OPEN HOUSE at the Rockland Public Library

Rockland, Maine - The Rockland Public Library is hosting an Open House, on Friday, February 14, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.  There’ll be something for everyone, and we urge you to stay for the evening, and be our Valentine, or stop by on your way out to dinner.

There will be Celebrity Storytimes in the Children’s Room, featuring Maine State Librarian, Linda Lord, an officer of the U.S. Coast Guard, and a uniformed member of the Rockland Police Department.  Also in the Children’s Room—kids will be able to decorate (and eat or take home) home-made, heart-shaped sugar cookies.  Participants in The Arts...for Kids & their Families at the Rockland Public Library (Musicality), led by Director of Midcoast Music Academy Tom Ulichny, will give a special demonstration of their djembe drumming skills.

The Rock City Acoustic String Orchestra will provide live music throughout the evening, adding to the festive occasion.  We’ll be showcasing some great library resources, such as Ancestry Library (do your own genealogy research!), the Download Library, and Learning Express (a little known source with huge potential to enhance or change your life), Business Insights and Reference USA (another business resource);  you can try out the Library’s X Box system (wheeee!); the Friends’ used bookstore, the BookStop, will be open, and there will be plenty of opportunity for casual conversation with staff members, and members of the Friends of Rockland Public Library, the Library Advisory Committee, and the Rockland Public Library Endowment Association.

Warm up by the fire in the welcoming Reading Room; then follow local history expert Brian Harden, who will lead a guided tour of the beautiful, historic building, which turns 110 this April.

Enjoy delectable food prepared by Library staff and support group members, including chili, soup, meatballs, and more.  For dessert, sample a variety of scrumptious heart-shaped cookies and the most decadently delicious hot chocolate you can imagine.

Thanks to the generosity of the Friends, you will have a chance at some amazing door prizes, including an iPad Mini, and gas and grocery gift cards.  While you must have a current Rockland Public Library card to be entered for a prize, don’t forget that cards are free for Rockland residents and taxpayers, as well as children in RSU 13.  In fact if you are a child residing anywhere in Knox County and not otherwise entitled to a free card, the Friends of the Rockland Public Library will pay for yours.  Others may purchase a card for $25.00 a year.

“We welcome this chance to celebrate our regular Library visitors; however, we also hope to bring back many who haven’t been here in a long while,” according to Library Director, Amy Levine; “we are looking at this Open House as our Valentine to the Community—the theme for the event, and our enduring wish—love your Library; your Library loves you.”

Rockland Public Library is located at 80 Union Street in Rockland.  For more information please contact the library at 594-0310 or refdesk@ci.rockland.me.us.