A heartfelt thank you to all Stonington residents who voted at this week’s town meeting and on the ballots for third-party requests, the school board, and Stonington’s water and sanitation districts. It matters that we participate on a local level and stay engaged with our community. Believe it or not, I look forward to sitting down with townspeople that I see regularly and talking through budget items that shape our daily lives. The town meeting reflects values that we can be proud of: a commitment to open debate and democratic process.
SPL is deeply grateful to all who voted in favor—nearly 75% of voters—and approved our funding request for $25,000. Your trust is our inspiration, and we do not take it for granted. Whether you stop in every week or you have never stepped inside, our doors are open to all. Maybe you want to come in from the cold. Or perhaps you want to appreciate the panoramic view of the harbor from the second floor. We even have some books. Whatever your reasons for visiting, we hope you come back to discover more. We truly believe there’s something here for everyone.
Tomorrow!
Story Time with Stonington Fire Department
Saturday, March 8, 10-11am
SPL, 64 Main Street
SPL story time returns to Stonington Fire Department! The fire department crew will come to the library to read aloud to kids and their families, and following the story, they’ll invite everyone over to the fire department for a guided tour and look behind the scenes. All welcome, no registration required.
Tomorrow!
Edible Island: Food • Culture • Community
Irish Soda Bread with Lorraine Coakley
Saturday, March 8, 1-4pm
Healthy Island Project Kitchen, 91 S Burnt Cove Rd, Stonington
Edible Island is back with another workshop, and just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! Learn how to make Irish soda bread with Lorraine Coakley. RSVP by email.
Rosswords: Crosswords with Chris
Sundays, March 9, March 16, and March 23, 11am-12pm
Become a savvier crossword solver with puzzle fanatic Christopher Ross. Newcomers are welcome to join us any of the next three Sundays.
Read with Tenny
Second Tuesday of every month, 11-11:30am
Upcoming dates: March 11, April 8, May 13
Visit and read with certified therapy dog, Tenny, on the second Tuesday of every month at 11am. His person, Jessica Shively, will bring him by SPL to meet some of our youngest patrons and their families. It’s a chance for kids to learn new ways of interacting with a dog and with each other in a (loosely) structured activity. Tenny is a 3 year old, 105 pound Great Pyrenees mix who grew up on the Maine coast. He loves love and sharing it with other people. His human, Jessica, moved to Stonington from Castine in the summer and spends her days beachcombing with Tenny and exploring new hiking trails.
New!
Hand-Braided Rag Rug Workshop
Saturday, March 22, 12-2pm
Learn how to repurpose your old shirts and save them from a landfill with instructors Shannon Lindsay and Mary Ann O’Rourke. We’ve got plenty of material to get participants started. Bring fabric scissors if you have some. RSVP by email.
Rugs pictured above were made by Shannon Lindsay and are on display at SPL through April 26th in the 4th annual Island Artist Group Exhibit. Mary Ann O’Rourke is exhibiting a tapestry woven on a loom and decorated with felted mythological sea creatures. She also has a papier mâché mermaid on display and handmade cotton potholders on sale at SPL.
Reader’s Choice Book Club
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute by Grace Paley
Monday, March 24, 6:30-7:30pm
Anneli Sundqvist, Deer Isle resident, chose our book club’s March title, and she will lead our discussion of Grace Paley’s short story collection originally published in 1974. Paley wrote three collections in her lifetime, and The Collected Stories, published in 1994, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.
Music with Abby
Fourth Tuesday of every month, 11-11:30am
Upcoming dates: March 25, April 22, May 27
Let’s get musical! Explore rhythm and music with island singer, songwriter, and musician Abby Litman on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 11am. Kids won’t be hushed for making noise in the library. In fact, they’ll be encouraged.
New!
Public Conversation
The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Wednesday, April 16, 6-7:30pm
SPL, 64 Main Street and via Zoom
Readers were inspired to continue our public conversation series after reading What If We Get It Right?, and next we will discuss Robin Wall Kimmerer’s newest book, The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World, in one session with the option to join in person or via Zoom. Co-hosted by SPL and Linda Nelson, Stonington economic and community development director.
Participants can choose to purchase the book through SPL. Requests must be received by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 12th. Email SPL to RSVP or to purchase the book for our public discussion.
Reader’s Choice Book Club
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
Monday, April 28, 6:30-7:30pm
Pat Dobbs, Stonington resident, chose a graphic novel for our April book. Pat will lead our discussion of Gene Yang’s now classic comic that weaves together three seemingly separate story lines about race, identity, and fitting in.
Ongoing
Island Artist Group Exhibit
On view through Saturday, April 26
Over 60 pieces of artwork created by local artists on display during library hours through Saturday, April 26th.
Ongoing
Reading Challenge 2025
SPL challenges you to #readbannedbooks and exercise your #freedomtoread. You’re in the driver’s seat—or oversized armchair, if you prefer. You choose what you read, and every book you read counts toward our 2025 reading challenge.
Participate in our book challenge one of four ways any time you read a book in 2025: 1. @stoningtonpubliclibrary with #readbannedbooks or #freedomtoread, 2. send a postcard to SPL, PO Box 441, Stonington, ME 04681, 3. email (photos always appreciated but not required), or 4. tell us in person at SPL during library hours. The challenge is open to all friends of SPL—patrons, donors, volunteers, followers, and secret admirers. Every month we will give away free SPL swag to randomly selected friends: one adult (18+) and one youth (under 18). Prizes can be picked up at SPL or sent to winners for the cost of shipping.