The Maine Humanities Council (MHC), a statewide non-profit organization and Maine’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), announced today that Samaa Abdurraqib, PhD, has been named the organization’s newest executive director. Abdurraqib previously served as the MHC’s associate director and acting executive director. She is preceded in the role by Hayden Anderson…. Read more

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We’re thrilled to announce that An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon will be our featured book for Readers Retreat 2023! Readers Retreat is an event centered around MHC’s featured book. Every year, a committee of Maine readers and thinkers selects a book ballot, community members cast their vote, and the winning book is featured across our… Read more

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The Books | The Selection Committee For Readers Retreat 2023, we will deepen our engagement with Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism and delve into the project of really imagining new ways of being, new ways to engage with natural environments, new ways to create community, and new ways to survive and thrive, to pause.    Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism… Read more

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  For the sixth summer in a row, libraries across Maine are participating in Read ME, our statewide summer read offered in partnership with Maine State Library. This summer’s program features Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran and Beneficence by Meredith Hall. Both books are recommended by author Christina Baker Kline 64 Participating  Libraries Abbott Memorial… Read more

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  Every summer, Read ME gets Maine adults all reading two books recommended by a well-known Maine author. This coming summer, recommending author Christina Baker Kline has chosen Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran and Beneficence by Meredith Hall.   Explore the 2022 Read ME Toolkit | Participating libraries   Offered in partnership with Maine State… Read more

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As Ashley Bryan moved about the stage, the crowd went wild. It was the Maine Humanities Council’s 2005 Born to Read conference “Early Literacy in a Changing World,” and he was our keynote speaker. His reading was a rich, invigorating storytelling performance that evoked a powerful reaction: enthusiastic answers from children and adults alike to… Read more

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PORTLAND, MAINE January 19, 2021 The Maine Humanities Council (MHC), a statewide non-profit organization and Maine’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), has announced that Hayden Anderson, PhD, will be stepping down as Executive Director later this year. To ensure continuity in MHC operations and programming, Anderson will remain in his leadership… Read more

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  Dear Friends, At its meeting in late October, the Maine Humanities Council board adopted the first-ever Equity and Inclusion Statement for MHC. It aims to articulate where we’re at now with our equity work and to lay out how we are currently thinking about these issues. It also describes some of the concrete steps and actions the Council has taken to… Read more

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The Maine Humanities Council is calling for nominations for the 2022 Constance H. Carlson Public Humanities Prize! This prize, named for Dr. Constance H. Carlson, the first female president of a public university in Maine (UMaine Presque Isle), celebrates how people in Maine have contributed to the public humanities—by going deep within their communities and regions, or by reaching the whole state.  This prize will go to a Maine resident… Read more

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GREAT READS : Online Picture Book Panel for the National Book Festival Offered by The Centers for the Book in Delaware, Maine, Minnesota, and Oklahoma    As home of the Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book, the Maine Humanities Council has selected Suzanne Greenlaw and Gabriel Frey’s First Blade of Sweetgrass to feature at… Read more

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Join us in traveling the 2,369 miles of U.S. Route 1 from Ft. Kent, Maine to Key West, Florida… by book! This year, poetry will be your guide! As home of Harriet P. Henry Center for the Book, the Maine Humanities Council is once again excited to participate in Route 1 Reads, a road trip-inspired… Read more

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Join us for the second of our two 2021 Read ME author talks! Featured author Matt Cost will read from and discuss his book Mainely Power, a lively mystery novel about Goff Langdon, a private detective in Brunswick, Maine working against corrupt cops, crooked politicians, greedy millionaires and a deadly assassin named Shakespeare. Join on Zoom and Facebook Live Read… Read more

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Join us for the first of two 2021 Read ME author talks! Featured author Kerri Arsenault will read from and discuss her book MILL TOWN, a narrative nonfiction, investigative memoir, and cultural criticism that illuminates the rise and collapse of the working-class, the hazards of loving and leaving home, and the ambiguous nature of toxics… Read more

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2022 Theme: Oceans of Possibilities Order your 2022 CSLP Manual     The Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) collaborates with libraries to create an inclusive literacy based program that is enjoyable for all ages, provides a reproducible program with a unified theme, and shares resources and offers professional support. Read more

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  We couldn’t be more excited to ask What if…? at this year’s Big Question, feature Octavia E. Butler’s brilliant novel Wild Seed across our Discussion Projects, and explore it together at Readers Retreat 2022! Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism: What if…? With so many strange and horrifying things happening in the world, so many things changing… Read more

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  We are working to build a cohort of speakers who live all over Maine, who have come to us from all walks of life.  We’re looking for people who have deep experience and/or expertise and are eager to help the incredible people who live in our state explore complex topics, gain insight, and broaden… Read more

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We’re thrilled to be offering our Maine speaker program this spring/summer to a cohort of 13 organizations throughout Maine! Auburn Public Library Maine’s First Ship Maine Women’s Lobby Education Fund Mechanics’ Hall Monhegan Memorial Library Parsons Memorial Library Rockland Public Library Sebec Village Associates Stonington Public Library University of Maine at Augusta Katz Library Waterville… Read more

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This summer, libraries across Maine are participating in Read ME, a statewide summer read offered in partnership with Maine State Library. This summer’s program features Mill Town by Kerri Arsenault and Mainely Power by Matt Cost! Both books are recommended by Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow mystery series. Bring Read ME to your library! 72 Participating  Libraries Abbott Memorial Library Abel Morneault… Read more

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Discussion Project | Maine Speaks   Discussion Projects Buck Memorial Library Reading: Afrofuturism and Africanfuturism Tuesdays | 6:30 pm |  11/2, 12/7, 1/4, 2/1 West Paris Public Library Reading: Re-imagining the American Family Thursdays | 6:00 pm | 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/16 Anisa Khadraoui (register with Lizz Sinclair) Reading: Wild Seed and The Vanishing Half… Read more

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Details All participating libraries showcase and make available two books (one fiction—Mainely Power by Matt Cost, one nonfiction—Mill Town by Kerri Arsenault ) recommended by Gerry Boyle, author of the Jack McMorrow mystery series. Participating libraries Participating library toolkit Registered libraries will receive their books via van delivery. Events Summer Program Kick-off on Maine Calling Friday |… Read more

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These days, all MHC programming is happening online. It’s been challenging but rewarding, connecting people from across the state as never before, bringing a platform of equality to our participants: No matter who you are or where you are, you’re welcome to join us. We’re looking forward to a year of creating meaningful connections, fostering… Read more

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This year’s Read ME summer reading program features online talks by featured authors Jaed Coffin (Roughhouse Friday) and Patricia O’Donnell (The Vigilance of Stars). Both talks will be offered on Zoom and will also be streaming via Facebook Live on the Maine Humanities Council, Maine State Library, and participating library Facebook pages. Patricia O’Donnell | The Vigilance of… Read more

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We are working to build a cohort of facilitators who live all over Maine, who have come to facilitating with us from all walks of life.  We’re looking for people who love to engage with books, poems, and big ideas, and who are eager to discuss them with the incredible people who live in our… Read more

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Our core work at the Maine Humanities Council is to foster rich, meaningful discussion about the things that really matter. We cannot succeed in this work without making every effort against racism. And so it is with real excitement and hope and energy that we are inviting proposals from independent consultants who can help us… Read more

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Dear Friends, Early the week of June 1, the Maine Humanities Council released a public statement on the tragic death of George Floyd at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer: “The recent acts of racist violence against Black people, including the murder of George Floyd, demonstrate the persistent widespread denial of Black humanity… Read more

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The Maine Humanities Council is more committed than ever to supporting people in Maine’s communities as they find ways to connect meaningfully with each other amid great uncertainty and change by engaging with books, poetry, and big ideas. This moment requires great flexibility. We are keen to find ways to foster connection that is nourishing and… Read more

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We worked with virtual facilitation experts to develop a Zoom-facilitation skill-share that directly addressed needs and concerns that arise in discussions like ours – where participants’ engagement with a text and with each other are vital. In our skill-shares, participants: Worked with the MHC to be sure that they had what they needed in order… Read more

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This morning in Maine, much of what we know to be true about the value of bringing people together feels upended. Gatherings that in normal times are a sign and a source of community wellbeing now seem risky, the community vulnerable. And yet it’s clear that in this moment when physical distancing is necessary for… Read more

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In the days and weeks to come, we will be reaching out to partners and facilitators across the state to listen, learn, and share with them what we are learning. We’ll be developing new programming, hoping to make it as easy as we can for you to gather a group to discuss a text together… Read more

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Read ME is a statewide community read that gets Maine adults all reading two books recommended by a well-known Maine author. For 2020, our recommending author Lily King has chosen Roughhouse Friday by Jaed Coffin and The Vigilance of Stars by Patricia O’Donnell. The summer reading season will culminate at the end of August with… Read more

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Aroostook County Jail, Houlton | Migration & Borders Thursdays at 1:00pm | April 30 – May 21 Ellsworth Adult Education, Ellsworth | Suffrage Fridays at 1:00pm | January 24, February 28, March 27, and April 10 Knox County Homeless Coalition, Rockport | Carrying the Past Thursdays at 1:30pm | March 26 – April 16 LIFE… Read more

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  Where Are We, Anyway? Readings: Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 paired with Jill Lepore’s “Does Journalism Have a Future?” (newyorker.com, January 28, 2019) More Than Fun and Games Readings: Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death paired with David Puttnam’s TED Talk (‘Duty of Care’ in the Media) and Tim Groseclose’s Q&A on freakonomics.com (August 8,… Read more

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The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) today announced $29 million in grants for 215 humanities projects across the country. “NEH grants help strengthen and sustain American cultural life, in communities, at museums, libraries, and historic sites, and in classrooms,” said NEH Chairman Jon Parrish Peede. “As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary… Read more

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Level 1 (grades 4-6) First Place: Maya Faulstich, Bangor, about Echo Second Place: Nestor Powers, Windsor, about The Parker Inheritance Finalists: Faizan Ahmad, Bangor, wrote about the book Harry Porter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Jack Brune, Windsor, wrote about the book Wonder Ethan Castonguay, Poland, wrote about the book Where the Red Fern Grows Lydia Desrochers, Alfred, wrote about… Read more

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Over 70 libraries are participating in this summer’s  Read ME, our statewide community read offered in partnership with Maine State Library. For 2019, recommending author Tess Gerritsen has chosen Paris Was the Place by Susan Conley and After the Eclipse: A Mother’s Murder, a Daughter’s Search. Participating libraries Alice. L. Pendleton Library Auburn Public Library Bangor Public Library Berwick Public… Read more

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Search the book registry For over two decades, Let’s Talk About It has been at the core of the Maine Humanities Council’s library-based initiatives. A scholar-led reading and discussion program, Let’s Talk About It reaches at least 35 libraries throughout Maine each year. It’s a program known for delighting, inspiring, and educating participants. As one… Read more

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Inspired by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Imagine Maine’s Story is a collection of Maine bicentennial program ideas and resources for all ages to support libraries of all sizes in their goals to bring the celebration of Maine’s statehood into their communities.  MHC and the Maine State Library have partnered in representing Maine’s libraries as… Read more

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Read ME is a statewide community read that gets Maine adults all reading two books recommended by a well-known Maine author. For 2019, recommending author Tess Gerritsen has chosen Paris Was the Place by Susan Conley and After the Eclipse: A Mother’s Murder, a Daughter’s Search by Sarah Perry. The season will culminate on August 29 with an… Read more

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Ellsworth Adult Education- Shoes of Another  February 27, March 27, April 24 at 9:30AM SAD 1 Adult Education, Presque Isle- What It Takes March 12, April 9, May 14 at 9AM RSU 19 Adult Education, Newport- Shoes of Another February 26, March 26, April 30 at 5:30PM Kittery Adult Education- Caught Between Cultures February 26, March 26, April 30 at 6PM… Read more

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Originally published on November 1, 2018 in the Sun Journal. By Jon Bolduc, Staff Writer “Smith visited the Lewiston library as part of her project ‘American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities.’ She read personal poems from her newest book, ‘Wade in the Water,’ and several poems that she selected from her new poetry anthology titled ‘American… Read more

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Originally published on October 30, 2018 in the Portland Press Herald By Bob Keyes, Staff Writer “Smith, the 22nd U.S. poet laureate, will visit Maine this week as part of her ongoing project ‘American Conversations: Celebrating Poems in Rural Communities.’ She will talk about the power of poetry at 1 p.m. Thursday at Norway Memorial… Read more

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2018 Awards Level 1 (grades 4-6) First Place: Jasmine Lockwood, SeDoMoCha Middle School, about Too Tought to Hurt Second Place: Aelia Russell, Center for Teaching and Learning, about Because of Mr. Terupt Semifinalists: Olivia Bean, Daniel F. Mahoney Middle School, about Out of My Mind Abigail Bergmark, Mary Snow School, about Hello, Universe Ruth Burchstead, Center for Teaching and Learning, about I… Read more

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  Entry from the 2018 Letters About Literature competition   Dear Ms. Angie Thomas, I am a fourteen-year-old Maine ninth grader. Since elementary school, I have heard comments about who I am intrinsically: “Can I touch your hair?”, “What the heck do you ha ve on your head?” Even a teacher told me once that he could… Read more

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  Entry from the 2018 Letters About Literature competition   Dear Shannon Hale, Reading the book Dangerous was like riding a roller coaster of emotions. One book allowed me to pursue dreams, survive danger, have hope, grieve losses, and endure pain. All of these things I felt by embodying Maisie Brown through your words. Before reading your… Read more

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  Entry from the 2018 Letters About Literature competition   Dear Mary Lou Carney, “She must hate me. Really hate me.” I have parent problems, just like Garren. If you are anything like me you know life can be hard at times, but you can always get through them. If you have ever been abused like I… Read more

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Portland’s Knack Factory has produced a series of videos on Civil Rights Through Art & Law, our summer 2016 partnership with the University of Maine School of Law and Portland Museum of Art. As part of  The 14th Amendment in American Life and Imagination, the MHC’s statewide programming that explored concepts of equality, citizenship, and… Read more

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  By Diane Magras, Director of Development Claire Moriarty and Jim Bulteel, members of Orono High School’s English Department (with Erika Dixon, Amanda Johnston, Don Joseph, and Chris Luthin), are among a group of educators who have, in various combinations, attended Winter Weekend for the past 15 years. For years, I’ve heard about these teachers… Read more

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Originally published in the Bangor Daily News on May 15, 2016 By Hayden Anderson “Equality is a bedrock American value, yet somehow it feels like we’re not very good at it. From the founding to the present day, we have always talked pretty well about equality while falling well short of the ideal. It’s worth… Read more

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