Readers & Writers
Readers & Writers
Portland is a City of Readers! The Library is your partner to explore, research, and share the love of reading and writing. We love recommending what to read next, what’s popular and what’s lesser known, and to spread the word about what’s going on in the library and in the community for readers and writers.
Are you looking for new ideas for Your Next (Great!) Read? We can help! Our Reader’s Advisory staff is ready to put their professional book-matching skills to work to find the right book for you. Simply fill out this short form and we will email you a list of personalized book suggestions.
Featured Book List
In honor of Pride Month, we share this selection of recent LGBTQ+ fiction titles, including Lambda Literary Award winners and finalists.
Looking for more book suggestions? Our Reader’s Advisory staff has curated dozens of great lists just like this one. Explore the wealth of topics and genres here.
Additional Resources
Book Group Sets
Our book group sets include multiple copies of the same title in regular print, large print, & audio formats. You can request a book group set with your library card, just like any other library material.
Book Lists
Looking to browse topics & genres to find your next great read? Check out these frequently-updated adult fiction & nonfiction lists curated by PPL Reader’s Advisory staff.
Books & Authors
Browse title recommendations and reading lists for genre fiction and essential non-fiction through this database.
eAudiobooks
Explore eAudiobooks available with your library card through the cloudLibrary app and free to all in the public domain.
eBooks
Explore eBooks available with your library card through the cloudLibrary app and free to all in the public domain.
LibraryReads
The monthly nationwide library staff picks list for adult fiction and non-fiction — a great way to stay up-to-date with the hottest books!
NoveList Plus
The premiere database of expert reading recommendations, reviews, articles, lists and more.
Portland Public Library is hosting a Halloween-themed reading of short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry with a haunted vibe, a gruesome twist, or a general fall feeling on October 24th from 6-7:30 pm. Interested writers may email their pieces to pplwritersmeetup@gmail.com before Thursday, October 10th.
Learn More »Looking for help with reading suggestions? Would you love to get a personalized list of ideas based on your own reading interests? Our Reader’s Advisory staff is here to help! We’re ready to put our professional book-matching skills to work.
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Read ME is a statewide community read offered in partnership between the Maine Humanities Council and Maine State Library. Each summer a well-known Maine author recommends two titles by fellow Maine authors, and libraries around the state encourage everyone to read and discuss these books. We’re excited to be part of this community and we welcome you to join the conversation!
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Portland Public Library hosts nationally touring authors at the Spotlight Series. Authors talk about newly released work followed by audience Q&A and a book signing. The series is co-hosted by Portland Public Library and sponsored by the Press Hotel and Bangor Savings Bank.
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Our Literary Lunch Series is held at noon the third Wednesday of each month. We host New England authors with recently-released work in conversation with a literary friend, colleague or critic. Bring your lunch and join us!
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Our Book of the Week project is created by Reader’s Advisory staff and is focused on sharing one great book from the library’s collections each week. The book might be fiction or nonfiction, a new title or an older gem from the stacks. You can see a photo of each new book of the week and a list of the books in our library catalog here.
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Looking for a Reading Challenge this summer? You’ve come to the right place! The annual Portland Public Library Reading Challenge is well underway, and summer is the perfect time to catch up. We’ve selected 24 book prompts and we challenge you to read one book from each category throughout the year. Will you accept the challenge?
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Linda Aldrich, Portland’s Poet Laureate, hosts a series of poetry readings that feature a range of local voices through varying themes and collaborations of poets.
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Join one of our ongoing book groups at our branches, or let us help your book group with suggestions for what to read, book sets you can borrow, advice on book group strategy, and extra copies to supply you.
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Calling all writers! Are you looking for someone to critique your work? Interested in meeting other writers? Searching for inspiration and collaboration? Meet up with like-minded locals at Portland Public Library to discuss authors and ideas and listen to and inspire one another!
Learn More »Up Next at the Library:
Main Library
From the PPL blog:
Our staff picks for July focus on favorite new fiction and authors at the library. More »
June Staff Picks explore LGBTQ+ voices in our nonfiction and fiction collections. More »