The reading program is designed for children from toddler age to the sixth grade and encourages them to not only read, but to take pride in what they've read as well. Children who sign up for the program can choose to record their reading adventures in time or in titles. The children then set a goal for themselves to meet, and, when they are done, they come in for a prize! The children also get a special treat when they come in to sign up for the program: a free Sea Dogs voucher and a book of their choice! So come in today to sign up for a fun summer of reading.

With tighter budgets, both in the home and in the Poland town government, your library building is beginning to suffer. People have generously donated the money for new ceiling tiles and just recently the Friends of the Library provided the money for a new vacuum cleaner. We realize that times are hard and it isn't always possible to give financially, and we also realize that if we draw upon the funds of the Friends for simple maintenance then there will be fewer funds for programming such as the Summer Reading Program.

Ricker Memorial Library and Community House
Survey Summary
First, the Trustees and Library Staff wish to thank everyone who filled out our survey. The results were almost entirely positive and are helpful in our understanding of how the community views Ricker Library.

Do you like art? Do you like a variety of art? Maybe you like art, but, like many of us, can't afford to continually buy new pieces? If that's so, then the library has the answer! Thanks to the generous donations of many people, the library has several pieces of art available for two week loan. Yes, they go out just like books!

As a courtesy to all the daycares in the Poland area, one of our volunteers, Suzie Stover, will come to your daycare and do a Storytime! This Storytime includes the reading of several stories appropriate for the preschool age and a craft also appropriate for the preschool age. If you are interested in having Suzie come to your daycare, either for a single visit, or on a regular basis, please call us at 998-4390. This service is only offered from September to May, and is not available during June, July, and August.

Ricker Library now has Kill-A-Watt Energy Detectors available for loan. These wonderful little devices can be used to determine how much energy the electronic devices in your house are using. In essence: IT WILL HELP YOU KNOW HOW YOU CAN CUT YOUR ELECTRIC BILL AND SAVE MONEY! We have two Kill-A-Watt Energy Detectors and they are available for a one week loan. They must be returned in one week. There is a $1 fee for every day they are overdue.

We at the library understand that not all who want to come are able to come, so we have started an Outreach Service.  Through the Outreach Service Poland residents who are not able to come to the library will be able to rent printed books, audio books (both cassettes and CD's), music, and videos (both VHS and DVD). The items you rent will then be delivered to your home and picked up when you are finished with them.To join the Outreach Service Program simply call the library at 998-4390 or fill out the following form and send it to us at:

Storytime is on vacation for the summer, but that doesn't mean you have to stop reading! Stop into the library for some fun summer books. Storytime will begin again on August 31.