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September 2026 |
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September is always a busy and exciting month at Dyer Library/Saco Museum! Our weekly Youth Services programming resumes as kids get back into the rhythm of school and our Book Clubs are setting their selections for the upcoming year. We are also offering some wonderful sustainability opportunities with a Repair Cafe and a Community Clothing Swap, as well as a immersive new museum exhibit, a fascinating Author Talk, and a can't-miss program for high school students and their families as they look forward to the college application process. It's National Library Card Sign-Up Month and there's no better time to explore and celebrate all the resources available to you at your public library!
P.S. Our Executive Director Sophie Smith has a corner of the website where she shares updates and behind-the-scenes information! Click here to hear the latest DLSM news, straight from the top. |
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National Library Card Sign-Up Month |
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An initiative of the American Library Association, Library Card Sign-up Month has been held each September since 1987 to mark the beginning of the school year, combat illiteracy, and encourage communities everywhere to explore all the offerings that having a library card unlocks.
This year’s theme, “A Library Card Hits All the Right Notes,” is a reminder that libraries offer something for everyone - no matter your age, background, or goals. Whether you’re checking out a classic story or trying something new, finding harmony at the library’s programs, finding your focus in a study area or vibing out in a cozy nook, or composing your future with new skills, there’s a seat in the front row at the library for you, and your library card is the ticket!
All Saco residents are eligible for a free library card at Dyer Library/Saco Museum. Any individual who attends school, owns property, or works in Saco is also eligible! Your library card grants free admission to Saco Museum. To learn more, please visit our website. |
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Author Event: Paul Pinette, MSW |
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On Tuesday, September 8th at 6:00 PM we invite you to meet local author Paul D Pinette MSW as he shares his new book "The Old Brain in A New World". Paul is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 22 years of clinical practice and more than 30 years in the mental health field. He was born and raised in Fort Kent, Maine and comes from a strong Franco-American heritage, with French as his first language. These roots continue to shape his grounded, relational approach to work. "The Old Brain in a New World" is his first book and is a path to personal balance and a calmer, more humane world.
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Our friends at Sherman’s Books in the Shaws Plaza are throwing us a Book Fair! Stop by Sherman's Books on Sunday, September 6th from 9AM - 6PM to browse their selection, make some back to school purchases, or buy an item on the wishlist for the Library. Plus, 20% of your book purchases come back to DLSM as a store credit!
We'll also be offering a Pop-Up Storytime there at 3PM! |
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There are a few more days to catch our summer exhibit Remembering the Revolution at Saco Museum! This year marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The American Revolution gave birth to a new nation and set of ideals that have been memorialized and reimagined ever since. Remembering the Revolution features stories of those involved in the conflict, such as Benjamin Simpson, a local mason who participated in the Boston Tea Party and later served in the Continental Army, and Captain Jabez Lane of Buxton who fought in campaigns from Boston to New York. The exhibition also examines some of the objects and events that later generations used to remember and redefine the Revolution.
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Remembering the Revolution runs through September 5th.
| Upcoming Museum Exhibit |
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Saco Museum is proud to present "Mixed Palettes", an unique visual arts experience showcasing art works from three local artists who followed their own paths into art making. This exhibit will feature artists Bob Dunn, Steve Shiman and Ray Lund offering works in media such as bronze, collage, digital and traditional photography, digillages, pastels, plaster, watercolors, notable pieces, or unique installations. "Mixed Palettes" will highlight the different divergent and convergent paths that these three Saco artists chose to follow. In each of their own ways and with different backgrounds, Dunn, Lund and Shiman have created significant bodies of work that demonstrate a range of skill development and how they chose to transform their ideas, moods and feelings into artistic statements
"Mixed Palettes" will run from September 19, 2026, to October 23, 2026.
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Whether you love to cook, love to eat, or just want to spark your culinary curiosity, join our Cookbook Club! We’ll meet monthly to discuss and try recipes from different cookbooks and build community!
After a brief summer hiatus, we'll meet again on Saturday, September 12th from 11:30am-1PM. Let's catch up on our best summer recipes and pick our next cookbook!
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College Essay Prep Workshop |
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On Thursday, September 10th at 6:00 PM students and parents can join CATES Education Consultant Dr. Megan Campbell Regnier for a practical overview of the college application process. She’ll discuss key milestones across the four years of high school, how families can reduce stress by planning early, and how students can develop a cohesive narrative that connects their interests, experiences, and goals!
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We're looking forward to another Repair Cafe on Saturday, September 19th from 10AM-12PM! There’s never been a better time to try to repair and reuse your belongings, instead of replacing them with something new. We’ll have knowledgeable helpers on hand to mend clothes, fix small appliances, troubleshoot tech issues, and more. Bring your item to be repaired and we’ll do our best, or point you in the right direction! Presented in partnership with Age Friendly Saco. |
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Have clothes you or your kids have outgrown? Looking for some new-school-year looks? Come to our big Community Clothing Swap on Saturday, September 26th! We'll be collecting clean, gently-used clothes the week of September 21. If you are interested in volunteering to help sort clothes and facilitate the swap, please click the button for more information!
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Youth Services is also collecting gently used children’s Halloween costumes and accessories during the month of September! In October, Children and their families will be invited to visit the Children’s Room to shop for a “new-to-you” Halloween costume and/or accessories. Children can take a costume without swapping or can continue to bring in gently used items up to October 30th. The swap is free and open to all children who visit the library.
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Costumes for infants to teens are welcome and should be in good condition. To donate a costume, please visit the Children’s Room anytime we're open and don't forget to come back in October to browse!
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It's hard to believe, but we're already preparing for this year's Festival of Trees! Our Tree Design 101 program is for anyone interested in potentially designing a tree for the 2026 Festival of Trees - or anyone who would like to learn more about designing and creating a beautiful and festive holiday tree for their own home. Our seasoned FOT designer will lead the class and answer questions on Tuesday, September 29th from 6:30-7:30PM.
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Please note that our regular weekly youth programming will resume on the week of September 8th.
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Open Play Cafe |
Mondays, 10:30AM-12:00PM |
Drop in for playtime and connection! Kids can explore toys, play stations, and activities that spark imagination, literacy, and social skills. While the children play, adults can chat and connect. Occasionally, a childhood development specialist will join us to offer guidance on parenting topics.
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Tiny Tunes |
Tuesdays, 10:30-11:00AM | This short and sweet program is perfect for toddlers who are not quite ready for full story time. Join the circle for songs, movement, and props! Great for curious little ones and their caregivers getting ready for joining a traditional story time. |
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Romp & Rhyme |
Thursdays, 10:30-11:30AM | Join Ms. Cheryl in the Deering Room for stories, songs, and early literacy fun perfect for preschoolers and their caregivers.
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Wee Readers |
Fridays, 10:30-11:30AM | Baby story time with songs, lap bounces, rhymes, stories and much more! |
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Please visit our Events Calendar for more youth programs like Lego Club, Early Release Day events, and Tween Book Club!
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| Events Calendar
| September Releases to Kick off Autumn |
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Click on the book cover to be taken to its MINERVA listing, where you can request the book even before its release date, when possible!
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Taipei Story |
R. F. Kuang | A wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock - all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.
Releasing September 8. |
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The Pirate Queen |
Ariel Lawhon |
A sweeping historical adventure inspired by the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish folk heroine who risked everything to defend her people. Keenly observed and fiercely written, Ariel Lawhon's new action-packed novel channels the untamed beauty and harsh realities of sixteenth-century Ireland, as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable heroine who rightly became “the Pirate Queen of Ireland.”
Releasing September 8. |
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Hollow Bones |
Jodi Picoult | Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.
Releasing September 15. |
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The Birthing Tree |
Amanda Peters | Spanning decades of loss and reclamation, this sweeping yet intimate novel follows one woman’s journey to protect the land, the traditions, and the memory of the women who came before her—and to decide which parts of her inheritance she will carry into the future.
Releasing September 1. |
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The Saco Story Tank is open to writers of mainstream fiction for adults who are interested in gathering with a group of creators to support each other through the various phases of the writing process. Meetings will focus on sharing resources, generating story ideas, and respectfully critiquing each other’s works-in-progress, and writing prompts will also be used to hone specific story elements. Meetings are held in person at the Dyer Library in Saco on the second Thursday of the month from 10-11:00am beginning September 10th. All adult writers are welcome - from those just beginning their writing journey to published authors! The Saco Story Tank actively promotes and values diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Maine Libraries Passport Challenge |
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The Maine Library Association and Maine State Library invite you to explore Maine, one library at a time!
Travel across the state and visit a library in each of Maine's 16 counties. Collect a stamp or signature from each stop as you build your Maine Library Passport. Finish all 16 counties and submit your completed passport to be entered into a prize drawing and celebrated as a Maine Library Passport Challenge winner! Complete your journey by December 31, 2026. Click on the link for more information and to download your passport! |
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Do you have one minute a month to help make Saco better? The City of Saco is working with FlashVote to gather valuable input from residents to inform our decisions through a new and ongoing statistically valid survey panel, aiming to increase resident engagement in municipal processes. Saco residents can sign up now at flashvote.com/sacome or call 775-235-2240 to participate by phone or text only. Signup takes less than one minute, and your input is always kept anonymous!
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September Book Clubs |
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Find us in the Community |
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Coming Next Month: Spooky Scavenge |
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Our Spooky Scavenge Fundraiser will return on Friday, October 23rd! Mark your calendar for a chance to explore the Deering Mansion by flashlight and other eerie fun. Look for details next month on our website!
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Mon: 9:30 am - 5 pm
Tue: 9:30 am - 8 pm
Wed: 9:30 am - 5 pm
Thu: 9:30 am - 8 pm
Fri: 9:30 am - 5 pm
Sat: 9:30 am - 2 pm
Sun: Closed |
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Mon: Closed
Tue: noon - 4 pm
Wed: noon - 4 pm
Thu: noon - 8 pm
Fri: noon - 4 pm
Sat: 9:30 am - 2 pm
Sun: Closed |
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Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram! |
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Blue Elephant Catering
Dirigo Federal Credit Union Paquin & Carroll Insurance Peace Behavioral Health
Reny's Charitable Foundation University Credit Union |
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