Thompson Free Library is working to start our very own Community “Zine.”

What is a zine, you ask? A zine (pronounced “zeen” just like the end of the word magazine) is a homemade publication. Making a zine is all about self-expression and creativity, sharing thoughts, feelings, and creative passions through non-fiction writings, fan fiction, short stories, poetry, song writing, photography, comic or graphic novel strips, doodles, paintings, drawings, and more.

Zines can have an array of messages or topics, and ours will be shared in both neatly-bound and web- based presentations. Every zine we publish will begin with a creative prompt. Our first go-round idea is this:

Are you an avid film-buff with a head full of endless lists of the film titles you can’t stop talking about? Are you the 5K racer or marathoner forever in training or competitions? Is it cats and kittens for you, or dogs and puppies that have forever captured your heart? Do you find yourself foraging through antique stores looking for unexpected treasures? Got grandchildren? What’s your favorite genre: sci-fi, horror, mysteries, or perhaps it is romantic comedies? You a Trekkie? Is it your dream to be a groupie or even a roadie for Lady Gaga or Fallout Boy? A chess player looking for your next checkmate/game-over thrill? A solitary hiker of the wooded wilderness? A Nascar nut, budding chef, gadget-guru, or the next Eric Clapton on guitar?

We’re taking passions here, and ‘Passions’ is the prompt for our first issue. We invite your creative submissions for publication.

Submissions for this first Zine will be due by 5 pm on August 28th, 2020.

And by the way, if you can think up a catchy name for our community zine (or a future topic that might be fun) please let us know!

Request and Rules:

The Thompson Free Library is looking for community members from the Maine Highlands Region to submit a piece/pieces of work (maximum of 3 pages) to be published in an inclusive, all-ages publication. Submitting hand-written writing is fine as long as it is legible, plus we’re requiring 1-inch margins so the physical zine can be bound.

If you are submitting art or photographs, we are asking for pictures or scans of the art, we do not want originals; we want you to keep those.

Again, please remember that this is an all-ages, inclusive publication, so we ask that language and content be kept appropriate for everyone. Hateful content of any kind will not be published, and we furthermore reserve the editorial right to select or dismiss submissions at our discretion.

Please send submissions by email to thompsonfreelibrary@gmail.com or by snail mail to 186 E. Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426.  If you have any questions, please email us or call us at 207-564-3350.

We can’t wait to do this project with our community members!

Thompson Free Library has partnered with the Piscataquis County Soil and Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) and SeDoMoCha to create two story walks!

A story walk features signs along an outdoor path that feature picture book pages, questions, and activities. Follow along to read the story while exploring the outdoors!

Visit PCSWCD’s Law Farm to read “Because of an Acorn” written by Lola and Adam Schaefer and illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannin.

Visit the picnic area near the nature trail at SeDoMoCha to read “A Nest is Noisy” written by Dianna Hutts Aston and Illustrated by Sylvia Long.

Both story walks will be available through August.

Share photos from your story walk using the hashtag #dfstorywalk2020.

TFL Programs


101 Series | Join us on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:30 pm for Soap Making 101. Brooke Isham of Lomah Farmstead in Sangerville will teach us how to make beautiful, cold processed natural soap from ingredients that can be found locally, using simple equipment.

Bicentennial Speaker Series | Thursday, June 18 at 6 pm author Mark Alan Leslie will present “Maine Burning: The Ku Klux Klan Invasion” live via Zoom.

Daily Poems | Throughout the month of April (National Poetry Month), Tom has been sharing a poem a day on the library’s Instagram account.

Philosophy Circle | TFL’s Philosophy Circle meets every other week to explore philosophical topics and questions. Next meeting: Friday, June 5 at 3:30 pm via Zoom.

Read Alouds & More with Ms. Michelle | For read alouds, book talks, and craft projects with Ms. Michelle, visit the library’s new YouTube Channel.

Reading Group | TFL’s Reading Group meets on the second Thursday of every month. On June 11 we will discuss “Campfires Rekindled.” Please contact the library to borrow a copy of the book.

Story Slam | Join the Voices from HOME Oral History Project for our next live storytelling event on Friday, June 26 at 6 pm.

Story Times | Ms. Michelle shares story times every Thursday on the library’s Facebook page.

Tom’s Circulation Desk | Interested in connecting with the library through a digital chat with Tom? Visit Tom’s (Virtual) Circulation Desk from 1-2pm on Friday afternoons!

Other Free Programs


Center Theatre | Visit the Center Theatre’s website for ways to participate in virtual cinema, virtual theatre, and other online events.

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine | Explore wildlife, makerspace, music, and theatre activities with the “At Home Together” series of online educational programming.

Cosmic Kids! Yoga | Stream yoga, mindfulness, and relaxation videos designed specially for kids aged 3+.

Maine Public | Maine Public is offering live virtual concerts with their Tiny Screen Concerts series.

Maine State Library | Visit the Statewide Library Virtual Events calendar to see what’s happening across the state. | Participate in fun activities with Science Online every Wednesday at 3:30 pm via the Maine State Library’s Facebook page.

NPR | NPR’s list of live virtual concerts offers links to stream performances from around the world.

Patten Free Library | PFL has created a Shakespeare-Themed Escape Room and Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room for you to enjoy! | History Room Live offers discussions on local history and genealogy. (Past sessions are also available to view.)

Thomas Memorial Library | TML’s Community Wellness Toolkit offers mindfulness programs and discussions facilitated by community professionals.

More coming soon… Stay tuned for more virtual program updates!

Free online resources from Maine cultural institutions, including virtual exhibits, interactive maps, games, lesson plans and more!

Abbe Museum

Educator Hub | Downloadable classroom and reference materials including lesson plans designed to bring Wabanki history and culture into the classroom.

Interactive Maps | Changes in the Dawnland, Languages and Landscapes, Stories of the Dawnland, and Wabanaki Today.


Colby College Museum of Art

Colby Museum @ Home | Hands-on art projects, audio & video recordings, jigsaw puzzles, virtual exhibitions and more.


Hudson Museum

Online Exhibits | View the museum’s exhibits online.

Resources for Teachers | Find websites, books and videos on Wabanaki history and culture.

Web App | Explore material culture traditions central to the Native Peoples of Maine through interviews, games, and animations.

YouTube Channel | Watch videos showcasing Wabanaki artists talking about basketmaking, birchbark and carving traditions, and more.


Maine Historical Society

Maine Memory Network | Access to thousands of historical items, lesson plans, and online exhibits.


Maine State Museum

Lessons & Resources | Lesson plans, primary source sets, and other resources to connect students with Maine State Museum exhibits and collections.


Osher Map Library

Gallery Exhibits | Virtual re-creations of Osher’s popular gallery exhibits.

Map Play 4 Kids | Slideshows, trivia, geomatching, scrambler, and links to other fun geography games.

Teach | Social studies lessons using maps, charts, and atlases as well as worksheets, board games, and other activities for K-12 students and teachers.


Penobscot Marine Museum

Online Exhibits| Take a tour of PMM’s paintings, photographs, and museum artifacts.

Penobscot Bay History Online | Educational site where students, teachers, and researchers can learn about maritime history and culture.

Story Map | Travel with Ernest W. Perkins from Boston to Buenos Aires through his diary written in 1892. Includes activity prompts.


Explore the world from home with Google Earth Voyager — a collection of interactive guided tours on topics like travel, culture, nature, and history. Voyager integrates media including 360 videos and Street View to let you learn about the Earth from a new perspective!

Try one of the following tours, or visit Voyager for many more!

Amazing Libraries

Global libraries with a difference — from 9th-century landmarks housing medieval manuscripts, to ultra-modern buildings that light up the city sky at night.

Animals and Wildlife of the World

See a sampling of the planet’s eight million species of wildlife, from ancient tortoises of the Galápagos to monkeys that bathe in the hot springs of Japan.

Discover the United States

From coast to coast, the US is home to stunning natural sites, diverse cultural scenes, and historic landmarks.

Great Hikes Around the World

From Switzerland to Israel, ascend these picturesque hiking trails and discover breathtaking views along the way.

Museums Around the World

Visit 28 museums near and far — from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York to the National Museum in New Delhi — to learn about art all over the globe.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Visit 30 historic landmarks around the world, including the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge and more!

US National Parks and Historic Sites

Get up close with nature and explore the beauty of US National Parks.

Walk the Appalachian Trail

Tour popular Appalachian Trail pitstops, where hikers find shelter and stock up on supplies during the 2,190-mile journey. (Featuring Monson, Maine!)

The World’s Ocean

The ocean covers 71 percent of the Earth’s surface, yet only 5 percent has been explored. Discover the wonders found under the sea with Street View imagery collected by Underwater Earth and The Ocean Agency.

WWII Memorials Around the World

From Pearl Harbor to Brandenburg Gate, these monuments piece together the solemn story of WWII as countries experienced it around the world.