Library card perks

This week really started to feel like summer. The warm sun and blue skies got me dreaming about the beach, camping, and day trips. I emphatically am NOT dreaming about boating. Engine trouble, let’s just leave it at that. Perhaps a small fire. Boat: n- /bōt/ 1. A hole in the water, surrounded by wood, into which one pours money. 2. Don’t forget to add blood, sweat, and tears to that money. 3. Pack oars.

So I’m really excited when there are free things to do in the summer. Until I worked at the library, I didn’t realize how many perks came with my library card. Did you know you can check out passes to a bunch of family-friendly places?

First is the Maine State Parks vehicle pass, which admits all of the people in your car (max. 17, because at that point it’s fair to say you have a bus) to almost all of Maine’s state parks and historic sites It will get you into two of my favorite spots — Reid State Park and Popham Beach — for a fantastic day of surf and sunshine. You can download the entire list of state parks and historic sites on the Maine State Parks website, or come and take a look at a copy in the library.

Stop by or call reserve the library’s pass with your library card. We have just one park pass to loan out, so you’ll have to get it back to us the next day, or on Tuesday if you get it on a Saturday.

We also have our Maine State Aquarium passes available again this year. Unlike the parks pass, an aquarium pass can be reserved and made out for any date; we’ll give you a photocopy of the pass to take with you. This pass doesn’t have to be returned, but we can still only give out one each day. The aquarium passes provide reduced admission to the aquarium, which is opening for the season on Saturday, May 27.

The Railway Village is also opening for the season on Saturday, and will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 15. Library passes to the Railway Village admit two adults and all of their accompanying children, which makes this the perfect one for grandparents and all their little grandchildren. Like the aquarium passes, the Railway Village passes are distributed as photocopies and dated by us for admission, so you can swing by the library on a Tuesday and grab a Saturday pass (so long as no one else has yet reserved the pass for that day). These also do not have to be returned.

If art is more your thing, we have passes to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland (pass cards for two adults; must be returned next day to the Library) and the Portland Art Museum (two adults and their children; photocopies that can be made out in advance for any day, limit one per day).

Patrons in good standing (no overdues or bills on your account) can also check out our telescope for a week at a time. We’ll even show you how to use it so you don’t spend 20 minutes trying to look out the wrong end like I did. You know what’s helpful? Reading those instructions.

Maybe this summer we’ll offer a 19-foot Grady White to check out for the day. Oars included, but don’t try to start the engine.

Upcoming events

• Writers’ Group: Would you like to share your writing with interested peers for feedback and support? Call or stop by and let us know.
• Minecraft Club: Last meeting Friday, May 26. Enjoy your summer!
• May Art Display: World War I propaganda posters on loan from Tom Tavener, Great Room.
• Literary Lunch: Friday, June 9, 11:30 a.m. Susan Poulin, “The Sweet Life.” Call or stop by to register.
• Story Hour: Fridays, 10:15 a.m. Hear a story with Miss Pam, make a craft, and sing a song!