Belfast Historical Society Presentation with Stephen A. Goldman, M.D.
2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York) | Abbott Room
“The Grand Army of the Republic: How Warrior Identity and Survivor Obligation Drove Union Veterans to Fight Jim Crow” will be the topic of the Belfast Historical Society’s meeting at 7:00 PM, May 19, in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library.
Stephen A. Goldman, M.D., psychiatrist and Civil War historian, will discuss how and why Union veterans assumed critical roles as moral and political forces, particularly through the nation’s most prominent biracial postwar organization, the Grand Army of the Republic.
While avowedly apolitical, the GAR was a stalwart bloc in support of landmark Republican initiatives on behalf of African Americans after Reconstruction’s end, and beyond. As Jim Crow took hold on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, Dr. Goldman will detail the GAR’s fight against bigotry and racism in two major areas – quality public education and social equality.
Stephen A. Goldman, M.D. is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, war historian, public health expert, and the only physician to serve on the Abraham Lincoln Institute Board of Directors. His having treated and worked with those who have been in combat, in-depth study of America’s veterans that spans 160 years, and their ramifications are all exemplified in the groundbreaking book, One More War to Fight: Union Veterans’ Battle for Equality through Reconstruction, Jim Crow, and the Lost Cause.
Left Bank Books will have his book available for purchase, and Dr, Goldman will be happy to sign copies at the May 19 meeting.
The Belfast Historical Society presents talks of local historical interest on the 4th Monday of the month from April through October. All presentations are in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library and are open to the public. Seating is limited to 75. FMI visit BelfastMuseum.org or call 207 338-9229. These programs will be recorded and can be viewed on Belfast Community Television and on the museum website.

Foraging for Wild Mushrooms; Balancing Safety as you Expand your List of Edibles with Greg Marley
2025-05-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
As people build their knowledge and skills to forage and use wild edible and medicinal mushrooms, it is natural to want add more mushrooms to your list. As you move beyond the Foolproof Few, the common, easily-identified mushrooms, it becomes even more important to have guidance on choosing wisely and avoiding toxic mistakes. This talk seeks to offer a list of great mushrooms by filtering the recommendations through answering this question so often posed to me: “What is your favorite mushroom?”. The talk will focus on Maine and New England mushrooms.
Biography: Greg Marley has been studying, growing, collecting, cooking and eating wild mushrooms for 50 years. He is a frequent speaker and lecturer and teaches mushroom identification and ecology to hundreds of new foragers. For more than 2 decades he has consulted in cases of mushroom poisoning across New England. Greg is the author of Mushrooms for Health; Medicinal Secrets of Northeastern Fungi (2009) and Chanterelle Dreams, Amanita Nightmares, The Love Lore and Mystique of Mushrooms (2010). He lives and mushrooms along the coast of Maine. When not mushrooming he works as a mental health trainer and consultant in suicide prevention and response after a loss.
This talk will take place in the Abbott Room with a Zoom option. Register for the Zoom link here.

Genealogy group meeting: House Stories
2025-05-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Abbott Room
Join us for a presentation from Janine Carpenter about her ongoing project researching the historic houses of Searsport.
Originally started for the Searsport Historic Preservation Commission, Janine Carpenter intended to develop house plaques for the 100+ year old homes, but little did she realize the time and resources needed that would be needed for this project. Learn about this work to preserve these vital histories, in conjunction with homeowners, Penobscot Museum staff/volunteers, Waldo County Deed/Probate Offices, and numerous online resources.
Janine Carpenter, a former educator in Georgia and New York, is now retired in Searsport.
All are welcome! This is a hybrid meeting, with the option to join in-person in the Abbott Room or to join online over Zoom. To receive the Zoom link or for more information, please email Sharon Pietryka at spietryka@belfastlibrary.org.

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

Library Closed for Memorial Day
2025-05-26

POSTPONED Climate Resilience Fair POSTPONED
2025-06-07 10:00 - 15:00 | Steamboat Landing, Belfast, Maine
Due to the forecast of rain, wind and thunderstorms on Saturday the Climate Resilience Fair has been postponed. We will reschedule for a date in the fall. Stay tuned…
Please join the Belfast Free Library and Waldo County Climate Action Coalition on Saturday, June 7 at Steamboat Landing in Belfast for the Climate Resilience Fair, from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM.
There will be 40+ local businesses and non-profits with resources and examples of ways to prepare for a changing climate. A full list of participants can be found at Waldo County Climate Action Coalition website.
Come check out our powerhouse lineup of speakers in the Boathouse!
10:15 – 10:45- David Gibson, Director of Energy, College of the Atlantic
11:00 – 11:30 – Jack Shapiro, Climate and Clean Energy Director at the Natural Resources Council of Maine
11:45 – 12:15- Sean Birkel, Maine State Climatologist
12:30 – 1:00- Parker Gassett, Community Climate Resilience Coordinator, Maine Sea Grant
1:15 – 1:45 -Steve Ouillette, En-ROADS Global Climate Simulation
2:00 – 2:30- Nick Janzen, Policy & Partnerships Director, Maine Conservation Alliance
2:30 – 3:00- Alan Gibson, Principal, GO Logic
This FREE event includes family activities, music and food trucks! Portable Pie Place and Stone Fox Farm Creamery.
Music starts at 12:00 with local favorites Sea Strings, at 1:00 pm The Driveway Band , and at 2:00 pm Pinwheel Coalition.
Event information is being updated; more info can be found here at the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition website. If you’d like to volunteer to help with the event please email waldoclimateaction@gmail.com.

No Knitting Group Today -
2025-06-11 16:00 | Abbott Room
No knitting group Weds. June 11th. See you next week!
Knitters, crocheters, yarn enthusiasts of all experience levels are welcome to join us every Wednesday , from 4:00-5:30 pm in the Abbott Room.
This drop-in event is a chance for knitters- and crocheters too- of all ages and experience levels to chat, get tips, and learn from each other while working on their own projects. Library staff will have computers available to demonstrate how to use Ravelry.com and other websites to help find patterns and organize your work. Registration is not required. For more information please call 338-3884 ext.10
Contact bharrington@belfastlibrary.org to sign up to to join the knitting group.

Does Anything from the Year 1776 Matter Today? with Liam Riordan
2025-06-12 18:00 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
This Maine Speaks event with Liam Riordan, Professor of History at the University of Maine, is presented by the Maine Humanities Council and the Belfast Free Library. The program will take place in the Abbott Room with a Zoom option.
Register for the Zoom link here.
This illustrated talk looks at the text of the Declaration of Independence (“all men are created equal . . . with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness”) and considers some of its late-eighteenth century context. This will set the stage for a discussion about the meaning of the Declaration’s political ideals as well as its more sordid qualities for US public life today.
Liam Riordan is a history professor at the University of Maine who specializes in the American Revolution. He is the co-editor of What We Know, What We Wish: Maine Statehood, Historical Commemoration, and the Urgency of Public History, forthcoming from UMass Press in June 2025.

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

Genealogy group meeting~ “Ghosted”: Let's Talk about Genealogic Vanishing
2025-06-18 14:00 - 15:30 | Abbott Room
All genealogists have them—ancestors who seemingly vanish all of a sudden, sometimes with no mention, sometimes with an explanation that feels inadequate, as if they have just “ghosted” us. Join us for a conversation about our “ghosted” ancestors.
All are welcome! This is a hybrid meeting, with the option to join in-person in the Abbott Room or to join online over Zoom. To receive the Zoom link or for more information, please email Sharon Pietryka at spietryka@belfastlibrary.org.

Library will be CLOSED in observance of the Juneteenth Holiday
2025-06-19

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!

"Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives: 200 Years of the Murch Family in Belfast"
2025-06-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
“Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives: 200 Years of the Murch Family in Belfast” will be the topic of the Belfast Historical Society’s meeting at 7:00 pm, June 23, in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library. Dana Murch, local genealogist and historical society member, will present the program will include stories about the Mayflower; the War of 1812; pump and block making; lawyers and judges and postmasters; Gettysburg; poetry; ice-making; hydro-electric generation; weather-keeping; shoe shops; the Pygmy Circus; and World War II.
The Belfast Historical Society presents talks of local historical interest on the 4th Monday of the month from April through October. All presentations are at 7:00pm in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library and are open to the public. Seating is limited to 75.
FMI visit BelfastMuseum.org or call 207 338-9229. These programs will be recorded and can be viewed on Belfast Community Television and on the museum website.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
2025-06-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Plaza in front of the Library
All are invited to celebrate the recent installation of a state-of-the-art heat pump system at the Belfast Free Library, the result of a collaboration between the Belfast City Council and the Library Board of Trustees. Please join us at the open house and ribbon cutting for this successful community project on Tuesday, June 24th from 4-6 pm.
