What’s Going On…
Library Technology Help
Do you have your library card, but a whole lot of questions about the library’s online services? On the first Friday of every month from 1-3pm, Tala will be at our Branch location at 155 Wescott Rd., happy to guide you through the following:
- Accessing your online Library Account
- Searching the Minerva Library Catalog and placing holds on the materials you want
- Using CloudLibrary for e-books and more
- Utilizing Novelist to discover new books based on what you like to read
All you need to bring is the most important card in your wallet: your South Portland Library Card! All levels of computer literacy are welcome!
Please preregister for your appointment either by calling the Main Library at 767-7660 or signing up in person at the Main Library Circulation Desk.
Noticing Wonder: Nature Journaling and Field Sketching
Join author/illustrator and nature journal educator, Rebekah Lowell, at the Main Library on Saturday, November 8th at 1:30pm, in this class that will cultivate your curiosity for the natural world.
The practice of nature journaling is calming, grounding, and rewarding. Nature Journaling is unique in that it combines the art of paying close attention with drawing and asking questions. Developing observation skills is important to every aspect of life from learning to communicating with others, to listening, being observant can be applied broadly. “I notice…”, “I wonder…”, and “It reminds me of…” are prompts that will help us dive deeper, ask better questions, and make connections.
Our Nature Journaling series meets monthly Oct-May, with each date featuring a guest speaker covering a unique topic. Upcoming dates and topics:
- 1/22 – Places to Nature Journal with Park Ranger Sydney
- 2/26 – Writing in Nature with Jeri Theriault
- 3/26 – Nature Photography with Peter Flanagan
- 4/23 – TBD
- 5/28 – Walking Tour Turkey Hill Farm
Branch Book Group!
The Branch Book Group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 1pm at our Branch location at 155 Wescott Rd.
Want to gather in-person with some fellow book lovers? Join Malia (Circulation Librarian) in reading diverse books followed by friendly discussions at our monthly Branch Book Group! All are welcome to join at any time!
Upcoming selections:
- November 12th, 2025 – You Dreamed of Empires by Alvaro Enrigue
- December 10th, 2025 – The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen by Hendrik Groen
- January 14th, 2026 – This Motherless Land by Nikki May
-
February 11th, 2026 – Independence by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Intermediate Zentangle
Join certified Zentangle™ teacher Cathi Belcher at the Main Library on Wednesday, November 12th at 2:30pm for this hands-on Intermediate Zentangle™ workshop!
This workshop is for people with a basic understanding of the Zentangle™ drawing technique. The class will build upon the basics and teach intermediate patterns and some possible projects they can be used on. We will review the basics and learn 6 new patterns and shading techniques using blank ink on white tiles. We will also use white ink on black paper, as we as experiment with the use of color.
CLASS SIZE IS LIMITED AND PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Register in person at the Main library or by calling the Circulation Desk at 767-7660.
Cathi Belcher is an artist, writer, and Certified Zentangle™ Teacher from Topsham Maine. She also works in the Library and Theater departments at Bowdoin College, and leads social justice programs in the area.
Read with Ferris
Come read to Ferris the therapy cat at the Main Library! 15-minute time slots are available on Wednesday, November 12th starting at 3:30pm.
Recommended for children who are independent readers. Registration required – stop by the Children’s Room or call Youth Services at 207-767-7660 x3 to sign up!
Please note, Ferris is not a lap cat, and will likely be roaming a bit while being read to.
A Close Reading of Frankenstein
Please join Ingrid Graff for a close reading and discussion of the first science fiction novel, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The group will be meeting at the Main Library on Thursdays in November from 10:00am-11:30am. We will discuss Shelley and her creation in three sessions:
- For the first meeting on Nov. 6th, please read the author’s introduction and the letters which precede Chapter 1.
- In the 2nd session on Nov. 13th, we will discuss Chapters 1-12.
- In the 3rd session on Nov. 20th, we will discuss chapters 12-24.
Construct & Create
Join us at the Main Library on Thursday, November 13th at 3:30pm for an all-ages building bonanza featuring LEGOs, Brain Flakes, Lincoln Logs, and more!
Artsy Afternoon: Festive Fall Napkin Rings
Join us at the Main Library on Saturday, November 15th at 1pm for Artsy Afternoon! Artsy Afternoon is a monthly adult crafting series, where adults can come to flex their creative muscles. This month we will be making Festive Fall Napkin Rings adorned with paper chrysanthemums! All materials and instruction provided.
Artsy Afternoons is for adults ages 18+ and preregistration is required. To sign up, call the Main Library at 207-766-7660 or stop by the front desk!
Using and Managing Your Passwords
Join cybersecurity educator Andy Chandler at the Main Library on Monday, November 17th at 2pm for Using and Managing Your Passwords.
Passwords, Passkeys, the 2-step dance, oh my! It’s everybody’s favorite topic – Passwords! Do I need eight characters with special characters? Is #iOl2&v7h strong enough? Is that the letter “O” or a zero? How am I supposed to remember this? And you’re making me change it AGAIN in 3 months?!? How about you take your password requirements and <censored>???
Passwords are a fact of cyber life. A necessary evil. But there are ways to make them easier to manage. Andy Chandler, a Cybersecurity Educator, will provide tips on how best to use and manage passwords. He’ll also preach on the value of something called “Two-Factor Authentication”, sometimes called “Multi-factor Authentication”. That’s a lot of syllables, isn’t it? And then there’s this new-fangled thing called “Passkeys”. No, it’s not the same things as “passwords”. It’s a new way of authenticating (there’s that fancy word again) yourself without needing a password! There are some real advantages to Passkeys, but also some drawbacks. Join us as we explore the frustrating world of passwords, passkeys and the two-factor dance!
Andy Chandler is a Cybersecurity Educator. On behalf of the Cybersecurity profession, Andy apologizes to you, the user of all things Internet. You shouldn’t have to be overly cautious online. But due to the way it was designed, you must be “Cyber Aware.” Living with lifelong hearing loss, Andy has always been fascinated by technology that helps people adapt – and by the scams that exploit our trust. Even though Andy is a so- called ‘cybersecurity expert,’ he knows he is only a click away from being scammed himself. Andy loves educating users on internet scams and hopes to leave his audience with a healthy skepticism. Did you really win the lottery? Is your grandchild really in jail? Is your new overseas romantic partner real? Nope, nope, nope. Quick lesson: “Be Skeptical. Always.” Like everyone else, Andy hates passwords. But he’s learned to live with them and is eager to share his hard-earned lessons.
Andy Chandler, CRISC, CISM
This program is part of our Mondays at the Main series, made possible through the support of: Friends of the South Portland Public Library, Age Friendly South Portland, Southern Maine Agency on Aging, and Rotary Club of South Portland & Cape Elizabeth.
Destination Storytime at Redbank!
Destination Storytime returns to Redbank this fall!
Stories and songs for all ages at Redbank Community Center (95 MacArthur Circle West). Tuesdays at 10:30am.