Beflast Free Library

Storytelling Workshops for Youth at the Belfast Free Library - January 28 event canceled
2025-01-28 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | Abbott Room
Led by Librarian and Storyteller Stephanie Holman
Storytelling: Learn to tell a story without use of notes. These mini-workshops will celebrate this spoken word art form. No pressure to perform in front of an audience, but participants will have the option in the Spring.
*Sample stories for use will be available.
*Program will involve solo and group work.
*Refreshments served.
School age—Attend one or all of the workshops:
3:30-4:30 in the Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library
Tuesday, January 28
Tuesday, February 25
Tuesday, March 25

Youth STEAM Team for School Age Children
2025-02-07 15:30 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
https://extension.umaine.edu/waldo/4h/community-science-explorers/climate-action-exploration/

Valentine Card Making Celebration
2025-02-10 15:00 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Come to the Belfast Free Library and make cards for your loved ones, postal workers, dogs you meet on the street, and for yourself.. whatever floats your boat. Amazing supplies will be provided. Delicious treats will be abundant, and love will fill the room!!
All are welcome!!!

STEAM Team ~ Exploration of Watersheds
2025-03-06 15:30 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
The Shaw Institute has been conducting coastal monitoring for over 15 years, testing popular beach sites around the Blue Hill Peninsula for harmful algal blooms, fecal bacteria, and other sources of pollution. By analyzing water samples and creating phytoplankton, participants will learn how pollution and nutrient runoff impact them and discover how they can create positive change.
Free event for ages 8-12
For more information or to register, please visit the program’s website.
Or, contact Belfast Free Library at www.belfastlibrary.org.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Karen Giles, karengiles@maine.edu or 207.342.5971

LEGO Club
2025-03-13 16:00 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Love LEGOs? Come join the club! The library provides LEGOs. Build what you like or take the Library Challenge. Near the conclusion of the program, you can describe your build or leave it to our imagination. All are welcome!!

Preschool Storytimes at the Belfast Free Library
2025-03-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Abbott Room
Sharing books, storytelling, puppetry, songs, silliness and a craft.

Wiggle and Rhyme for Babies and Toddlers
2025-03-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Abbott Room
Story, rhyme, song, shakers, scarves, parachute play, toys, bubbles and giggles.

STEAM Team ~ Exploration of Ocean Acidification
2025-03-27 15:30 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
This month we will learn about ocean acidification, where it comes from, how it affects our oceans, and ways to combat this problem. You will become scientists by asking the big questions and performing experiments showing how ocean acidification is changing our oceans and how it’s affecting animals and plants around us. And, what does kelp have to do with it?
Free event for ages 8-12
For more information or to register, please visit the program’s website.
Or, contact Belfast Free Library at www.belfastlibrary.org.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Karen Giles, karengiles@maine.edu or 207.342.5971

STEAM Team ~ Dive into Vernal Pools
2025-04-15 15:30 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Join us in exploring one of the most spectacular signs of spring…vernal pools! Seasonal spring pools are essential for the wellness of many critters and the forest ecosystem, but as the name implies, they are not here for long. Youth will build a model of a vernal pool to discover how these pools develop over time and play a game to learn what outside factors influence these sensitive ecosystems.
Free event for ages 8-12
For more information or to register, please visit the program’s website.
Or, contact Belfast Free Library at www.belfastlibrary.org.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Karen Giles, karengiles@maine.edu or 207.342.5971

Library Skills for Homeschool Families
2025-05-01 15:30 - 16:30 | Abbott Room
Children’s Librarian Stephanie Holman will lead a program to support readers and researchers with tips and tools to use a public library to its fullest. Join us in the Abbott room of the Belfast Free Library for an overview of basic library skills. A tour of the children’s collection will follow. To conclude, we will test new library skills with a game and prizes.
Grades K and up.

2025 Youth Poetry Contest Reception and Reading
2025-05-05 16:00 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Celebrate National Poetry Month with the Belfast Free Library
The youth of Waldo County are invited to submit an original poem on the theme:
Fast Forward: Poems from the Future
Deadline is Wednesday, April 30th
Submissions should be sent in-person or emailed to sholman@belfastlibrary.org
Include your name, age, email and phone.
Winners and runners-up will have the opportunity to share their poems at a headline event at this year’s Belfast Poetry Festival.
Reception, Reading and Refreshments:
Time : 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Date: Monday, May 5th
Location : The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

STEAM Team ~ Lift off into Bird Data: Unleashing the Power of Community Science
2025-05-22 15:30 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
What is a naturalist? Learn how to observe, record, and contribute to real world science using powerful tools like eBird, BirdCast, Merlin, and the Motus tracking system. Through hands-on activities, you will collect valuable data that supports ongoing research and conservation efforts–because every observation counts! We will then apply these skills on a short bird walk led by a Maine Audubon naturalist.
Free event for ages 8-12
For more information or to register, please visit the program’s website.
Or, contact Belfast Free Library at www.belfastlibrary.org.
To request a reasonable accommodation, contact Karen Giles, karengiles@maine.edu or 207.342.5971

Wiggle & Rhyme
2025-06-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Abbott Room
For Babies and Toddlers
Come join us! The first 20 minutes are early literacy rhymes and songs followed by play and social time with bubbles! Content is prepared for birth through age 2.
Date: Mondays, June 16, August 18 and 25
Time: 10:00am
Location: The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

Preschool Storytimes in City Park
2025-06-20 10:00 - 11:00 | City Park or Abbott Room
Join us outside for stories, puppets and songs!
Located on City Park Road. Rain location is at the Belfast Free Library.
Date: Fridays, June 20 and 27, July 11 and 18, August 22 and 29
Time: 10:00am
Location: City Park Road (rain location at the Belfast Free Library)

Summer Reading Begins
2025-06-23 | Youth Services Floor
Summer reading begins at the Belfast Free Library! Grab your gameboards from the Youth Services desk on the 2nd floor and get reading!
