Reader's Choice: A Christmas Carol
2025-12-15 18:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York) | Zoom, Virtual
Reader’s Choice: Sue Stoessel
Monthly SPL book club that meets on Zoom. Contact SPL at email below to join the book club mailing list.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
MILS catalog record (SPL edition does not match edition pictured above)
“As much a part of Christmas as mistletoe and carolers, Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ was once read publicly on Christmas Eve each year by Dickens himself. This heart-warming tale continues to stir in us the same feelings of repentance, forgiveness, and love that transformed Ebenezer Scrooge from grumbling, ‘Bah! Humbug!’ to sharing Tiny Tim’s happy ‘God bless us, every one!’” – From Penguin Random House website
About Sue
Hometown: Andrew and I are from Marblehead, MA.
Current residence: We built a house in Stonington in 2018, and were there seasonally until 2022 when we both retired and became permanent residents.
Connection to the island: Andrew and I spent summer vacations on Little Deer Isle for over 30 years, although Andrew’s first time there was as a teenager. We’ve also stayed in Stonington for a few winter breaks beforehand. We got to know the area and the people well and knew we’d like to retire here.
Why do you read? I read for all the reasons you’ve listed [in the original question to readers: information, escape, relaxation, commitment to a specific topic], but lately, maybe more for escape. 😉
What genre do you hate to read? I read everything, with a preference for science, nature, non-fiction and poetry. My least favorite genre is the post-war wealthy suburban/urban angst novel. First world problems.
Last book you LOVED: I adored Still Life with Oysters & Lemons by Mark Doty that we read in [SPL] book club [2023]. I have gotten my own copy and already re-read it a couple of times.
Currently reading: I’m currently reading a compilation of the writings of 13th century Islamic poet and mystic, Rumi.
Why did you choose A Christmas Carol? I chose A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens because I have an antique volume that belonged to my mom that she read to us every year as kids, and that I have continued reading every Christmas since. I think a lot of folks have seen film versions or plays of A Christmas Carol but not as many have read it. I especially liked the section of the Ghost of Christmas Present who shows Scrooge the poverty hidden under the magnificence of the Victorian British Empire. It was one of the first books that made me aware that not everyone benefited from the capitalist expansion brought about by the industrial revolution.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-01-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune • Selected by Elaine Gallagher
Winner: Alex Award (2021)

“It’s a witty, wholesome fantasy that’s like to cause heart-swelling.” –The Washington Post
Find The House in the Cerulean Sea in MILS
“Linus Baker is a by-the-book case worker in the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. He’s tasked with determining whether six dangerous magical children are likely to bring about the end of the world.
Arthur Parnassus is the master of the orphanage. He would do anything to keep the children safe, even if it means the world will burn. And his secrets will come to light.
The House in the Cerulean Sea is an enchanting love story, masterfully told, about the profound experience of discovering an unlikely family in an unexpected place―and realizing that family is yours.” –From the author’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNUAL and QUARTERLY MEETING
2026-01-28 16:00 - 17:30 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
The 2026 annual meeting of Stonington Public Library will be held Wednesday, January 28, at 4 p.m., in person and via Zoom at SPL, 64 Main Street. To join via Zoom, call 367-5926 or email stonington.public.library@gmail.com to request a link to the meeting.

Valentine's Day Story Time
2026-02-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join us for a special, Valentine’s Day themed story time with crafting and cookies. This event is fun for kids of all ages and their families!
SPL hosts story time on the second Saturday of every month from 10-11am. Check our website or social media (@stoningtonpubliclibrary) for details.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-02-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher • Selected by Sally McConnell
Winner: Hugo Award for Best Novel (2023)
“Kingfisher’s combination of comedy with feminist rage in a complex fairytale setting makes for a wholly entertaining read.” –Buzzfeed
Find Nettle & Bone in MILS
“This isn’t the kind of fairytale where the princess marries a prince.
It’s the one where she kills him.
Marra never wanted to be a hero.
As the shy, convent-raised, third-born daughter, she escaped the traditional fate of princesses, to be married away for the sake of an uncaring throne. But her sister wasn’t so fortunate—and after years of silence, Marra is done watching her suffer at the hands of a powerful and abusive prince.
Seeking help for her rescue mission, Marra is offered the tools she needs, but only if she can complete three seemingly impossible tasks:
—build a dog of bones
—sew a cloak of nettles
—capture moonlight in a jar
But, as is the way in tales of princes and witches, doing the impossible is only the beginning.
Hero or not—now joined by a disgraced ex-knight, a reluctant fairy godmother, an enigmatic gravewitch and her fowl familiar—Marra might finally have the courage to save her sister, and topple a throne.” –From author’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Firefighter Story Time
2026-03-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join us and members of the Stonington Fire Department as we meet at the library first for stories read by our local heros, and then head to the fire station to explore and learn all about fire fighting, gear, trucks, equipment and more!
This is a fun, family friendly event for kids of all ages!

Island Artist Group Exhibition Reception
2026-03-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Please join us for the first artist reception of 2026! This group show features work from more than 15 area artists and is sure to feature something for everyone. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. Live music will be performed by island trio Rugosa Rose.
The exhibition runs from March 10 through May 23 and can be viewed during library hours.

Edible Island: Cookie Making - Spring Cookies with Royal Icing
2026-03-21 14:00 - 16:00 | Healthy Island Project Kitchen, 91 S Burnt Cove Rd, Stonington, ME
Join Healthy Island Project’s Edible Island, Stonington Public Library, and Destinee Coakley for a Spring themed cookie making workshop! RSVP by contact information below. Space is limited, so sign up now!

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-03-23 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Disgrace by J. M. Coetzee • Selected by Anneli Sundqvist
Winner: Nobel Prize in Literature (2003)
“A subtly brilliant commentary on the nature and balance of power in his homeland…Disgrace is a mini-opera without music by a writer at the top of his form.” –Time
Find Disgrace in MILS
“Refusing to apologise after an impulsive affair with a student, David Lurie, a 52-year-old professor in Cape Town, seeks refuge on his daughter’s farm. Here, a savage and disturbing attack brings into relief the faults in their relationship.
Pitching the moral code of political correctness against the values of Romantic poetry, Disgrace examines dichotomies both in personal relationships and in the unaccountability of one culture towards another.” –From The Booker Prizes website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Down Easter Celebration
2026-04-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join SPL on Saturday, April 4 from 10:00 – 12:00 for a fun Easter themed mask making workshop as part of the Down Easter Celebration. Participants can create their own bunny mask at the library or pick up a make-and-take kit for later.
The Easter Bunny will be at the Island Community Center beginning at 10:00 and Opera House Arts will be hosting holiday crafts and a movie. Be sure to stop by the other participating locations to extend your holiday fun. The Island AgencyEstate, Camden National, Boyce’s Motel, Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House

April Vacation Family Activity: Butterfly Kite
2026-04-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join SPL during April vacation for a series of fun projects! The butterfly kite is designed for the earliest kite enthusiast, all you need is the ability to cut with scissors, tie a few knots, and decorate!
Parents/adults will assist their kite builders for this 30-45 minute workshop. There is no cost to participate but donations are welcome.
To register, please email the library. Registration is limited to 10, so sign up now!
Materials generously provided by the Island Employee Cooperative member stores: Burnt Cove Market, V & S Variety, and The Galley.

April Vacation Family Activity: Build Your Own Electric Motor
2026-04-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Have you ever wondered how electric motors work? Find out by building your own simple motor with a few basic materials. Participants will be introduced to the science behind motors as well as magnets and electromagnets.
Parents/adults will assist participants for this workshop. There is no cost to participate but donations are welcome!
To register, please email the library. Registration is limited to 10, so sign up now!
Materials generously provided by the Island Employee Cooperative member stores: Burnt Cove Market, V & S Variety, and The Galley.

April Vacation Family Activity: Delta Kites
2026-04-23 10:00 - 11:00 | ME
Join SPL during April vacation for a series of fun projects! The delta kite is not only easy to build, it is one of the most reliable fliers out there. All you need is the ability to cut, tie a few knots, and decorate! Feel free to bring your own decorating supplies. (Note: permanent markers are recommended for coloring, as the kite sail is made from plastic bags.)
Parents/adults will assist their kite builders for this workshop. There is no cost to participate but donations are welcome!
To register, please email the library. Registration is limited to 10, so sign up now!
Materials generously provided by the Island Employee Cooperative member stores: Burnt Cove Market, V & S Variety, and The Galley.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-04-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World by Naomi Klein • Selected by Morgan Witham
Winner: Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction (2024)
“A dazzling, hallucinatory tour de force that takes the reader through shadow selves and global fascism, leaving them gasping by the end.” –Molly Crabapple, author of Drawing Blood
Find Doppelganger in MILS
“What if you woke up one morning and found you’d acquired a double? Someone almost like you, and yet not you at all?
When Naomi Klein discovered that a woman who shared her first name, but had radically different, harmful views, was getting chronically mistaken for her, it seemed too ridiculous to take seriously. Then suddenly it wasn’t. She started to find herself grappling with a distorted sense of reality, becoming obsessed with reading the threats on social media, the endlessly scrolling insults from the followers of her doppelganger. Why had her shadowy other gone down such an extreme path? Why was identity – all we have to meet the world – so unstable?
To find out, Klein decided to follow her double into a bizarre, uncanny mirror world: one of conspiracy theories, anti-vaxxers and demagogue hucksters, where soft-focus wellness influencers make common cause with fire-breathing far right propagandists (all in the name of protecting ‘the children’).” –From the publisher’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Second Saturday Story time
2026-05-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join us story time with crafting and cookies. This event is fun for kids of all ages and their families!
SPL hosts story time on the second Saturday of every month from 10-11am. Check our website or social media (@stoningtonpubliclibrary) for details.

Story Time Aboard Otter
2026-05-16 11:00 - 12:00 | Isle au Haut Boat Company, 37 Seabreeze Avenue, Stonington, Maine, 04681
Come aboard Otter, an Isle au Haut mailboat, for a spin around Stonington Harbor and a read-aloud picture book chosen and read by Captain Garret Aldrich. It’s become an annual tradition for Captain Aldrich to lead this trip for Stonington Public Library as part of the Island Heritage Trust’s Wings, Waves, & Woods Festival!
Boat departs at 11 AM from Isle au Haut Boat Services, so plan to arrive early for boarding. Space is limited to 50. Reservations required. Email stonington.public.library@gmail.com to reserve your spot.
Wings, Waves & Woods Festival will take place May 13-17, 2025. The full schedule of events can be seen on the Island Heritage Trust website.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-05-25 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx • Selected by Andrew Stoessel
Winner: Pulitzer Prize in Fiction (1994)
“The Shipping News is that rare creation, a lyric page-turner.” –Stephen Jones, Chicago Tribune
Find The Shipping News in MILS
“At thirty-six, Quoyle, a third-rate newspaperman is wrenched violently out of his world when his two-timing wife meets her just desserts. He retreats with his two daughters to his ancestral home on the starkly beautiful Newfoundland coast, where a rich cast of local characters all play a part in Quoyle’s struggle to reclaim his life. As three generations of his family cobble up new lives, Quoyle confronts his private demons—and the unpredictable forces of nature and society—and begins to see the possibility of love without pain or misery.” –From the publisher’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Second Saturday Story Time
2026-06-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join us for story time with crafting and cookies. This event is fun for kids of all ages and their families!
SPL hosts story time on the second Saturday of every month from 10-11am. Check our website or social media (@stoningtonpubliclibrary) for details.

Visible Mending Workshop with Jam Brook Farm
2026-06-13 10:00 - 12:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join Sara Beth Casburn, from Jam Brook Farm in Searsmont, for a fun, educational workshop on visible mending.
Mending is a way to keep your clothes alive and well-loved. Participants of all ages and experiences are encouraged to bring a project they would like to mend by hand. All the supplies you need are provided for this FREE workshop.
Sara Beth’s Bio
Growing up, I loved getting dressed. In my sophomore year of high school, I didn’t repeat a single outfit—not once. That’s when I began playing with clothes: cutting, resizing, adding lace to thrifted pieces. There were no rules, just creativity.
After college, I found myself working on vegetable farms, but I missed the creative spark that clothing and sewing brought me. So I dedicated my first winter off to making. I mended clothes for friends, sewed curtains, stitched by hand, and sharpened my knitting skills. I even started making my own garments using old clothes as patterns.
In the winter of 2022, my husband and I settled into our old farmhouse. I finally had a whole room just for making—and I realized: this could be my work.
To register, please email the library. Space is limited to 12, so sign up now!

Downeast with SPL: Church of the Morning After
2026-06-19 18:30 - 20:00 | John Rohman’s Barn, 16 Thurlows Hill, Stonington, ME, 04681
Join SPL and Church of the Morning After for an evening of music at John Rohman’s Barn as part of the Downeast with SPL fundraiser series.
Founded by the late Stephen Robbins, from Little Deer Isle, Church of the Morning after is a local favorite featuring an ensemble of musicians, playing a variety of musical styles including blues, gospel, and bluegrass.
Admission by donation at the door.
Downeast with SPL is a fundraising series showcasing local makers, producers, and artists. These small, intimate gatherings are a chance to meet the people and businesses behind the tastes and beauty and moments that we love about Downeast Maine. Our partners are generously donating their time and services and handmade goods to support Stonington Public Library’s mission.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-06-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Only This Beautiful Moment by Abdi Nazemian • Selected by Shannon Lindsay
Winner: Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award (2024)
“Only This Beautiful Moment is a queer epic, a defiant piece of art that transmutes the rallying cry of ‘we’re here, we’re queer, get used to it’ into even more beautiful poetry that will almost certainly change the lives of those who read it.” –BookPage
Find Only This Beautiful Moment in MILS
“2019. Moud is an out gay teen living in Los Angeles with his distant father, Saeed. When Moud gets the news that his grandfather in Iran is dying, he accompanies his dad to Tehran, where the revelation of family secrets will force Moud into a new understanding of his history, his culture, and himself.
1978. Saeed is an engineering student with a promising future ahead of him in Tehran. But when his parents discover his involvement in the country’s burgeoning revolution, they send him to safety in America, a country Saeed despises. And even worse–he’s forced to live with the American grandmother he never knew existed.
1939. Bobby, the son of a calculating Hollywood stage mother, lands a coveted MGM studio contract. But the fairy-tale world of glamour he’s thrust into has a dark side. Set against the backdrop of Tehran and Los Angeles, this tale of intergenerational trauma and love is an ode to the fragile bonds of family, the hidden secrets of history, and all the beautiful moments that make us who we are today.” –From the publisher’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Poets in Port with Donna Smith
2026-06-26 18:00 - 19:30 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
*** DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL, POETS IN PORT WITH DONNA SMITH, HAS BEEN CANCELED. WE APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT UPCOMING EVENTS AT SPL ***

Join SPL in conjunction with the Northport Arts Coalition, located in Northport, NY, as we host Maine poet Donna Smith for a reading of her poetry. Donna will have a selection of her collected works for participants to peruse as well as a collection of her watercolors, photographs, and drawings. The event will be held in person at the library as well as on Zoom.
Refreshments will be provided by the Northport Arts Coalition.
Poet Bio
Donna’s fascination for poetry began when her mother first read Robert Lewis Stevenson’s “A Child’s Garden of Verses” to her at bedtime. She has always been intrigued by the flow and play of the words in poetry.
Donna taught in elementary schools for many years. She often read poetry to her students, and also wrote poetry with her classes. She has had some of her poems published in anthologies for children, as well as published online. She tries hard not to rhyme, but fails most of the time…I mean…but is rarely successful at that.
Donna writes, paints and plays ukulele on the coast of Maine, keeping a close watch on the ocean with her two dogs, Daisy and Spicy; and her cat, Shadow.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82051744460?pwd=[REDACTED]

Seaside Series: Ret Talbot
2026-07-01 12:00 - 13:00 | Small Cove Park, 6 Atlantic Avenue, Stonington, ME, 04681
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Ret Talbot will present from his book Chasing Shadows, a collaborative project with shark biologist Greg Skomal that covers the return of the white shark to the western North Atlantic.
About Chasing Shadows
A collaboration between a scientist and a science writer, Chasing Shadows is the remarkable story of the resurgence of the white shark population in the western North Atlantic told largely through the eyes of the shark biologist who found himself in the middle of it. At its heart, it is a too rare conservation success story about restoring an apex predator to an ecosystem. Illustrations and maps by scientific illustrator Karen Talbot.
Author Bio
Ret Talbot is an award-winning journalist with over two decades of experience covering stories from some of the more remote corners of the globe. From the icy summits of the Andes to the reefs of Papua New Guinea, his assignments have taken him off the beaten track and put his readers face-to-face with stories of adventure, new ideas and innovative approaches to commonplace and not-so-commonplace ideas and issues.
Since 2007, Talbot has worked as a fulltime freelance writer and photographer, penning stories for magazines and working on book-length projects. His current work focuses largely on marine ecosystems and the myriad interactions between humans and those ecosystems.
You can learn more about Talbot and his work on his website.

Seaside Series: Steve Hindy
2026-07-08 12:00 - 13:00 | Small Cove Park, 6 Atlantic Avenue, Stonington, ME, 04681
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Steve Hindy will present from his book based on the life of his grandfather, The Ali Hindy Story: A Muslim Immigrant in 20th Century America, published in 2025.

About The Ali Hindy Story
This is the story of a 12-year-old Syrian Muslim boy who left his troubled homeland in 1894 with two other boys and traveled to Europe and then America in search of two goals: to marry and start a business. The vast majority of immigrants from Syria at that time were Christian. Less than 5 percent were Muslim. Ali Hindy ended up in southern West Virginia, marrying a young Christian woman who had been shunned by her family, starting a general store, movie theater and bathhouse for coal miners. They raised her two illegitimate daughters and had six children, including my father. Ali Hindy befriended Devilance Hatfield, patriarch of the Hatfield clan of the famous Hatfield and McCoy’s feud. He also survived an attack by Ku Klux Klanmen who demanded he leave town and forbid the town’s only doctor from delivering his sixth child.

Author Bio
Steve Hindy was a journalist for the first 15 years of his working life. He started with small newspapers in Upstate New York, joined The Associated Press in Newark, New Jersey, and then spent nearly 6 years with The AP in Beirut and Cairo. He covered the hostage crisis in Iran, the Iran-Iraq War, the civil war in Lebanon and the 1982 Israeli invasion and massacres of Palestinians in Beirut’s refugee camps. He was sitting behind President Anwar Sadat of Egypt when he was assassinated in 1981. While in Cairo, Hindy met American diplomats who had been posted to Saudi Arabia, where alcoholic beverages are forbidden. The diplomats were avid homebrewers. Returning to New York in 1984, Hindy went to work for Newsday and started making beer at home. With his downstairs neighbor in Brooklyn, Tom Potter, he started Brooklyn Brewery. Hindy is co-author of “BEER SCHOOL” and author of “The Craft Beer Revolution.” He resides in Brooklin, Maine, with his wife, educator Ellen Foote.

The rain venue for all Seaside Series programs is SPL, 64 Main Street.

Second Saturday Story Time
2026-07-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Come celebrate the Stonington Lobster Boat Races next weekend with a special guest author event at our next Second Saturday Story Time on July 11th at 10 AM.

Local author Melissa Jones-Bayley, and illustrators Rosalie and Gavin Bayley, will join us to read and share all about their book The Friendly Maine Lobstermen: A voyage of the Kieran-Scott, and then lead us in a fun, art related project. We will learn all about cooperation, sharing and being good stewards through the example set by the kind, hardworking lobstermen in this charming tale.

Melissa Jones-Bayley is a native of Stonington, on the island of Deer Isle, Maine, where she lives with her husband Chris and their two children, Rosalie, 17, and Gavin, 15. Fulfilling her dream of raising their two children on Deer Isle, immersed in the art community, is a crucial element of her inspiration.

Influenced by the island’s stunning landscapes, the ever-changing Atlantic Ocean, the salty air, and the rugged island way of life, Melissa and her children embark on a creative journey, weaving tales that reflect Melissa’s family history, their shared experiences, memories, and talents. Together, they craft stories that celebrate their hardworking community and honor family and friends. Gavin’s intricate pencil sketches and precise ink lines and Rosalie’s vibrant and emotion-evoking watercolor palette result in captivating illustrations that bring their stories to life.

Books and prints are currently for sale at the library and will also be available for purchase during the story time event.

We hope you can join us!

Seaside Series: Martin Conte
2026-07-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Small Cove Park, 6 Atlantic Avenue, Stonington, ME, 04681
Martin Conte is the director of Flash! in the Pans, a locally renowned community steel drum band, based in Blue Hill, ME. Conte will present a talk and demonstration about the history, construction, anatomy, and performance of steel drums, known as pans.
Conte will have a variety of pans available for audience members to try out following the talk. You can learn more about Flash! in the Pans on their website.
Since graduating from GSA, Conte’s topsy-turvy path always seemed to lead him back to Blue Hill, where he is part of the English faculty and Director of Steel Pan Programs at George Stevens Academy. His path has led him around the globe, from visiting silverback gorillas in Uganda to playing music with the great steel bands of Trinidad. But not all of his paths have been physical. He has also been pursuing the uncharted territory of language, and has great of enthusiasm for how much discovery still awaits us in writing and reading.
The rain venue for all Seaside Series programs is SPL, 64 Main Street.

Downeast with SPL: Family Sunset Cruise
2026-07-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Isle au Haut Boat Company, 37 Seabreeze Avenue, Stonington, Maine, 04681
A family trip with breathtaking views!
Sunset cruise with SPL and Isle au Haut Boat Services aboard the Otter. Captain Garret Aldrich will take us on a memorable evening tour of Stonington Harbor for all in the family to enjoy. Bask in a glorious sunset while giving back to a public resource—Stonington Public Library—that opens its doors to everyone. There will be no food or beverages served on the family sunset cruise. Participants are welcome to bring along light bites and beverages to enjoy during the cruise.
To make reservations and for payment information, contact SPL at the phone or email below. Please note that SPL is handling all reservations for the sunset cruise.
$50 minimum donation (Includes two adults and two children – $10 per additional child suggested.)
Downeast with SPL is a fundraising series showcasing local makers, producers, and artists. These small, intimate gatherings are a chance to meet the people and businesses behind the tastes and beauty and moments that we love about Downeast Maine. Our partners are generously donating their time and services and handmade goods to support Stonington Public Library’s mission.

Seaside Series: Mary Seelhorst
2026-07-22 12:00 - 13:00 | Stonington Public Library, 64 Main Street, Stonington, ME, 04681
Mary Seelhorst will present: The Platonic Ideal of a Sports Car: James Bond’s Aston Martin DB5.
True crime, twisted provenance, pop culture, philosophy, folklore, museums, movie-making, mythbusting, and an unsolved mystery figure into this presentation by exhibit developer Mary Seelhorst. This fast-paced, heavily illustrated session explores the making of an automotive icon that’s endured and grown since the car was introduced in the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger.
Seelhorst addresses the perceived authenticity and value of the original movie cars, their slippery provenance, and the DB5’s resurrection in movies, real life, and the collective imagination. In addition, she reveals previously unknown facts and fresh insights about the 1997 theft of the tricked-out movie car—still missing—uncovered by a documentary filmmaker working on a forthcoming series about the car’s disappearance.
Mary Seelhorst is an award-winning independent exhibit developer and writer who played a personal role in the story of the stolen Goldfinger car, which will be revealed in the presentation. Her work focuses on the history of technology and popular culture. In the last 20 years, her museum work has increasingly centered on automotive exhibits, including projects
for the NASCAR Hall of Fame, The Henry Ford, the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant Museum in Detroit, and the Brumos Collection in Jacksonville, Florida.
As an added bonus, Opera House Arts at the Stonington Opera House will be screening the film Goldfinger on Monday, July 20 at 7:00 pm, sponsored by Barbara Fahs Charles.
This event will be held at SPL, 64 Main Street Stonington, ME.

SPL Book Club: Award-Winning Books
2026-07-27 18:30 - 19:30 | Zoom, Virtual
Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River Thames by Lara Maiklem • Selected by Sue Stoessel
Winner: Indie Book Award in Non-Fiction (2020)
“Engrossing…evokes the subculture of the ‘mudlarks,’ who scour the banks for fragments of London’s past.” –The New Yorker
Find Mudlark in MaineCat
“The international bestseller that mesmerizingly charts quixotic journeys through London’s past, Mudlark thrills Anglophiles and history lovers alike. Long heralded as a city treasure herself, beloved ‘Mudlark’ Lara Maiklem tirelessly treks along the Thames’ muddy shores, unearthing a myriad of artifacts and their stories—from Roman hairpins and perfectly preserved Tudor shoes to the clay pipes that were smoked in riverside taverns. Seamlessly interweaving reflections from her own life with meditations on the art of wandering, Maiklem ultimately delivers a treatise ‘as deep and as rich as the Thames and its treasures’ (Stanley Tucci).” –From the publisher’s website
Eleven readers chose 11 books, and they will lead 11 discussions in 2026. The SPL book club meets the fourth Monday of every month at 6:30pm on Zoom. There are two exceptions: there is no discussion in August when the book club takes a summer break, and the last meeting is bumped up to the second Monday, December 14, to minimize scheduling conflicts around the holidays. New readers—near and far—are always welcome. To sign up for the book club email list, please send a request to the email below.

Seaside Series: Jeryl Schriever
2026-07-29 12:00 - 13:00 | ME
Jeryl Schriever will present from her book, Driving the Vote For Women: An American Journey for Suffrage, published by Arcadia Publishing in September 2024, and her national tour promoting the Equal Rights Amendment in her 1914 Saxon Roadster.

About Driving the Vote For Women: An American Journey for Suffrage

In 1916, Alice Burke and Nell Richardson embarked on a daring and unprecedented cross-country journey advocating for women’s suffrage. Before the nineteenth amendment enshrined American women’s right to vote in 1920, it was legal only in a few states. So trailblazing suffragists Alice and Nell loaded a Saxon automobile and embarked on a state-by-state campaign for women’s voting rights. Long before the modern highway system streamlined car travel, Alice and Nell drove a grueling 10,700 miles over twenty-six weeks, traversing some of the roughest roads in America. Backed by the Saxon Motor Car Company—one of the original Detroit automakers—and fueled by their own unwavering spirits, Alice and Nell advocated for women’s suffrage in every town along the way. Author Jeryl R. Schriever shares the remarkable story of the first women to ever drive across the country and back, paving the way for generations of women to follow.

Author Bio

Jeryl R. Schriever began her interest in Saxon Motor Cars in 2011 when touring in a 1914 Saxon roadster through the hills of eastern Pennsylvania. Combining her knowledge of automotive history and the suffrage movement, the fascination of the Alice and Nell story became compelling.
As a member of the Society of Automotive Historians Jeryl has edited and written for several national automobile magazines. At present she serves as the president of the board of the Seal Cove Automobile Museum, a prominent collection of brass era motor cars on the coast of Maine. She received her degree in landscape architecture from SUNY at Syracuse University in 1969. Her career has included work in museum education, exhibit design, and historic restorations.
The mother of two, she and her husband, Alex Huppé, live in Castine Maine and Sarasota Florida. They tour vintage cars year round.

You can learn more about Schriever’s journey and the efforts of the Equal Rights Amendment, visit www.drivingthevote.org.

The rain venue for all Seaside Series programs is SPL, 64 Main Street.
