Here at Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, we meet you in all your life's many chapters. We welcome you in with our “Grow a Reader” kits in infancy and are now offering patrons tools for navigating the ending of life. We are facilitating topics that may feel morose and heavy but are important to face with accurate and up-to-date information. We want you to be empowered and have the knowledge and tools you may need during difficult times.

BHML is partnering with Boothbay-Wiscasset Regional Adult & Community Education, Hall’s of Boothbay, Bath-Brunswick Respite Care, and the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor to bring together a series on death and dying entitled “The Final Chapter.” “The Final Chapter” will allow participants of all ages to better understand various end-of-life topics. This series will help participants prepare for their own, or for a loved one’s final chapter in life.

The series will begin with a virtual introduction to “Maine Death With Dignity” on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 6 p.m. This program, organized by Boothbay-Wiscasset Regional Adult & Community Education, will explain the facts of Maine Death with Dignity laws, qualifications to use the laws, and the right to access medical aid in dying. Registration for this event is required. Find registration information at bbhlibrary.org/event/maine-death-with-dignity.

The next event will focus on “Understanding Funeral Planning” on Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 11 a.m. at Hall’s of Boothbay (975 Wiscasset Road). This event, hosted by Hall Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, will be an open and informative conversation about death, dying, and planning ahead. Participants will explore funeral and end-of-life planning, the decisions families may face, and the steps you can take now to make your wishes known.

On Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. at BHML (4 Oak Street), staff members from Bath-Brunswick Respite Care will guide caregivers through preparations for unexpected emergencies. “The Red Folder Project” is a class designed to guide participants through creating a practical, personalized emergency plan so others can step in seamlessly when needed.

The series will conclude with “A Good Ending: Rituals of Remembrance and Release” on Thursday, Oct. 29 at 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church of Boothbay Harbor (125 Townsend Avenue). Pastor Todd Weir will lead a non-denominational exploration into why rituals around death matter, and what gets lost without them. Participants will be invited to share their own experiences and reflect on what kind of remembrance they would want for themselves.

For more information about this series, please visit bbhlibrary.org/news/the-final-chapter.