Author: stoningtonlibWP

We have several programs in the works for the deep of winter when we could all use an excuse to get out of the house. We plan to build the schedules and tailor the content around those who want to participate. All we’re asking for right now is to tell us you’re interested—there’s no commitment. Have a look below at what we’re cooking up, and then sign up to learn more about any that strike your fancy.

What If We Get It Right?

January – February 2025

What If We Get It Right? is a four-part public conversation series on visions of climate futures based around the book of the same name by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. Hosted by SPL and Linda Nelson, Stonington Economic & Community Development Director. Ideally for readers ages 14 & up.

Rosswords: Crosswords with Chris

February – March 2025

Grab your pencils and sharpen your minds. The key to becoming a better solver is not knowing lots of trivia BUT in training your mind to stay flexible when solving. Don’t get boxed in, think outside the box! Ideally for solvers ages 14 & up.

Chris Ross is obsessed with word games. Yes, he solves Wordle and Connections and Spelling Bee every day, and he’s completed the New York Times crossword for 2,531 consecutive days and counting. He loves the challenge of puzzles that bend his brain and lives for the AHA! moment when everything falls into place.

Chris will lead a mini workshop at WinterFest 2025 for anyone who wants a taste before signing up for the multi-session workshop and diving in head first.

Build Your Own Board Game

February – March 2025

Do you have a knack for design, math, art, or Dungeons & Dragons? Then join Jordan in making your very own board game this winter. By the end of the workshop, you will have a game that you can take home and force your friends and family to play! All ages.

Jordan Ramsey is an active member of the board game community of Deer Isle. He volunteers at the Deer Isle-Stonington After School Program and leads board game afternoons at the Island Community Center on Sunday afternoons. He has also created a handful of his own games that he and his friends playtest once a month.

You can meet Jordan and play board games with him at WinterFest 2025.

How to Read a Graphic Novel

Winter 2024 – 2025 (repeatable)

A two-part discussion of a graphic novel for reluctant readers of the “genre.” There’s more to comics than meets the eye. Join Molly to learn the language of comics and find your way into this diverse art form. Title(s) for discussion will be chosen to match the reading interests of participants. Ideally for readers ages 14 & up.

Molly Gotwals is a retired English teacher who taught graphic novels in high school for several years, and she is now a year-round Stonington resident. Molly led an SPL workshop each of the past two summers in which participants created their own graphic stories.

Thanks to everyone who loves SPL and, more generally, libraries! We raised $5,505 to benefit Stonington Public Library in our fourth annual Labor Day raffle. The raffle’s success, featuring two grand prizes, exceeded our wildest expectations. You all made this success possible and ensured a win—the biggest win!—for our island community with your support for SPL.

Congratulations to Carole and Marie-Noelle! They are the grand prize winners of the Andrea Kostelak American flag quilt and Jill Hoy plein air oil painting, respectively, in the SPL Labor Day raffle. We also drew winners for 5 SPL totes and 5 SPL t-shirts; winners can choose any color, size, or design. All winning ticket numbers are listed below.

So many people pitched in to make the raffle a resounding success. First and foremost, thank you to Jill Hoy and Andrea Kostelak for their generous donations. Andrea’s heartfelt quilted wall hanging in memory of her father-in-law and Jill’s iconic painting of Stonington Harbor made it easy to sell tickets. Thank you to SPL volunteers who spent many hours selling tickets at the Stonington Farmers’ Market and on the library porch. And thank you to Wylie, Barbara, and Pat for taking time out of their day on Labor Day to help with the raffle drawing. I couldn’t have asked for a better person to draw the winning tickets than Wylie!

Andrea Kostelak American Flag Quilt

866504 Carole

Jill Hoy Plein Air Oil Painting

866185 Marie-Noelle

SPL Tote Bag

866009 Nancy

866376 Al

866583 Carolyn

866578 Heidi

866048 Lisa

SPL T-shirt

866204 Ezra

866426 Phillips

866172 Joan

866642 Chris

866132 Stephen

Enter to win in SPL’s fourth annual Labor Day raffle! This year we’re offering two grand prizes thanks to generous, heartfelt donations from Jill Hoy and Andrea Kostelak. All it takes is one ticket to win BIG! Purchase your tickets at the bottom of the page.

The live drawing will be held on Monday, September 2, 11am EDT via Zoom.

Grand Prizes

There’s only one way to win: get your tickets! It costs $10 to enter one grand prize drawing of your choice—get one free ticket for every 5 you purchase.

American Flag Quilt

Andrea Kostelak’s father-in-law was a WWII veteran and had a lot of pride in his country. When he passed away in 2020 at the start of the COVID pandemic, Andrea gathered fabrics from family belongings and pieced together this quilt in honor of his life and service. She made a similar lap quilt for her mother-in-law. “Stonington 2024″ embroidered on the back with small hoops attached for wall hanging. The quilt measures 30.5″ (width) by 20.5” (height).

Jill Hoy Painting

Working with the particular qualities of Maine light has long been a primary focus of Stonington resident Jill Hoy’s plein air oil paintings. Known for strong composition, energy, and power of place, Jill first came to Deer Isle at age 10 and has operated her gallery since 1986. View of Stonington Harbor from Granite Street is an iconic panorama with lupines in the foreground and Isle au Haut in the background. The painting measures 30″ (width) x 24″ (height).

Shipping

Shipping not included with the prizes. SPL can hold the prizes for pick up or help arrange shipping at cost.

Purchase Tickets

Ticket sales for SPL’s fourth annual Labor Day raffle have ended. Join us on Zoom today, Monday, September 2, at 11am for the live drawing.

Today many SPL patrons received an automated message from MILS, our library management system, communicating that your membership will expire in 10 days. We welcome patrons to renew their membership in person during library hours or by phone, (207) 367-5926, or email, stonington.public.library@gmail.com. Simply confirm or update your contact information included in the reminder message, and we will gladly renew your SPL membership.

No accounts will be deleted through this process. Patrons remain in the system until they are inactive for three consecutive years. You need to renew your library membership annually to ensure we have up to date contact information, so you can expect to receive automated communications about your account. You can always reach out to us for help with your membership or any other library questions.

We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you on your next visit to Stonington Public Library!

There will be an interruption in the statewide book delivery service beginning July 1 and anticipated to last at least six weeks. The service interruption is the result of a competitive bidding process that is now proceeding through an appeal. Patrons can no longer request materials from other libraries through MILS or MaineCat but can continue to place holds on items in the SPL collection. Please read below for more information from Maine InfoNet and for a link to an FAQ about the delivery service.

“Sharing between libraries is one of the best and most valuable services that libraries provide to their members.

“The ability to smoothly deliver materials between libraries is what makes this work.  The contract for the book delivery service is held by the Maine State Library and is subject to state procurement laws and procedures. This contract was required to go to through a competitive bidding process (Request for Proposal, or RFP) this year since all contracts that use public funds have to ensure competitive bidding at the state level.

“Contracting as a result of this RFP for book delivery is currently working its way through a legal appeals process. Because of this transition to a new vendor who won the competitive bid, and an appeal to overturn that decision by an unsuccessful bidder, there will be an interruption to book delivery between libraries at the end of the current contract which expires on June 30th.

“We do not currently have firm dates for the length of this interruption, but we expect that there will be no delivery for at least six weeks this summer, starting on July 1.

“In anticipation of this interruption, the Maine InfoNet Board and the Minerva Executive Board have made the difficult decision to turn off all requesting between libraries within the MaineCat environment, including Minerva, MILS and URSUS, as of June 4th.

“Patrons will still be able to request and place holds on locally owned items, but will not be able to request materials from other libraries. 

“Turning off requesting between libraries will allow materials currently in transit to be delivered and will reduce the flow of new material entering delivery. This will help get as many items back to their owning libraries as possible and will help ensure materials are not stranded in the delivery system.

“We know that this is a challenging situation that we are all facing. We recognize and feel the same frustration with this situation that you all are feeling. Your local library provides many other valuable services to your community, and we encourage everyone to explore those many services.

“If you would like more details regarding this, please visit the FAQ that further explains this situation: Van Delivery FAQ.”