News
Catch up on the latest from York Public Library.
In Memoriam: Dan Bancroft, Board President
Library staff and trustees were shocked and profoundly saddened by the sudden and tragic loss of our Board President, Dan Bancroft. While word continues to spread throughout the community, I wanted to take a moment to share a few thoughts on Dan’s impact on the library. As his wife Anne recently relayed, the first thing Dan did after they signed papers on their new home…was to get a library card. That was five years ago, and after 40+ years as a trial attorney, Dan and his wife were retiring...
YPL Joins Maine Libraries for Global Trade & Politics Program Series
Five Southern Maine libraries – York Public Library, Scarborough Public Library, Prince Memorial Library, Patten Free Library, and Kennebunk Free Library – announced that they will join forces this winter to present a series of virtual programs on global trade and politics, all sponsored by the Camden Conference. This collaboration, proposed by York Public Library Director Sophie Smith, is the first time Maine libraries have pooled their resources to broaden the scope of Camden Conference...
December 2022 Staff Picks
Looking for a good book to help you de-stress this holiday season? Try one of favorites! Sophie: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean This is a super cute YA romance about a normal girl who discovers her absent father is actually the crown prince of Japan. It's fluffy and sweet, but a heartwarming story about family, friendship, and love. Katie: Go Sled Go by James Yang A thrilling sled adventure that will delight readers of all ages. There are fun extras to find on some of the pages, and...
November 2022 Staff Picks
Need a good book before the holidays? Try one of our staff picks! Sophie: Tokyo Ever After by Emiko Jean This is a super cute YA romance about a normal girl who discovers her absent father is actually the crown prince of Japan. It's fluffy and sweet, but a heartwarming story about family, friendship, and love. Katie: Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten and illustrated by Gary Meeches Sr. In this beautifully illustrated picture...
October 2022 Staff Picks
Looking for something spooky this month? Try one of our favorites from below. Emily: The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires is a fun, spooky, and kind of gruesome story. Follow the twisty turny story of a southern book club as they discover a vampire has moved in their neighborhood. Jeanine: Sunshine by Robin McKinley Not a new book at all but a very creepy book for Halloween. A different take on the vampire...
Banned Books Week: Celebrate the Freedom to Read
By Michelle Sampson, Executive Director Each year, the American Library Association (ALA), along with other organizations devoted to intellectual freedom, celebrates the freedom to read and calls attention to banned and challenged books. This year, “Banned Books Week” runs from Sept. 18 to 24, but given the unprecedented number of book challenges across the country recently, York Public Library has deemed it an important enough issue to merit a month-long observance. Intellectual freedom is...
A Community Quilt in Honor of a Beloved Institution
On September 16, York Public Library (YPL) will unveil a quilt made by local quilters to commemorate the Library’s Centennial. The Library has already enjoyed several events to mark its 100th Anniversary, but this project will carry the celebration into the future with a permanent installation of the quilt above the Wheeler Room in the main lobby. Library Board of Trustees member Julie Steedman conceived of the idea and brought her decades of experience as a needle woman to the planning and...
September 2022 Staff Picks
This month we celebrate Banned Books Week. This is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries. Typically held during the last week of September, it highlights the value of free and open access to information. To celebrate and honor the freedom to read, staff have shared their favorite banned books this month. Michelle: Are You There God? It's...