Beflast Free Library

Computer class: Introduction to Google Drive & Google Docs (3-session class)
2025-04-07 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Third Floor Conference Room
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Click here to register.*
Monday, April 7 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, April 8 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, April 9 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This class is three sessions long—attendees should plan on attending all three sessions.
Two of the great benefits to your Google account are Google Drive and Google Docs. Google Drive is free cloud storage and Google Docs is Google’s free alternative to MS Word. In this class you will learn how to store and manage your files online as well as use the Google Docs platform where you can create stunning documents.
Requirements for this class:
A device connected to the internet and an active Gmail account.
This class is offered in partnership with the National Digital Equity Center, meaning an instructor from this organization will be teaching the class. Attendees must enroll and register at https://digitalequitycenter.org/classes/class/iphone-basics/?instance_id=5301 For more information, contact 338-3884 ext. 25 or spietryka@belfastlibrary.org

Film: "A Fierce Green Fire; The Battle for a Living Planet"
2025-04-08 18:30 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
An Earth Day Event presented by Sierra Club of Maine and the Waldo County Climate Action Coalition
A FIERCE GREEN FIRE: The Battle For a Living Planet is the first big-picture exploration of the environmental movement – grassroots and global activism spanning fifty years from conservation to climate change. From halting dams in the Grand Canyon to battling 20,000 tons of toxic waste at Love Canal; from Greenpeace saving the whales to Chico Mendes and the rubber tappers saving the Amazon; from climate change to the promise of transforming our civilization… the film tells vivid stories about people fighting – and succeeding – against enormous odds.
Written, directed and produced by Academy Award-nominee Mark Kitchell (Berkeley in the Sixties), this one hour documentary spans 50 years of grassroots and global activism from the 1960s-2009 and connects the major causes of environmentalism, from conservation to climate change. Narrated by Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, Ashley Judd, Van Jones and Isabel Allende, the film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and has won acclaim worldwide.
Free and open to all. Discussion to follow.

Belfast Garden Club Program
2025-04-15 12:00 - 13:00 | Abbott Room
Farming the Wild Blueberry with Ron Howard.
The Belfast Garden Club will host blueberry farmer Ron Howard, who will discuss how Brodis Blueberries has evolved since its founding in the 1750s. He will explore how this 9th generation farm evolved from 13 diverse family farmsteads into their current 800 acres of wild blueberries. Not only are wild blueberries one of the world’s most nutritious foods, they are remarkable and unique plants that Brodis has worked to diversify into innovative products. The farm has survived by sustainably modernizing with the times, and Ron will discuss what’s on the horizon for the next
generation.
Ron Howard serves as the farm manager for family-owned wild blueberry farm Brodis Blueberries in Hope, Maine.
More information and the Zoom link at https://belfastgardenclub.org/learn/programs/

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

Genealogy group meeting: The Origins of Anthony Coombs, or DNA Doesn't Lie but Family Genealogists Do
2025-04-16 14:00 - 15:30 | Abbott Room
Anthony Coombs was a blacksmith who came to Wells, ME in 1685. His descendants were among the earliest settlers of Islesboro and Vinalhaven in the 1770s and 1780s, and have been numerous in Belfast since the early 1800s. In this talk, Belfast genealogist and Coombs descendant Dana Murch will explore the many origin stories of Anthony Coombs and how a recent DNA study has separated fact from fiction.
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.

NO KNITTING GROUP TODAY
2025-04-16 16:00 | Abbott Room
Knit2Together
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.

Library Closed for Patriots Day
2025-04-21

Belfast Historical Society Program
2025-04-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
“Hello America, the Story of the Experimental RCA Radio Station in Belfast” will be the topic of the Belfast Historical Society’s meeting at 7:00 pm, April 28, in the Abbott Room at the Belfast Free Library. March 14, 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the history making first live trans-Atlantic long-wave radio broadcast from London, England to the Radio Corporation of America’s relay station located in Belfast in 1925. This broadcast paved the way for full global communications.
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.

Computer class: "Cutting the Cord" - Getting TV & Phone Services Over the Internet
2025-04-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Third Floor Conference Room
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Click here to register.*
Tuesday, April 29 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
What does it mean to “Cut the Cord”? It’s about canceling cable or satellite services and being able to watch television shows online, as well as options that would allow you to get rid of your landline. This class will not only show you the wide variety of options out there, but also teach you some tools to decide if cutting the cord is right for you.
Requirements for this class:
No devices are required; just bring yourself.
This class is offered in partnership with the National Digital Equity Center, meaning an instructor from this organization will be teaching the class. Attendees must enroll and register at https://digitalequitycenter.org/classes/class/iphone-basics/?instance_id=5301 For more information, contact 338-3884 ext. 25 or spietryka@belfastlibrary.org

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.

Computer class: Windows 11 Basics (3-session class)
2025-05-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Third Floor Conference Room
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Click here to register.*
Monday, May 5 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, May 6 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, May 7 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This class is three sessions long—attendees should plan on attending all three sessions.
Learn how to get the most out of your Windows 11 computer. In this class you will learn about the operating system, navigating the desktop and taskbar, the File Explorer, working with files, using Microsoft Edge and so much more.
Requirements for this class:
A Windows 11 computer with Internet access.
This class is offered in partnership with the National Digital Equity Center, meaning an instructor from this organization will be teaching the class. Attendees must enroll and register at https://digitalequitycenter.org/classes/class/iphone-basics/?instance_id=5301 For more information, contact 338-3884 ext. 25 or spietryka@belfastlibrary.org

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

Computer class: macOS Basics (3-session class)
2025-05-12 14:00 - 15:00 | Third Floor Conference Room
*REGISTRATION REQUIRED. Click here to register.*
Monday, May 12 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Tuesday, May 13 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Wednesday, May 14 @ 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
This class is three sessions long—attendees should plan on attending all three sessions.
This course will cover the basics of how to use Apple’s operating system which works on Apple’s popular line of laptops and desktops. This class starts with the basic functions of the MacOS operating system and how to navigate through folders, files, and menus. Organizing, moving, and saving files will be covered too.
Requirements for this class:
A macOS computer connected to the internet.
This class is offered in partnership with the National Digital Equity Center, meaning an instructor from this organization will be teaching the class. Attendees must enroll and register at https://digitalequitycenter.org/classes/class/iphone-basics/?instance_id=5301 For more information, contact 338-3884 ext. 25 or spietryka@belfastlibrary.org

“Welcoming our Returning Migrant Birds: Who they are, where they came from,” an evening program with Nick Lund of Maine Audubon.
2025-05-13 18:30 - 20:00 | Abbott Room
Millions of birds of hundreds of different species pour into Maine each spring, and it can be an overwhelming experience for birders. Join Nick Lund from Maine Audubon to calm your nerves about spring migration, learning about why and how it happens, and what species to expect.
Nick Lund is Maine Audubon’s Advocacy and Outreach Manager, and also the author of the American Birding Association’s “Field Guide to the Birds of Maine.”
The Belfast Bay Watershed Coalition, the Belfast Free Library, and the Waldo County Climate action Coalition present this program for Bird Week 2025. More information at http://belfastbaywatershed.org/.
This program will take place in the Abbott Room and on Zoom.
Register for the Zoom link here.

Belfast Historical Society Presentation with Stephen A. Goldman, M.D.
2025-05-19 19:00 - 20:00 | 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.
