Curbside Service
Available upon request
Monday: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
Wednesday: 9:30 am - 7:00 pm
Thursday: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Friday: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am - 2:00pm
Library Happenings
We will be closed on October 12th to honor Indigenous Peoples' Day
Banned Books Week October 4-10th
Many Readers, Many Choices
With record-high book bans across the country (↑ 15.5%), 92 percent of which came from government officials or pressure groups, our freedom to read is being threatened. Of these 4,235 challenged book titles, fewer than 3 percent of the challenges originated with individual parents.
At Springvale Public Library, we stand by everyone’s right to choose what to read—or not to read.
Reading a book is a choice we make for ourselves—not for others.
Pets Unlonely - A Celebration of Life Through Art
October 8 @ 2:00 pm
Have you lost a pet? Join Merilee Perkins & Robin Bibber from the YMCA for a community workshop that builds human connection through creativity, strengthening the positive bond between people through their beloved pets. Together, we will memorialize your pet's life by transforming grief into fond memories with a creative experience.
You don't have to be an artist; you just have to be willing to engage. We'll provide the art supplies you need to express your relationship through color, emotion, and playful connection. As you create, you'll also meet others and leave with a warm sense of community.
Craft Swap
Saturday, October 24th 9:00 - 2:00
What is a craft swap you ask? People bring in their unused craft supplies during the previous week and anyone can come and pick what they'd like on October 24th. Swappers get first pick on Saturday from 9-10 am. All others are welcome between 10-2 With Christmas just around the corner, it's the perfect time to try a new craft!
Craft supplies drop off is Saturday, October 17 - October 22nd during library hours. We are not able to accept donations after that. If you are donating yarn, please be sure that they are full skeins.
Habitat for Humanity @ the Library
Monday, October 19 from 9:30-11:30
Habitat for Humanity York County will be here at the Library to provide information and applications for 3 new affordable homeownership opportunities in Sanford. Habitat homebuyers receive an affordable mortgage with monthly payments capped at no more than 29% of household income (including taxes and insurance).
Applications are due October 30th so this is a perfect time to stop by and speak to them about the opportunity to become homeowners.
Make It/ Take It 3-D Wood Pumpkin
Wednesday, October 21st @ 2:00 - 5:00
Come in anytime between 2 and 5 to make these spooky Halloween pumpkins.
Suggested ages 5-12. Younger participants may need parental help.
All materials provided.
How to Get Your Canadian Citizenship with Green & Speigel
Wednesday, October 21st @ 5:30 OR Monday, November 16th @ 5:30 (Zoom Only Session)
Canadian law firm, Green & Speigel, will discuss the ins and outs of obtaining Canadian birthright citizenship. There will be time for questions. This program will be held in the community room with the lawyers participating by Zoom. As each program will be capped at 25 participants each, please register. If you have already registered, please re-register and choose your date. Should the program be at capacity, preference will go to Sanford/Springvale residents and our non-resident members.
Click here to register for October 21st. Click here to register for November 16th.
Paint Night at the Library - Autumn's Bounty
Tuesday, October 27th @ 5:30 - 7:00 AND Wednesday, October 28th @ 5:30 - 7:00
We're thrilled to welcome Elizabeth Daly who will be leading you, step by step, on painting this lovely Fall-themed 9x12 canvas. Haven't painted before, this is the perfect thing to get your feet (and brush) wet. Experienced painters will also have a ball making this Fall themed painting. All supplies provided.
Due to an overwhelming response to this wonderful program, we've added another date! Please register here for Tuesday, October 27th and here for Wednesday, October 28th. If you have already registered, please do so again to hold your spot on either date. Sanford/Springvale residents will have first dibs on the original Wed. program.
Spree of Trees Craft Night
Tuesday, November 18th @ 5:30
The Spree of Trees is right around the corner on December 3rd through the 6th at Memorial Gym and we're gearing up for our tree. Come and make some book-page gingerbread house ornaments and some book-page star garlands. Make some for us and take some home for you!
All supplies provided - bring a friend!
Sam's Book Group
Wednesday, November 4th @ 5:30
Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green
Sam's book group meets the first Wednesday of each month. All readers welcome
About the book: In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, preventable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year.
Children's Fall Program Calendar
Begins September 3 - December 10
Join Miss Sheila in the kids room for some amazing programs including our regularly scheduled Baby Rhyme Time, Legos, Sensory Story Time. We also have some special programs for you including a kite making workshop with 3 Rivers Land Trust and a spooky ooey gooey Sensory Haunted House.
For dates, times and descriptions, click here to go to the full calendar.
Calling All Library Lovers
Every September, we celebrate Library Card Sign-Up Month. The Maine Library Association, Maine State Library, and all Maine libraries are teaming up for a statewide Library Passport Contest starting September 1st and running through the end of the year. All you need to do is visit at least one library in each of the sixteen counties across Maine and collect either stamps or signatures to show you’ve been there to be entered to win some great prizes. Go forth and explore!
You can find full contest details and download a library passport brochure at mainelibraries.org/passport or stop by the library today. It's a perfect time to get a library card if you don't have one yet!
October Recipe of the Month
Slow-Cooker Chicken & Dumplings
Harvested from the laurel plant, bay leaves can be used fresh or dried to add subtle, herbal, and savory depth to soups, stews, and braises. This month, you’ll add them to a slow-cooker chicken and dumplings recipe that’s perfect for chilly fall nights or busy football weekends.
Click here to see the recipe.
Pick up some bay leaves from our Spice Library today!
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Writers Group
2nd & 4th Thursday of the Month @ 11:00 am
Join our newly formed writers group for an hour of writing, peer input, and writing prompts if needed to start, encourage, or grow your writing. This is a great group for new and experienced writers. Our current group leaders have lots of experience conducting writers groups so it's a really great program. Bring something that you've written!
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Springvale Dulcimers
Tuesday Evenings @ 5:30
Are you a dulcimer player or just interested? Beginning August 25th the group will be back and welcoming new players and singers. They play and sing traditional folksongs and hymns on Mountain Dulcimers in a simple style.
If you've never played, come down to a meet-up and listen to see if it's something that would interest you!
Give us a call at 324-4624 or email lunger@springvalelibrary.org to let us know that you're coming!
Knit Lits
Tuesdays from 3:00-4:30pm
Join Dawn for this fun fiber arts group in the Williams Reading Room (aka The Front Room). Bring your knitting, crocheting or any other fiber art.
Cribbage
Tuesdays from 1:00-3:00pm
We have a newly formed group that is ready to play! Every Tuesday from 1-3 in the Williams Reading Room (aka The Front Room) you can watch, play, or learn the game of cribbage. If you have a board or cards, feel free to bring them along! No worries if you don't, the library has some for you to use.
Cook the Book
(Program is currently FULL! Call us to join the waitlist)
Join Dawn and our amazing group of participants for the Cook the Book program. Come in and choose a recipe from this month's cookbook and make it to bring to the gathering. You bring your own flatware, plate, glass, etc. It's super fun!
For those not already enrolled, please call the Library to be put on the waitlist.
Museum Passes
We are so happy to offer free passes to Strawbery Bank Museum, The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, and the Children's Museum + Theatre of Maine. Thank you Town Square Realty for sponsoring them!
Call or visit the Library to book your pass.
Our Spice Library is Famous!
Have you heard about our spice library? We have over 60 spices that you can "check out"! If you'd like to try a spice before you buy, come on in and get a tablespoon or what you need. We'll put the spice in a plastic cup with a lid and you can take it home to try something new. Sam also publishes a recipe with a featured spice each month so keep an eye out for those. You can also check out one of our 641.5 cookbooks. Click here to see list of spices in our Spice Library.
Homebound? We Deliver!
Did you know that if you are homebound we are happy to deliver books, movies, or audiobooks to you? We can pick out some books or you can let us know what you'd like to read. Delivery is usually the same day and we can pick up your returns when we stop by.
This service is for the Sanford and Springvale area only.
If you have any questions at all, please call the Library at 207-324-4624.
Need Tech Help?
Call to schedule a technology help session with Lesley. If you're having trouble with Zoom, email, or anything else, we're happy to help. Should you require a little guided help, with your permission, I can log into your computer after I walk you through a short setup.
Don't let Zoom-intimidation keep you from connecting with your loved ones!
Discover Something New to Read
Not sure what to read next? Try some of these tools and search by author, title, series, or just browse around.
Novelist: https://library.digitalmaine.org/ will give you read-a-likes and ideas. When you get to Digital Maine Library from the link just scroll down to Novelist
Fantastic Fiction - Find what the next book is in a series and follow your favorite authors! (This one is a staff favorite!)
Goodreads - Meet Your Next Favorite book
Literature Map - Have an author you like, Literature Map gives you a literature cloud based on the similarity of the author you like.
What Should I Read Next - Click to find a new adventure
BookBrowse - Great discoverability tools!
StoryGraph- StoryGraph helps readers find their next read based on their mood, interests, and more!