RANGELEY — As the summer approaches, the Rangeley Public Library gears up for its annual array of free summer programs. Janet Wilson, the library director, emphasized the importance of these programs in fostering community engagement and continued learning, especially for children.

“Each summer, Rangeley Public Library offers a free summer reading program as well as other free programs which help to draw kids and their parents into the library,” Wilson said. “Free is important. There are a lot of great opportunities for kids in our area, but very few of them are free.”

Wilson said the summer reading program keeps kids using the skills they learned during the school year. “As any educator will tell you, children who continue reading and engaging with literature over the summer have a distinct advantage when they return to school in the fall,” she said. “They don’t have to spend the first few weeks of school getting back to where they were in June.”

Additionally, the summer reading program is designed to be fun. “It allows kids to see learning in an exciting new light. In Rangeley, where we have a large seasonal population, library programs give local kids and seasonal kids a place to connect with one another and broaden each of their perspectives,” Wilson said.

The library’s programs extend beyond children’s activities, catering to a diverse audience of adults. “We also have many offerings for adults including book groups which meet throughout the year. Our summer program series takes place on Wednesday evenings from July through September,” said Wilson.

“Rangeley is fortunate to have a population with rich, varied backgrounds and interests, and the variety of program topics reflect that,” Wilson said. “A surprising number of retirees live in Rangeley either seasonally or year-round, and we find that this is a group of people who especially appreciate our adult programming.”

Wilson said many of these residents have expressed the desire to keep their brains young, and to prevent cognitive decline as they age. “One way of doing this is to stay engaged with other people and continue to learn new things,” Wilson noted. She said the fact that most programs are multi-generational is an added benefit. Just like the children’s programs, these programs are free for everyone.

The library does not distinguish between ‘locals’ and those ‘from away’. “All are welcome to participate in any of our free programs or to use any of our resources. And everyone appreciates a place to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging,” Wilson said.

“One of the reasons we are able to offer so many free programs is that we have a lot of hard-working volunteers who fundraise throughout the year,” explains Janet.

Rangeley Public Library is owned and operated by the Rangeley Library Association, a 501[c]3 nonprofit organization. “While the town of Rangeley and the surrounding plantations give generously to our library, more than half of our annual budget comes from donations and fundraisers,” Wilson added.

Events like the Book & Bake Sale and the Summer Celebration play a crucial role in generating funds to support the library’s mission of providing free resources to all. “Our Book & Bake Sale and the Summer Celebration are just two ways that we fundraise, but these two events bring in thousands of dollars to help us continue to offer free resources to anyone who enters our doors,” Wilson said.

The library’s summer lineup features a diverse range of events, from educational talks to entertaining performances. Notable upcoming programs include discussions by authors Ron Joseph and Patricia O’Donnell, as well as presentations on topics ranging from wildlife biology to Maine’s cultural heritage.

“Everyone appreciates a place to connect with others and feel a sense of belonging,” Wilson said.

For a full schedule of summer programs and events at the Rangeley Public Library, visit their website at https://www.rangeleylibrary.org/. All programs are free and open to the public.

Rangeley Public Library 2024
Summer Programs & Events

*July 5 – Aug. 16 “Read Renew Repeat” summer reading program
10 a.m. Wednesdays for ages 6-9, Thursdays and Fridays 3 to 5 p.m.

Friday July 5 Owls of Maine by Chewonki 10:30am (C)
Kids of all ages are invited to join us for this Summer Reading Program kick-off event. Two live owls are the highlight of this program which introduces participants to the owls native to Maine and New England. Using pictures and sounds, participants will learn the identifying characteristics and calls of each owl.  Then, using talons, wings, and skulls, we will explore the adaptations of these silent nocturnal hunters. This program ends with an intimate and detailed look at live owls, bringing these creatures of the night into the light!

Wednesday July 10 Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs, & Hermit Bill by Ron Joseph 6pm
Author Ron Joseph will discuss his book, Bald Eagles, Bear Cubs & Hermit Bill: Memoirs of a Wildlife Biologist. Ron shares his stories of growing up in rural Maine, working as a wildlife biologist, and meeting Mainers like retired dairy farmers Ruth and Martin French of Dover-Foxcroft, who repurposed their barn’s empty cow stalls into a wildlife rehabilitation center.

The book includes humorous stories, such as one about the time he had to count piles of deer dung on designated mile-long lines and encountered a woman who bluntly asked, “So you went to college for that?”

Many of the book’s stories have previously been published in Down East, Maine Boats Homes and Harbors, Bangor Daily News, Moosehead Messenger, PenBay Pilot, and elsewhere.

July 13 Book & Bake Sale* 10am-1pm
Book & Bake is our largest book sale of the year, along with a huge bake sale. Both take place in the bank parking lot. Don’t miss your chance to pick up many gently used books at bargain prices and delicious pies, cookies, and other desserts baked by Rangeley bakers.

July 17 Malaga Island by Kate McBrien 6pm
In 1912, the State of Maine evicted a community of African American and white residents from their homes on Malaga Island. Racism, economic struggles, and eugenics all led to the devastation of this community. The program will explore the history behind this story that was hidden for so many years. This program will be presented by Kate McBrien who serves as the Maine State Archivist, overseeing the archival preservation and management of state records at the Maine State Archives in Augusta.

July 24 Growing Up in the Woodstock Generation by Marc Black 6pm
Musician Marc Black returns to Rangeley Public Library with his new program “Growing up in the Woodstock Generation”. Marc and his wife, Susan, came to Rangeley in 2022 to present the popular program “Boppa Chua! Marc Black’s History of the 1950s & 60s Through Popular Song”. He had audience members reminiscing and singing along. His new Woodstock program promises to be just as much fun! Even if you missed the hippie generation, you’re sure to enjoy the music of Marc Black who has performed with musical greats such as Neil Diamond, The Doors, and Van Morrison.

*July 26 Kalee Gwarjanski- Guest author gives special reading for preschoolers as part of the “Read Renew Repeat” summer reading program.

July 31 Mongul Derby by Jessie Dowling 6pm
The Mongul Derby has been called, “the longest and toughest horse race in the world”. It is an endurance race which follows the messenger system created by Ghengis Khan. Riders cover 1000 km (621 miles) of the Mongolian steppe riding 29 different semi-wild horses, changing horses every 40 km. Jessie and others navigated the routes and survived on their wits and skills, while living amongst the local Mongolian herders. Jessie trained for over a year, raised funds, traveled to Mongolia, and finished 13th in the Derby held in August 2023.

Aug 3 Hugh Ogden Memorial Poetry Gathering 3:30pm
The 17th annual Hugh Ogden Memorial Poetry Gathering will feature poet Suzanne Stewart Rancourt whose family is from Rangeley. The Poetry Gathering (formerly called the “Evening of Poetry”) begins with greetings from the Ogden Family and a brief community open reading of poetry.

Aug 8 Summer Celebration 5:30pm*
Summer Celebration is an annual fundraising event. This year’s event will feature heavy hors d’oeuvres prepared by Brickyard Hollow, drinks, live music by Sue Downes-Borko, and many fun and interesting items to be auctioned off by Rangeley’s own Chris Farmer. Our featured author is Marie Therese “Terry” Martin who wrote And Poison Fell from the Sky. Tickets must be purchased for this event.

Aug 14 A Symmetry of Husbands by Patricia O’Donnell 6pm

Author Patricia O’Donnell, Professor Emerita of Creative Writing at the University of Maine at Farmington, will be at the Rangeley Public Library to talk about her book, A Symmetry of Husbands, which probes the inner workings of marriage and long friendship. Copies of the book will be available for purchase at $18.

Aug 21 The Maine Roadshow by Tim O’Brien 6pm
“A very tall woman was tagged by P. T. Barnum as the Maine Giantess. Paul Bunyan and Blue left behind giant chairs as they explored the River Valley. Our state has more moose per mile than any of the other lower 48 states. Maine’s oldest town was incorporated 125 years before the birth of the United States. There’s a building in Columbia Falls that looks like a blueberry and one in Wells that looks like a hunk of cheese. AND, Maine is the only U.S. state with one syllable.”

Tim O’Brien, author of a fascinating and original guide to Maine will talk about these fun facts and much more when he visits the Rangeley Public Library, 7 Lake Street on August 21st at 6:00pm for a colorful presentation on his book the Maine Roadshow: A Roadside Tour of the State’s History, Culture, Food, Funk & Oddities.

The book is lavishly illustrated with nearly 450 photos, all taken by the author, and more than 400 listings, all visited in person by the author, during a five-year, thousands-of-mile journey exploring and documenting all corners of the state.

Aug 28 Managing Garden Pests 6pm
Nick Rowley, Sustainable Agriculture and Horticulture Professional with UMaine Cooperative Extension, will be at the Rangeley Public Library for a presentation on managing pests in your garden followed by time for questions and discussion. This talk will be an overview of common pests such as insects, diseases, animals and weeds found in vegetable gardens and the key aspects of integrated pest management (IPM) that will help you control them. Bring your plant and insect samples for discussion if you would like.

Sep 4 Body Positive Hiking 6pm
Paige Emerson is the founder of Chubby Hiker Reviews, a social media account where she reviews hikes in Maine as someone who is plus-sized. She encourages people of all body types to get outdoors, and she does advocacy work for folks in fat bodies. Her main goal is to work for inclusion and accessibility in outdoor spaces. In addition to being a trail reviewer, Paige is also a clinical social worker and a registered Maine Guide. She will be discussing her work and her favorite trails.

(C) Children’s event
* Fundraising event

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