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Vist Blue Hill Library

Terry Goodhue from the Northhaven Community School poses next to the Dolphin skeleton on loan from the Northhaven Community School.

Library Director Rich Boulet in front of the screen for the outdoor community movie. Visit Blue Hill Library.

Blue Hill Public Library

Founded in 1796, the Blue Hill Public Library is a true community library that offers something for everyone.

Background

Founded in 1796, the Blue Hill Public Library is a true community library that offers something for everyone – from the latest New York Times bestsellers and wireless internet access to concerts and art exhibits, and, of course, a friendly staff that is eager to help.

The library’s collection is in high demand and appreciated by Blue Hill’s community members—75% of whom have a valid borrower’s card at the library. Browse the stacks and among the 40,000 titles you will find everything from the most-talked about political commentaries and the hottest new novels to classic thrillers by Maine authors Mary Roberts Rhinehart and Stephen King. In 2005, circulation exceeded 100,000 for the first time, having increased 35% since 2002. Everyone, whether they are a year-round residents or summer visitor, can have a library card free of charge.

The library is housed in a beautiful brick building in the heart of Blue Hill Village. It was built in 1938 by a community effort spearheaded by local social worker and benefactress Adelaide Pearson to replace the tiny Ladies Social Library, which was housed in the town hall.

Pearson realized that a full-fledged library would serve as the community’s cultural center – and though it was the Great Depression – rallied local residents and summer people to get the money for the project. She managed to raise $20,000 in private donations and an additional $15,000 from the federal governments Public Works Administration (PWA).

She would remain a prime supporter of the library for the rest of her life. In fact, it is widely held that her ghost still watches over her beloved library. If the legend is true, Pearson would be very pleased to see that the library has become the community fixture she envisioned. In addition to loaning books and other materials, the library actually circulates keys to the library to allow patrons to have after-hours meetings and programs. In fact, meeting room use has become one of the library’s most valued services: in 2005 the library hosted 304 community meetings.

In 2003, the library was awarded the Roger Baldwin Award by the Maine Civil Liberties Union for formerly endorsing the ALA position on the USA PATRIOT Act.

Expansion and Renovation, 2001

The entire library was expanded and renovated during 2001 under a $2.1 million capital campaign. More recently, the newly (2006) renovated Larchwood Children’s Room is a special oasis for youngsters and their parents.

In addition to fresh paint and carpeting, the room has new curving book shelves and furniture made to the size and scale of children. There are also more areas to sit and read, including a cozy window seat. Following a classification scheme used by the Southwest Harbor Public Library, the illustrated story books for very young children are arranged by subjects such as "Dogs" and "Adventures" so kids can easily browse their favorite topics.

The majority of the renovation project was funded by a $25,000 anonymous gift. The Friends of the Library gave an additional $1,000 to purchase new furnishings while Atlantic Builders of Surry and Wessell Electric of Blue Hill donated the labor to bring the renovation project to fruition.

Activities, Programs, Collections, Art

• There are a number of activities and programs for children scheduled throughout the year, including a chess club, story hours, puppet shows and concerts.
• The library’s DVD collection is a dream come true for movie buffs. Hollywood classics like “The Maltese Falcon” share shelf space with critically acclaimed documentaries like “Grey Gardens” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” and foreign films such as “Talk to Her” and “The Seventh Seal.” The collection contains many titles off the beaten track as well as enduring favorites.
• The Friends of the Library hosts film festivals throughout the year, screening the movies on a large screen in the library’s Roland Howard Room. The Friends later donate the films to the library’s collection.
• Directly adjacent to the Howard Room is the Britton Art Gallery where the work of local artists is displayed on a rotating basis. Depending on what month you visit, you might find watercolors of local landscapes or dramatic quilts made from newspaper clippings and photographs depicting the War in Iraq.
• The library’s internet computer area on the second floor is always abuzz with activity. Wireless internet access is also available allowing patrons to surf the web from their own laptop computers.
• The library is also fortunate to have a museum collection of eclectic objects from around the world, and throughout history. Visitors will find many unique items, including an impressive set of antique armor, which according to a now disproved legend was worn by the famed explorer Ferdinand Magellen, an original 18th century landscape painting of Bucksport, a whimsical hand-carved umbrella stand depicting a mother bear and her cub, and a spiked armor helmet from the crusades. During the summer of 2005, the library welcomed a beautiful skeleton of a white-beaked dolphin, on loan from the Northhaven Community School. Other items belonging to the library’s extensive museum collection include antique handmade dolls, ornate china and a bell from a turn of the century schooner.
• The library also hosts a number of cultural and community programs, including genealogy seminars, current event discussions and monthly lunchtime concerts co-sponsored by the Bagaduce Music Lending Library with support from the Friends. Last summer the library started a new tradition that harkens back to the nostalgic days of drive-in theaters by showing an outdoor community movie projected onto a home-made 30 foot screen suspended from the front of the library.
• Another ongoing event is the Playreading Group organized by former library Trustee Ed Schneider. The group meets about once a month to discuss and read both classic and modern works of drama.

In all of its endeavors, the library strives to make its materials, staff and facility as accessible and responsive as possible to the community it serves.