News

Friday, February 12 2021
The Dyer Library Reopening Announcement
Due to the decrease in COVID-19 cases in the state, the Dyer Library has resumed indoor service! Please note that all social distancing rules are still in effect. Please see "Reopening Announcement" from May 2020 below to review the rules. Welcome back!

Thursday, May 28 2020
Reopening Announcement
The DYER LIBRARY is set to open on Monday, June 1st. The State of Maine has laid out strict rules for libraries to follow. As we all know during these uncertain times, conditions can change at a moment's notice. HERE ARE THE RULES we currently have in place for the library's reopening:

- Library hours will remain the same. Our hours are listed here: http://www.sacomuseum.org/libmus_hours.shtml

- Any library materials that you checked out before the lockdown is now due. After June 14, everything that hasn't been returned or renewed will start to accrue fines. Renewals can be done over the phone.

- Only 20 people will be allowed to enter the library at a time. Visits will be restricted to 20 minutes.

- There will be NO computer access, NO use of the photocopier, and the restroom will be CLOSED. Please plan ahead.

- FACE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED. This applies to both staff and patrons.

- PLEASE SANITIZE YOUR HANDS when entering the building. A sanitization station will be provided. This is to ensure safe browsing of library materials.
- Please do not send your children to spend the day at the library. Everybody will be restricted to a 20 minute visit.

- All children's and adult programs are currently suspended until further notice, including art classes, clubs, Deering Room meetings, etc.

- We are not accepting any book donations at this time.

- All returned materials will be "quarantined" for 72 hours. This means any materials that you put on hold will not be available right away. This sanitization period may be shortened over time - we will let you know.

- PLEASE do not enter the library if you are sick or show any symptoms.

The SACO MUSEUM is set to reopen on Tuesday, June 2nd. We are following the guidelines set forth by the State of Maine to ensure a clean and safe museum experience. Many of the same rules for the Dyer Library will also apply to the Saco Museum. Again, safety protocols can change in a moment's notice during these uncertain times and we will update you as often as possible. Here are the new rules for the museum:

- Museum hours and entry fee will currently remain the same. However, there may be some changes as we progress through the summer. We will keep you informed. Our current hours and admission fees are listed here: http://www.sacomuseum.org/libmus_hours.shtml

- We will be limiting occupancy to 10 visitors at a time. We may increase this number as we progress through the summer.

- All children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

- FACE MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED. This applies to both staff and visitors.

- PLEASE SANITIZE YOUR HANDS when entering the building. A sanitization station will be provided.

- The restroom will be CLOSED. Please plan ahead.

- Hands-on exhibits have been removed.

- The Museum Shop will remain open.

We are going to do our best to serve you just as well as we did before, keep the premises and the materials clean, and go back to as close to business as usual as we can. Thank you in advance for your understanding and adhering to our new rules. Welcome back everyone!

Wednesday, July 12 2017
New Geothermal Heating Systems for the Library and Museum!
Thanks to a significant matching grant provided by the Next Generation Foundation of Maine, and our own fundraising efforts, the library and museum are switching to geothermal heating systems in the near future! The drilling has been completed and the pipes have been installed, we are just waiting to have our old furnaces removed and the new geothermal heat pumps installed. For the museum this new system will include the addition of five separate heating zones, a huge improvement from our current single zone.

But what is geothermal and how does it work? Geothermal heat pumps (sometimes referred to as GeoExchange, earth-coupled, ground-source, or water-source heat pumps) have been in use since the late 1940s. They use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium for heating and cooling a building. While many parts of the country experience seasonal temperature extremes-from scorching heat in the summer to sub-zero cold in the winter-a few feet below the earth's surface the ground remains at a relatively constant temperature, from 45F to 75F. This ground temperature is warmer than the air above it during the winter and cooler than the air in the summer. The geothermal heat pump takes advantage of this by exchanging heat with the earth through a series of closed circuit pipes that, in the library and museum's system, run 100-300 feet deep into the earth.

Once fully installed our new geothermal heating system will be far more efficient at heating and cooling the library and museum. The estimate is that it will pay for itself in 5-10 years of energy cost savings.

Friday, June 16 2017
Anime Afternoons: Fun, Fans, and Food
This year we discovered that many of our teen patrons are anime fans so we decided to make our occasional Anime Afternoons a regular offering. Since January we have been gathering together on the last Friday of each month to enjoy different anime series, simple snacks, and a lot of fan talk. We started out with about six participants but as word has gotten out we have had more and more anime enthusiasts join us.

At our last Anime Afternoon on May 26th we had fourteen fans come together for anime and a special treat brought to us by one of our members. Vinh and his father used a family recipe to prepare Vietnamese lo mein along with the traditional fish sauce, chopped peanuts, cilantro, and green onions to share with the group. It was delicious and we are thrilled that the teens are taking ownership of the club and customizing it to fit their interests.

Our next meeting is Friday, June 30th from 2:30-4:00.
We normally suspend our regular school-year programming for special summer programming but due to several passionate pleas we hope to continue Anime Afternoon. Check our calendar to find out the specific dates and times for July and August. The Anime Afternoons are for kids ages 10 and up.