The staff of the Thomas Memorial Library introduced the 2017 Summer Reading Program to help combat the "Summer Slide". The phrase, coined by the Children's Literacy Initiative, refers to their findings that when children don't continue to read over summer breaks, they can fall up to two years behind their peers that do read. To help encourage participation, the Thomas Memorial Library Foundation donated prize baskets. Read how much of a success the program was, including stories from participants!
Museum Passes Available!
Did you know that the Foundation provides funding for museum passes to the patrons of Thomas Memorial Library? Visit the circulation desk to find out all of the details and how you can get your free pass to the Portland Museum of Art, the Tate House, the Portland Observatory and multiple Maine State Parks!
New Adult Graphic Novel Collection
Map Making Workshops
2017 Summer Reading Program
The 2017 Summer Reading Program had 600 participants! 294 children, 120 teens and 164 adults were engaged with reading all summer as the competed for one of the several prize baskets that were provided by the Thomas Memorial Library Foundation. The program also helped expose the participants to numerous resources that the library offers.