Beflast Free Library

Wiggle and Rhyme for Babies and Toddlers
2025-03-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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!

Read to a Dog
2025-06-26 10:30 - 11:30 | Abbott Room
Join in to read to a dog!
Drop in during the hour and enjoy a calm exercise in reading to one or all available therapy dogs. This program increases reading fluency and confidence.

Date: Thursdays, June 26, July 3, 10 and 17
Time: 10:30am
Location: Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library

Chewonki Presents: Discover the World of Predator Animals
2025-06-30 14:00 - 15:00 | Abbott Room
What Makes Predator Animals So Unique?
Explore attitudes toward predators and reasons for their decline throughout history because of habitat loss and human interference. Discussion emphasizes the importance of predators in maintaining the world’s ecological balance. Participants have the opportunity to study mounted animals and see three live, non-releasable predators.
Date: Monday, June 30
Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm
Location : The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

Family Magic Show
2025-07-09 13:00 - 14:00 | Abbott Room
Starring Wes Booth
Reading is whimsical! Reading is wonderous! Reading is wacky!
Reading is Magic!
Date: Wednesday, July 9th
Time: 1:00pm
Location: The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

Lego Club
2025-07-10 16:00 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Love LEGOs? Come join the club. The library provides LEGOs and a scoop. Take your scoop of LEGOs to a table and build. 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!
Dates: Thursdays, July 10 and August 14
Time: 4:00-5:00pm
Location: The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

Air Cake and Other Summery Occupations
2025-07-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Abbott Room
with Catharine Cary, accompanied by Percussionist Andrea Re
A Music Story Creation for Families
https://catharinecary.bandcamp.com
Date: Monday, July 14
Time: 1:00pm
Location: The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library

Judy's Box of Crayons
2025-07-24 16:00 - 17:00 | Abbott Room
Judy Pancoast, a Grammy Nominee for Best Children’s Album
Judy’s concert will feature all-original songs about things that might be pictured in a coloring book, like the ocean, ladybugs, princesses, aliens, and more!
The children will respond with the colors they would use on each picture. No answer is wrong! Bring the whole family.
Date: Thursday, July 24
Time: 4:00 – 5:00pm
Location: The Abbott Room of the Belfast Free Library
