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Director Updates:
September 2025
The Library Lookout
Official Newsletter of the Skowhegan Free Public Library
We are so excited to introduce you all to our newest library family member, Miss Elsie Pearl Bussell- Fitzgerald. She was born on the morning of August 15th and weighed 7 lbs 5 oz. Bree and Elsie are both doing well and enjoying quiet time at home getting to know each other. Bree wanted us to thank you all for the many well wishes and good lucks she received before leaving the library! She will be back in November and until then we will just keep on drooling over these adorable baby cheeks.
We are so happy with how beautiful and fresh our library building looks after Towle Masonry finished the work on it. It took nearly three months to complete, but what a difference. The work they did repointing and washing the bricks added years of life to our beautiful historic building. We are very pleased with the work and we are very appreciative of the community support to help us raise the funds to get the work done.
We also had a great time during our Annual Book Giveaway and Bookworm Bake Sale. (Thank you to everyone who baked in that 90 degree heat!) We raised over $600 and we gave new homes to over 450 new books. This giveaway takes place every year during the week of the fair, so if you missed out this year, put it on your calendar for 2026!
Upcoming Events:
Recurring:
Every Wednesday- Storytime @ 10:30AM
Every Friday- Sit & Knit @ 1 - 3PM
9/03 - BooOOooks in the Basement @ 6:15PM
9/18- Books & Brews at Joe's Flat Iron Cafe @ 6:30PM
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Closures
9/01- In observance of Labor Day
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Click here to access a PDF version of our calendars here: Library Calendar
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Goodbye, from Lydia Dore, Library Aid
Greetings everyone, I’m sad to say that at the end of August my time as the Librarian aide has sort of come to an end. I will no longer be working "regular hours" but I won't entirely be disappearing from the library. I may be able to help out here and there and fill a shift if someone needs time off, but I will also definitely be there as a patron myself! The cause of this is that I will be starting school back up full time this September at UMA in their Nursing program. I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful time that I’ve enjoyed being able to help and get to know you all. My favorite part of my time at the library was getting to know all of you. Though I am sad to be saying goodbye to a big part of what I’ve known, I am excited for the new knowledge that I am going to learn and the experiences I am going to gain.
Library Updates
Library Updates
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News from Emily Ecker, Youth Services Librarian
And just like that, the 2025 Summer Reading Program is over! We had an amazing 135 participants this year, a dedicated 21 of whom completed all nine weeks. In total, participants read for a whopping 10,920 minutes! Of course, we must give a huge shoutout and a heartfelt thanks to everyone who donated prizes because 546 of them were redeemed over the course of the program!
September will be the start of a new passive program called Doodle Day. Each month will have a different drawing theme, and patrons are encouraged to draw their interpretations. All drawings will be displayed until the following month. I can't wait to see the wall covered in art!
As I begin to settle and think about upcoming programming, I want to know: What kinds of children and teen programs would you like to see here? Feel free to reach out to me with ideas and suggestions, as well as preferred days/times that would work best for your families!
Finally, the graphic novels section has gotten a refresh! It is now organized alphabetically by series/title, and no longer by author."
News from Adult Services
The adult summer reading program has drawn to a close. We had a lot of fun comparing which books we read to complete each square. There were 55 participants who collectively earned 71 bingos. We even had 4 people earn blackouts on their bingo boards! We want to thank the Friends of the Library for purchasing the gift cards to local businesses that we handed out as prizes. It was certainly a fun way to boost summer reading amongst us adults.
BUT we promise, the fun isn’t over just because school is starting back up. September means that Books & Brews Book Club is restarting as well. Our first meeting of this session will be on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30. We will be meeting at Joe’s Flat Iron Café to discuss The Witch Elm by Tana French. We still have a few books available to borrow at the library if you want to try it out. It is a low-pressure fun book club where we read everything from romance, to thriller, to mystery, to horror, to contemporary to non- fiction. Anything and everything is fair game!
News from Nikki Hathaway, Tech Services Librarian
BooOOooks in the Basement is back and ready for our first meeting after the summer! We’ll be talking about ‘We Used to Live Here’ by Markus Kliewer. Every month, we alternate between True Crime and Horror novels. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for our True Crime pick for October!
Fundraising Updates
“Dracula, A Comedy of Terror!” was a huge hit and a great way to get a head start on spooky season! We want to give another huge thank you to Lakewood for partnering with us to help raise funds for the library. In addition to the tickets, there was also a raffle for an incredible basket with $300.00 worth of items.
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For ongoing fundraising opportunities, we have our continued partnership with Skowhegan Redemption. As you prepare for fall, this could be a great way to clean up the yard, help the environment, and support a good cause!
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We also have our store front on Bonfire.com. Our items have been updated and expanded to include polos, hooded t-shirts, coffee mugs, and more! Our online store front is on demand so while we don’t have merchandise in the library to purchase, this means you can order the sizes and colors you want and aren’t limited to what we have in stock. It also means that we’re open to suggestions on what you’d like to see in our online store! Scan the QR code below with your phone’s camera to check it out!
Staff Book Picks for September 2025
Angie-
Ugly Beautifyl
by Alice Feeney
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Nikki-
Winterset Hollow
by Jonathan Edward Durham
Emily-
Whodonut? A Holiday Mystery
by Josh Funk
Bree-
You're My Little Baby Boo
by Nicola Edwards
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
Library Aide: Lydia Dore
Volunteer: Janet Mayhew
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President: Lynda Quinn
Devin MacMichael
Debra Sterling
Lynn Perry
Maureen Provencal
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​​Noella DesPres
Sarah Leavitt
Robert Washburn
Kristina Canon
Patricia Horine
Bloomfield Academy Trustees​