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Committee Announces Nominees for 2014 Maine Readers? Choice Award

Maine Readers' Choice Award Nominees

Benediction by Kent Haruf
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
Tenth of December by George Saunders
The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker
The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna
The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann
Visitation Street by Ivy Pochoda

Organizers for the Maine Readers? Choice Award have announced the ten book titles under consideration for this year?s award. The list includes: Benediction by Kent Haruf; Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger; Tenth of December by George Saunders; The Enchanted Life of Adam Hope by Rhonda Riley; The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt; The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker; The Hired Man by Aminatta Forna; The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls; TransAtlantic by Colum McCann; and Visitation Street by Ivy Pochoda.

"The books we're considering as finalists for this year's award range from fantasy to realism. They share a compelling readability. We'll have books we are proud to recommend to everyone from this list," said Debbie Taylor, member of the Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee and book buyer for Sherman's Book Stores.

The Maine Readers? Choice Award was established by the Maine State Library and the Maine Library Association to recognize the best in adult fiction published in the United States the previous year. To be considered for the Maine Readers? Choice Award, books must be fiction published in the United States during the previous year. The titles must be well written, appealing to a wide audience, with a compelling story that keeps the reader interested.

Book nominations come from the library and booksellers? communities across the state of Maine. The panel received 141 title recommendations over the past year.

With the list now narrowed to 10, the Readers? Choice Award Committee will read each of the titles under consideration and will reconvene in May to narrow the list to three finalists.

The citizens of Maine get to choose the winner when the three titles selected as finalists are advanced to libraries and bookstores for a readers? choice vote in September. Maine readers can vote online at the award?s website and at public libraries and bookstores throughout the state. The 2014 Maine Readers? Choice Award winner will be announced in October.

The aim of this award is to increase awareness and reading of literary fiction. The Maine Readers? Choice Award honors books that exhibit exceptional writing and a compelling story that encourages reading and conversation among individuals and in Maine?s communities.

The Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee is comprised of librarians, authors, and book lovers. The group meets several times in the course of the year to narrow in on the finalists. The process involves a lot of reading, conversation, and occasional contention.

?We had furious differences and soul-matching similarities and arrived at our two finalists after much delightful discussion,? said Monica Wood, committee member and author of We Were the Kennedys. ?I don?t love all the books on this list?in fact, I loathe one of them; but I love how eclectic it is, reflecting the wide variety of readers? tastes. Long live the book!?

The 2013 winner of the MRCA was Wiley Cash for his debut novel A Land More Kind Than Home.

"The range of stories has been great, making it difficult to narrow the list down,? said Mamie Anthoine Nye, committee member and director of Auburn Public Library. ?The book discussions have been lively ? akin to being in a very unique book club. It?s been a privilege to work with librarians, booksellers, and reading advocates to encourage Mainers to read and discuss great books.?

To see the long list of 141 titles considered by the Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee or learn more about the award process, visit the Maine Readers? Choice Award website at: http://www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org .

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Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Augusta - Nearly 350 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta today for the 25th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children?s and young adult literature.

Four titles received recognition through the 2014 Lupine Award honoring living authors or illustrators who are residents of Maine or who have created a work prominently featuring Maine. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association.

Out of Nowhere by Maria Padian and The Water Castle by Meg Blakemore received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Out of Nowhere is set in the fictional Maine town of Enniston, a community struggling to bridge cultural differences with a new population of Somali war refugees. The Water Castle is a mystery that brings together three unlikely companions in search of the secrets of a castle estate.

Lupine Award winners in the picture book category were The Secret Pool by author Kimberly Ridley and illustrator Rebekah Raye and Brave Girl by author Michelle Markel and illustrator Melissa Sweet. The Secret Pool reveals the diversity of life within vernal pools and the changes that occur through the seasons. Brave Girl is the true story of a young Ukrainian immigrant who fought for better working conditions for garment workers in the early 20th century.

Anne Sibley O?Brien, children?s book illustrator and author of fourteen picture books, received the 2014 Katahdin Award from the Maine Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in Maine. O?Brien?s books involve multiracial, multicultural and global subjects, an interest she attributes to her bilingual and bicultural childhood in Korea as the daughter of medical missionaries.

Author David Shannon received the 2014 Chickadee Award for his recent work, Jangles: a Big Fish Story. The award is given to by the Maine Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade. The book features the legendary big fish, Jangles, and a boy?s fishing encounter with him.

Wonder, a 2013 children?s novel by R.J. Palacio, received the 2014 Maine Student Book Award. The story centers on 10 year old August (Auggie) Pullman, a 10 year old boy born with a facial deformity, and his transition into school life starting in fifth grade. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Reading Association.

The Reading Round Up conference offered a number of workshops focused on the past, present and future of children?s literature including sessions featuring a look back at literature from the last 25 years, exploring of the role of e-reader devices for young readers, and discussing the best books of 2013.

Anita Silvey, renowned author, editor, and literary critic, kicked off the conference with keynote remarks highlighting the origins of children?s library services and talking about the influence of children?s books on the lives of notable Americans. Ms. Silvey has written and spoken widely about children?s literature and recently published Children?s Book-a-Day Almanac.

Reading Round-Up is sponsored by the Maine State Library and organized by a statewide committee of librarians dedicated to promoting literacy and love of reading in children and young adults. More information can be found online at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/rru .

State Librarian Discusses Changing Role of Libraries at UMA Forum

State Librarian Linda Lord Speaks at University of Maine at Augusta Forum on Library Trends

Photo courtesy of Rachel Paling

Augusta- Technology changes and evolving community needs are rapidly reshaping the role of public libraries in society today and the trend will likely continue well into the future. That was the message from State Librarian, Linda Lord, at a University of Maine at Augusta sponsored forum, Global Focus, Local Impact: Trends in International Librarianship, on Monday.

?To meet the needs of today and the future, professional librarian competencies must change,? said Lord. ?It?s not enough to love books, or heaven forbid, to want to work in a serene, orderly atmosphere of stability ? librarians need to be innovators in adopting new technology and tailoring programming and services to meet the needs of their patrons and greater community.?

Lord noted that many libraries now serve as technology hubs, where people come to access the internet on a public computer or Wi-Fi connection, receive computer training, or learn how to use tablet and e-reader devices. Since the launch of the Maine School and Library Network in the late 1990?s, every public library in Maine has had access to free internet access for patron use. In nearly 70 percent of Maine towns, the public library is still the only place for free internet access.

?Technology has also changed the way libraries think about their collections and its accessibility to the public,? Lord said. ?The majority of Maine public libraries are part of the Maine InfoNet Download Library consortium that allows patrons of those libraries to download e-books from home 24 hours a day. A growing number of libraries are digitizing books, images and maps in their collections and posting that content online for the world to find and appreciate.?

And while technology has made it easier for people to access information from home, libraries are doing a better job than ever finding ways to bring people together for learning, entertainment, and cultural enrichment.

?Today?s libraries and the libraries of tomorrow are as much about connections as collections ? they are connecting people with ideas and with each other,? said Lord. ?Libraries are looking outside of their walls to collaborate with partners on new programming on topics like financial planning, preliteracy for children, tax preparation, and consumer law.?

She cited Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor as an example of how innovative programming provides value for patrons, noting that the library offered 321 programs in 2013 with over 7,200 people attending.

?Libraries have been, and always will be, a gathering place for people of all ages and every economic and social background, a designation that cannot be claimed by any other public entity,? she said. ?But in thinking about what will be in the next chapter for libraries, what comes to mind is a quote from Alan Kay: ?the best way to predict the future is to invent it.??

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Supporting documents

State Librarian Linda Lord Speaks at University of Maine at Augusta Forum on Library Trends

Technology Initiative Providing Low-cost Computers for Maine Libraries

Program offers additional environmental, economic and community benefits

Westbrook - Maine public libraries now have access to high quality, low cost computers, software and support, thanks to a recent partnership between the Maine State Library and the Belfast-based nonprofit, PCs for Maine.

Standing in front of a cluster of public computers at Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook Friday, State Librarian, Linda Lord said that in the first six months of the program, libraries from Allagash to North Berwick acquired 150 new computers at a savings of over $80,000 from what they would have otherwise paid for new equipment, phone support and extended warranties to match what was provided through the PCs for Maine library initiative.

?Libraries are a critical access point for people in their communities who need to use a computer or connect to the internet,? said Lord. ?Until recently, however, the purchase of a machine was costly in terms of both the initial price and ongoing maintenance and technical support. This partnership makes it much more affordable for libraries to make investments in technology.?

Chris Martin, ITE/PCs for Maine founder, noted that the partnership was consistent with their mission to increase technology access and literacy. ?There are many who cannot afford a computer ? let alone high speed internet access ? that need access to a computer for school work, to file a form or register their car. Libraries are perfectly positioned to provide this service in the community, and PCs for MAINE was designed to reduce the cost of computer ownership, provide user and technical support, and offer a better overall user experience.

The computers are hand-built at PCs for Maine headquarters in Belfast, Maine using a combination of donated high-end business class computers that are completed with new parts and charitable software licensing. They are complete, tested and ready to use when public libraries receive them and are designed to provide a minimum of 2 years of dependable, hassle-free use. The refurbished computers from this program are very reliable, fast computers for the lowest possible cost so libraries can focus their time and resources on their community?s library users ? and save time and energy on technology troubleshooting.

?Computer and Wi-Fi access are in high demand here at Walker Memorial and these new machines have certainly filled a need in our community,? said Karen Valley, Library Director at Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook. ?In addition to the traditional uses of research and access to news, patrons are using computers for social networking, job searches and online learning. Our high speed internet connection is helpful to entrepreneurs and students who may need to send large data or media files and do not have access to good bandwidth at home or the office to make the file transfer work.?

The units cost $200 each and come with software, a two year warranty, and two years of support. Going the traditional route of buying a new PC and paying for software and this level of support would cost a library approximately $736 over the same time period.

Chris Martin also commented: ?This project is so potent that I will be presenting the pilots? outcomes to our board and will recommend they take this pilot to permanent ?program? status,? said Martin. ?This will unlock PCs for Maine resources to further develop the support tools, system specifications and other quality measures at no cost to libraries, and to fix the $200 per unit cost for all of 2014! Kudos to all those involved who stepped out of familiarity and took a chance in hope of something better - I feel comfortable saying that it has already been a tremendous success for all!?

Aside from the obvious benefits to libraries, the project also has an impact on jobs and the environment. The technology donation program, eWaste Alternatives, (created by Chris Martin and PCs for Maine for another Maine Nonprofit named SKILLS Inc in Waterville) created 114 hours of paid employment for people with disabilities by recovering the equipment needed to build these 150 systems. PCs for MAINE then took these recovered system parts, and built ?systems? from them, added charitable software and performed all the quality testing to prepare them for library patron use ? this sustained 112.5 hours of paid employment for their staff.

In repurposing the 150 computers in the program, versus buying new, the effort prevented the consumption of 10,950 gallons of fossil fuels and the use of 14,580 pounds of materials. Normally computers end up in scrap recycling-- but this project succeeded because IDEXX, SAPPI, Bangor Savings, Bates and Bowdoin College, Maine General Medical Centers and a host of other Northeast US businesses choose to give computers to eWaste Alternatives and PCs for Maine. They know that their materials will benefit the community ? in this case through Maine public libraries who chose to purchase refurbished computers.

Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development, Maine State Library stated, ?A great deal of credit goes to MSL staff who worked with PCs for Maine implementing and promoting this project and to the public libraries willing to see if these high quality refurbished computers would do the job. This is a great partnership for us and Maine public libraries!?

Finalists for Maine Readers? Choice Award Announced

Bangor - The Maine Readers? Choice Award selection committee has announced the four finalists for the 2014 Maine Readers? Choice Award. The committee, which is comprised of 20 librarians, booksellers, literacy advocates, reviewers and writers, has selected the following from an initial field of more than 140 works of fiction:

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little, Brown and Company);
Benediction by Kent Haruf (Vintage)
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (Harper Perennial); and
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann (Random House.)

?Although the novels differ widely in subject and style, each features remarkably strong characters who were shaped by their time and place in history,? said Mamie Anthoine Ney, Director of the Auburn Public Library. ?These are books that any Maine reading enthusiast should consider adding to their summer reading lists.?

The selection of the Maine Readers? Choice Award winner is now in the hands of fiction lovers throughout the state of Maine. During the first two weeks of September, readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book at public libraries throughout the state or on the Maine Readers? Choice Award website: www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org.

Books reviewed by the Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee came from recommendations from librarians, patrons and booksellers throughout the state of Maine. Many of the titles selected have appeared on a wide variety of ?best? books lists this year as well. That list was pared down through a blind voting process by members of the Committee.

In order to be considered, the books must have been published in the United States in the previous year, appeal to a wide audience and be judged by the Committee to be notable works of exceptional quality. Revised editions, updates of previously published works, series or trilogies are not eligible for consideration.

The Maine Readers? Choice Award was officially established in 2013 by the Maine State Library and the Maine Library Association with the aim of increasing awareness and reading of adult literary fiction. The launch also came on the heels of a controversial decision regarding one of the literary world?s top prizes for fiction.

?In 2012 the Pulitzer Prize committee did not award a Fiction Prize,? says Valerie Osborne, Committee Chair and Consultant, Northeastern Maine Library District. ?Members of the library community, booksellers, publishers, authors and avid readers were outraged with the indecisiveness of this esteemed group of judges. We set out to do it better.?

Sally Leahey, Assistant Library Director at the McArthur Public Library in Biddeford said about her work on this committee, "What committee could be more fun to serve on than a bunch of fellow reading addicts who are all reading the very best fiction of the year!"

Aimee Turner of Portland said, ?I have been so delighted to be a member of this committee. Although I am not a ?book professional,? per se, I have a lifelong and deep love of books, and I?ve been involved on a volunteer level with my local library for some time. I?m so pleased to be invited as a bit of a representative of one of the many ordinary Mainers for whom books bring tremendous joy to our lives.?

The final award winner will be announced this fall.

For further information regarding the award and for all media inquiries, please contact Valerie Osborne at Bangor Public Library (207) 947-8336.

Ellsworth Librarians Participate in Professional Certification Initiative

Picture of Ellsworth Librarians Holding Certificates

Photo of Ellsworth Librarians and their Certificates

Photo Courtesy of Ellsworth Public Library

Ellsworth- Librarians at the Ellsworth Public Library are seeking certification under a recently launched professional development credential developed by the Maine State Library. The program is voluntary and includes three tiers of training on core competencies related to professional library service.

The curriculum includes 190 online courses, archived webinars, workshops and special institutes. The Maine State Library subscribes to online course content on behalf of Maine librarians and access to the archived webinars is free.

The certification initiative launched in 2013 and nearly 92 librarians around the state are in some active stage of the credentialing process.

?What makes Ellsworth unique is the fact that their entire staff is taking part,? said Linda Lord, Maine State Librarian. ?When librarians invest in upgrading their own skills, they become an even greater resource to the patrons they serve in their communities.?

For more information on the Voluntary Public Librarian Certification Program, visit the Maine State Library website at http://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/ce/libcert.shtml

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Supporting documents

Picture of Ellsworth Librarians Holding Certificates

Maine Libraries Benefit From Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation Grants

Several Maine libraries were the recipients of recent grants from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. According to a list compiled by the Maine State Library, at least nine libraries received funds during the latest round of grant awards from the foundation.

?The Kings have been very supportive of public libraries throughout the years,? said Linda Lord, Maine State Librarian. ?They have supported libraries both large and small in every corner of the state. We are very fortunate to have the benefit of their generosity here in Maine.?

The types of projects funded include infrastructure upgrades, like a new roof or stairs, and renovation projects to improve existing space. One grant went to support the automation of a school library?s circulation and catalog systems. Recipients include:

Martha Sawyer Community Library (Lebanon, ME) $10,000 to improve shelving and add to their collection;
Chase Emerson Memorial Library (Deer Isle, ME) $50,000 to renovate the Children?s Room;
Shaw Public Library (Greenville, ME) $50,000 for renovations to the building;
Kezar Falls Circulating Library (Kezar Falls, ME) $40,000 to replace the slate roof;
Bingham Union Library (Bingham, ME) $4,000 to repair foundation;
Pembroke Library (Pembroke, ME) $45,000 to renovate the meeting room space;
Dorcas Library (Prospect Harbor, ME) $15,000 for building improvements;
Caribou Public Library (Caribou, ME) $15,000 for the replacement of front steps; and
Greenbush School Library (Greenbush, ME) $3,800 for automation.

?The funds come at a time when libraries are stretched thin in finances as well as space,? said Lord. ?As demand grows for public access computers, wifi access, new programming and space for community activities, many Maine libraries have sought to renovate existing space to reflect these new priorities while preserving access to their collections.?

At the Dorcas Library in Prospect Harbor, a $15,000 grant will help pay for needed safety improvements in the wake of a November 2013 truck crash that caused extensive damage to the building.

?This is at least the third time that our library has been hit by a vehicle,? said Alison Johnson, president and treasurer of the Dorcas Library Board of Trustees and acting library director. ?Part of these funds will be used to erect barriers to protect patrons, staff, and the facility itself from the risk of being hit again.?

The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation conducts two grant reviews each year with deadlines on June 30 and December 31. Applications can be submitted at any time, but will not be considered until after those deadlines. For more information, visit the foundation?s website at: www.stkfoundation.org.

Maine Readers' Choice Award Winner Announced

BANGOR, Maine ? The Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee is pleased to announce the winner for the second annual Maine Readers? Choice Award. The 2014 Award recipient is Donna Tartt for her novel, The Goldfinch. The award was announced at the Maine Library Commission meeting In Augusta on September 22nd.

In order to be considered, books must be published in the United States in the previous year, appeal to a wide audience and be judged by the Committee to be notable works of exceptional quality. The Committee, which was comprised of 20 librarians, booksellers, literacy advocates, reviewers and writers, selected the following from an initial field of more than 140 works of fiction:

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (Little, Brown and Company);
Benediction by Kent Haruf (Vintage);
The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker (Harper Perennial); and
TransAtlantic by Colum McCann (Random House).

?Our four finalists perfectly express what we were looking for in an award winner,? says Committee member Mamie Anthoine Ney, director, Auburn Public Library, ?These books will definitely not disappoint.?

The final selection for this year's winner was done by the readers of Maine who were encouraged by Maine libraries and booksellers to read the finalists over the summer months. Online voting took place in September to select this year's winner. Book discussions were offered in a number of libraries across the state to promote the four finalists.

Librarians told Osborne they had to order additional copies because they just couldn?t keep up with the demand. Committee member Kenny Brechner of DDG Booksellers in Farmington said, ?The Maine Readers Choice award promotes three things that are of the greatest value to independent bookselling in Maine-- community, conversation, and great books."

Donna Tartt?s debut novel, The Secret History, was a bestseller and has been published in thirty languages across the world. Her second novel, The Little Friend, won the WH Smith Literary Award and was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction. The Goldfinch is her third novel.

It is the story of Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker who survives an terrorist explosion in the Metropolitan Museum in New York that kills his beloved mother. Abandoned by his father and unable to fit into the elite social circle after he?s taken in by a wealthy friend, Decker stays connected to his mother through a small painting by Carel Fabritius (1654) that eventually draws him into the art underworld. It is also a book of profound intelligence and complexity which compellingly raises the biggest of moral questions. The Goldfinch is approaching its 50th week on the prestigious New York Times Best Sellers list.

The book was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the Andrew Carnegie Award for Excellence in Fiction. It was shortlisted for the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. In July, Warner Brothers announced that it had purchased the movie rights to The Goldfinch. Despite all the notoriety, the book has also garnered some negative press from literary critics.

Nicole Rancourt from the Maine Humanities Council said, ?In my experience working with a broad range of organizations and individuals across our great state, it is wonderful to see such a stellar collaborative process, complete with diverse perspectives, coming together for the Maine Readers' Choice Award. This program celebrates both contemporary great works of adult fiction and Maine's deep love of reading like none other. MRCA sparks thoughtful discussions and energizes readers creating a greater sense of community not only within our towns and cities, but throughout the entire state. This is truly the power of reading!?

The Committee is hard at work reviewing titles for the 2015 Maine Readers' Choice Award. The 2015 Long list will be announced later this fall. To learn more about the award, please visit www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org.

State Library Accepting Donations for Humane Society in October

Augusta - In honor of October being ?Adopt a Shelter Dog Month,? the Maine State Library is accepting donations of dog food and toys for shelter dogs at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society.

Throughout the month of October, patrons are welcome to bring in donations and place them in the donation box near the circulation desk. Library staff have also created a collection table featuring a variety of books of interest to dog lovers.

Keeping with the theme, the Friends of the Maine State Library will present David Rosenfelt, author of ?Dog Tripping? at a special event at the Blaine House on November 18. For more information on how to reserve a spot at this event, please contact 207-287-5620.

State Librarian to Retire on December 31

Augusta - After 48 years of public service in education and libraries, Linda Lord will retire from her post as Maine State Librarian on December 31.

In recognition of her many contributions to the Maine library community, the Maine State Library will host an open house on Monday, December 15, 2014 from 3:30 to 6:00 PM to provide library patrons and friends the opportunity to celebrate Linda?s service. To RSVP for the event, please complete the online form at www.maine.gov/msl/linda or call 207-287-5620.

Lord began her career as a teacher at Mt. View High School, but her love of books and passion for children?s literacy eventually led to her taking on the job of school librarian. In 1992 she was hired by the Maine Department of Education to serve as the agency?s programming producer for the University?s interactive television (ITV) network.

The rapid growth of the internet and changes in communications technology during the mid-to-late 1990?s meant new opportunities to bring distance learning and access to information to libraries and schools. Linda was promoted to the position of Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Department of Education and helped with the formation of the Maine School and Library Network which today connects nearly 1000 Maine schools and libraries to the internet.

She joined the staff of the Maine State Library in 1999, serving first as Director of Library Development and Deputy State Librarian before being selected by the Maine Library Commission in 2009 to serve as the State Librarian.

?Linda?s tenure as state librarian came at a time when libraries everywhere were reevaluating their roles in their communities and adjusting their services to better accommodate the needs of their patrons,? said Beth Edmonds, chair of the Maine Library Commission. ?Her leadership at the Maine State Library led to a number of new initiatives that have transformed and strengthened library services throughout the state.?

In 2011, she persuaded lawmakers to provide funding to expand interlibrary loan services to more rural libraries. The system allows patrons from any participating library to select books from the collections from other libraries and have them delivered to their home library. At a time when many libraries were cutting back on their budgets for books, the service made it possible for patrons of even the smallest libraries to access the enormous collection of materials available in other institutions. Last year over one million titles were transferred between libraries using the system.

Lord also lobbied legislators for the creation of a new funding source to support statewide library services and her work led to the creation of a voluntary state income tax check-off to provide funding for initiatives with a statewide impact on library services. In 2014, the program generated nearly $32,000 in donations from Maine taxpayers. ?Linda was very effective in promoting the needs of libraries before the Maine Legislature,? said Senate President-elect Michael Thibodeau. ?She made it a point to connect with legislators from around the state to let them know what was happening in libraries in their communities and tie it back to the issues they were considering in Augusta.?

In an effort to promote professional development and improve services provided by libraries, Maine State Library staff developed and launched three-level voluntary certification program for librarians comprised of online courses, archived webinars, workshops and special institutes. Earlier this year, Lord collaborated with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services to obtain funding for a statewide Early Literacy Consultant to provide libraries throughout the state with training and resources to support local literacy activities for infants up to preschool age.

?It?s no secret that small public libraries have struggled in recent years due to tight budgets and increasing operating costs,? said Cara Sawyer, co-director of the Cherryfield Public Library. ?The support we have received from Linda and the Maine State Library has helped strengthen our library and improve the way we serve our patrons.?

A firm believer that public libraries should be offering programming that is responsive to their communities, she helped develop a number of new resources to assist libraries in planning local events. That led to new partnerships with institutions like Cornerstones of Science to make it free and easy for libraries to provide workshops on a variety of different science related topics. She also supported the development of a lending technology petting zoo at the Maine State Library that has travelled around to libraries throughout Maine, providing the opportunity for librarians to get hands-on experience using tablets and e-readers and offer demonstrations and workshops for their patrons. The newest addition to the collection is a pair of 3-D printers that will be in circulation in early 2015.

Over the years, she was frequently called on to assist in the shaping of Federal policy relating to library services and technology access. She served as Chair of the American Library Association E-rate Task Force, testifying before the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation at the invitation of its Chairperson, Senator Rockefeller. Earlier this year she testified before a Federal Communications Commission panel advocating for enhanced rural broadband connections and outlining the educational and economic development benefits to high-speed internet access in a community.

?Linda has been a strong voice for state libraries, broadband access for all and, most importantly, the great state of Maine,? said Susan Hildreth, director of the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Her work with the Maine Digital Summit Planning Committee culminated in a successful federal Broadband Technology Opportunity Program grant of $1.3 million, which brought over 500 computers and technology training to over 100 public libraries and included 14 libraries receiving video conferencing equipment.

Despite her many accomplishments including an Education and Leadership award from the Maine Development Foundation, Lord frequently notes that her greatest pride was the staff that she led at the Maine State Library.

She is the 19th person to serve as State Librarian in the 175-year history of the Maine State Library.

A lifelong resident of Brooks, Lord served nine years as member of her town board of selectmen and is an organist in her church. She looks forward to spending more time with her husband in retirement and doing a lot of traveling.

2015 Maine Readers? Choice Award Long List Announced

If your New Year?s resolution is to read more in the coming year, the Maine Readers? Choice Award screening committee is offering some suggestions for books to add to your 2015 reading list.

The panel has released the top 25 titles under consideration for the 2015 Maine Readers? Choice Award, narrowing in their focus from the list of approximately 125 books that were initially nominated for the prize.

To be eligible for the award, nominated titles must have been published in the United States in the previous year, appeal to a wide audience and be judged by the Committee to be notable works of exceptional quality.

The selection committee, comprised of 20 librarians, booksellers, literacy advocates, reviewers and writers, is expected cull the list further in March.

The 2015 Maine Readers' Choice Award Long List (the books are NOT listed in any particular order)

The Wind is Not a River by Brian Payton
Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and his years of pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami
On Such a Full Sea by Chang Rae Lee
The High Divide by Lin Enger
Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Redeployment by Phil Klay
The Invention of Wings by Sue Kidd Monk
Remember Me Like This by Bret Johnson
An Unnecessary Woman by Rabih Alameddine
Euphoria by Lily King
All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nicholas Butler
The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan
The Headmaster's Wife by Thomas C. Green
The Free by Will Vlautin
The Lobster Kings by Alexi Zentiner
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
Hold the Dark by William Giraldi
Let Me Be Frank With You by Richard Ford
Lila by Marilynne Robinson
Remedy for Love by Bill Roorbach
The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Tom Rachman
An Untamed State by Roxanne Gay The
Laughing Monsters by Denis Johnson
The Sleepwalker's Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob

The Maine Readers? Choice Award was established in 2013 by the Maine State Library and the Maine Library Association with the aim of increasing awareness and reading of adult literary fiction. The 2014 Maine Readers? Choice Award recipient was Donna Tartt for her novel, The Goldfinch.

Library Initiative Seeks Service Innovation through Technology and Collaboration

Augusta - Librarians throughout Maine will be engaged in a year-long project to develop and implement best practices to address specific needs within their communities.

Sponsored by the Maine State Library and modeled on a national continuing education program of the same name, the Innovative Librarians Explore, Apply and Discover (ILEAD) Initiative utilizes technology and leadership training to solve problems and strengthen the partnership between the libraries and the communities they serve.

?ILEAD is helping Maine librarians create new service models that utilize technology and strategic partnerships,? said James Ritter, Maine State Librarian. ?Their work will leverage the resources of their respective communities to address a shared goal.?

Four ILEAD project proposals were announced this month and teams comprised of library staff, mentors, instructors and community members will begin their work in March. Each team will develop a single group project that addresses at least one identified need within their communities of users. Participants will use the skills and training acquired through ILEAD continuing education sessions to develop, implement, manage and evaluate the projects. Along the way, each team member will work with a library patron or community member to solicit feedback and refine the proposal.

2015 Maine ILEAD Project Teams

Tech Resources for Seniors: will focus on providing seniors with technology and training to access online resources for health, wellness and other information. Project team members include Janet Bolduc (Central Maine Medical Center Library), Mamie Anthoine Ney (Auburn Public Library), Ruby Jones (Lewiston Public Library), Michelle Conroy (Bethel Public Library), and Katherine R. Morgan (Norway Memorial Library).

Axis of Access: will work on addressing bandwidth and hardware issues that inhibit access to online higher education for rural Mainers. Project team members include Shiva Darbandi (University of Maine, Augusta), Sue McClintock (Vose Library, Union), Linda Menard (TAMC Health Sciences Library), Sonja Plummer Morgan (Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library, Presque Isle) and Lisa Neal Shaw (Caribou Public Library).

Civil and Social Engagement in Maine: will develop a moderated online space for community engagement. Project team members include Samantha Soucy (Portland Public Library), Sonya Durney (Portland Public Library), Anita Ruff (Maine Health Learning Resource Center), Janell Lewis (Maine Health Learning Resource Center), and Denise Menard (Scarborough Public Library).

ILEAD MDI: will create a guided, single-site research experience for students, teachers, tech coordinators, library media specialists and public librarians which will be a model for future school/public library collaboration. Project team members include Lisa Murray (Southwest Harbor Public Library), Clara Baker (Bass Harbor Memorial Library), Siobhan Ryan (Conners-Emerson School, Bar Harbor), and Davonne Pappas (MDI High School, Mt. Desert).

The ILEAD Maine project is directed by the Maine State Library?s Library Development Division and is an IMLS sub-grant through the Illinois State Library.

For more information about the ILEAD initiative, contact the Maine State Library at 207-287-5620 or visit www.maine.gov/msl/libs/ce/ilead_usa

State Library Connects Patrons with Adaptive Technology to Read U.S. Currency

Augusta - Maine State Librarian, James Ritter, announced that users of the Maine State Library Talking Books Plus program are now eligible to apply for free currency readers provided by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. To qualify for the device, the patron must have a doctor-certified disability that impairs their sight or ability to read.

The currency reader, called the iBill Talking Banknote Identifier, is a compact device that announces a note?s value by voice, pattern of tones, or pattern of vibrations. Users insert a bill into the device and press the button on the device?s side to have the denomination identified. The currency reader does not identify foreign or counterfeit banknotes.

The size of a key fob, it can be carried in a pocket or purse, clipped to a belt, or attached to a keychain or lanyard. It operates on a single AAA battery, which typically lasts for more than a year. The initial battery is included.

The Maine State Library Talking Books program serves Maine people who are blind or have a physical disability that prevents them from reading standard print. The program provides listening technology devices and access to a national catalog of talking book titles that are shipped at no charge to the users via U.S. Mail. Thousands of titles were sent to Maine residents in 2013.

For more information about the iBill currency reader or the Talking Books program, contact the Maine State Library at 1-800-762-7106. Applications for the iBill devices can be downloaded online at: http://maine.gov/msl/outreach/lbph/ibill.shtml or obtained by calling or visiting the library. Library staff will be available to assist individuals with completing their form.

Income Tax Check-off Helps Build Library Book Selections During Lean Budget Times

Augusta - Library patrons from communities both large and small have greater access to reading materials thanks to donations received from Maine residents through the Maine Public Library Fund income tax check-off. The program launched in 2013 as a voluntary donation on schedule C-P on Maine income tax forms and nearly $32,000 was collected through the program in 2014.

?For the last two years, we polled Maine librarians for their suggestions on how to best make use of this extra funding,? said Maine State Librarian Jamie Ritter. ?Given the tight book budgets in many libraries these days, the overwhelming response was to use the resources to increase access to reading materials.?

Earlier this month, funds from the 2014 tax check-off were used to purchase nearly 1,000 new titles for the Maine InfoNet Download Library ? a collection available to patrons of 215 Maine libraries that allows users to checkout e-books and audiobooks using their personal computer, tablet device or smartphone that is connected to the internet. Demand for the service has been heavy over the last year with nearly 29,000 items checked out in December alone.

?The download library is convenient and easy to use. I love being able to check out audiobooks and e-books from home at any time of the day.? said Belinda Arey, a patron at the Old Town Public Library.

Many Maine libraries have also benefited from the recent expansion of van delivery service, which allows patrons of any participating library to access titles from the collections of other libraries participating in the interlibrary loan system.

?More than 70 percent of libraries have collections smaller than 25,000 books, but van delivery makes it possible for patrons of even the smallest institutions to have quick, free access to the enormous collection of reading materials held by other participating libraries,? said Audrey Snowden, librarian at the Orrington Public Library. ?It allows us to continue providing good service to patrons during a time when we might not have a lot of resources to buy new books for our own collection.?

Any Maine income tax filer can donate to the Maine Public Library Fund tax check-off by specifying a contribution amount on Maine income tax form schedule C-P. For more information about the program, visit www.maine.gov/msl/tax

Maine Awarded Funding for Library-driven Science Literacy Project

Augusta - The Institute of Museum and Library Services has approved a $493,770 National Leadership grant proposal by the Maine State Library and Brunswick-based nonprofit Cornerstones of Science to support the development of an emerging vision of public libraries as community science centers. This project draws upon six state library agencies, science-based companies, public libraries, the formal and informal science communities? expertise and commitment providing matching funds from our partners of $623,523 putting the value of this grant at $1,117,293.

The project, Empowering Public Libraries to be Science Resource Centers for their Communities, will help the State Library Agencies, of Maine and Massachusetts, develop the tools that empower public libraries to build and sustain effective informal science programming and services that connect their patrons and communities to science and technology learning, equipment (e.g. telescopes, microscopes and science kits), books, media and people in the scientific community.

?We know that STEM literacy is increasingly sought after by employers in a wide variety of industry sectors,? said James Ritter, Maine State Librarian. ?The long term competitiveness of our economy and the prosperity of people in the workforce will be closely linked to the important work that libraries are doing today.?

The plan builds on an existing partnership between the Maine State Library and Cornerstones of Science to provide librarian training and free science resources that increase public access and opportunities to science experiences in public libraries. In 2014, the groups launched a lending library of science trunks offering programming ideas and teaching tools on eight distinct science topics and where the librarians are the local champions of science.

?Our mission is to strengthen the capacity of public libraries to serve as a place for people to gather in a local informal science setting,? said Cynthia Randall, Executive Director of Cornerstones of Science. ?This ongoing public access and opportunity to science experiences strengthens community life by connecting people with science and technology in ways that stimulate curiosity and assisting citizens to understand the impacts that scientific and technological advances have on their daily lives.?

?Maine libraries are hubs for people seeking access to information and knowledge,? said Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development at the Maine State Library. ?This partnership with Cornerstones of Science is a natural fit.?

As the lead state on the project, Maine will involve State Library Agencies in Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island in developing a library-driven STEM programming model that could be replicated in any other state after the 30-month program is complete. The results from this collaboration will demonstrate how libraries, nationwide, can build and sustain effective informal science programming and services that prepare people to be full participants in their communities and global society.

Cornerstones of Science works with public libraries to create science experience that foster a deeper understanding of the world around them. Founded in 1999 at Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Cornerstones has grown to support a network of 150 libraries in five states. Portland Public Library, Auburn Public Library and the Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor will work with grant researchers to test the national model.

The Maine State Library facilitates access to and delivery of library services and collection resources for the State of Maine. Through its Library Development Division, the State Library provides consulting services to assist public and school libraries and administers federal and state funding for library services.

For more information, contact Janet McKenney at the Maine State Library at janet.mckenney@maine.gov.

Raising Readers Program Makes Book Donation to Maine Libraries

Augusta ? In celebration of 15 years of fostering early childhood literacy in Maine, the Raising Readers program will donate a significant collection of new children?s books to small and rural libraries throughout Maine. This announcement was made today at the Reading Roundup conference of school and children?s librarians in Augusta.

The donation will provide between 15 and 20 new board and picture books to 120 Maine libraries in greatest need of new children?s book collections.

?Many small and rural libraries have been getting by in recent years with minimal resources for new books, especially children?s books? said Cassandra Grantham, Director of Raising Readers. ?This donation recognizes the important role of those institutions in communities and enhances our shared goal of bringing books into the homes of Maine children.?

Since 2000, Raising Readers has worked to support early literacy by providing high-quality, developmentally appropriate hardcover books to every Maine child aged birth to five through partnerships with hospitals, medical practices and healthcare providers where the books are distributed at births and well-child visits. During that time, the program has reached 228,000 individual children and distributed more than 2.2 million books. Raising Readers is a collaboration between MaineHealth and EMHS and the nearly 360 hospitals and medical practices that give books to their patients. It has been generously funded by the Libra Foundation since its inception.

?Raising Readers has had an enormous impact in promoting family reading in Maine over the last 15 years,? said James Ritter, Maine State Librarian. ?Maine libraries are grateful for their efforts.?

Over the last nine years, the program has also provided all Maine public libraries with an annual anthology of stories by Maine authors and illustrators.

?This partnership represents yet another way that Raising Readers and Maine libraries are able to work together to promote a love of books and reading for Maine children. Early literacy is a critical factor in the future success of children in Maine,? said Grantham.

For more information about the Raising Readers program, visit www.raisingreaders.org.

Finalists for 2015 Maine Readers' Choice Award Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2015 Contact: Valerie Osborne (207) 947-8336

The Maine Readers? Choice Award selection committee has announced the three finalists for the 2015 Maine Readers? Choice Award. The committee, which is comprised of 22 librarians, booksellers, literacy advocates, reviewers and writers, has selected the following from an initial field of more than 120 works of fiction:

Redeployment by Phil Klay (The Penguin Press);
Euphoria by Lily King (Atlantic Monthly Press); and
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Scribner.)

Joshua Bodwell, Executive Director of the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance, had this to say about one of the finalists: ?"Oh. My. God. Those words came to mind repeatedly as I read Redeployment, Phil Klay?s debut short story collection of thematically linked tales of soldiers at war, soldiers waiting for war, and soldiers attempting to come home from war. The first story in the book?the title story?opens with this three-word punch in the gut: ?We shot dogs.? If we?re lucky, each year we read books that would be exceptional no matter when we read them but which pack an extra wallop because of the time at which we?re reading them. Redeployment is this sort of book, a book of our times. If not the best short story collection of 2014, it may be the most important. After being named a 5 Under 35 honoree by the National Book Foundation, Klay won the 2014 National Book Award for Fiction."

"I started out listening to this book on my walk one morning, but ended my day with reading it in bed because I needed to know what happened. I needed to know today. Euphoria is a story about three anthropologists and the odd love triangle they have created. It was very sensual, intelligent, and sad. It's a quick read, but truly a very good one," said Holly Williams, Pittsfield Public Library committee member.

?Among the hundreds of WWII-based fiction and non-fiction works out there, All the Light We Cannot See stands out from the crowd,? said Aimee Turner of Portland. ?This is an incredibly memorable, moving novel, with characters I've come to care deeply about - children with specific vulnerabilities (and capabilities), and the incredible, but surprisingly believable, sequence of events that bring their lives together. Frankly, I'm looking forward to re-reading it simply to enjoy it again.?

The selection of the Maine Readers? Choice Award winner is now in the hands of fiction lovers throughout the state of Maine. During the first two weeks of September, readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book at public libraries throughout the state or on the Maine Readers Choice Award website: www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org.

Books reviewed by the Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee came from recommendations from librarians, patron recommendations and booksellers throughout the state of Maine. Many of the titles selected have appeared on a wide variety of ?best? books lists this year as well. That list was pared down through a blind voting process by members of the Committee.

?In 2012 the Pulitzer Prize committee did not award a Fiction Prize,? says Valerie Osborne, Committee Chair and Consultant, Northeastern Maine Library District. ?Members of the library community, booksellers, publishers, authors and avid readers were annoyed with the indecisiveness of this revered group of judges. A group of us decided why not create our own award and from there came the birth of the MRCA.?

Members of the Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee are tasked with an enormous amount of reading and participate in a series of decision making sessions throughout the year to determine the finalists. Despite the heavy workload, they approach the job with enthusiasm.
Maine author and committee member Monica Wood said, "I loved being on the committee. I found books I wouldn't have encountered on my own, and there is nothing sweeter than the company of bibliophiles."

Kara Kugelmeyer, Product Strategy Manager at Thorndike Press and committee member said, ?The MRCA is a great way to bring together all sorts of supporters of leisure reading while promoting fantastic books. But most important it allows Maine readers to vote for a book that has touched them in some meaningful way.?

The final award winner will be announced this fall.

For further information regarding the award and for all media inquiries please contact Valerie Osborne at Bangor Public Library (947-8336).

Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Award winners at 2015 Reading Round Up conference: Matt Tavares, Chris Van Dusen, Alicia Potter, Melissa Sweet, Cynthia Lord

High Resolution Image from 2015 Reading Round Up Awards Ceremony

Augusta - Nearly 350 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta on April 9 for the 26th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children?s and young adult literature.

2015 Lupine Award

Four titles received recognition through the 2015 Lupine Award honoring living authors or illustrators who are residents of Maine or who have created a work prominently featuring Maine. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association.

Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick and Half a Chance by Cynthia Lord received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Awards in the picture book category went to The Right Word, by author Jen Bryant and Illustrator Melissa Sweet and Jubilee! by author Alicia Potter and illustrator Matt Tavares.

2015 Katahdin Award

Maine author and illustrator Chris Van Dusen received the 2015 Katahdin Award from the Maine Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in Maine.

2015 Chickadee Award

The 2015 Chickadee Award went to Carnivores by author Aaron Reynolds and illustrator Dan Santat. The award is given to by the Maine Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

2015 Maine Student Book Award

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello?s Library, by Chris Grabenstein received the 2015 Maine Student Book Award. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Reading Association.

About Reading Round Up

The Reading Round Up conference is an annual event offering learning opportunities for children?s and school librarians. The conference is sponsored by the Maine State Library and organized by a statewide committee of librarians dedicated to promoting literacy and love of reading in children and young adults. More information can be found online at: http://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/rru .

Supporting documents

High Resolution Image from 2015 Reading Round Up Awards Ceremony

Six Maine Librarians Chosen for Library Leadership Program

The Maine State Library and Maine Library Association have announced the names of participants in the second Maine Library Leadership Institute. The 2015 class includes Marcela Peres of the Lewiston Public Library, Abby Morrow of the Ellsworth Public Library, Erica Irish of the Belfast Free Library, Michelle Connors of the Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook, Mary Beckett of the Edythe Dyer Community library in Hampden, and Lisa Neal Shaw of the Caribou Public Library.

The Maine Library Leadership Institute is a year-long program that prepares library leaders to bring effective and innovative services to Maine citizens so they can meet the challenges of today and the future.

The kickoff event for the institute is the week-long New England Library Association?s ?New England Library Leadership Symposium? in August, led by Maureen Sullivan, a past president of the American Library Association and a nationally recognized speaker on leadership.

Each month the cohort will meet to learn about and discuss solutions to challenges facing the library profession. The participants will also be responsible for designing and completing a project that will address Maine library needs. The year will culminate with a presentation of the projects at a state-wide meeting of librarians.

Information for Libraries Concerning Upcoming Changes in Maine Library and Patron Confidentiality Law

State law protects the privacy of patron records maintained by Maine public libraries, the Maine State Library, the Law and Legislative Reference Library as well as the libraries of the University of Maine System, Maine Community College System and Maine Maritime Academy.

In early 2015, Maine lawmakers amended the Maine Library and Patron Confidentiality Law to enhance and clarify patron privacy protections. Those changes are reflected in Public Law 2015, Chapter 81 and will become effective this fall - 90 days following the adjournment of the First Regular Session 127th Maine Legislature.

Summary of 2015 Changes in Maine Library and Patron Confidentiality Law

The amended language in Public Law 2015, Chapter 81 does the following:

Specifies that personally identifying information about the library patron is confidential
Clarifies that confidential patron information may be released to library officers, employees, volunteers and agents of the library for administrative purposes.
Allows aggregated and statistical data about library use to be published so long as the confidentiality of a library patron's personally identifying information is not jeopardized.

Frequently Asked Questions about Maine Library and Patron Confidentiality Law

In an effort to assist Maine libraries in understanding changes in law, the Maine State Library has posted background information and frequently asked questions on its website.

Maine State Library Books-By-Mail Program Now Part of URSUS Catalog System

The Maine Books-By-Mail is now part of the URSUS catalog system used by all other patrons of the Maine State Library.

New Catalog for Books-By-Mail Patrons

Beginning, Tuesday, August 18, Books-By-Mail patrons can begin requesting titles in the URSUS catalog system. If you aren't able to find the title you need in URSUS, you can search and request the item through the MaineCat catalog.

What does this mean for Books by Mail Patrons?

You will retain your library card, and you will continue to receive the same access to MARVEL databases, the Maine State Infonet Download library, and you will continue to be served by our Books-By-Mail staff.

You will continue to see the Books-By-Mail collection when you perform online searches. You will now have easier access to titles in the general collection of the Maine State Library, and the collections of other URSUS libraries.

You will no longer see the same collections from other libraries in the Minerva system, but you will be able to search those catalogs using MaineCat catalog.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at 1-800-762-7106.

Books-By-Mail is a program of Maine State Library's Outreach Services, funded by the Library Services and Technology Act grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, and administered by the Maine State Library.

Legislature Looks at Funding Options for Maine School and Library Broadband Network

In an effort to provide sustainable funding levels for the network that provides high-speed broadband to Maine schools and libraries, Maine lawmakers are considering a measure to make changes to a funding mechanism that has shrunk in recent years due to changes in the telecommunications industry.

The Maine School and Library Network (MSLN) uses centralized procurement and contracting with private providers to provide fiber-optic broadband connectivity and related services to 950 schools and libraries throughout Maine. The service reaches nearly every school in Maine with speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to up to 1 Gbps.

A portion of the funding for the network has been provided through the Maine Telecommunications Education Access Fund (MTEAF) assessment on certain in-state telephone revenues. Driven by declines in landline telephone service and a shift in revenue from voice to data and text, funding from the assessment has dropped an average of six percent each year since 2010. The trend is expected to accelerate in the coming years.

Sponsored by Biddeford State Representative, Martin Grohman, LD 256 - An Act To Ensure Continued Availability of High-speed Broadband Internet at Maine's Schools and Libraries, changes the limit on the amount collected on prepaid telecommunications service from a percentage to a flat amount. The bill also requires the Public Utilities Commission to convene a stakeholder group to evaluate and provide recommendations regarding the method of collection of funds to support telecommunications access at libraries and public schools.

The public will have the opportunity to weigh in on the legislation at hearing of the Joint Standing Committee of Energy, Utilities and Technology at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, February 14, 2017. The meeting will be held in room 211 of the Cross Office Building in Augusta.

For more information about the Maine School and Library Network (MSLN) and related funding concerns, visit: www.digitalmaine.com/ld_docs/32 .

Maine Libraries Benefit From Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation Grants

Several Maine libraries were the recipients of recent grants from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. According to a list compiled by the Maine State Library, at least sixteen libraries received funds during the latest round of grant awards from the foundation.

?The Kings continue to be supportive of our public libraries,? said Valerie Osborne, a consultant with the Maine State Library. ?So many of our public libraries the benefited from their generous gifts over the years.?

The types of projects funded include infrastructure upgrades, like a new windows or paving, and renovation projects to improve existing space. One grant went to support the development of a multiuse green space.

Recipients include:

King Middle School (Portland, ME) $3,000 to add to their collection;
Blue Hill Library (Blue Hill, ME) $30,000 green building initiative;
Milo Free Library (Milo, ME) $30,000 window replacement and a heat pump;
Case Memorial Library (Kenduskeag, ME) $35,000 building renovations and collection development;
Swan?s Island Library (Swan?s Island, ME) $35,000 to transform the reading room to a conference center;
Thomaston Public Library (Thomaston, ME) $2,500 to fund a summer reading and activities program;
Orono Public Library (Orono, ME) $25,000 for a multiuse green space behind the library;
Caribou Public Library (Caribou, ME) $15,000 for new carpeting;
Rumford Public Library (Rumford, ME) $45,000 to restore the reading room ceiling;
Harrison Village Library (Harrison, ME) $15,000 new coding system;
Cundy?s Harbor Library (Cundy?s Harbor, ME) $5,000 to pave the driveway and parking area;
Hamlin Memorial Library (South Paris, ME) $10,000 for renovations;
Lawrence Public Library (Fairfield, ME) $15,000 for roof replacement;
Weld Public Library (Weld, ME) #50,000 for interior renovations;
Joanne Waxman Library, Maine College of Art (Portland, ME) $2,000 for the development of an emergency preparedness and recovery plan; and
Soldiers Memorial Library (Hiram, ME) $10,000 to make the front entrance handicap accessible.

?Many of the libraries that received grants were small town institutions that serve as the cornerstone of their communities,? said Maine State Librarian James Ritter. ?This funding will help them undertake important projects that will help them remain sustainable in the future.?

Maine Readers' Choice Award Winner Announced

BANGOR, Maine ? The Maine Readers? Choice Award Committee is pleased to announce that author Anthony Doerr?s novel, All the Light We Cannot See, has been named the 2015 winner of the Maine Readers? Choice Award. The award was announced today at the Northeastern Maine Library District Fall Council Program.

?In 2012 the Pulitzer Prize committee did not award a Fiction Prize,? says Valerie Osborne, committee chair and library consultant for the Northeastern Maine Library District. ?Members of the library community, booksellers, publishers, authors and avid readers were outraged with the indecisiveness of this esteemed group of judges. We set out to do it better. It is ironic that this year?s winner, as well as last year?s winner, both won the Pulitzer Prize for their books.? The first year?s award went to a virtually unknown author, Wiley Cash, for his debut novel A Land More Kind Than Home.

In order to be considered, books must be published in the United States in the previous year, appeal to a wide audience and be judged by the Committee to be notable works of exceptional quality. The committee, which was comprised of 20 librarians, booksellers, literacy advocates, reviewers and writers, selected the following from an initial field of more than 125 works of fiction:

Euphoria by Lily King (Atlantic Monthly Press);
Redeployment by Phil Klay (Penguin Press); and
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr (Scribner)

?As a MRCA committee member, I usually puzzle over my picks. This year, All the Light We Cannot See, was an easy choice. Author Anthony Doerr has woven a remarkably engaging tale about the strength and resilience of the human spirit. The experience lingers with you long after the book has been returned to the shelf,? said Charlie Campo.

?In a year of especially wonderful books, the heavy reading was a pleasure. I met a few writers I didn?t know and revisited some old favorites. All the Light We Cannot See was just that: filled with light. I loved it,? said Maine author, Monica Wood.

All the Light You Cannot See is from the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, a stunningly ambitious and beautiful novel about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighbourhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home.

When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure?s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum?s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure?s converge.

Ten years in the writing, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer, says the Los Angeles Times, "whose sentences never fail to thrill."

Librarians told Osborne they had to order additional copies because they just couldn?t keep up with the demand. Committee member Deb Taylor of Sherman Books in Bar Harbor said, ?We absolutely sold more copies of these titles.? The Maine Readers? Choice award promotes three things that are of the greatest value to a library and independent bookstore in Maine-- community, conversation, and great books. It is also nice to know that the three finalists helped the bottom line for Maine?s independent bookstores too.

The committee is already hard at work reviewing titles for the 2016 Maine Readers? Choice Award under the new leadership of Mamie Anthoine Ney, director of the Auburn Public Library. The 2016 Long list will be announced later this fall. To learn more about the award, please visit www.mainereaderschoiceaward.org.

October 2015 Edition of the Maine State Library Genealogy Newsletter

The October 2015 edition of the Maine State Library genealogy newsletter, Genealogy Notes from Emily is available online.

The newsletter is published several times a year by Maine State Library reference librarian and genealogy expert, Emily Schroeder. The October edition highlights new titles of interest in the Maine State Library Genealogy Collection.

The Maine State Library is home to the largest genealogy collection in the state as well as town histories and published vital records for towns in Maine and a good deal of New England, materials on the Maritime Provinces of Canada, and genealogy reference materials.

In 2013, Schroeder launched a Genealogy Club at the Maine State Library. The group meets monthly with the goal of promoting interest in genealogy, celebrating ancestral history and sharing best practice strategies for family research. New members are always welcome.

To learn more about genealogy resources at the Maine State Library, please contact Emily Schroeder at Emily.Schroeder@maine.gov or call 207-287-5600.

Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Augusta - Nearly 350 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta today for the 27th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children?s and young adult literature.

2016 Lupine Award

Four titles received recognition through the 2016 Lupine Award honoring living authors or illustrators who are residents of Maine or who have created a work prominently featuring Maine. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association.

Paper Things by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Awards in the picture book category went to Island Birthday, by author Eva Murray and Illustrator Jamie Hogan and Growing Up Pedro by author and illustrator Matt Tavares.

2016 Katahdin Award

Maine author Cathryn Falwell received the 2016 Katahdin Award from the Maine Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in Maine.

2016 Chickadee Award

The 2016 Chickadee Award went to Elizabeth, Queen of the Seas by author Lynne Cox and illustrator Brian Floca. The award is given to by the Maine Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

2016 Maine Student Book Award

El Deafo by Cele Bell received the 2016 Maine Student Book Award. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Reading Association.

About Reading Round Up

State Library Receives Grant for Digitization of Historic Maine Newspapers

Maine Newspaper Digitization Project

Microfilm Digitization Image

Augusta - The Maine State Library will digitize over 100,000 pages of historical Maine newspapers and make the content available online as part of a two-year, $275,000 grant announced this week by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The project will involve imaging master microfilm copies of Maine newspapers and optimizing the newly-created digital files so that text of the newspapers can be searched. The digitized content will then be uploaded to the web-based Digital Maine repository at www.digitalmaine.com , and the Library of Congress Chronicling America archive at www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov .

?Digitization of these historic newspapers will greatly enhance access to first-hand accounts of Maine history as it unfolded,? said Maine State Librarian James Ritter. ?Anyone with an internet connection will be able to browse the papers or perform a quick keyword search to look for stories about specific people, places or events from the past.?

Any Maine newspaper printed prior to 1923 could be included in the project provided that the master microfilm is available for imaging. Newspapers printed between 1923 and 1962 might also be eligible for digitization, if the publisher is willing to provide a waiver of copyright to permit the content to be imaged and shared.

The Maine State Library is encouraging institutions and individuals holding master microfilm copies of historical Maine newspapers to contact the library if they are interested in having their collection considered for inclusion under this project. Given the limited number of pages funded through the project, not all eligible papers can be imaged at this time. Priority will be assessed on a number of factors including historical value and geographic coverage. Visit www.maine.gov/msl/newspapers for more details and contact information.

Information gathered through this project will update a 1999 Maine State Archives directory of Maine newspaper holdings and provide for an interactive online database to allow users to search newspaper holdings by institution, media format, and availability online.

Urgent Need for Additional Newspaper Digitization Efforts

A significant share of Maine newspapers won?t be imaged through microfilm digitization because quality master film can?t be located or may not have ever been created. Newspapers printed in the late 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century are at particularly high-risk of permanent loss because of the instability of the paper that they were printed on. Even when stored in optimal conditions, the acid in the newsprint will cause the paper to become brittle over time.

?Some original copies of Maine newspapers are so fragile that they can?t be handled without causing permanent damage,? said Adam Fisher, director of Collections Development and Digital Initiatives at the Maine State Library. ?There?s an urgent need to get quality images of these papers today before the information contained in them is lost to time.?

Although the Maine State Library does not have permanent staff or dedicated revenues for digitization, the institution has developed a partnership or sponsorship model that led to the digitization of bound original volumes of historical newspapers using high-resolution book scanners located at the library?s offices at the Maine State Capitol Complex in Augusta.

Earlier this year, the Maine State Library partnered with Friends of Libby Memorial Library in Old Orchard Beach to digitize two local newspapers from the past, the Old Orchard Apple and the Old Orchard Mirror. Contents of those papers can be found online at www.digitalmaine.com/old_orchard. The Maine State Library is now engaged in a similar project with the Oquossoc ?based Maine Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum and the Phillips Historical Society to digitize the Maine Woods newspaper published between 1900 and 1909. Copies of those papers will be available online later this year.

?The process of imaging larger format papers on book scanners more of a challenge for us, but the end result is far better than microfilm in both image quality and text searchability,? said Fisher. ?What we need now, more than anything, is for individuals or institutions to come forward to sponsor a newspaper digitization project to ensure permanent public access to the information contained in these historical treasures.?

For more information about Maine State Library digitization services, contact 207-287-5626 or email adam.fisher@maine.gov.

Supporting documents

Microfilm Digitization Image

Maine Libraries Launch New Download Service for E-books and E-audiobooks

The Maine Download Library, a service providing Maine library patrons with online access to over 10,000 e-books and e-audiobooks, has launched a new digital content management platform called cloudLibrary.

The new app-based service will provide access to Maine's existing collection of digital content plus new titles and additional copies of popular titles. The cloudLibrary app allows users to customize the interface to focus on their interests or quickly identify new and popular titles in the download library

The new download library application can be downloaded by visiting: http://yourcloudlibrary.com/index.php/en-us/how-it-works or visiting http://download.maineinfonet.org and following the links to login via your library.

Users of Kindle devices should be advised that the Kindle Fire (2nd generation or newer) works with the cloudLibrary, but e-ink Kindles do not.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I use the new cloudLibrary system?

The cloudLibrary system is best experienced through the cloudLibrary App. Simply go to http://yourcloudlibrary.com/index.php/en-us/how-it-works and follow the directions! You can download the app, called cloudLibrary, in the Playstore for Android devices, the App Store for Apple/ iOS devices, and the Windows Store for Windows devices. For Kindle Fire devices go to http://yourcloudlibrary.com and click on the ?available on Kindle Fire? link on the right side of the page. You can also access the cloudLibrary system using a browser by going to http://download.maineinfonet.org and logging in by selecting your library from the list provided and logging in with your library card.

What devices are compatible with the cloudLibrary app?

What devices work:

Tablets

Laptops

Smart Phones

Nook readers

Kobo eReaders

Kindle Fire (2nd generation or newer)

Desktop computers

Iphones, Ipads, Ipod Touch

What devices do not work:

eInk Kindles (such as the Kindle E-reader and Paperwhite)

Ipods

Mp3 players that do not support apps

Will I be able to use my Kindle eInk reader?

Unfortunately, no. Amazon does not support the ePub format.

How can I get help?

The cloudLibrary support site is located at: http://www.yourcloudlibrary.com/index.php/en-us/support There you can download a cloudLibrary User Guide, watch how-to videos or search for other help topics.

Why is this switch being made?

Maine InfoNet and the Maine InfoNet Board of Directors are continuously looking for opportunities to provide better services at a better value for Maine libraries. The existing Download Library received regular criticism that the system was too difficult to use. The cloudLibrary is app-based and has a simpler process to check out and download titles. Libraries in Maine that have offered both systems say the cloudLibrary is much easier for library patrons to use. Additionally, the cloudLibrary will allow more Maine Libraries to participate in the Maine InfoNet Download Library. Under the old platform, many types of libraries were not allowed to participate due to limitations imposed by Overdrive. Now, by switching to the new cloudLibrary, any library wishing to participate will be allowed to join. Allowing more libraries to join and participate in the Download Library translates directly into more people in Maine reading and more content being purchased ? a great thing for all of us.

Seventeen Maine Libraries Awarded Grants from Income Tax Check-off Fund

Augusta - Funding collected through the voluntary Maine Public Library Fund Income Tax Check-off program was awarded this week to 17 Maine public libraries to help develop innovative library programs and services and support professional development for library staff.

The grant projects ranged in size and scope from investments in creative technology such as 3-D printers, robotics equipment and virtual reality stations to the launch of summer reading programs, children?s yoga programming and library conference participation for staff. A panel of librarians from the Maine State Library selected the projects from a group of 38 proposals submitted by Maine libraries in March.

Awardees include:

Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay, ($5,000) to create a Makerspace Center at the Jay-Niles Memorial Library for Tweens and Teens where they can create, invent, and learn;

Berwick Public Library ($2,500) to develop a teen/tween robotics club;

Rockport Public Library ($2,500) to purchase a state-of-the-art Virtual Reality (VR) Station to develop programming leveraging educational materials from NASA, and others to provide patrons access to this exciting new technology;

Windham Public Library ($2,500) to expand and enhance educational technology tools for the Children?s Room;

Brooksville Free Public Library ($1,000) to support librarian participation in a national leadership institute;

Millinocket Memorial Library ($1,000) to develop a community film program with partner, Our Katahdin;

Bowdoinham Public Library ($1,000) to fund a portable bookshelf of picture books on the immigrant and refugee experience for Maine school and public libraries;

West Buxton Public Library ($1,000) to develop a makerspace and creative play area

Martha Sawyer Community Library, Lebanon, ($1,000) to develop a Lego architecture club for teens;

Acton Public Library ($1,000) to create an outdoor StoryWalk? family literacy project

Skidompha Public Library, Damariscotta, ($500) to support training for a children?s librarian to do yoga programming;

Kezar Falls Circulating Library ($500) to develop a community garden program for educational purposes and to help alleviate food insecurity;

Winter Harbor Public Library ($500) to develop a children?s summer reading program

West Paris Public Library ($500) to fund staff attendance at conferences;

Palermo Community Library ($500) to fund staff attendance at conferences;

Vassalboro Public Library ($500) to fund attendance to the Maine Library Association Conference; and

Parsons Memorial Library, Alfred, ($500) to fund paid performer during summer reading celebration.

The Maine Public Library Fund Income Tax Check-off allows Maine taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to support Maine public libraries on Maine Income Tax form Schedule C-P.

?The generosity of Maine taxpayers through the tax check-off has helped Maine public libraries develop transformative programming and services that responds to the needs of their communities,? said Maine State Librarian James Ritter. ?Many Maine libraries operate with very limited budgets and the grants from the Maine Public Library Fund have made many new things possible for these institutions and the people they serve.?

The program funded seventeen similar projects in November 2016 and has supported significant growth in the Maine InfoNet library of downloadable e-books and audiobooks.

For more information about the Maine Public Library Fund, visit: www.maine.gov/msl/libs/admin/funding/MPLF.shtml.

Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at Maine Reading Conference

Augusta ? Over 400 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around Maine converged on Augusta today for the 28th Annual Reading Round Up conference promoting reading and literature for children and young adults. One of the highlights of the event was an award ceremony honoring books, authors and illustrators representing excellence in the field of children?s and young adult literature.

2017 Lupine Award

Four titles received recognition through the 2017 Lupine Award honoring living authors or illustrators who are residents of Maine or who have created a work prominently featuring Maine. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Youth Services Section of the Maine Library Association.

Some Writer! by Melissa Sweet and Wrecked by Maria Padian received awards in the Lupine Award juvenile and young adult category. Awards in the picture book category went to Freedom Over Me, by author and illustrator Ashley Bryan and Hotel Bruce by author and illustrator Ryan T. Higgins.

2017 Katahdin Award

Maine author Melissa Sweet received the 2017 Katahdin Award from the Maine Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in Maine.

2017 Chickadee Award

The 2017 Chickadee Award went to Land Shark by author Beth Ferry and illustrator Ben Mantle. The award is given to by the Maine Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

2017 Maine Student Book Award

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson received the 2017 Maine Student Book Award. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the Maine Library Association, Maine Association of School Libraries, and Maine Reading Association. About Reading Round Up

The Maine State Library offers ?Let?s Talk About It? Book Group

The Maine State Library has been selected by the Maine Humanities Council to offer ?Let?s Talk About It?, a free reading and discussion group with copies of books available through the library. This program is provided by the Maine Humanities Council?s Maine Center for the Book in cooperation with the Maine State Library.

The series, Defining Wilderness: Defining Maine, begins Tuesday, May 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the Maine State Library in Augusta and continues for a total of 5 sessions, through July 24th. Books to be read and discussed in this series include:

Date	Book Title	Author
Tuesday, May 29th	The Maine Woods Additional Reading: An Account of an 1849 trip?Katahdin	Henry David Thoreau Elizabeth Oakes Smith
Tuesday, June 12th	The Wilderness From Chamberlain Farm	Dean B. Bennett
Tuesday, June 26th	Fly Rod Crosby Additional Readings: Diary of a Moosehead Lake Trip Down the Allagash	Julia A. Hunter/Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. John W. G. Dunn Henry L.Withee
Tuesday, July 10th	Camp Fires Rekindled	George S. Kephart
Tuesday, July 24th	We Took To The Woods	Louise Dickinson Rich

Each Tuesday session will meet at 5:30 p.m. at the Maine State Library Studio on the third floor for approximately 90 minutes. Candace Kanes, independent historian and museum curator, will facilitate the discussions.

?Exploring ideas and issues through literature has a unique and fun way of creating community,? said Nicole Rancourt, director of Let?s Talk About It. ?We find that there is great interest among adults in getting together to discuss what they?ve read with others. Having a discussion leader like Candace Kanes who is both excited about the readings and skilled in facilitating can help to deepen this experience.?

Books for the program are available for loan at the Maine State Library. Please call the library at (207) 287-5600 to register by phone or email alison.l.maxell@maine.gov. Please provide us with your complete contact information including name, address, telephone and email. After you have registered, come in (as soon as you can!) to pick up your personal book bag containing all the books in the series. Registration limited to 25 so sign up early! For library hours and directions visit our website at: www.maine.gov/msl/about/hrsdirect.shtml

Maine Libraries Launch New Service for Online Access to Subscription Content

Maine libraries launched a new portal this week aimed at providing improved free online access to a growing collection of high quality subscription content. Known as the Digital Maine Library, the site allows any Maine resident to easily access thousands of magazines, newspapers, reference sources and learning materials from their home computers. The Digital Maine Library can be accessed online at www.library.digitalmaine.org.

"The Digital Maine Library is a replacement to the MARVEL virtual library of content that was launched close to 20 years ago," said Maine State Librarian Jamie Ritter. "Over the years, the scope of the collection expanded to reflect the changing needs and expectations of library patrons and this service will make it much easier for resources and information to be accessed and searched."

The Digital Maine Library incorporates feedback from librarians and patrons throughout Maine and allows users to easily browse digital content by audience, resource type, or subject. At its core is an enormous collection of educational materials and academic journals aimed at students, teachers, researchers of all ages, and the public. For lifelong learners, there's online training and career tools as well as resources to help with test preparation.

Newspaper content is among the most popular collections on the site, including a database of newspaper articles from five of Maine's daily newspapers as well as access to subscription content from the New York Times, Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal and hundreds of other newspapers, and magazines from around the world.

Other popular collections include business and legal resources, language learning tools and the MyHeritage genealogy database. The portal can also be used to search subscription databases at Ancestry.com for anyone visiting the site from a computer at their local library.

One of the biggest changes with the new Digital Maine Library portal is how the subscription content is accessed online. Due to licensing restrictions, access to the content is available only to users within Maine. In the past, that meant that visitors to the site were required to register and login with information from their library cards. The new portal leverages updated technology to provide users the option of geo-authenticating their location as within Maine and will eliminate the need for most visitors to create user accounts.

"We wanted to re-envision the traditional MARVEL! resources and the way people accessed them," offered Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development at the Maine State Library. "Our new website, logo, and Digital Maine Library brand offers us the opportunity to bring in new users across the state by breaking down barriers to access these resources as well as to offer new types of content, like an online language learning tool."

The subscription content is paid for through funding provided by the Maine State Library, the University of Maine and Colby, Bates and Bowdoin colleges. The system is administered through the Maine InfoNet library consortium. "Working together, Maine libraries are helping transform lives through access to quality sources for learning materials and information online," said Maine InfoNet Director, James Jackson Sanborn. "Now, no matter where you are in Maine, you're always at the library!"

Pilot Program Aims to Improve Lending Options for Library Materials

Augusta - Starting next week, library patrons from nearly 70 Maine libraries will have more options for accessing library materials outside of their home library thanks to a new year-long pilot project called the Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program. The service allows library users with a valid library card from one participating library to visit another participating library to check-out materials in person.

"Maine libraries have a long history of working together to improve access to services and lending materials," said Maine State Librarian Jamie Ritter. "This new pilot project builds on our already successful interlibrary loan system that provides statewide lending of library materials through a van delivery network between 68 libraries in every corner of the state."

While reciprocal borrowing won't replace the statewide interlibrary loan service, it offers a new convenience for Mainers who may live in one community but spend a significant portion of their time in other places for work, vacation or family obligations.

The inspiration for the pilot project stemmed from conversations that took place at the Maine Library Association's Fall Conference last year where librarians in attendance expressed a strong desire to develop initiatives that would strengthen library resources in Maine. In subsequent months, a working group identified libraries who had compatible library system software and were willing to be part of a pilot project to test how a reciprocal borrowing program would work.

"What really makes this work seamlessly is that the participating libraries are utilizing the same library system software," said James Jackson Sanborn, the Director of Maine Infonet, whose organization manages these systems. "The fact that the participating libraries all have library cards with a 14-digit barcode and the software is able to recognize a library card from a participating library makes this doable."

All participating libraries have agreed to stay in the pilot for one year in an effort to measure the extent of how the program is utilized by patrons and understand policy considerations ahead of any decision to make the program permanent or expand the scope to a larger group of libraries.

For many libraries taking part in the pilot, they are excited about the possibilities. "Our patrons' library card just got better," states Lee Koenigs, Director of Old Orchard Beach's Public Library. "To share with our library users that they can use their Old Orchard Beach Library card at dozens of other libraries across the state is huge customer service offering."

Amy Levine, Director of the Rockland Public Library feels the same way. "We're just excited to be able to offer this to our patrons and be part of the pilot. We really hope it works out well and expands in the future."

For the systematic reasons indicated by Jackson Sanborn, however, not all libraries in Maine are eligible to participate at this time. Both the Maine State Library and Maine InfoNet are continuously seeking ways to increase participation by finding solutions that eliminate these systematic and technical barriers. "It takes financial and human resources to grow the number of libraries that could eventually participate," states Jackson Sanborn, "but it's essential work and we believe good things happen when we can break down barriers to sharing library resources."

For a complete list of participating libraries and other program information, please visit: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/reciprocal_borrowing

State Library Marks Bicentennial with Family Literacy Activity Calendar

The Maine State Library is marking Maine's bicentennial year with the publication of the Maine Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar. The perpetual calendar is designed to assist parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians in creative activities that encourage emergent reading.

Thirty-thousand calendars were printed with funding from the Maine Bicentennial Committee, the David Family Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation. The calendar is free and copies are being distributed to libraries throughout the state to give to their patrons.

"Every child in Maine should have books and reading in their lives," said Janet McKenney, director of library development at the Maine State Library. "The calendar's activities reinforce early literacy practices and encourage parents and caregivers to read to infants and young pre-school children."

Each month features works from Maine authors and illustrators with a focus on a theme around which books, songs, activities, arts and cultural events, and health and family wellness information are centered. The calendar is an easy to use tool for anyone to work with kids on the five early literacy practices - reading, writing, talking, playing and singing.

"Early literacy activities help ensure our children are better prepared to learn when they enter school - and the value of a strong start in education has the potential to make a big difference over the course of a lifetime," said Maine State Librarian, James Ritter. "As we look ahead to the next hundred years of our state's history, our future prosperity will be inextricably tied to how well we do in preparing the next generation of workers to be competitive in the global economy."

Copies of the calendar can be obtained at Maine public libraries. If a library has not requested copies or need more, they can make a request through the Maine State Library website: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/MaineDaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm

Maine authors and illustrators featured in the Maine Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar

Ana and the Sea Star written by R. Lynn Roelfs, illustrated by Jamie Hogan and published Tilbury House Publishers;

Beautiful Blackbird written and illustrated by Ashley Bryan and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers;

The Wicked Big Toddlah written and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes and published by Random House Children's Books;

How to Read a Book written by Kwame Alexander; illustrated by Melissa Sweet and published by Published by HarperCollins Publishers;

Thanks to the Animals written by Allen Sockabasin; illustrated by Rebekah Raye and published by Tilbury House Publishers;

If I built a House written and illustrated by Chris Van Dusen and published by Penguin Young Readers Group;

The Bugliest Bug by Carol Diggory Shields; illustrated by Scott Nash and published by Candlewick Press;

Rainbow Stew written and illustrated by Cathryn Falwell and published by Lee & Low Books, Inc.;

I'm New Here written and illustrated by Anne Sibley OBrien and published by Charlesbridge Publishing,Inc.;

The Cat at Night written and illustrated by Dahlov Ipcar and published by Islandport Press;

Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons; illustrated by Daniel Minter and published by Peachtree Publishing Company; and

Mud, Sand and Snow written and illustrated by Charlotte Agell and published by Islandport PressCover illustration: Marty Braun.

The calendar was printed in Lewiston, Maine by Penmor Lithographers.

For more information, contact Janet McKenney at janet.mckenney@maine.gov or visit https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/MaineDaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm

Information About Current Maine State Library Services

Library Services Remain Available at New Location

Walk-in Service

A temporary location at 242 State Street, Augusta, Maine .

Curbside Service

Library patrons can also continue to check-out books through curbside service at our temporary location.

Requesting Materials Through Curbside Service

To make a request, call or email us using the contacts listed below:
Phone: (207) 287-5600
Email: circulation.msl@maine.gov

When requesting items, please allow up to 24 hours for curbside delivery. You will be notified (by email or phone) when the materials are ready to pick up and you will be able to choose a specific pick up time slot then. Requests received on Friday will be available on Monday.

Curbside pickup will be available at our temporary location at 242 State Street, Augusta, Maine between 10am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Unless it is necessary for patrons with mobility concerns, staff will not put items into cars. If you need assistance, please let us know when you call to say you have arrived.

Checkouts and Holds

All items loan for six weeks.

Interlibrary loan services resumed on Monday, June 14. The Maine Reciprocal Borrowing Program remains suspended until further notice.

All returns of library materials will be done via our book drop. Items are quarantined for 24 hours before check-in, and will show up on your record until then.

No fees or fines will be charged during our closure. If you receive a notice, please contact us by email circulation.msl@maine.gov or call (207) 287-5600.

Returning Library Materials

Please use the library book drop when you are ready to return your loaned materials. Keep in mind that the library book drop has also moved to our temporary location 242 State Street, Augusta, Maine.

Reference Services

Our reference librarians will continue to be available at the library and via online video conferencing, email, and phone weekdays between the hours of 9am 5pm. To speak with a reference librarian, please email reference.desk@maine.gov or call (207) 287-5608.

Get a Maine State Library Card

If you need a library card please use our online form at https://www.maine.gov/msl/services/libcard.htm . If you have difficulty using your card, please contact us by email circulation.msl@maine.gov or by calling (207) 287-5608.

Digital Services

To access our online resources please visit our website at https://www.maine.gov/msl/ .

Outreach Services

All Outreach Services remain operational. For Books By Mail, Talking Books, and Large Print, call (207) 287-5650 or 1-800-762-7106.

Maine State Library Announces Youth Book Awards

Augusta, Maine - Maine's annual Reading Roundup, a literacy-based conference for youth librarians was held for the first time as a virtual event on April 16, 2020. Hundreds of Maine public and school librarians joined to listen to author Saadia Faruqi, the keynote speaker who spoke about building bridges with books. Local book awards and reading lists were also announced.

The Katahdin Award, a lifetime achievement award, was given to Kevin Hawkes, author and/or illustrator of such books as Velma Gratch & the Way Cool Butterfly, Library Lion, and The Wicked Big Toddlah.

The Lupine Award, honored the works of several creators who were either residents of Maine or whose work focused on Maine. The 2019 picture book winner was Going Down Home with Daddy by Kelly Starling Lyons and illustrated by Daniel Minter. The picture book honor was Maybe Tomorrow? by Charlotte Agell and illustrated by Ana Ramirez Gonzalez. The 2019 juvenile/young adult winner was Searching for Lottie by Susan Ross. The honor book was American Trailblazers: 50 Remarkable People who Shaped U.S. History by Lisa Trusiani and illustrated by Pau Morgan, Toby Newsome, and Cecilia Puglesi.

The new North Star Young Adult (YA) Book Award announced its first 2020-2021 reading list for books published in 2019, suggested for students in grades 7-12. The annual Cream of the Crop 2019 reading list was also released. The Cream of the Crop list contains a total of 109 books that includes both fiction and non-fiction picture books and chapter books.

For more information on any of these, please contact Kara Reiman, Children's Literacy Specialist at Maine State Library via email: kara.reiman@maine.gov .

Maine Libraries Collaborate to Collect and Share COVID-19 Stories from their Communities

In an effort to document and preserve stories of how COVID-19 has reshaped the lives of Maine people during the global pandemic, a number of Maine libraries are working together on an unprecedented archiving project that will be made available online and preserved for access by future generations.

The project was made possible with Federal CARES Act funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and involves creation of a web platform at the Maine State Library that can be used by libraries throughout the state to host and publish collections that depict the impact of COVID-19 on the people of their communities.

"We are living in an unusual time where nearly every aspect of daily life has changed in some way due to COVID-19," said Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development for the Maine State Library. The work we are doing will allow people throughout Maine to submit written stories, poems, photos, artwork and audio files about how the pandemic has affected them so that the content can be shared with others and kept for future generations.

Over the last several months, the participating libraries have been working together to share expertise, create documentation around best practices and develop a resource guide for other libraries. Greta Schroeder, Director of the Thompson Free Memorial Library who leads this collaborative remarked, This is a great opportunity for librarians across the state to work together as we build digital archives that are community-based and connected through a shared platform. This collaboration advances an essential service of public libraries, the preservation of local history. We encourage other libraries and cultural heritage organizations to join us and look forward to seeing the stories and materials that community members share.

Current participating libraries and their projects include:

Heart of Maine Community Stories - A collaboration between Hartland Public Library, Newport Cultural Center, Pittsfield Public Library, Skowhegan Free Public Library, and Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft) to document life in Central Maine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Isolating Together Portland Public Library is inviting those across the greater Portland area to communicate how you are living with the present social distancing measures and although we may now be physically distant, let us remain socially connected amidst this time of isolating during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Biddeford COVID-19 Community Archive - The Archive is a joint project of the McArthur Public Library, the Biddeford Cultural & Heritage Center and the Biddeford Historical Society that will document life in Biddeford during the COVID-19 pandemic. Community members submit stories, images, oral history interviews, and videos to the archive.

How's Your week Going? The Patten Free Public Library in Bath invites those who live, work, or feel at home in Sagadahoc County to share stories about how the COVID-19 epidemic is affecting you and your community.

Ogunquit Memorial Librarys COVID-19 Archive The Ogunquit Memorial Library invites members of the Ogunquit community to tell their COVID-19 story. The pandemic is affecting local culture and tourism in unprecedented ways; this project lets us document these experiences.

Bangor Covid-19 Community Archives Project - Patrons and community members are invited to submit Pandemic Postcards to be exhibited virtually and in the library in September. Covid-19 stories are also being collected and shared along with exhibits of historic collections relating to earlier pandemics.

Fort Fairfield has recently added a SARS-COV-2 (COVID-19) Community Impact collection to their existing archive.

Sites are also being developed by Lewiston Public Library, West Paris Public Library and the University of Maine at Augusta. Check for new sites at the Maine State Librarys Hub site.

Beyond the libraries in this project, many colleges and universities are also documenting the impact of the virus on their campus communities. The University of Maine has a COVID-19 Community Archive in Digital Commons.

Follow all these libraries on Facebook at Maine during Covid-19: Our Communities and Archives.

This is just one of the many initiatives for libraries throughout the state of Maine that are having positive impact in Maine communities. More information about these CARES ACT grant programs is available at the Maine State Librarys website.

For more information contact Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development at the Maine State Library (janet.mckenney@maine.gov) or Greta Schroeder, Thompson Free Library, the Collaboration Coordinator (gretaschroeder@thompson.lib.me.us)

Maine State Library Launches "Libraries Health Connect Program"

Starting this spring, residents in 10 communities across Maine will have a new, convenient way to connect with a healthcare provider. The Maine State Library's "Libraries Health Connect Program" provides the technology and training needed for telehealth services through the public library. The State Library dedicated funds it received through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to create the statewide telehealth initiative.

Participating libraries include Alice L. Pendleton Library (Islesboro), Caribou Public Library, Cary Library (Houlton), Fryeburg Public Library, Henry D. Moore Library (Steuben), Paris Public Library (Paris), Peabody Memorial Library (Jonesport), Pittsfield Public Library, Skowhegan Free Public Library, and Thompson Free Library (Dover-Foxcroft). Libraries were selected based on endemic community health issues and a lack of ready access to healthcare. Low-income and rural individuals as well as people of color disproportionally bear the costs of inadequate healthcare which also impacts the economic prospects of these individuals and their communities.

"Maines libraries are committed to ensuring their communities have access to equitable services," said Jamie Ritter, Maine State Librarian. "This means offering programs that you might not associate with your library, like telehealth. We strongly believe that where you live should not dictate the quality of your healthcare. These libraries are leading the way for establishing libraries as another way Mainers can connect with a healthcare provider."

Telehealth uses technology to provide access to real-time appointments with healthcare providers from a distance. Individuals who opt to receive telehealth care from their healthcare provider can now book the Telehealth Room at one of the participating libraries for their appointment. The library provides a private room equipped with a laptop, camera, computer, mouse, lights, headphones, and other technology relevant to telehealth needs. Services are provided at no cost to the community.

Types of care that can be provided through the Maine Libraries Health Connect Program include wellness visits, requesting or renewing prescriptions for medications, follow-up appointments, consultations with specialists, nutritional counseling, mental health counseling, and other non-urgent conditions.

"The Maine State Library recognizes that there is a need in Maine communities to provide better access to quality healthcare and this program helps address that need. Especially as the desire for virtual appointments has increased following the COVID-19 pandemic." stated Ritter.

Telehealth Rooms at participating libraries will be available for appointments by May of this year. For more information, contact, Marijke Visser, marijke.a.visser@maine.gov at the Maine State Library.

About the Maine State Library

Established in 1837, the Maine State Library strives to help people, make Maine libraries stronger, and transform information into knowledge. The Maine State Library delivers services through three central programs: Public and Outreach Services, Collections and Digital Initiatives, and Library Development. The services provided by the Maine State Library are available to all Maine residents and are free of charge.

The ME Libraries Health Connect Pilot Program is supported by funds awarded to the Maine State Library by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the agency that administers the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) as part of the LSTA American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Maine State Library Seeks Franco Newspapers for Digitization Project

Augusta - In many families, the holidays provide an opportunity for generations to gather and share stories about the past. If your holiday tradition includes browsing through family photographs and memorabilia, the Maine State Library asking you to keep an eye out French-language newspapers published in Maine that might be stored away with other family heirlooms. Those papers may help fill in some important gaps in an upcoming project that aims to borrow and digitize historical newspapers that captured news and opinion pertaining to Maine's Franco communities.

The project grew out of work by the Franco American Programs at the University of Maine to track down historical newspapers from Franco communities in Maine. While their efforts identified at least 33 French-language newspaper titles that were published in the period from 1870 to the 1970s, only 16 of those publications have any holdings that can be tracked down in a library, historical society or museum collection. For those newspapers that do remain, their conditions vary widely and few are available in digital format.

"We are afraid that some of these titles may have been completely lost to time," said Adam Fisher, director of collections development at the Maine State Library. "Our last hope is that someone may have copies squirreled away in the back of a closet or in an attic and would be willing to loan them to us so that we can take images of the pages for the purposes of digitization and preservation."

The library is also working with a number of Maine institutions to obtain and digitize their holdings of Maine French-language newspapers.

The digitization project is supported with funding from the National Digital Newspaper Program of the National Endowment for the Humanities. All of the pages digitized will become part of the Library of Congress Chronicling America historical newspaper portal at www.chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.

For more information about Maine State Library newspaper digitization activities, visit www.maine.gov/msl/newspapers or call the library at 207-287-5600.

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