The Bethel Library offers a pass to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum to its patrons
The Bethel Library has partnered with the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum to offer a free pass to the museum. The pass program admits 2 adults and up to 4 children or teens to explore the museum. The MMGM showcases our geological history, displays renowned mineral and rock collections, and provides educational opportunities. Check out their website for more information about the museum: https://mainemineralmuseum.org/
All you need to access the pass program is a patron account in good standing with the Bethel Library! The library pass can be used by one individual or group for each calendar day, so plan ahead and know your preferred dates! Get the pass from the front desk at the Bethel Library. For more information or questions regarding the pass program please contact the Bethel Library at 207-824-2520 or come in during opening hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 9-1 Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 12-5
Knit Happens at the Bethel Library
An update from our Yarn Hub volunteers!
The Yarn Hub has been knitting along!
This program began last fall when volunteers hosted a successful “Destash” Yarn Sale at Bethel’s HarvestFest. They had enough beautiful yarn left over, generously donated by the community, to create a yarn “store” in the upstairs of the Bethel Library. It’s called a “store” because patrons can purchase yarn for “Pay What You Can” prices.
The Yarn Hub volunteers were excited to collaborate with the Maine Valentine Project by holding some “learn to knit” sessions in the late fall, yielding over a hundred hats and scarves for the homeless.
Creating this space spun into more than just providing a source for yarn in Bethel and filling a bin with wonderful handmade items for donation. It united people for a good cause, fostering community, new friendships, and a heartfelt sense of giving.
The Bethel Library is filled with much more than books!
Top Fiction Books by Circulation at the Bethel Library in 2024
A short summary of the top most checked out fiction titles from the Bethel Library in 2024
Tied for The Third Most Checked Out Title:
Dreamland by Nicholas Sparks
Dreamland is an emotional story that follows a farmer with a passion for music, an aspiring singer, and a woman trying to escape an abusive marriage with her young son. This love story explores the theme of risking everything to pursue a dream and questions whether it is truly possible to leave the past behind.
The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring
Set in Dalton, Maine, in 1990, this novel explores life in small-town America. When a local makes an unthinkable decision, the community is shaken. In the aftermath, personal issues come to light, revealing that no one is quite who they seem.
The Second Most Checked Out Title:
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Elizabeth Zott is a self-assured research chemist in 1960s California whose career takes an unexpected turn when she becomes the star of a popular TV cooking show. Lessons in Chemistry combines humor and keen observations with a vibrant cast of characters while also portraying the unique challenges of early feminism.
The Most Checked Out Title:
Welcome Home, Stranger by Kate Christensen
This novel explores grief, love, and family complexities through the journey of a woman in her fifties who reluctantly returns to Maine after her mother’s death. It raises the question: Can you ever truly go home again? Lively and emotionally resonant, it captures the essence of the human experience.