About the Peaks Island Branch

We are  back in the newly renovated Kennedy-Carter Family Community Center!
Tues: 2-8, Wed: 10-4, Fri: 10-2, Sat: 8-12

* Click here for the story of our recent renovation *

Friends of the Peaks Island Library Annual Book Sale

Saturday, July 20 8:00 am-3:00 pm

Peaks Island Community Room

Donate your books on Friday, July 19 from 10-6

Donate your time on Friday or Saturday: Sign up sheet at the Peaks Library Desk.

Camp Out! Children’s Summer Reading Program  – June 18-August 10

Visit the Library to pick up a reading log and adventure map ! To be a summer reader, read or listen to at least 8 books and choose 8 reading or outdoor adventures on the map! We have special evening story times, programs, Sea Dog tickets,  coupons for soft serve from Down Front and gelato from the Gelato Fiasco, books for participants, and 2 bicycles to give away! Studies show that family participation in literacy activities greatly benefits children’s learning. Make it your aim to read together this summer.

Story Time and Craft with Ms. Crowley-Rockwell – Tuesdays from 6:45-7:45

Enjoy stories and a craft on Tuesday evenings. Upcoming dates & themes:

7/23 The Not So Quiet Library

7/30 Stories with author/illustrator Barbara McClintock

8/4 Surf’s Up

Geared for 5-8 year olds.

Fish Printing – Wednesday, July 24 from 10:30-11:30

Using the traditional Japanese method of Gyotaku, we will create a beautiful, nature-inspired work of art. Rubber replicas of fish and other sea creatures will be painted with tempera paints and printed onto newsprint. Use your creativity to make a unique piece of art. For children ages 4-12.

Solar Power S’mores – Wednesday, August 7 from 10:30-11:30

Learn how to make your own solar oven using household materials and discover how energy can be used for cooking in this fun, interactive, and yummy workshop.While we wait for our s’mores to cook, we’ll pass the time with puzzles and board games. For children ages 5-12.

NEW!  Peaks Knitting Group

2nd Tuesday of each month from 6:30-7:30

Bring your current project and join other knitters for conversation and inspiration!

All are welcome, as are all skill levels. Meets in the Library.

Saturday Film Series

5:30 pm Family Film/ 7:30 pm Adult Film

Sponsored by the Friends of the Peaks Island Library

Join us for a free weekly film series in the Peaks Island Community Room.  Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Upcoming films:

July 20 – no 5:30 film/ 7:30 Portrait of a Lady

July 27 – 5:30 My Neighbor Totoro/7:30 Paterson

August 3 – 5:30 Aladdin/7:30 Loving Vincent

August 10 – 5:30 Space Jam/7:30 Life is Sweet

August 17 – 5:30 Babe/7:30 The Brand New Testament

There will be no movies on August 24 & 31. The film series will resume on September 7!

Story Times for Children

**Story times will resume after Labor Day**

We offer two story times designed for children from birth to age 5 , from basic rhymes to movement and music. Join us and cultivate a love of reading in your child early on!

Rhythm & Rhymes  – Children ages birth- 2 years and their caregivers. Join us for songs, rhymes, finger plays, stories and movement every Wednesday.

Preschool Story Time  – Children ages 3-5 and their caregivers. Join us for picture book read alouds, finger plays, music and movement every Friday.

Middle School Book Club

Meets on the third Tuesday each month at 5:30 pm***

We’ve discovered that this age reader loves to read books, lots of books, and share what they are reading with others. Unlike other book groups there is not a specific book that everyone reads each month. Instead everyone comes together to share what they are presently reading, a favorite book, or make recommendations, and have something good to eat while enjoying each other’s company.

Everyone who is in middle school, public, private or homeschooled is welcome to join in the discussions as listeners or contributors. Call, email or come into the library for more information.

Upcoming Meeting Dates:

August 20

Please join us!

First Tuesday Book Group

First Tuesday of each month

Readers are encouraged to call (766-5540), email (peaks@portlandpubliclibrary.org) or come into the library to reserve copies of the books. If you have trouble finding an available copy of the book in the Portland library system, please contact us. Often we can locate a book through MaineCat.

FIRST TUESDAY BOOK DISCUSSION usually meets on the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm and there is a moderator for each discussion. This program is supported by the Friends of the Peaks Island Branch Library and takes place in the Peaks Island Community Room.

Upcoming meetings in 2019: 

• September 3 – Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
• October 1 – Educated by Tara Westover
• November 12 – Becoming by Michelle Obama
• December 3 – Mink River by Brian Doyle
• January 7 – Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
• February 4 – In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende
• March 3 – Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
• April 7 – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

For information on upcoming selections see PPL’s Book Groups page.

Peaks Island Archives

Peaks Island Archives | Portland Public Library Research | Portland Public Library Digital Commons

digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com    or   https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/peaks_island_archives/

The Peaks Island Branch Library Archives comprise 15 linear feet of Special Collections assembled and located at the Peaks Island Branch of the Portland Public Library. The collection of ephemera, cemetery records, scrapbooks, postcards, photographic images, periodicals, maps, reports, audiovisuals, and Peaks Island printed material span the 20th century – up to the present. Bulk dates for the archive are from circa 1960 – present.

Subjects include Peaks Island community and government topics, tourism, history (particularly the role of Peaks Island during World War II), development and land use, genealogy, education, theatre (including the Gem Theatre and Greenwood Garden – both popular in the 1920s and 1930s), writing, and visual art.

We are grateful for the generosity of the Peaks Island Fund and the Casco Bay Islands Alliance
in making this project possible.

For Summer and Temporary Residents

To obtain a library card while you are on the island, please bring your driver’s license or other valid ID with your current address, as well as the address and phone number where you are staying on the island. Library staff will do our best to accommodate your library needs.

Peaks Island Community Links

• Peaks Island Press: News on Peaks Island Authors • Peaks Island Land Preserve • Peaks Island Information including Community Calendar and island organization links • Peaks Island Children’s Workshop • Peaks Island Health Center • Peaks Island School • Fifth Maine Regimental Museum • Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial

Peaks Island Branch

Branch Manager, Jerri Blatt

Parking: Parking is available on the street.

Bookdrop: The bookdrop is located inside the Community Center lobby.

1st floor wheelchair accessible