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.
Winter Reading Challenge:
Winter Reading is Oh “Sew” Cozy!
Thursday, January 2—Friday, February 28
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Portland Library’s Winter Reading Challenge is back! This year’s theme is a textile-based challenge that’s all about staying warm and cozy.
Visit the library on or after January 2 and we’ll tag one of the quilt squares on our bulletin board with your name. Each time you check out materials in January and February (up to once per day),
we’ll give you a jumbo craft stick to color and we’ll add it to your quilt square. Watch our community quilt grow as you check out books and other library materials throughout the winter! Once you’ve added eight craft sticks and have a full square, you will have completed the challenge and will win a small prize.
SAVE THE DATES FOR THESE SPECIAL EVENTS!
Saturday, January 25 @ 10:30 a.m.: Jigsaw Puzzle Competition for Kids and Adults
Saturday, February 1: Take Your Child to the Library Day
Saturday, February 8 @ 11:00 a.m.: Health Care Heroes Storytime with Middlesex Health
Monday, February 10 @ 6:00 p.m.: Tangled and Ingested Workshop with Kat Owens
(ages 11 and up; younger with sewing skills)
Tuesday, February 18: Snow Day at the Library
Winter 2025 Storytimes
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Preschool Storytimes (ages 3-5)
Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.
January 7, 14, 21 and 28, February 4, 11, and 25 (no program February 18)
Stories, songs and rhymes that encourage literacy and social skills and help get your preschooler
prepared for kindergarten. We will offer a craft each week that can be done at the library or brought home.
Toddlers and Tots Storytime (ages 0-2)
Wednesdays at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m.
January 8, 15, 22 and 29, February 5, 12, 19 and 26
Mother Goose on the Loose, a fun-filled interactive session for our youngest patrons, uses rhymes, a
story, songs, puppets, scarves, and more to stimulate the learning process of babies and toddlers.
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Spring Storytimes
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Registration for spring storytimes begins on Monday, February 24 at 10:00 a.m. 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.
Read to a Therapy Dog
Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
March 1, April 12, May 3
Devyn and Lucy from Middletown High School’s animal ambassador program are back for 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
Oh "Sew" Cozy Craft Club
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. ​​
February 13, 20, 27
Grades 3-5
Kids in grades 3-5 are invited to join Ms. Patty and try three different textile-based crafts. No sewing experience necessary.
February 13: Button Sewing Heart
February 20: Weaving Mini Looms
February 27: String Art
Registration for this program is required and opens on Monday, February 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Animal Adoption Event
with Protectors of Animals
Saturday, March 8 from 10-2
Protectors of Animals had a highly successful event at the Portland
Library last year so they agreed to return with some of their favorite
canines this year! Come find out if they would be a good
fit for your family. We’ll also be collecting supplies for the shelter and have information on volunteer opportunities. Don’t miss out on their local pizza raffle! No registration is needed for this event.
Van Gogh with the Flow
Thursdays at 3:30 p.m.
March 13, 20, 27
Grades K-5
March is Youth Art Month and we’re inviting elementary school students to explore a variety of art techniques with us!
March13: Art Interrupted
Learn about some masterpieces that were left
unfinished and complete them yourselves.
March 20: Glow in the Dark Art
March 27: Van Gogh Sunflowers
Registration for this program is required and opens on Monday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Family Craft Night:
Sock Bunnies
Wednesday, March 19 at 6:30 p.m.
Join us for a hopping good time as we make
adorable sock bunnies together! You’ll transform simple socks into cute, cuddly bunnies with just a few supplies. No sewing skills required! This
activity has steps that are appropriate for all ages, but a parent or guardian must be with children to help with supervision.
Registration is required and opens on
Monday, March 3 at 10:00 a.m.
Health Care Heroes Storytime
Saturday, March 29 at 11:00 a.m.
· For children age 3 to age 10
· A Middlesex Health “health care hero” will read a story featuring a health care provider of color
· Youth in attendance get to play surgeon for a day through an interactive activity
· Youth in attendance receive a free book that features diverse health care characters
Portland Library is proud to partner with the Greater Middletown for Equity in Medical Career Opportunities Coalition (GMEMCO) to host this story time.
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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!