Welcome children and students!

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

Special Programs:

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.

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. 

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. 

STIR CRAZY COOKING
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! 

TRAIL EXPLORERS
2nd Friday 2:30-4:00pm
On the 2nd Friday of the month, kids in 4th grade and up can walk down after school to join Maine Master Naturalist Joshua Waguli at the library for some on-the-ground exploring and nature identification. Please make sure your children have clothing suitable for the outdoors: sneakers or boots, a jacket, hat and gloves for chilly weather; a rain jacket and galoshes for a rainy day. Children who aren't adequately attired may need to stay at the library instead of exploring trails. The library has snacks!

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.

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.