Beflast Free Library

Library Closed in Observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day
2020-10-12 10:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)

BFL Online Storytime
2020-10-09 10:00 - 11:00
Preschool Storytime from the Belfast Free Library with children’s librarian Erica Rubin Irish

Coyote Lives in a Democracy
2020-10-06 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Program on Zoom
The expression Keystone Carnivore is used to describe our Coyotes in Maine, but its meaning often is not fully understood. In this presentation coyote will be introduced to you in this context, and how their important role affects us and the landscape of Maine in vitally important ways. We are all inextricably connected. But our Coyotes are being prevented from freely and effectively acting in their capacity as a Keystone. What is the cause of this? Please join this virtual presentation on zoom to find out.
Register in advance for this meeting here
Geri Vistein is a Carnivore Biologist and the founder of Coyote Center for Carnivore Ecology and Coexistence here in Maine. The focus of her work is sharing with our communities the knowledge we are coming to know about our recovering carnivores, as well as the skills needed for us to live well with them.
We live in a Democracy, as citizens of Maine you will learn what you can do to affect the freedom that Coyotes need to fulfill their important role as the Keystone. Get ready to be enlightened and inspired!

“Place is Your Portal . . . to Writing”
2020-10-01 18:30 - 20:00
WORKSHOP IS FULL
The Belfast Free Library offers this two part writing workshop with Linda Buckmaster. The workshop will be a virtual event on zoom.
Description:
We’ll start with places in your life – childhood, special haunts, significant venues, real time, imaginary, etc. We’ll expand to other locations in the world, the universe, or the fifth dimension. As Susan Conley says, “Place is a vessel for our writing, and a portal that can give us access to the emotional terrain.”
This will be a user-friendly workshop for any one of any writing experience (or not). All genres welcome – fiction, poetry, essay, memoir, or something in between. We’ll use writing prompts, exploration of our surroundings, personal memory, and discussion to create new writing that captures a place and lets us tap into ourselves.
You will create new writing or expand on something you already have underway. There will be an optional place-based homework assignment between the sessions.
Class size is limited to 10 so registration is required. To register, contact Linda at lsbuck1@gmail.com by September 23rd.
Linda Buckmaster is a poet, essayist, fiction writer, and teacher. Former Poet Laureate of Belfast, her work has appeared in over 40 journals. Her place-based memoir, Space Heart. A Memoir in Stages was published by Burrow Press in 2018. In her classes, she creates a safe environment for participants to explore and

Online Storytime
2020-09-29 10:00 - 11:00

Teen Take & Make: Air Plants
2020-09-22 10:00 - 17:00 | Children’s Floor
Come pick up supplies for an air plant & stone holder! Tuesday, September 22nd 10 am – 5 pm.

Online Yoga Storytime
2020-09-22 10:00 - 11:00, 2020-08-05 10:00 - 11:00

Launch Event: CITIZEN SCIENCE PROJECT: COASTAL FLOODING
2020-09-21 18:00 - 20:00 | Live Stream on YouTube
The City of Belfast Climate Crisis Committee announces the launch of its citizen science project to collect data on coastal flooding events in the Belfast Bay. The launch of “Belfast Coastal Flooding: Storms and Sea Level Rise”, will be live streamed from the Belfast Free Library on Monday, September 21st, at 6pm.
The live stream will be on the library’s YouTube channel- the link will be posted the day of the event.
The following day, Tuesday, September 22nd at 3:30pm there will be an in-person meet up and demonstration at the Belfast Harbor parking lot.
This citizen science project invites people to participate by going to one of six designated sites around the Belfast Bay and take photographs of high water events which can then be uploaded to the project page on Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Ecosystem Investigation Network ( investigate.gmri.org/project/coastal_flooding/ ). The data will be used by city planners and meteorologists at the National Weather Service (NWS) to help predict high water events and document coastal flooding.
This is the beginning of a long-term project to monitor the effects of climate change, including sea level rise. The design team members have already installed a weather station on the City pier, and are in the process of installing a tide gauge. By documenting weather and water levels, correlated with observed flooding and NWS predictions, the people of Belfast will get valuable insight into the effects of expected sea level rise on our city’s shoreline and infrastructure.
The launch event will include: presentations by Gulf of Maine Research Institute experts describing science behind sea level rise, and the processes of citizen science; members of the project team, including Belfast Area High School students who will describe some of the equipment and methods that will be used. A demonstration on how to navigate the website will also occur at the launch.
The “Belfast Coastal Flooding: Storms and Sea Level Rise” project has been developed through a collaboration between the City of Belfast Climate Crisis Committee, the National Weather Service, and the Belfast Free Library, and is supported through a grant and assistance of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute [GMRI].

Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition Program on Zoom
2020-09-17 18:30 - 20:00 | Virtual Program on Zoom
Calling Upon Tree Medicine with Suzanne Stone
Click here to register in advance for this meeting.
From Forest Bathing to Pine Needle tea, from Birch twig baths to sitting with one’s back against a mighty Oak, Trees offer many forms of medicine.
This program will honor some of the Tree Allies we are sharing this land with, talk of some of the gifts they offer, how to harvest thoughtfully and ethically, share some Tree medicine recipes and some thoughts on how we can give back to the Trees.
Community/Intuitive Herbalist, Suzanne Stone, has grown, and learned from trees and other plants for decades in the field, forest, her own gardens, and as Head Gardener/Educator at the New Day School, Portland, OR. She has studied at the Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine in Portland, OR, with Gail Faith Edwards of Blessed Maine Farm, and Sajah Popham of the School of Evolutionary Herbalism. She currently resides on the coast of Wabanaki Maine, growing, building relation and creating with herbs, teaching extended herbal medicine making courses, year long tree courses, and herbal learning with children, all under the name of Moon of Hyldemoer Herbals. www.moonofhyldemoer.com

Online Storytime
2020-08-29 10:00 - 11:00
Online Preschool Storytime with children’s librarian Erica Rubin Irish

Fall Bird Migration Presentation with Seth Benz
2020-08-25 18:00 - 20:00
On Tuesday, August 25th at 6:00pm, the Belfast Free Library and Friends of Sears Island will co-host a virtual presentation with Seth Benz titled “Dust Off Your Binoculars, Fall Bird Migration is Upon Us!” Shorebirds, hawks, seaducks, gannets, songbirds: autumn’s southbound parade is one of nature’s finest spectacles. This presentation will cover the beauty and basics of fall bird migration, including where, when, and how to pay attention. The program will be offered live via Zoom.
Please click here to register for the Zoom Link
Seth Benz is the director of bird ecology at Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park. He has lived on a seabird island, counted hawks from a mountain top, caught peregrine falcons on an east coast barrier island, and introduced thousands of people to the pleasures of birds and birding.
To learn more about Friends of Sears Island check out www.friendsofsearsisland.org.

StoryWalk at Belfast Harbor Walk
2020-08-21 10:00 - 17:00
Belfast Harbor Walk – Loop walk from Belfast Boat House
Friday, August 21 – Saturday, August 22
Self-paced anytime
10:00 am Friday—4:30 pm Saturday
Weather permitting

Kids' Outdoor Book Group -- We're Not From Here
2020-08-11 10:00 - 16:00
We’re Not From here by Geoff Rodkey
Meeting time TBD. Copies of the book are available beginning July 6 — On the children’s floor or via Curbside Pickup.
Rain date 8/18

StoryWalk at Head of the Tide Preserve
2020-08-08 10:00 - 17:00
Head of the Tide Preserve
Doak Road, Belfast
Saturday, August 8 – Sunday, August 9
Self-paced anytime
10:00 am Saturday—5:00 pm Sunday
Weather permitting
