The Children’s Library is being freshened up!
The Downtown Children’s Library will be closed for painting August 19–31.
We will host our final story time sessions of the summer in the Rines Auditorium on the lower level of the Downtown Library:
- Community Story Time, Tuesday, August 20, 10:30-11:00 AM
- Story Time for Babies, Wednesday, August 21, 10:30-11:00 AM
Thank you for your patience during this time. We look forward to welcoming you back into our space on Saturday, August 31!!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the Children’s desk be staffed?
Yes! A staff member will be available at the Children’s Library desk to answer your questions in-person and by phone.
Will the Children’s/Family Bathrooms be open?
Yes! The bathrooms for kids and teens will remain open during regular hours.
Will the Children’s Library have some material accessible for browsing?
Yes! You can browse the displays of new and popular materials and recently returned items
Will Children’s Library staff be able to retrieve materials for me during this time?
Yes, but with limits. We are happy to retrieve available items for you if you know the title you are looking for. We can look up items to confirm they are available. Please note, during this time we are may be unable to retrieve large volumes of items based on subject or read-a-like requests.
Alternative Services During Children’s Closure:
- Visit one of our branch libraries or the Bookmobile
- Use My PPL to place items on hold for pickup at any location*
- Try our recommendation service, Your Next Great Read, Jr., for personalized reading suggestions
- Download free eBooks and audiobooks from cloudLibrary or Comics Plus. Visit our Digital Library page for more information.
- Child care centers with current accounts can continue to call or email for tote pickup.
- Children’s staff will continue to be available by email (childrens@portlib.org) and phone (207-771-2707)
*Hold pickup is not instantaneous. We will notify you by email when your holds are ready for pickup.