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Director Updates:
July 2026
The Library Lookout
Official Newsletter of the Skowhegan Free Public Library
Upcoming Events:
If you saw our recent Facebook post announcing that Miss Angie had been fired—don’t worry, I’m still very much here at the library! As librarians, we do love a good excuse to remind people to read the fine print, and this was our slightly mischievous way of doing just that while also having a little fun with all of you (and hopefully giving you a laugh in the process).
Miss Angie hard at work at her job that she’s definitely not fired from.
We are also excited to share that the Skowhegan Free Public Library was recently awarded a $5,000 grant from the Maine State Library to support local programming celebrating America's Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Through this grant, we will partner with Margaret Chase Smith Community School and Skowhegan Area Middle School to offer educational opportunities exploring our nation's history.
As part of the celebration, a rare 1776 Dunlap Broadside—the first printed version of the Declaration of Independence and one of only 26 surviving copies—will tour all 16 Maine counties and will be on display at the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan on September 25 and 26. More information about what we have in store will be coming soon.
Recurring:
Every Wednesday- Storytime @ 10:30AM
Every Friday- Sit & Knit @ 1 - 3PM
7/1 - BooOOooks in the Basement @ 6:15PM
7/9 - Fossil Dig @ 1PM
7/9 - Arend Thibodeau Author Talk @ 6PM
7/11 - Josh Funk Storytime at Coburn Park @ 12:30PM
7/16 - Cookie Archaeology @ 11AM
7/16 - Maine Memory Network and Community History @ 6PM
7/21 -Betty Cully Author Talk @ 1PM
7/21-Beaded Suncatchers @ 3PM
7/23 - Bruce Robert Coffin Author Talk @ 6PM
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Click the link for our Summer events calendar here: Summer Calendar of Events
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Closures:
7/3/2026- All day: In observance of Independence Day
Library Updates
Library Updates
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News from Emily Ecker, Youth Services Librarian
Happy Summer Reading season! I'm pleased to report that, as of this writing, we have registered 100 kiddos for the reading challenge so far. Our cardboard dino friends, PteranoRon and T-Jeff, were completed and on display ready to greet patrons by the Kickoff. An amazing 40 little dinos were adopted into loving homes that we'll hopefully see again at the end of the summer in our Dino-rama Showcase. Maine's kindie rock duo, Fun Run, also came to jam out with us. We had a delightful time at our Tea-Rex Tea party, learning proper dino etiquette and eating tasty dino snacks.
Here is our upcoming summer programming for July:
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9th- Fossil Dig @1:00pm (registration required)
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11th- Josh Funk Storytime at Coburn Park @12:30pm
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16th- Cookie Archaeology @11:00am (registration required)
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21st- Betty Culley Author Talk @1:00pm
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30th- LEGO Club @3:30pm
Programs are filling up, so be sure to stop in or call to register!
News from Bree Bussell-Fitzgerald, Adult Services
Summer is finally here! We've had 40 people sign up for the Teen & Adult Summer Reading Bingo so far which is amazing! If you haven't signed up yet but you want to, there is still time. Stop by to get a bingo board and start reading to earn a $5 giftcard to a local business!
We have so many interesting programs coming up- everything from fun crafts and local author talks to perusing historical archives to see what we can find! Enjoy the beautiful summer ahead, try out a new author and remember, audiobooks absolutely count as reading!
News from Nikki Hathaway, Tech Services Librarian
In basement news, our Library of Things is taking another big step forward! You’ll soon be seeing cabinets downstairs in the corner of the Geneology Room to allow us to house more useful items! I did a poll a few months back so we have an idea of what you’d like to see but if you have new suggestions/ requests or new items you’d like to donate, give us a call!
BooOOooks in the Basement will be reading ‘Hide’ by Kiersten White for our August 5th meeting and 'The Spite House' by Jonny Compton for our September meeting.
In August we're discussing: 'Hide' by Kiersten White
September's book is: 'The Spite House' by Jonny Compton
Fundraising Updates
Summer reading keeps us pretty busy here at the library but that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways you can still support and help out!
You can donate directly to the library by mailing back the remittence slip at the end of our newsletter or on our website whenever is convenient for you.
You can also still donate your returnables and request the proceeds go to the library directly by utilizing Skowhegan Redemption! Cleaning after your cookouts or family gatherings can also help support local programming and literacy!
Staff Book Picks for July 2026
Angie-
Best Offer Wins
by Marisa Kashino
Nikki-
Play Nice
by Rachel Harrison
Emily-
SCRAM
by Rory Lucey
Bree-
Take me to Your Leader
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
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
President: Lynda Quinn
Devin MacMichael
Debra Sterling
Lynn Perry
Maureen Provencal
Noella DesPres
Robert Washburn
Kristina Canon
Patricia Horine
Bloomfield Academy Trustees