Services for the Public
The mission of the Maine State Library is to provide, broaden, and improve
access to information and library services to all Maine residents. The
following services support this mission:
-
Ask a Librarian
- Ask a Librarian reference service responds to questions and requests
for information through email, phone, a postal mail inquiry, or in person.
- Books By Mail
- Books By Mail is a program of Maine State Library's Outreach Services. Books By Mail provides library materials via U.S. Postal Service to residents of Maine communities where there is no full-service library, and to people who are homebound for medical reasons.
- Research Classes
- Free public
Research Classes on the Internet, genealogy, MARVEL databases and the services of the Maine State Library are held in the library's computer lab. New courses are under development.
- Find a Maine Library
- On "Find a Maine Library" you
can search library databases, by town, library name, or numerous other
selectors with the ability to generate lists based on user selected
categories.
- Genealogy
- The State Library's genealogy collection spans a large geographical
area. It emphasizes Maine but also provides good coverage
for Massachusetts and New Hampshire, along with many titles for the rest
of New England and other northeastern states.
- Large Print Books
- Large Print Books is
a service through Outreach Services for residents of Maine who are
certified as visually impaired and public libraries who serve the visually
impaired.
- Borrowing Services
- Services for borrowing & lending books are explained with frequently
asked questions related to library materials, such as registering
for a library card, renewal policies and more
- Library Use Value Calculator
- What's your library worth to you? How much would you pay out-of-pocket for your library services? Calculate the library services you receive.
- Reference & Research
- Reference & Research Services provides Reference Librarians ready to assist in finding the most appropriate sources for research and instruction on using sources. Access to library materials is through URSUS, its online catalog. Librarians can help integrate research through access to both Internet information and print sources.
- Talking Books Plus
- Maine State Library Outreach Services provides a variety of programs
for residents with disabilities and the ability to search their online Talking Books Plus catalog. Available programs with required certification by a qualified professional. Books By Mail For Homebound Resident; Descriptive Video; Large Print; Talking Books; Braille in Maine and Web Braille.
- Wireless Access
- Maine State Library offers wireless Internet access on your laptop or
PDA. Maine State Library's wireless network is an "open" network.
Any information transmitted or received through this network is unencrypted
and unsecured.
