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Director Updates:
November 2025
The Library Lookout
Official Newsletter of the Skowhegan Free Public Library
At the Skowhegan Public Library, October is like Christmas. So much so, that poor Michelle, our mail carrier has to be paid off with mass amounts of candy for delivering so many packages.
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Why are we getting so much mail and so many packages, you ask? Because each October, we hold our annual Fall Book Drive. This is when we pause the purchasing of books in-house, and look to all of you to purchase the books instead. We curate a well-rounded wish list filled with hundreds of books ranging from picture books to horror books, the latest James Pattersons, and replacement copies of well-read classics. We list mysteries, thrillers, fantasy, romance, YA, large print, non-fiction, and this year we even listed a few Tonies for the children. YOU all get to “shop” from our list and select the materials you would like to see on our shelves.
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This year, our goal was 300 books, and although I began to get nervous we wouldn’t hit our goal, you all came through! We are so lucky to have a supportive community that values the library and pitches in to make sure we all have a great selection of materials at our fingertips.
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​Thank you to all who purchased books, shared our posts, came in for a drink at Unwined during our Guest Bartending event, or purchased a Salem’s Latte from Joe’s Cafe. As of October 31st we have been able to add over 330 brand new books to our shelves!
Upcoming Events:
Recurring:
Every Wednesday- Storytime @ 10:30AM
Every Friday- Sit & Knit @ 1 - 3PM
11/05- BooOOooks in the Basement @ 6:15PM
11/19 - Kawaii Felt Toys Sewing Workshop Part 1 of 2 @ 4PM
11/20 - Kawaii Felt Toys Sewing Workshop Part 2 of 2 @ 4PM
11/20- Books and Brews at Joe’s Flat Iron Cafe @ 6:30PM
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Closures
11/11- Veteran’s Day
11/27-11/28- Thanksgiving break
Click here to access a PDF version of our calendars here: Library Calendar
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Library Updates
Library Updates
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News from Emily Ecker, Youth Services Librarian
We got in so many new books during October! The bulk of it, of course, was thanks to all of the wonderful contributions from the Fall Book Drive. It was hard to keep up processing everything that came in each week, and harder to make space to display them all!
At the beginning of the month, we started circulating Tonies, which are audio-enabled figurines that play stories, songs, and sound recordings, and Tonieboxes, which are their audio players. So far, the feedback has been positive, and patrons who have checked them out found them easy to use. Hopefully, we'll be able to grow our collection in the future as their popularity grows!
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I must again give a shoutout to everyone who submitted an October Doodle Day drawing. We surpassed September's total before the month even ended!
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​In November, we'll have a new Doodle Day theme ready at the beginning of the month and another LEGO Club meeting (date TBD; keep an eye on our Facebook page).
News from Adult Services
November means we get to announce that the moment you’ve all been waiting for is here! Bree is returning to the library! If you’ve missed her smiling face, or stellar book recommendations, (we know we have!) stop by and say hi!
The book choice for Books & Brews for November is Radium Girls by Kate Moore. We’ll be meeting on 11/20 at Joe’s Flat Iron Cafe @ 6:30 PM, we hope to see you there!
News from Nikki Hathaway, Tech Services Librarian
While not basement-specific, I’m very happy to be able to announce the launch of our new Free Little Pantry at the library. This pantry is donation-based, so we’ll need your help to keep it running and fully stocked. Please feel free to take what you need and donate if you can.
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The support from the community has already been incredible. It’s always wonderful to see how Skowhegan shows up for its people.
Fundraising Updates
November always signifies the start of the holiday season. Along with that, our annual basket raffle fundraiser! Tickets are $5 each and still on sale at the library. Make sure you don’t miss your chance to win one of the three baskets or the beautiful quilt that’s up for raffle!
In keeping with the holidays theme, we thought this would be a great time to reintroduce you to the Friends of the Library Shop! If you haven’t been lately, you’re definitely missing out! The Friends of the Library Shop is located on Water Street on the rotary, and all proceeds from sales go to benefit the library! They’re open Wednesday-Friday 10 am-4 pm and accept donations on Wednesdays during business hours. The inventory is consistently updated and seasonal, and you can always find a great deal. It’s a great place to check off some of your holiday shopping (or treat yourself) and always fun to look around. Shopping for a good cause sounds like a win-win to us!
Staff Book Picks for November 2025
Angie-
City of Ghosts
by V.E. Schwab
Nikki-
Cackle
by Rachel Harrison
Emily-
DallerGut Dream Department Store
by Miye Lee
Bree-
Last Rites
by Ozzy Osbourne
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 Hathaway
Volunteer: Janet Mayhew
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President: Lynda Quinn
Devin MacMichael
Debra Sterling
Lynn Perry
Maureen Provencal
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​​Noella DesPres
Robert Washburn
Kristina Canon
Patricia Horine
Bloomfield Academy Trustees​