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1924 tax records for Long Island – available for research!

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Word is out – the 1924 tax records, owned by the City of Portland, are now available for research! Just go to the site (available through the Maine Memory Network, a site of the Maine Historical Society) to find your house or favorite building on Long Island:

http://www.mainememory.net/search/ptr

Probably the best way to see them all is to type in “Long Island” into the keyword search box.

You can limit the search by street address, owner, etc.

You will be able to see a picture of the building, as well as other information.

The Portland, Maine, 1924 Tax Records were created as part of a city-wide tax reevaluation.   The 2 3/4″ x 4″ original black and white photographs provide extraordinary documentation of the appearance and condition of every taxable property in the city at that time. The accompanying tax forms provide equally valuable information, including the use of the property, the original building materials and finishes and the property’s assessed value as of 1924. On the back of each form, a pencil sketch illustrates the size and shape of the building footprint on the property.

The collection consists of 131 books containing approximately 30,000 pages, each page recording a single property (properties with more than one building will generally have a page for each building).  The records were kept in a cabinet in the Portland tax assessor’s office in City Hall until 2009.1924 tax record project 6

Having these records available online has created quite a buzz all over Portland and Casco Bay, and great fun for researching houses, although some are no longer or unrecognizable.

This was a joint project between the City of Portland, the Portland Public Library, and the Maine Historical Society.

Books

East of the Hague Line

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Last month Gordon Holmes came to the Long Island Learning Center to talk about, and read from, his new book, “East of the Hague Line,” a novel which “takes a close, personal look at what it takes to live the life of an offshore fisherman.” Given the enthusiasm of the crowd, it appears to be a great read, and a page turner, despite the over 600 pages. I still haven’t read it, but armed by the excitement I felt that evening at the reading, I set forth to spread the word amongst my fellow librarians in Maine, by way of the Me-Libs listserve. I also e-mailed our museum store manager, Melissa, and the library director, Nick. I’m pleased to say, that while the libraries still don’t seem to be jumping on board, the Maine Historical Society museum store now carries copies of the book – actually, they not only carry the book but feature it front and center, as you can see from this picture. And I just catalogued a copy for the Maine Historical Society Library. East of the Hague Line

One of these days I will read the book for myself… (sounds like a perfect book to curl up with, mid-winter, with a storm raging outside…)

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Ode to magazines

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It’s not enough that I check out books from several libraries, as well as pick up books at used book sales, we also subscribe to many magazines (can’t help it!). There are boating magazines (even though our boat has been in the yard for several years) such as Cruising World and Sail Magazine, travel magazines (even though we don’t travel as often as I’d like) such as National Geographic Traveler and Afar, woodworking magazines (Michael’s favorite is American Woodworking), and home/decorating magazines (Country Living and English Home). Some are nostalgic for me. My mother subscribes to Threads for me, a knitting magazine. I will never be able to make anything in it as the patterns are way beyond my abilities, but I love to just look at the pictures (I can almost feel the yarn between my fingers) and think of my mother, an expert knitter. She also used to subscribe to Cooks Illustrated for Michael, knowing his love of cooking. I love Arizona Highways, which my father (whose birthday is today) first subscribed to for me, along with Alaska magazine. Several years ago my sister and I were in the Arizona Highways gift shop and she resubscribed for me, as an early birthday present. In contrast, I receive the local magazines Maine and Maine Home + Design, as freebies through work. I also can’t resist a good deal, such as Yankee Magazine and Smithsonian, which I subscribed to for about $10. National Geographic, which my husband has been receiving since he was a child, used to be a real bargain, but the prices have increased so much that I had to stop subscribing, to my sadness. However, a few months after dropping it, I received an offer I couldn’t resist, so I resubscribed at a lesser rate. Sometimes we’ll get free subscriptions through various offers, which explains why magazines such as “Inc” or “GQ” land in our mailbox. Long Island garden tour 2012 - Jacqui's porch

What are some of your favorite magazines, to read or subscribe to?

Books, Libraries

A Garden of Books – Bloomed!

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Our book sale was a great success, thanks to the community who came out on a hot sticky day to buy books! Gratifying to see that the printed word is still an attraction, in this day and age of the digital world we live in. Those lucky enough to buy $20 worth of books received a beautiful bouquet from our gardening librarian’s garden. And those smart enough to come after 2 p.m. walked away with a bag of books for a buck, the best deal around. Most of the unsold books were sent off to Goodwill, but we saved a sampling, which will appear at our regular book sale. So, if you missed out on Saturday, stop by and see what we have saved for you.LICL booksale flowers

Books, Films, Libraries

A Garden of Books

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Tammy and I are enjoying the cool basement of the library these days, sorting books for the upcoming book sale on Saturday, which we are calling “A Garden of Books.” It’s a flower theme – the kids will be making the signs for the categories at story time on Friday morning, thanks to Patty T. We’re looking forward to seeing the community join us in a book swap of sorts, as I imagine that many who dropped off books to donate will be buying some (I know I will!).Heather's garden

The biggest category seems to be mysteries/thrillers/suspense, for all you mystery lovers, followed by romance, and general fiction. There is also a great selection of classics and westerns. There are also many children’s books, including chapter books and picture books. In the non-fiction category we have biography, history and politics, crafts, home décor and gardening, pets/animals, maritime/fishing/boating, and reference. There is also a delightful section of Maine books. And of course lots of videos/DVDs and audiobooks, for your viewing and listening pleasure!

So, those of you on the island on Saturday, please come join us! There may be some special treats (besides books) to make it worth your while, in addition to supporting your island library. Look forward to seeing you there!

 

Books

The home front in fiction

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I’ve read a few books recently that address our 21st century home front by approaching it through fiction, whether through novels or short stories. In “Home front” by Kristin Hannah, the author portrays a woman soldier who has trained most of her adult life to be a military pilot, and finally gets to see some action in Afghanistan, to the dismay of her increasingly estranged husband, surly teenage daughter, and clingy younger daughter. Unfortunately things don’t work out well for Joline, our heroine, but ultimately the family comes together. While not a literary masterpiece, “Home front” does give a different kind of perspective – of the female soldier, with her family left behind to try to hold it together without mom, the glue of the family.

In “You know when the men are gone” by Siobhan Fallon, these sometimes interlinked short stories that take place at Fort Hood, Texas, show various sides to the story, and mostly that “war is hell” on relationships. Some do better than others, but overall the characters are all just doing the best they can (more or less). Better written than “Home front” there is sometimes a dry humor that keeps the book from being too depressing, given the subject matter.

And on the poetry end, “Blood Red Dawn,” mentioned in the April 2nd post, gives both the home front and front lines perspective, by way of poetry – written by the author as a catharsis and way of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder.

There are many more perspectives out there – anyone have a favorite war or home front book, perhaps from earlier wars than the current ones our soldiersbench in memory of Susie and Larry Rich are bravely fighting, where their loved ones are left behind to pick up the pieces?

Books, Libraries

Little Free Library

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In writing my series on Casco Bay Island libraries, it occurred to me that some of the islands, such as the Diamonds, need a “Little Free Library” to make books more accessible in their communities. What is a Little Free Library, you may ask? According to good old Wikipedia, Little Free Libraries are a community movement in the United States and worldwide that offers free books housed in small containers to members of the local community. They are also referred to as community book exchanges, book trading posts, and pop-up libraries.Little Free Library in Seattle

The idea was popularized in Hudson, Wisconsin when Todd Bol mounted a wooden container designed to look like a school house on a post on his lawn as a tribute to his mother, who was a book lover and school teacher. Bol shared his idea with his partner Rick Brooks who found many efficient ways to spread the word, and the idea spread rapidly. Library owners can create their own library box, usually about the size of a doll house, or purchase one from the website. Libraries may be registered for a fee and assigned a number at the organization’s website. Libraries can be found through their GPS coordinates. Owners receive a sign that reads “Little Free Library”. They often have the phrase, “Take a Book. Leave a Book.”[3][4]

In Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, the village is requiring a church to take down their Little Free Library, worrying about inappropriate material being placed and saying that there was no point in a Little Free Library due to the public library. [5] Whitefish Bay is, in addition, denying permission to any family that asks to have a Little Free Library placed in their front yard.[5]

Libraries have been donated to rural areas that have no libraries of their own, or that have been ravaged by disasters. As of February 2013, all 50 states and 40 countries worldwide have been involved in the literary program. There are currently 5000 registered Little Free Libraries in the world, with an estimated 1000 unregistered.[6]

Each Library is uniquely built incorporating materials from the community it is located in.

According to the official website, the closest ones to Long Island are in Falmouth, South Portland, and Cape Elizabeth.

Of course, on Long Island we are blessed to have our beautiful library, open every day of the week, but for many communities, that are either too small or seasonal to sustain a library, or those that are unable to afford a library due to economics, this is a fun and easy way to share literature with your neighbors.

For more information see:

http://www.littlefreelibrary.org/

[photo is of a Little Free Library in the Wedgewood neighborhood in Seattle, taken by Nancy N. in October 2013)

Books

Books groups/clubs in Portland

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Like to talk about books you’ve read with others? Portland has a plethora of book groups to join. I currently belong to two. One is winding up: the Maine Historical Society’s We are what we ate. We’ve read a wonderful variety of non-fiction books including a memoir by a New York City chef, a history of 1950s cooking, immigrant food history, and now a luscious history of chocolate through the eyes of the Hershey and Mars companies, as well as readings assigned to us from various books and magazines. We meet once a month, in the evening, and talk about food for an hour and a half – what can be better? The next subject to be read next winter may be Civil War related literature, so stay tuned for that one.

My other book group is at the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association – we meet once a month at lunchtime, so we can indulge in a lot of tea and goodies, as well as conversation about books, which are a combination of fiction and non-fiction, mostly popular with an occasional classic thrown in.

My friend Sue runs a book club through the Maine Irish Heritage Center: the Irish American Club, which meets every other month from about September to May (with summers off) – they read mostly fiction written by Irish or Irish American authors, with a wide range of literature, mysteries, young adult, and historical fiction. The Greater Portland Women’s Social Meetup Group has a book club that meets once a month at Panera’s in South Portland, reading mostly popular fiction and non-fiction.

An international book group out of Longfellow Books meets once a month, and food is served which is tied into the country of the book being discussed. Speaking of food, there is also a Dispatch Beer & Books Club, which meets at Novare Res Bier Cafe.

England beer

Most book selections are made by either the group or the leader, but I know of one book group where each member chooses a book to read on their own, and then when they get together they each talk about their own book. I think this is a wonderful way to share what you are reading, without the pressure of having to read a book by a deadline.

Any way you look at it, there are many opportunities to be a part of a book group in Portland, and besides enjoying the book itself, to be able to gather with like minded souls and often enjoy food and drink, whether it’s beer or tea.

Books, Libraries

Libraries on the Diamond Islands

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Next, we head to the Diamond Islands to see what they offer their communities as far as libraries. On Great Diamond Island, Elwell Hall, in the village, has a small library, created by Jane Laughlin. It’s seasonal, open in the summer to Diamond Island Association members and their guests, when the hall, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is open. It’s mostly items donated, including cookbooks, fiction, and children’s books.Diamond Island Rose

On the fort side, there is a small library in the Diamond Cove Association building. Both of these libraries are informal, without a checking out system. Mostly a book swap of sorts. On Little Diamond, there is no physical place for a library, but people do read a lot in the summer, and have an informal book swap.

So, if there is a need for a good book to read, after the ferry leaves, there are opportunities available on Little and Great Diamond Islands.

Books

April is National Poetry Month

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I like this idea – creating book spine poetry. Apparently you pile up some books with great titles, and create a poem! Here’s an example:

Look Whos There Poem 500x373 2012 Book Spine Poem Gallery

For more ideas see:

http://100scopenotes.com/2012/04/02/2012-book-spine-poem-gallery-2/

On a different note, I just read an awesome book of poetry: Blood Red Dawn, by Jon Shutt. Jon Shutt served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as a way to cope with PTSD he turned to poetry. On the back of the book it says: “72 of Jon’s poems appear in this collection. Searing, soaring, gut-wrenching, sardonic, philosphical.” I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has either served, or has a loved one who is either serving or who has in the past, and especially for those who suffer from PTSD.

Finally, the Long Island Community Library has recently purchased Richard Blanco’s poetry books: City of a hundred fires, and Looking for the Gulf Motel. As most of you know, Maine poet Richard Blanco read a poem for President Obama’s inauguration this past January, and now he is getting incredible exposure and accolades in Maine and beyond.

So, lots of ways to immerse yourself in poetry: creating and reading poetry is an excellent way to start! (and try to get to some poetry readings this month – there’s nothing like hearing a poet read his or her own poetry)

A small library on an island on the coast of Maine