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The Library will be closed on Monday, April 20 in honor of Patriots' Day.
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Hello friends,
If you're a frequenter of our Children's Room, you'll have noticed a major facelift in one corner. It's a special project that's been in development for many months, and we hope you'll check it out. April is National Poetry Month, and we're celebrating with Finding the Poet Within and a special poetry open mic night. National Library Week takes place mid month, an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. Our Climate Series continues with more enlightening programs and an invasives clean-up day led by our wonderful and knowledgeable friends at York Land Trust. Devin will look into using chatbots to help with everyday tasks, and our seed library launches April 15! Also, did you see our new water slide?!
In honor of Poetry Month and because of our upcoming program on AI, we'll leave you with a poem written by AI entitled "April at the Library," which is altogether too good in our opinion:
April arrives with a flourish and rhyme,
A month of wonder, of art, and of time.
It’s National Poetry Month—let language take wing,
In quiet corners where bright voices sing.
It’s National Library Week—a time to explore,
The stories and ideas that open each door.
And yes, April Fools' Day may bring a small tease,
But our programs are real (and plentiful, please!).
Across both levels, the walls come alive,
With color and creativity all who arrive
Can wander and wonder at what they will see—
From kindergarten dreams to twelfth-grade mastery.
Our Annual Student Art Show fills every space,
A monthlong celebration of talent and place—
A gallery of youth, of vision, of heart,
Reminding us all: the library is art.
-YPL
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Special Announcement: Erin's Place |
It is our distinct honor to announce the addition of Erin's Place to our library, named for a remarkable young lady who left us far too soon. Among her many interests, Erin loved games, books, basketball, butterflies, and visits to the library, her "favorite place." The area serves as a place where middle schoolers can gather to laugh, play, and build friendships, as Erin so often did.
Erin's Place was generously donated by Erin's parents, Michael and Sara, and her brother Conor. We invite you to visit Erin’s Place in the Library’s lower level and experience it for yourself.
Ongoing support for Erin's Place and materials for this age group will be supported by the Erin Fell Memorial Endowment. Contribute to the fund here, and be sure to select "Erin M. Fell Memorial Endowment" under designation. |
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National Library Week April 19-25: Find Your Joy |
Award-winning librarian, author, and Reading Rainbow host Mychal Threets serves as Honorary Chair of this year’s National Library Week. The 2026 theme, “Find Your Joy,” invites people of all backgrounds to discover what inspires them at the library—whether that’s books, programs, technology, or simply a welcoming place to connect. The theme reflects Threets’ uplifting message about the many ways libraries spark joy, also celebrated in his debut picture book.
National Library Week, first observed in 1958, is a nationwide celebration of the vital role libraries and library workers play in strengthening communities, expanding access to knowledge, and supporting lifelong learning. What began as an effort to encourage reading has grown into a recognition of libraries as essential, inclusive spaces for education, creativity, and community connection.
This year’s featured days include: Monday, April 20: Right to Read Day
Tuesday, April 21: National Library Workers Day Wednesday, April 22: National Library Outreach Day Thursday, April 23: Take Action for Libraries Day
Join us in celebrating all week long and discover (or rediscover) what brings you joy at the library! |
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Annual Student Art Show April 1-25 |
Celebrate the creativity of York’s young artists at one of York Public Library’s most anticipated annual traditions! The Annual Student Art Show features an inspiring collection of artwork from students at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, Village Elementary School, York Middle School, and York High School.
Join us for an opening reception on Wednesday, April 1, from 5:00–6:30 PM. Meet York's public school art teachers, explore a vibrant range of student work, and be inspired by the imagination and skill of York’s youth. |
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Coming April 15: Seed Library! 🥕🍅🌱 |
Our beloved Seed Library returns on April 15! Do you have seeds to share? We’re currently collecting flower, herb, and vegetable seeds from 2025 and 2026. A donation box is available in the lobby, and seeds may also be dropped off at the Main Circulation Desk.
As you get your garden ready this spring, keep the library in mind for your ultimate seed destination!
Interested in lending a hand? We’re seeking volunteers to help organize seed donations on Wednesday, April 8 at 10 AM in the Wheeler Room. To get involved, please contact Marina at mmails@yorkpubliclibrary.org or 207-363-2818 ext. 1022. |
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Digital Learning Lab News: Podcasting from A-Z |
Since September, our grant-funded Digital Learning Lab has offered programs on digital illustration with ProCreate, Book Creator, and VEX Robotics. In April, our first series on podcasting begins for grades 3-4! From mixing boards to theme music and sound effects, this series is soup to nuts. Find details on "Create Your Own Podcast" below, which kicks off April 27.
Did you miss any of our previous Digital Learning Lab programs? Don't worry, more fun and instructive series are coming—and we're looking to expand our lab offerings for all ages. Is there something you or your family would like to learn about in the digital media sphere? Let us know! Contact Devin Burritt at 207-363-2818 or dburritt@yorkpubliclibrary.org.
We are looking for volunteers to help guide and shape our Digital Learning Lab. Do you have experience with digital art, coding, digital media related skills, or an idea for a new program? We'd love to chat! |
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Featured Events |
Click the links below for more information and to sign up. |
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Our Amazing Birds: 65 Years Of Birding with Bill Gette (a Virtual Program)
Friday, April 3 at 2:00 PM @ Online With Led by Bill Gette, Founding Director of Mass Audubon’s Joppa Flats Education Center.
Sea Change: Peril in the Gulf Of Maine (NOVA Documentary Screening) Saturday, April 4 at 11:00 AM @ Community Room
In Part 2: Peril in the Gulf of Maine, dive into Cashes Ledge with scientists as they race to discover if this remote and relatively pristine part of the Gulf of Maine is vulnerable to rapid warming. 53 minutes. Part of our fifth annual Climate Series, Tides of Change: Our Coast, Our Future.
Invasive Species Clean-up Day
Tuesday, April 14 at 9:00 AM @ Parking Lot Join York Land Trust at York Public Library property and learn to confidently identify multiple aggressive invasive plant species.
Artificial Intelligence: Getting Started with Chatbots to Help with Everyday Tasks Tuesday, April 14 at 1:00 PM @ Community Room
Join us for a presentation and hands on learning about how to use chatbots in your everyday life.
Finding the Poet Within Tuesday, April 14 at 5:00 PM @ Community Room
Celebrate National Poetry Month with poet Cheryl Perreault in a welcoming, creative workshop for all experience levels.
Cooking Club: Today Loves Food: Recipes from America’s Favorite Kitchen Wednesday, April 15 at 12:00 PM @ Community Room
York Public Library boasts a deliciously diverse collection of cookbooks. Each month we’ll dive into one of them and bring its recipes to life.
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute presents Coastal Flooding Community Science in Southern Maine Wednesday, April 15 at 4:00 PM @ Community Room
Rising sea levels are worsening coastal flooding in Maine. A new community science project from the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and the National Weather Service invites residents to help track impacts and improve preparedness and resilience.
Sea Change: Survival in the Gulf Of Maine (NOVA Documentary Screening) Saturday, April 18 at 11:00 AM @ Community Room
In Part 3: Survival in the Gulf of Maine, now at a crossroads for the future of the Gulf of Maine and our oceans, Indigenous peoples and scholars practice climate resilience and adaptation, scientists track developments, and entrepreneurs find new ways to make a living from the sea. (53 minutes.)
Poetry Month: Open Mic - All Ages Tuesday, April 21 at 5:30 PM @ Upper Level
Come unleash your creativity, share your verses, and embrace the power of spoken word at YPLs Poetry Open Mic program.
The Art of Cemetery Sleuthing with Author Erin Moulton Wednesday, April 22 at 5:15 PM @ Community Room
Your local cemetery is a time capsule. Each headstone is plastered with clues about the deceased, those who once walked where you’re walking now. |
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Ongoing Events |
Click the links below for more information and to sign up. Check our calendar for updates and cancellations. |
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Author Talks and Book Discussions |
Click the links below for more information and to sign up. |
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On a Mission: The History of US Women Astronauts with Smithsonian Curator Emerita Valerie Neal (Virtual Author Talk)
Thursday, April 2 at 2:00 PM @ Online
Join us for an exhilarating journey through the history of US women astronauts with Valerie Neal, emerita curator from the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum and expert on human spaceflight. (Library Speakers Consortium)
Virtual Author Talk: On Writing Action-Packed and Suspenseful Spycraft with Brad Taylor Tuesday, April 14 at 7:00 PM @ Online
Join us in conversation with acclaimed author Brad Taylor on his latest work, Shadow Strike, book 20 of the bestselling Pike Logan series.
Virtual Author Talk: How Exploration, Uncertainty, and Risk Help Us Find Meaning with Author Alex Hutchinson Thursday, April 16, 2026 at 2:00pm - 3:00pmVirtual Program
In The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and the Blank Spots on the Map, Alex Hutchinson dives headfirst into a fascinating and provocative new field of research, examining how exploration is a fundamental part of what makes us human.
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Children's Events | Click the links below for more information. Children's events do not require registration unless otherwise indicated. |
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Student Art Show Reception
Wednesday, April 1 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM Students, their families and the community are invited to come together to meet the York public school art teachers, view the student art on display, and celebrate the talent of youth in York. View art from York Middle and High Schools in the Upper Level, and works by Village and Coastal Ridge Elementary schools in the Lower level. All are welcome to attend, no registration necessary.
Canine Cuddles
Saturday, April 4 at 10:30 AM @ Children's Room Join some of our canine crew for cuddles and comfort. We’ll also have some other calming activities in our cozy sunroom corner. Pop by and see which pup is visiting the Library this month! They are great listeners - snuggle up or read to them.
No registration and open to all ages.
Create Your Own Podcast: a 5-Week Series for 3rd and 4th Graders (Digital Learning Lab) Mondays (4/27, 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 6/1) at 3:30 PM
Ever wanted to start your own show? Join us for a hands-on crash course in podcasting! In this session, you will: brainstorm topics and learn how to plan your podcast; get hands-on experience with a 4-mic mixing board; use AI to compose your own theme music and wacky sound effects; and learn the ropes of GarageBand to polish your episode. By the end of the session, you’ll have the skills to make your voice heard! This program is for 3rd and 4th grade and registration is required.
York Public Library's Digital Learning Lab is grant-funded through The American Library Association's Libraries Transforming Communities initiative. The lab is meant to be an inclusive space, so if you have any individual needs, accommodations, or accessibility issues, please let us know and your requests will be treated with privacy and respect.
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Teen and Tween Events | Click the links below for more information. Youth events do not require registration unless otherwise indicated.
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Teen Advisory Board Grades 7+
Thursday, April 9 at 6:00 PM @ Teen Space Attention all teens! Do you have ideas for programs and events at the library and want to help implement them? Do you want to influence the Young Adult collection at the library? Do you want to meet new people? If you answered yes to any of these questions, join the Teen Advisory Board!
Indoor Herb Gardens Grades 6+
Monday, April 13 at 5:30 PM @ Teen Space Join Danie in the Hangout Room for Indoor Herb Gardens! Decorate your own planters and start growing your herb garden. Perfect for all skill levels.
Game Lab Grades 6+ April 21 - 24 from 2:00 - 4:00 PM @ Teen Space
Come hang-out, eat snacks, and play some games! There will be Nintendo Switch games like Mario Kart & Super Smash Bros, and plenty of card and board games. Bring your friends or make some new ones. |
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Support York Public Library! |
The Library is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization - not a town department. Public funding provides a basic operating budget for the library, but we but we rely on contributions from individuals and businesses for 30% of our operational funding every year. If you enjoy the library and all that it has to offer, consider a donation today. Thank you!
Learn more about our funding
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YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS
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LIBRARY HOURS:
Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday Closed |
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