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.
Spring Storytimes
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Registration is required and space is limited.
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Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
March 11, 18, 25, April 1, 8, 22, 29 (no program April 15)
Songs, rhymes, and stories that will help get your preschooler ready for kindergarten.
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Storytime For Toddlers and Tots: Mother Goose on the Loose (ages 0-2)
Wednesdays at 10:15 or 11:15 a.m.
March 12, 19, 26, April 2, 9, 23, 30 (no program April 16)
Rhymes, songs, puppets, scarves and a story stimulate early pre-reading skills of babies and toddlers.
April Vacation Activities
3D Egg Painting And Spring BINGO with “A Fight Against”
Monday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m.
All ages welcome! Join us to kick off vacation week with a spring-themed craft project and several rounds of spring-themed
BINGO. Cosponsored with Portland nonprofit group “A Fight Against.”
Registration is required and opens on Monday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m.
Furry Scaly Friends
Thursday, April 17 at 11:00 a.m.
Join us for a one-hour session packed with facts and info on a variety of critters that you can pet and hold. In addition to an axolotl that we can’t wait to meet, visitors may include ferrets, guinea pigs, sugar
gliders, rabbits, hedgehogs, a chinchilla, an
opossum, tortoises, hermit crabs, tree frogs, snakes and more! Registration is required and opens on Monday, March 31 at 10:00 a.m.
Drop-In Days
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
April 3, 10, 24
Grades K-5
Drop in on Thursday afternoons for a variety of themed activities.
April 3: Drop-In Crafting
April 10: Drop-in STEM Activities
April 24: Drop-In Lego Building
No registration required.
Book Character Bunnies Hunt
Visit the library anytime in April and take part in our newest scavenger hunt! There are 12 bunnies dressed up as children’s book characters…. Is your favorite among them? Once you’ve found all the bunnies, return your sheet to a library staff member and get a special prize.
Preschool Science Mini Session
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
May 6, 13, 20
Join us for a program that will introduce kids ages 3-5 to the wonders of science.
We'll ask questions and make predictions as we do experiments that explore color,
chemical reactions and more.
MAY 6: COLOR
MAY 13: ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS
MAY 20: SURFACE TENSION
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Registration is required and opens on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. Space is limited. To register, call the library at 860-342-6770 or register online at www.portlandlibraryct.org.
Toddlers and Tots Storytime Mini Session
Wednesdays at 10:15 or 11:15 a.m.
May 7, 14, 21
Join Ms. Patty in this interactive session where there will be a story, rhymes, songs, puppets, scarves and more to stimulate early pre-reading skills of babies and toddlers. Two sessions will be offered each Wednesday to help keep our group sizes small.
Registration is required and opens on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. Space is limited. To register, call the library at 860-342-6770 or register online at www.portlandlibraryct.org.
Read to a Therapy Dog
Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
May 3, June 7
Devyn and Lucy from Middletown High School’s animal ambassador program only have a few more monthly visits this school year! Kids between the ages of 3 and 12 can make an appointment for a 15-minute session to read to Lucy. Register through our website at www.portlandlibraryct.org or by calling 860-342-6770.
BENEFITS:
Boosts Reading Confidence
Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Makes Reading Fun
Promotes Emotional
Connection and Comfort
Adventures with Jack and Annie
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
May 8, 15, 22
Grades K-5
Calling all Magic Tree House fans in grades K-5! Each week, we’ll go on a different adventure based on a Magic Tree House book. Activities will include crafts, simple recipes, and lots of fun! Registration is required and opens on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. Space is limited. To register, call the library at 860-342-6770 or register online at www.portlandlibraryct.org.
Family Craft Night:
Flower Fairies and
Mod Podge Garden Pots
Wednesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m.
Our One Seed, One Community program is back for a second year and this year we’re featuring sugar snap peas. At this Family Craft Night, we’ll be
using paper napkins and Mod Podge to create our own custom-designed pots and also making flower fairies. At the end of the program, everyone will get to take home a small baggie of dirt and some pea seeds generously donated by Portland’s Fire Ring Farm to plant in your new pots.
Registration is required and opens on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. Space is
limited. To register, call the library at 860-342-6770 or register online at www.portlandlibraryct.org.
Nutmeg Voting
NUTMEG VOTING begins this year on April 1st! Finish up those titles because YOUR
OPINION MATTERS! This is the only book award in the state where KIDS pick the winner. Let your favorite
authors know how much you like their work by
voting on your favorites!
Stop into the library to vote on the 2025 Nutmeg Nominees by April 30th. Nominees have been
divided into four categories: Elementary (Grades
2-3), Intermediate (Grades 4-6), Middle School (Grades 7-8), and High School (Grades 9-12). Visit the Portland Library website for a complete list of nominees.
Winners will be announced on May 15th and next year’s nominees will be announced on May 1st.
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:
Social Studies Games: for younger children
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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!