In the spring of 2010, the Library publicly put forth its Portable Library concept. The effort included a number of elements but the basic idea was to transcend the physical locations of the library by going to where the people are working, living and recreating. The Portable Library Team includes, among other things, deposit collections at places like the METRO waiting room on Elm Street, coffee houses and a bookmobile.
The bookmobile, funded in part by support from Key Bank, will arrive in Portland sometime next week and will be on the road in April. It will bring books, programs, internet access, training and the ability to sign up for a library card to locations throughout Portland. Many folks have fond memories as children of PPL’s full scale bookmobile from 1972 to 1994.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has generously donated a collection of resources for circulation to PPL. Furthermore, there is now a shelf on the Lower Level of the Main Library full of items donated from USCIS that folks can take (for free!) to help prepare for the process.
Sally Bauvelt, Field Office Director, and Cindy Lembarra, Supervisory Immigration Services Officer, want to be sure that people know that at the USCIS office in South Portland they are available and willing to help. In fact, they even plan on setting up workshops in the near future here at PPL to talk to New Mainers about any immigration questions they have and to help answer any questions around the citizenship process.
If you speak with anyone who may find these materials helpful, please send them our way!
A sample of the available items (with links to the library catalog):
PPL’s Business and Government Team proudly announces a unique art display at the Main Library. In collaboration with the Public Engagement Students at Maine College of Art, we encourage you to VOTE!
“What is the B+G Team?” you ask. The B+G Team is a group of PPL staff and civic minded colleagues who, among other goals, aim to create a culture of civil literacy and civic engagement here in Portland; resulting in a first-rate quality of life and community. How do we propose to do this? Through research support, public programming, public forums/conversations on important topics, by maintaining a collection of up-to-date political and current event titles (both in print and for your e-reader), by engagement of the City’s efforts and now… also through ART! PPL is not only a place to check out a good book (though we do have plenty);the library is also a dynamic and energetic community center. So, you can see voting is something our Team cares about. We don’t offer opinions on how you vote or who you vote for, we simply encourage you to educate yourself on the issues and then get out and VOTE!
This fantastic collection of posters was created by the talented students in the Graphic Design Jr Studio, taught by Charles Melcher and David Puelle, with support from the Public Engagement Program at MECA. The posters were designed in connection withAIGA’s Get Out the Vote campaign, which invites designers to create nonpartisan posters and videos that inspire the American public to participate in the electoral process and vote in the2012 general election. PPL is honored to hang the posters in our window and are very thankful for the student’s efforts in creating the art and for caring about the electoral process.
The Graphic Designers Cassie Amicone, Kailin Callender, Sam Chabot, Vanessa DeMars, Jon Foster, Chrissy Hill, Nicloe Holmes, Cori Kippin, Sarah McLean, Shelby Newsted, Celia Packard, Hannah Sherwood, Carly Soos, Anna Taylor, Katie Tomasyan and Sabrina Volante
In the spring of 2010, the Library publicly put forth its Portable Library concept. The effort included a number of elements but the basic idea was to transcend the physical locations of the library by going to where the people are working, living and recreating. The Portable Library Team includes, among other things, deposit collections at places like the METRO waiting room on Elm Street, coffee houses and a bookmobile.
The bookmobile, funded in part by support from Key Bank, will arrive in Portland sometime next week and will be on the road in April. It will bring books, programs, internet access, training and the ability to sign up for a library card to locations throughout Portland. Many folks have fond memories as children of PPL’s full scale bookmobile from 1972 to 1994.
