Shelf Life Issue No. 1

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SHELF LIFE

SUMMER READING

TECH TALK

FREE FOR ALL:

134 YEARS OF

SERVICE

ISSUE NO. 01

www.auburnpubliclibrary.org

BOOKS ARE JUST THE BEGINNING

STAFF PICKS

AUGUST PROGRAMS

Welcome to Auburn Public Library’s newest publication, Shelf Life! While we know you have enjoyed

the weekly newsletters over the years, this monthly publication will be so much more. Each month, Shelf

Life will feature regular columns, giving you even more in-depth information about the Auburn Public

Library, its books, its events, and its people. Whether you are seeking book recommendations, need tech

advice, want to know about community events, or would like to learn more about what we do, you will

find it here. This month’s special feature celebrates the 120th anniversary of APL being in the historic

Carnegie building!

We hope you enjoy reading Shelf Life. Thank you to our editor, Haley Warden, for her hard work on this

publication. And don’t forget, if you would like updates between editions, visit our website, give us a

call, or stop by to see us!

FROM THE DIRECTOR

Library Director

Donna

FROM THE DIRECTOR

FREE FOR ALL: 134

YEARS OF SERVICE

05/06

DID YOU KNOW

LEVEL UP: HOW D&D

EMPOWERS TEENS

09/10

EMBRACING KINDNESS

SUMMER READING AT APL

THE MAGIC OF AUDIOBOOKS

13/14

STAFF PICKS

15/16

AUGUST PROGRAMS

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

DONOR THANK YOU

TECH TALK/COMMUNITY

HIGHLIGHTS

CAT CORNER

Thank you to our

July 2024 Donors

David Das & Jane Costlow

Nicole Leavitt

Ralph Tuttle

Kim Banning

John “Rusty” D’Amour

Maine Community Bank

Corinna Soucie

Ginny Marczak

Muriel Lang

www.auburnpubliclibrary.org

Auburn Public Library depends on the

generosity of our wonderful

community in order to provide the

best materials in our collection and

quality programs. If you would like to

donate, please visit

www.auburnpubliclibrary.org/donate

or simply scan the QR Code below.

www.auburnpubliclibrary.org

TECH TALK

Did you know that Auburn Public Library has a 3D printer

that anyone can use? What is a 3D printer? It is a device

that can “print” physical objects, whether a figurine of

your favorite spaceship or a hard-to-find replacement

part for something you’re repairing. The printer turns a

digital file into a physical object by building the item one

layer at a time using your choice of plastic filament.

Several different filament colors are available in both ABS

and PLA types. Many digital files for objects are available

for free or for purchase online, or you can use software to

create your own design. The file format required for our

printer is STL, stereolithography. There is no charge to use

the library’s 3D printer other than the cost of the filament

needed, which is 20 cents per gram.

By Brian Usher, Technology Director

COMMUNITY

HIGHLIGHTS

Community Credit Union's Financial & Life

Navigator, Ginger Leigh Smith, is often on-site

at the Auburn Public Library. The navigator can

help with resource coordination, and financial

education, and serves as a conduit for stability

in our local workforce.

This program is offered through a partnership

with Community Credit Union's Community

Cornerstone Program. For more information on

when Ginger Leigh is available, visit the APL

website to take a look at our program calendar.

In today’s increasingly commercialized world,

public libraries stand out as rare gems offering free

services to everyone, regardless of age, income, or

background. The belief that all people should have

access to knowledge and information as a

universal right dates back to the early 19th century.

Philanthropists

Andrew

Carnegie,

whose

Carnegie Corporation funded the construction of

Auburn Public Library’s historic building, were

champions of their vision to create spaces where

everyone was welcome to improve their lives,

without the burden of cost. Many things have

evolved in the 120 years since the opening of APL’s

new Carnegie building on August 1st, 1904. Still, the

same principle remains at the forefront of the

library’s mission, to engage, enlighten, and enrich

those in our community.

FREE FOR ALL:

134 YEARS OF

SERVICE

By Haley J. Warden, Director of Development

Public Library, Auburn, ME; from a c. 1910 postcard. Designed by Maine architect, William R. Miller, the library was built in 1903-1904.

In 1890, APL was chartered as “a working library,

having the best books of reference, and the

standard

works

belles-lettres,

poetry,

philosophy, travel, and fiction”. Today’s library is

much more than a repository of books, it is a

dynamic community center that offers a wide

range of free services including:

Internet Access and Digital Resources: APL offers

free internet access, accessible from our parking

lot 24/7, and a wide assortment of online

resources on our website including e-books and

audiobooks.

Educational Programs: APL has classes on many

topics such as computer basics, digital literacy,

health and wellness, and financial and career

assistance.

Community Events: From book clubs, and

children’s story time, to author talks and cultural

events, APL’s goal is to foster a sense of

community by bringing people together.

Auburn Public Library’s Computer Lab offers 12 computers designated for career assistance and educational programs.

Many public libraries across the world serve as

safe havens for marginalized groups, including

unhoused individuals, immigrants, and those

facing economic hardships. APL is no different. It

is a welcoming space, treating everyone with

dignity and respect. By offering free access to

educational resources and job search assistance,

APL seeks to make both an economic impact on

the community and stability for our customers.

Public Libraries embody the ideals of equality and

accessibility. They are one of the few places

where people can go without the expectation of

spending money, and where the pursuit of

knowledge and personal growth are facilitated.

Supporting your public library means investing in

the future of your community and upholding the

principle that everyone deserves access to

information and opportunity. It is up to all of us to

ensure that these vital community resources

continue to thrive for the next 134 years.

Sharing a common

history can strengthen

community bonds,

fostering a sense of unity.

DID YOU

APL’s Local History Room, located on the second

floor in the administrative wing, houses many

historical documents and Maine maps with a

focus on Androscoggin County. These documents

preserve the unique history and heritage of our

community and provide insight into our cultural,

social, and economic evolution. They serve as an

educational resource for students, researchers,

and historians, offering primary sources for the

study of our local history.

While the materials in the Local History room are

not available to check out, we are now offering the

community opportunities to drop in on Wednesday

afternoons between 3:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. A

volunteer will be on hand to assist with searches

on local history. Please check in at the Reference

Desk (2nd floor) upon arrival.

KNOW?

We’re so excited to introduce ourselves in the

hopes that we will find our fur-ever home (not

that living in the Library for the past few months

hasn’t

been

paws-itively

great).

We’re

the

bonded brother and sister of Phoebe and Cole

and have been here at APL since April. We’re each

a little over three years old and love to play.

Phoebe here: I’m a very social girl looking for a

quiet indoor-only home with Cole. I know that I’m

100% cat (playful and sweet) but be warned that

Cole thinks he’s a dog, following staff around

everywhere and interrupting important Library

work. Sheesh!

Cole here: Now wait a meowment - I’m not a dog!

However, my first few weeks here at the Library

were so scary, I spent a few nights hiding on top

of the bookcases, there are a lot of these here,

but now that I’ve come out of my shell, I love

cuddling with my sister Phoebe and following

people around.

Because we can be easily stressed, we must be

the only animals in our next home. We don’t do

well with young children either, but we may be

okay with older children or teenagers who can

respect our boundaries.

If you’re interested in meeting us, we live on the

second floor of the Library and love visitors. Just

ask at the reference desk and they can arrange a

meet and greet.

That's all for meow!

Phoebe & Cole

CAT CORNER

Dungeons

Dragons

tabletop

roleplaying game that has been around for

50 years. In recent years, it’s been brought

into the mainstream by shows like Stranger

Things,

The

Big

Bang

Theory,

and

Community. Plus, with the recent release of

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

and the popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3,

Dungeons & Dragons has become very

approachable for new players. In 2017, the

Seattle

Times

interviewed

D&D

brand

director Nathan Stewart who reported that

the game had an audience of 12 to 15 million

players in North America alone. Worldwide,

Dungeons & Dragons has amassed over 50

million players with a generationally diverse

player base. In its 50 years of existence, D&D

has captivated audiences with its boundless

narrative freedom, allowing for decades

worth of unique gameplay for everyone.

LEVEL UP:

HOW D&D

EMPOWERS

TEENS WITH

LIFE SKILLS

AND

CREATIVITY

By Jenna Fowler, Teen/Collaboration Librarian

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