LIBRARY HOURS
MON-THURS 10:00 - 8:00
FRIDAY 10:00 - 5:00
SATURDAY 10:00 - 3:00
Upcoming Holiday Closing: All day Monday Feb 17 for President’s Day.
Spooky Story Writing Challenge
Portland Library is excited to announce that it is holding our first annual Spooky Story Writing Contest! Portland residents age six and up are invited to submit an original spooky tale using the guidelines here. Prizes will be awarded to one winner from each age group (6-11, 12-18, and 19+). Winning stories will also be featured in a Best of Spooky CT volume.
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Stories must be submitted between September 14 and October 16.
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Submitted stories must:
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Be set in Connecticut past, present, or future
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Be a maximum of 2,750 works
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Be an original piece (no AI, please!)
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Be authored by a Portland resident
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Have no excessive bad language or extreme gore
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One entry per person, please!
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Submissions will be accepted via Google Form. Please note that to submit via the Google Form, you must have or create a free Google account.
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Winners will be notified in November.
Click poster to submit story
Fall Storytimes
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Drop-In Playdates
Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
November 5 and November 12
Children ages 0-5 and their caregivers are invited to join us on Wednesday mornings in June from 10:30-11:30 for an hour of socialization and open play with our story room toys. No registration is required.
Family Craft Night: Smoky Cauldron Art
Monday, October 26 at 6:30 p.m.
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Create a mixed-media masterpiece that’s perfect for the Halloween season! Family members of all ages are invited to participate; please register with the number of people that would like their own canvas for this project.
Registration opens on Monday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m.
Upcoming Halloween Events
Halloween Costume Swap (Monday, October 26 from 6-7:30 p.m. )
Visit the library between 6-7:30 p.m. on Monday, October 26 to browse a selection of Halloween costumes for kids. Whether you need a costume or want to drop off your gently used costumes, we hope to see you here!
Halloween on Main Street (Friday, October 30 from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.)
Fun for the whole family! Put on your costumes and come down to Main Street and other area businesses for a not-to-be-missed evening of socializing and collecting treats.
Noble Quests
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
October 22, 29, November 5
Grades K-2
Join the ultimate adventure! Over the course of three weeks, we ‘ll rescue jewels from a dragon’s hoard, solve the Legend of the Whispering Scroll and tame a dragon. Registration opens on Monday, September 28 at 10:00 a.m.
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Who Would Win:
Picture Book Edition
Stop by the library on Election Day, November 3, and cast your vote for who you would like to see as library mascot! Every vote matters! We’ll also have some drop-in crafts and a new scavenger hunt on hand to keep kids busy on this day off from school.
Sing and Sign with Ms. Janine
Tuesday, November 10 at 10:30 a.m.
Music and sign language programs are the perfect activity for children as young as 6 months old who are ready to learn and have fun! Learn how to sign colors, foods, feelings, animals and more. Perfect for infants up to age 6.
Registration is required and begins on Monday, November 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Drop-In Crafting
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
November 12, 19
Grades K-6​
Kids in grades K-6 are invited to join us for some no-rules creative crafting in the Wagner Room. There will be plenty of fun supplies and the only limit on what you can create is your own imagination! This is a drop-in program and no registration is required.
Family Craft Night:
Fall Gnome Ornaments
Monday, November 23
at 6:30 p.m.
Happy Gnome-vember! We’ll upcycle a gnome ornament from leftover Halloween ornaments in this festive family program.
Registration opens on Monday, November 2 at 10:00 a.m.
Thanksgiving Week Activities
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Thanksgiving Centerpieces
Tuesday, November 24 at 1:30 p.m.
Grades K-5
After a half day of school, drop in to make a small fall flower decoration for Thanksgiving.
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Holiday Movie: Toy Story 5
Wednesday, November 23
at 1:00 p.m.
Need to keep the kids busy on their day off from school while you prep for Thanksgiving? Send them with a caregiver to the library to catch a free screening of Toy Story 5. Light refreshments will be provided.
Sensory Resources and Programs at the Portland Library
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We are excited to announce the addition of nine sensory kits (3 adult, 6 child) available to patrons for use inside and outside of the library. Kits circulate for 21 days and must be returned to the Portland Library.
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Each kit contains:
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One weighted lap blanket
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One pair of headphones (child or adult)
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One pair of sunglasses (child or adult)
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Visual communication chart
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Fidget toys
This project is made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by Connecticut State Library.
Reading Lists
Not sure what to read next? Check out these book lists for some new ideas.
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Books for Animal Lovers in Grades 3-5
Character Counts: Picture Books about Kindness and Caring
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Readalikes
Historical Fiction for Children
Mysteries for Children
Ready for School
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Computers in the Children's Area
Early Literacy Computer Station Added
In September 2014, the Youth Services Department added an AWE Early Literacy Computer Station to its list of services. Stocked with more than 40 games that build skills in the areas of reading, words and phonics; science and nature; math and problem solving; reference; music and arts; writing and computer skills; and social studies and geography, this colorful touch-screen computer is great for kids between the ages of 2-8. Users may sign up at the children’s reference desk to use the computer.
Portland Library Computer Information
We have two computers with Internet access in the Children's Department that can be used by patrons under the age of 11. Only children or others accompanied by children are allowed to use these computers.
Please note the following when using the computers:
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Parents and guardians will have to sign a Public Computer Procedures form the first time their child uses a computer.
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If others are waiting, use is restricted to 30 minutes per user.
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There is filtering software on the computers in the Children's Department.
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Please, no eating or drinking at the computer.
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Our printing rates are as follows: Each user is allowed two free black and white pages. Additional pages are $.15 per page. Color copies are always $.50 per page.
Recommended Websites for Children:
ABCYa
BookFlix (Portland Library database subscription, requires library card number)
Scholastic Go! (Portland Library database subscription, requires library card number)
SwitchZoo
Homework Help
School Websites:
Brownstone Intermediate School
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General:
DK FindOut!: This secure search engine from published DK has information for young children on many different subjects.
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Math and Science:
HowStuffWorks.com: Learn how thousands of things work
NeoK-12: Fun videos and lessons on science subjects
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Social Studies:
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English and Spelling:
1000 Books Before Kindergarten
Raise a reader! 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is a national reading initiative that encourages parents and caregivers to provide positive, nurturing early experiences by reading aloud daily to their children from birth to age five. Reading to children builds important vocabulary and language skills that are needed for kindergarten. We invite you to participate in this exciting, free program open to children birth to age five.
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How long will it take to read 1,000 books? This is a self-paced program that depends on how often you read together. Reading three books together a night—approximately 15 minutes—will mean you will have read 1,095 at the end of one year.
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Come into the library and pick up your 1,000 Books Before Kindergartenwelcome packet in the children’s department.
Thank you to the Friends of the Portland Library for funding this program.
Not able to come to the library but want to get started on your next reading journal? Print them out here!