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 pick for you. Simply fill out this short form and we will email you a list of personalized suggestions.
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.
Staff Curated 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.
The fourth annual Portland Public Library Reading Challenge is here! 24 books, 12 months – will you accept the challenge?
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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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Read Your Mind: Exploring Mental Health in Teen Books is a series of virtual YA author visits for the 2020-2021 school year. Each month features new books, topics and resources about teen mental health.
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Are you unsure of what to read next? 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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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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Poetry lovers, come explore the web with us! Here’s a list of resources and links to poetry. We include favorite websites where you can find fantastic poems, videos of great poetry readings, links to some of the best podcasts today, and more.
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Can’t get to the library but still need to satisfy all of your bookish needs? Never fear, these awesome eResources are here! Check out this link for the library’s digital catalog, always-available eBooks & eAudiobooks, freebies from subscription services, book talk podcasts, virtual book groups, and more.
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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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Indie Author Project connects indie authors, libraries & readers. It’s an innovative collaboration between Library Journal & BiblioBoard that enables local authors & Portland Public Library to work together to expose notable self-published ebooks to readers looking for something new.
Learn More »Up Next at the Library:
Literary Lunch: Megan Grumbling talks about Persephone in the Late Anthropocene with Gibson Fay LeBlanc
From the PPL blog:
In January, our staff looks at newer and on-order books at the library—a trove of fresh ideas. More »
Amanda Gorman recites her inaugural poem "The Hill We Climb." More »