Portland Public Library is a proud participant of Pride Week, and we are thrilled to be presenting an entire day of events dedicated to those affected by HIV/AIDS. On June 17 at the Main Library, PPL will host twelve panels of the AIDS Quilt presented by the NAMES Project of Northern New England. Conceived in 1985, by Cleve Jones, the Quilt was meant to commemorate those who had lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. Sadly, for many, the Quilt was the only opportunity for survivors to remember their loved ones.
For more on the Quilt, be sure to check out the book, The Quilt: Stories from the Names Project by Cindy Ruskin. The panels will be on display in the library for one day only, so be sure to stop by the Atrium and take a look.
Our afternoon author talk for that day is Deborah Freedman, author of Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt: Stories from Maine. Debb has traveled throughout our state for ten years sharing the Quilt and sharing the stories of the Quilt. Deborah Freedman will be speaking at noon in the Rines Auditorium. We are so happy to have her and her stories!
Throughout the day, staff from Apothecary by Design will be in the Library and available to discuss how they support current medical management of HIV/AIDS.
In the evening, PPL will host The Heart of the Story: Maine’s Response to HIV/AIDS. This panel discussion will focus on various aspects of the history of HIV/AIDS in Maine, as well as what is going on now for those living with the disease. Panelists include:
- Crystal Gamet, who will speak about the Quilt
- Ralph Cusack, who will speak about activism around HIV/AIDS
- Charlie Grindle, who will give the prospective of a first responder
- Dr. Lani Graham, who will discuss the public health aspects
- Myles Rightmire, who will discuss the medical and health response
- Kelly Arbor, who will give a personal perspective
This will definitely be an informative panel, which will be followed by a discussion between the audience and the panelists. PPL is truly excited to be hosting the second annual Pride week history event! For information on other Pride events happening throughout the month of June, check here.
Our June 17 events were made possible by the following great sponsors:
The Maine Equity Fund of the Maine Community Foundatio
Coffee by Design
Apothecary by Design
Pride Portland!
The Frannie Peabody Center
SAGE Maine
The Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine at USM – See more at: https://www.portlandlibrary.com/events/the-heart-of-the-story-maines-response-to-hivaids/#sthash.Q4Az1LlW.dpuf
The Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine at USM
The NAMES Project of Northern New England
M.E.S.H. (Maine Educationalists on Sexual Harmony)
Maine Equity Fund of the Maine Community Foundation – See more at: https://www.portlandlibrary.com/events/the-heart-of-the-story-maines-response-to-hivaids/#sthash.Q4Az1LlW.dpuf
The Heart of the Story: Maine’s Response to HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, June 17 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
– See more at: https://www.portlandlibrary.com/events/the-heart-of-the-story-maines-response-to-hivaids/#sthash.Q4Az1LlW.dpuf
The Heart of the Story: Maine’s Response to HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, June 17 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
– See more at: https://www.portlandlibrary.com/events/the-heart-of-the-story-maines-response-to-hivaids/#sthash.Q4Az1LlW.dpuf
The Heart of the Story: Maine’s Response to HIV/AIDS
Wednesday, June 17 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
– See more at: https://www.portlandlibrary.com/events/the-heart-of-the-story-maines-response-to-hivaids/#sthash.Q4Az1LlW.dpuf
Happy spring! As we welcome the warmer weather, the Public Computing staff would like to update you on upcoming courses for the season. Check out these classes in April, May, and beyond:
Basic Computing 1 alternating Wednesdays (next is 4/15), 5-6pm
Our introductory class is designed to be a supportive learning enviornment for patrons who are totally new to computers. This course covers the fundamental skills necessary to get a handle in the computing world, including identifying the basic parts of the computer and their most common functions.
Basic Computing 2 alternating Wednesdays (next is 4/22), 5-6pm
Are you beginning to familiarize yourself with computers, and ready to take your knowledge a little further? In this class, patrons will apply the skills learned in level one to creating word documents and navigating the Internet. Prerequisite: Basic Computing 1 or equivalent experience
Intro to Gmail Wednesdays 4/15 & 5/9, 3-4pm
Gmail is Google’s highly customizable and easily navigable email service. This class focuses on email basics and is intended for patrons who have not yet registered for an email address. Participants will be guided through creating accounts, and then we’ll cover the ins and outs of sending, reading, and attaching files to email messages. Prerequisite: Basic Computing 2 or equivalent experience
Online Job Searching Wednesdays 4/22 & 5/16, 3-4:30pm
Finding a new job is stressful enough, but as more and more employers are advertising job openings online, learning to use the Internet for your search can be overwhelming. The main goal of this course is to acquaint patrons with popular job search engines and introduce the tools necessary for a productive job hunt. We’ll also take a quick look at Optimal Resume, a résumé-building service available to PPL cardholders. Prerequisite: Basic Computing 2 or equivalent experience
One-on-One Tutoring Fridays 12:30, 1:00 and 1:30
Whether you’re struggling to master social media, have a question about downloading ebooks, or want help practicing some basic computer skills, our half-hour tutoring sessions might be the place to turn! If you have your own computer or tablet, feel free to bring it in; otherwise, we can work together on one of the library’s laptops.
All current computer classes at PPL are:
- free and open the community
- taught on laptops running Windows 7
- stand-alone, one-time classes, though prerequisites may apply to some
- limited to six people and require registration to guarantee a spot
To sign up for any of these classes or a tutoring session, call 871-1700 ext. 708 or stop by the Public Computing desk. We plan to expand our offerings in the near future, and are always glad to hear from you if there is something you’d like to see added to the list.
-Hazel
In anticipation of the Library’s maker fair happening later this month, our staff have been hard at work getting together an arsenal of tools to unveil. While a few of them will stay complete surprises, we can’t contain our excitement over our newest tool. It is currently living in the IT department, getting polished and prepped so it can be wheeled out into the community on April 25th.
Here are a few clues about this new piece of our technology collection. Read the clues below to try and figure out what we’ll be introducing,
- The ink for this machine is known as filament
- The creation of a raft is a necessary step before your project really begins with this tool
- The first commercially available model of this tool was called Cupcake
- File format .STL is the most compatible format with this tool
- Different tools vary slightly on the process for utilization, PPL’s new tool uses fused deposition modeling
If you think you correctly guessed the new tool using these facts, email: soucy@portlandpubliclibrary.org to verify, and then come to the maker fair on 4/25 to claim your prize!
Portland Public Library is a proud participant of Pride Week, and we are thrilled to be presenting an entire day of events dedicated to those affected by HIV/AIDS. On June 17 at the Main Library, PPL will host twelve panels of the AIDS Quilt presented by the NAMES Project of Northern New England. Conceived in 1985, by Cleve Jones, the Quilt was meant to commemorate those who had lost their lives to HIV/AIDS. Sadly, for many, the Quilt was the only opportunity for survivors to remember their loved ones.