Welcome children and students!

Jackson Memorial Library strives to welcome all children and students into our building and community.

Special Announcements:

Starting March 24th, join us Tuesdays from 2:45 to 4:30pm for Dragons in the Garden! Kids age 9 and up (younger with adult supervision) are invited to join Barry Goldberg and Dale Pierson in the library's hoop house for fun hands-on learning about planting and growing. Register here.

Upcoming Special Programs:

Aquatots with Herring Gut: Sea Stars and Urchins
Wednesday, March 15th I 10:30-11:30am

Explore sea stars and urchins through science, stories, movement, and art! Presented by Herring Gut Coastal Science Center and hosted by the library. Aimed at kids aged 3-5, but older kids are welcome to attend. Registration not required.

Fairy House Workshop
Saturday, May 2nd I 10:00-11:30am

Join Liza Gardner Walsh, author of Fairy House Handbook, for this magical workshop. Liza will talk about fairies and read from her many fairy-themed books. Then we’ll make fairy houses.

Making Fairy Houses
If it's a nice day, participants will explore the library's woods, making fairy dwellings in the forest. If it's raining, the fairy house building will move indoors, and participants will have little fairy houses and gardens to take home with them.

All Are Welcome
Although aimed at kids, adults are welcome to participate. Kids under 4th grade should have adult supervision.

Cost and Signing Up
$10 sliding scale fee (pay what you can afford).
Space is limited, so stop by or call to sign up: (207) 372-8961. 

Regular Programs:

STAY AND PLAY
Every Tuesday 10:30-11:30am
Stay and Play is an hour of unstructured play and socialization for young children and their caregivers.

EXPRESS YOURSELF! WITH MISS SHARON
Tuesday 2:30-4:00pm
Kids in 4th grade and up are invited to join Miss Sharon the 3rd Wednesday of the month to raid the art supply closet and create using clay, plastine, acrylics, oil pastels, foil, printmaking supplies and much more. Snacks available.

DRAGONS IN THE GARDEN!
Tuesday 2:45-4:30pm
Kids age 9 and up (younger with adult supervision) are invited to join Barry Goldberg and Dale Pierson in the library's hoop house for fun hands-on learning about planting and growing. Register here.

STORYTIME WITH MISS SHARON
Every Wednesday 10:30-11:30am
Come listen to an engaging story read by our beloved former library director, Miss Sharon, accompanied by an art, craft, or science activity! This story activity hour is best for children aged two to four. 

STIR CRAZY COOKING WITH MISS SHARON
1st Thursday 2:30-3:45pm
Kids in 4th grade and up can come down after school the 1st Thursday of the month to learn how to cook delicious food with our former library director, “Miss Sharon.” And taste it too! 

ORIGAMI
Every Thursday EXCEPT 1ST THURSDAY 2:30-4:00pm
Hosted by a local kid, these fun origami sessions are open to adults, as well as to children (children in 3rd grade and under must be accompanied by an adult). The library has after-school snacks. Questions? Contact Chelsea Cartwright at (207) 504-0813 or joyfulbodies@gmail.com.

DUNGEONS & DRAGONS
Most Fridays 4:00-6:00pm
For kids age 12-15, this fun session is led by a young "Dungeon Master." It is usually held offsite at a member's home. Please call ahead (207) 372-8961 or email rebecca@jacksonmemoriallibrary.org to join the group. Beginners are welcome. 

AFTER SCHOOL HOURS
Monday-Friday 2:30-4:30pm
For our middle level students (4th grade and up), we offer afterschool hours Monday through Friday during the school year. Please provide parent contact information for each student. Pick up is 4:30 PM, and students need to use the space respectfully.

St. George School

We house the library for the St. George School, so you’ll often see classes walking through our parking lot to get new books, research, and explore our seven-acre campus for outdoor learning opportunities associated with the marsh, meadow and wooded areas.

Interested in volunteering? We welcome volunteers interested in teaching a new skill to the children in our community! Call us at (207) 372-8961 or stop by to learn more.

D&D for Younger Kids?

Do you have a younger kid interested in leading, playing (or learning) Dungeons & Dragons?

We currently have a group for older kids (around 7th to 10th grade) that meets offsite once a week. We're gauging whether there's enough interest to start a group for younger kids, as we've had some interest.

If you're interested, contact Rebecca at rebecca@jacksonmemoriallibrary.org or call (207) 372-8961 and ask for Rebecca.

Encouraging Your Child to Love Reading

Whether you have a reluctant reader or a child who can't get enough of reading, these sites can offer some helpful suggestions to develop and maintain a lifelong interest in reading:
www.education.com
www.scholactic.com
www.the-best-childrens-books.org

New Older Kids’ Books:

New Large Print Older Kids’ Books:

Large print books can be great for reluctant middle grade readers!

New Graphic Novels:

New Children’s Picture Books:

New Children’s Books in Spanish (Español):

We have a great playground for joyful romping and climbing!

We have free passes available for Rockland’s Coastal Children's Museum and the Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay. Please visit the front desk or call us for information.

Child Supervision Policy:

The Jackson Memorial Library is dedicated to providing a welcoming and safe environment for library patrons of all ages.

Children are welcomed with snacks after school, special programs, books, videos, toys, and access to computers for users who can demonstrate proficiency.

The safety of children left alone in a library building is a serious concern of the library staff. Therefore children are asked NOT to wander through the building, where they may encounter hazards such as stairs, doors, furniture, or electrical equipment. They are also asked NOT to leave the building and wander outside, except to be picked up or to return to the school for sports or other sanctioned events.

Library employees and volunteers cannot be responsible for children who are unattended or are demonstrating inappropriate behavior. The following guidelines will be followed concerning the care and behavior of young library users:

Children under the age of 9 must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult, or an older sibling or babysitter at least 14 years of age who stays in the immediate vicinity in visual contact with the child. An exception would be a child attending a library program without a parent/caregiver in the room. However, the parent/caregiver is expected to remain in the library building and immediately join the child at the end of the program. The assigned caregiver must be a responsible person and must carry emergency contact information. If a child in this age group is found unattended, library staff will attempt to locate the parent/caregiver in the library and inform him/her of the rules. If the parent/caregiver cannot be found, or if the child is found unattended again, the sheriff’s office may be called for assistance.

Children age 9 and older may use the library on their own, except during school hours, unless when with a class and accompanied by a teacher. In accordance with Jackson Memorial Library policy, any patrons, including children, exhibiting inappropriate behavior may be asked to leave the library. All unaccompanied children at the library should have the telephone number of someone who can assist them in an emergency.

After school hang out is offered on weekday afternoons. Children are encouraged to enjoy snacks, read, visit quietly with each other, do homework, and use the computers. They are required to observe all library rules of conduct, and are asked NOT to wander inside or outside the building or engage in any activity that disturbs others. Parents should note that the library’s staff is not responsible for monitoring whether children work on homework assignments. Children participating in after-school programs must be picked up by 4:30pm.

In order to use the library alone during school hours, home-schooled children aged 9 to 17 are required to have a letter with them from the parent/guardian stating the child is home-schooled. The letter must include emergency contact information. The parent/guardian and/or the school district may be called by library staff to confirm home school status. If the child has a Virtual School or other online school ID, they may log into their account as proof of home-school status.

The final responsibility for the safety and behavior of children in the library rests with the parent/caregiver and not with library personnel. Parents should be sure their children, whether accompanied or alone, understand and abide by the policies of the Jackson Memorial Library.