we have some MAJOR NEWS to share!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is coming to Somerset County!
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, children from birth to age five will be able to receive a free, age-appropriate book in the mail each month at no cost to their families. It’s a great way for kids to start building their own collection of books at home before they even start kindergarten. This is especially exciting for a rural community like ours, where distance, transportation, busy schedules, and the cost of books can sometimes make access difficult. The Imagination Library helps remove some of those barriers by bringing books right to families’ doors. We are so grateful to the anonymous donor who is making this possible for Somerset County. We’ll be sharing more information about the program and how to sign up soon, so keep an eye out!
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We also want to say a big thank-you to Drake Turcotte, who volunteered with us this summer. Drake completed almost 50 volunteer hours working on digitizing our collection of local high school yearbooks, a project we’ve wanted to tackle for quite a while. Digitizing the Skowhegan Area High School yearbooks will help us preserve an important piece of our local history and eventually make them available online, where they’ll be much easier for former students, families, researchers, and anyone interested in our community’s history to access.
Summer may be winding down, but there’s still plenty happening at the library. We’re looking forward to a busy fall!
Recurring:
Every Wednesday- Storytime @ 10:30AM
Every Friday- Sit & Knit @ 1 - 3PM
9/2 - BooOOooks in the Basement @ 6:15PM
9/8 - Die Well Workshop w/ Hospice @ 1PM
9/8 - Jett’s Book Buddies @ 4PM
9/9 - Jeanine Deas Author Storytime @ 10:30AM
9/10 - Randall Liberty Author Talk @ 6PM
9/15 - Senior Games w/ Holland’s Variety at Community Center @ 2PM
9/17 Books & Brews at Joe’s Flat Iron Cafe @ 6:30PM
9/24 - LEGO Club @ 3:30PM
9/26 - Print Making Workshop w/ MCSL @ 10:30AM
9/29 - Pumpkin Painting w/ Holland’s Variety @ 12:30PM
10/1 - Nomar Slevin Author Talk @ 6PM
10/2 - Molly Donlan Author Talk @ 6PM
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Closures:
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9/7/26- All day, in observance of Labor Day
Library Updates
Library Updates
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News from Emily Ecker, Youth Services Librarian
Summer Reading 2026 is over! We did it! This year, we had more participants, more time spent reading, and more prizes earned than last year: 143 kiddos registered for the reading program, 43 of them finished all eight weeks, a total of 11,520 minutes were read, and 576 prizes were given away! Thank you so much to everyone who donated to our prize box; it was a hit!
September will be a little calmer for special programming so I can catch my breath. We will have Jeanine Deas coming to read her newest picture book at storytime on the 9th at 10:30am, and LEGO Club will be on the 24th at 3:30pm.
As a space-saving change, please note that all holiday books have been pulled from the board book, picture book, and fiction sections and moved into storage. They will be put out on display during their seasons, but are still available to check out upon request at any time. Do not hesitate to ask for your favorites!
News from Bree Bussell-Fitzgerald, Adult Services
September means Books & Brews is BACK! We're starting off with We Don't Talk About Carol by Kristen Berry! We'll meet at Joe's Flat Iron Cafe on 9/17 at 6:30pm so come sit, relax and let's talk books! Be sure to follow us on FB or visit me at the library to vote on books for the following meetings!
Summer craft sessions have been a huge hit so I'm looking to expand into some Fall sessions as well! Let's get crafty and have some fun while we create something beautiful!
Join me and Variety Drug at the Community Center on 9/15 at 2pm for some Golden Games for Seniors! We'll spend an afternoon with free fun, laughter and a bit of friendly competition! Then on 9/29 we'll be painting some fall pumpkins here at the library. Who do you think will have a cuter pumpkin, the library or Variety Drug? You'll have to join us to find out!
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News from Nikki Bulmer, Tech Services Librarian
We’ve officially announced our Wednesday Tech help appointments! Have tech questions? Want one on one help with your phone? Reach out to the library by phone, Facebook or by filling out this Google Form to schedule a 30-45 minute session on Wednesdays with me! Remember to include your specific questions and the type of device so that I can properly research your question prior to your arrival!
In celebration of spooky season, BooOOooks in the Basement is reading ‘Pet Sematary’ by Stephen King for our 10/7 meeting!!
October's book is: 'Pet Sematary' by Stephen King
Fundraising Updates
Our fundraising partnership with Lakewood continues in the September with the proceeds from their last few shows still donating $1 for each sale!
In addition to ticket sales, there’s still some time to purchase raffle tickets before the 9/7 drawing, so don’t wait! The basket features $300 worth of gift cards to local businesses and merchandise!
Tickets are $10.00 each and can be purchased at the library, the Friends of the Library Shop and at Lakewood during showtimes.
Stopping by the Friends of the Library Shop for tickets? Take some time to look around! The inventory is always changing and the prices can’t be beat!
We also still have our ongoing partnerships with Skowhegan Redemption, so please keep us in mind when doing your returnables and fall clean up!
Staff Book Picks for September 2026
Angie-
Cherry Baby
by Rainbow Rowell
Nikki-
How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay
by Jenny Lawson
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Emily-
Hollow Kingdom
by Kira Jane Buxton
Bree-
Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel
by Lucey Foley and Agatha Christie
Our mission
At the Skowhegan Free Public Library, our mission is to foster a community where the freedom to read and access information is paramount. We are dedicated to providing a well-rounded and diverse collection of resources that cater to the educational, recreational, and cultural needs of all our patrons. Our library serves as a welcoming space for every community member, promoting inclusivity and accessibility. We are committed to sustainable practices, ensuring that our operations and services contribute positively to the environment and the well-being of future generations. Together, we empower minds, inspire lifelong learning, and build a brighter, more informed world.
The Library Lookout
9 Elm Street
Skowhegan, ME 04976
Library Staff
Director: Angie Herrick
Adult Circ: Breanna Bussell-Fitzgerald
Youth Services: Emily Ecker
Technology Librarian: Nikki Bulmer
Volunteer: Janet Mayhew
President: Lynda Quinn
Devin MacMichael
Debra Sterling
Lynn Perry
Maureen Provencal
Noella DesPres
Robert Washburn
Kristina Canon
Patricia Horine
Bloomfield Academy Trustees