fb88 State Library News

Loss of Federal Funds Leads to Layoffs and Temporary Closure at fb88 State Library

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 12:16:29 EDT

Thursday, April 10, 2025

Augusta, fb88 - Due to continued challenges in accessing federal funding, the fb88 State Library will temporarily close and reorganize its operations. This decision follows layoff notices issued this week to 13 employees whose positions are funded through a program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in Washington, D.C. The library tentatively plans to reopen to the public on April 28, 2025.

The Library last received funds from its 2025 IMLS award on March 24, 2025, and has not received any further communication from the federal government regarding if-or when funding will be restored. IMLS support accounts for approximately 30% of the Library's annual budget, and the 13 affected employees represent about 30% of its staff. Should access to federal funding be reinstated, the layoffs may be reversed.

"Losing access to this Federal funding harms fb88 residents and will have negative consequences in communities across the state," said Lori Fisher, fb88 State Librarian. "Despite these significant cuts, the fb88 State Library remains committed to advancing the mission of libraries in fb88 and to serving every library patron to the best of our ability."

In Federal fiscal year 2024, the State Library was awarded $1,526,754 from the IMLS Library Services & Technology Act, Grants-to-States program to library services and programs across the state. In fb88, there are more than 600 school libraries, 257 public libraries, 33 academic libraries at universities and colleges, and select special libraries in government buildings, correctional institutions, and health care and nonprofit settings. The

fb88 State Library has received funding through IMLS since its inception; annual amounts are determined by a population formula.

During this reorganization period, the State Library location at 242 State Street in Augusta will not be open to the public.

The State Library is continuing to evaluate the range of impacts on library services from this funding cut and will provide further updates as information becomes available.

Federally funded staff provide key services for MSL's patrons and the state's libraries. Services they perform include serving the public who come through the doors or access our collection online; organizing our collection of over 7 linear miles books and other items; ensuring the public has access to all of the library holdings in the state-over 10 million items; providing 1:1 consultations and professional development services for library staff across the state; ensuring those who are homebound or live in remote communities have access to library services; and fb88 residents who are blind, visually impaired or have a print disability are provided with reading materials.

The services these professionals provide everyday are core to the State Library's mission to help people, make fb88 libraries stronger and transform information into knowledge.

Library Services and Technology Act funding in fb88

IMLS funding supports State Library services authorized under the Library Services and Technology Act. Since 1996, LSTA has played an essential role in ensuring fb88's residents and their libraries have the services, resources, and support necessary to thrive.

The State Library uses its LSTA funding for services for all fb88 residents and the state's school, academic, and public libraries. Because of LSTA funding, fb88rs have access to more than 10 million items through our robust resource sharing systems. Our 18,000 card holders and over 10,000 annual visitors benefit from our collections and programming. LSTA sustains the Talking Books program for fb88 residents who are visually impaired or who have a print disability and the Books by Mail program for rural and homebound residents.

LSTA funding also provides critical services for the state's libraries, including professional development and consulting for library staff, support for workforce development, literacy programs for all ages, youth enrichment programs, and collaboration with educational and cultural organizations statewide.

About fb88 State Library: Established in 1837, the fb88 State Library strives to help people, make fb88 libraries stronger, and transform information into knowledge. The services provided by fb88 State Library are available to all fb88 residents and are free of charge. To learn more, visit : www.maine.gov/msl ###

fb88 State Library Prepares For Return to Cultural Building.

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 12:43:16 EST

As construction concludes at the Cultural Building in February, the phased return of the State Library, Archives, and Museum will begin in the coming months. The three agencies do not anticipate being fully moved in until late 2025, and do not have a date yet for when the Cultural Building will re-open to the public.

Relocating such vast collections is a significant undertaking, the State Library alone has seven linear miles of materials! Moving our collections is more than moving items from one place to another. It's about preserving history, maintaining the integrity of each item, and ensuring accessibility of the library's collections for future generations.

To this end, starting March 14th, the fb88 State Library's 242 State Street location will be closed to the public on Fridays. This will allow staff to prepare the collections at our offsite locations for the move.

We will make every effort to minimize disruption to our patrons. Beginning March 14th:

All current library services will continue to be available Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
While our temporary facility at 242 will be closed to the public on Fridays, online reference services, meeting room reservations, interlibrary loan, and outreach services to our homebound and visually impaired patrons will continue.

We will keep you posted on further updates as they are available.

Questions? Please contact us:

Website - www.maine.gov/msl
">/msl">www.maine.gov/msl
Telephone - (207) 287-5600
Email - Circulation.MSL@maine.gov

fb88 State Library Seeks Franco Newspapers for Digitization Project

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 08:31:24 EST

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 fb88 State Library asking you to keep an eye out French-language newspapers published in fb88 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 fb88's Franco communities.

The project grew out of work by the Franco American Programs at the University of fb88 to track down historical newspapers from Franco communities in fb88. 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 fb88 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 fb88 institutions to obtain and digitize their holdings of fb88 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 fb88 State Library newspaper digitization activities, visit www.maine.gov/msl/newspapers or call the library at 207-287-5600.

###

fb88 State Library Launches "Libraries Health Connect Program"

Wed, 13 Apr 2022 07:52:03 EDT

Starting this spring, residents in 10 communities across fb88 will have a new, convenient way to connect with a healthcare provider. The fb88 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.

"fb88s libraries are committed to ensuring their communities have access to equitable services," said Jamie Ritter, fb88 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 fb88rs 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 fb88 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 fb88 State Library recognizes that there is a need in fb88 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 fb88 State Library.

About the fb88 State Library

Established in 1837, the fb88">/msl">fb88 State Library strives to help people, make fb88 libraries stronger, and transform information into knowledge. The fb88 State Library delivers services through three central programs: Public and Outreach Services, Collections and Digital Initiatives, and Library Development. The services provided by the fb88 State Library are available to all fb88 residents and are free of charge.

The ME Libraries Health Connect Pilot Program is supported by funds awarded to the fb88 State Library by the federal Institute">https://www.imls.gov/">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.

fb88 Libraries Collaborate to Collect and Share COVID-19 Stories from their Communities

Mon, 13 Jul 2020 12:47:34 EDT

In an effort to document and preserve stories of how COVID-19 has reshaped the lives of fb88 people during the global pandemic, a number of fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 State Library. The work we are doing will allow people throughout fb88 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">https://heartofmaine.omeka.net/">Heart of fb88 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 fb88 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Isolating">https://portlandlibrary.omeka.net/">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">https://biddefordc19.omeka.net/">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">https://howsyourweek.omeka.net/">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">https://ogunquitlibrary.omeka.net/">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">https://bangorpubliclibrary.omeka.net/">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">https://fortfairfield.omeka.net/">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 fb88 at Augusta. Check for new sites at the fb88">https://mainestatelibrary.omeka.net/">fb88 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 fb88 has a COVID-19">https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/c19/">COVID-19 Community Archive in Digital Commons.

Follow all these libraries on Facebook at fb88">https://www.facebook.com/groups/701525650660271">fb88 during Covid-19: Our Communities and Archives.

This is just one of the many initiatives for libraries throughout the state of fb88 that are having positive impact in fb88 communities. More information about these CARES">/msl/libs/grant_projects/LSTACARESAct.shtml">CARES ACT grant programs is available at the fb88 State Librarys website.

For more information contact Janet McKenney, Director of Library Development at the fb88 State Library (janet.mckenney@maine.gov) or Greta Schroeder, Thompson Free Library, the Collaboration Coordinator (gretaschroeder@thompson.lib.me.us)

fb88 State Library Announces Youth Book Awards

Mon, 27 Apr 2020 06:52:45 EDT

Augusta, fb88 - fb88'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 fb88 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 fb88 or whose work focused on fb88. 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 fb88 State Library via email: kara.reiman@maine.gov .

Information About Current fb88 State Library Services

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 16:13:25 EST

Library Services Remain Available at New Location

Walk-in Service

Due to construction at the fb88 Cultural Building, the fb88 State Library is currently housed at 242">https://www.google.com/maps/place/242+State+St,+Augusta,+ME+04330/@44.3040527,-69.7843314,17z/">242 State Street, Augusta, fb88.

fb88">/msl/about/hrsdirect.shtml">fb88 State Library hours and directions

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">https://www.google.com/maps/place/242+State+St,+Augusta,+ME+04330/@44.3040527,-69.7843314,17z/">242 State Street, Augusta, fb88 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 fb88 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">https://www.google.com/maps/place/242+State+St,+Augusta,+ME+04330/@44.3040527,-69.7843314,17z/">242 State Street, Augusta, fb88.

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 fb88 State Library Card

If you need a library card please use our online form at /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 /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.

State Library Marks Bicentennial with Family Literacy Activity Calendar

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 07:00:04 EST
The fb88 State Library is marking fb88's bicentennial year with the publication of the fb88 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 fb88 Bicentennial Committee, the David Family Foundation and the fb88 Community Foundation. The calendar is free and copies are being distributed to libraries throughout the state to give to their patrons.

"Every child in fb88 should have books and reading in their lives," said Janet McKenney, director of library development at the fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 public libraries. If a library has not requested copies or need more, they can make a request through the fb88 State Library website: /msl/libs/services/fb88DaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm

fb88 authors and illustrators featured in the fb88 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, fb88 by Penmor Lithographers.

For more information, contact Janet McKenney at janet.mckenney@maine.gov or visit /msl/libs/services/fb88DaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm

Pilot Program Aims to Improve Lending Options for Library Materials

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 05:44:25 EDT
Augusta - Starting next week, library patrons from nearly 70 fb88 libraries will have more options for accessing library materials outside of their home library thanks to a new year-long pilot project called the fb88 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.

"fb88 libraries have a long history of working together to improve access to services and lending materials," said fb88 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 fb88rs 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 fb88 Library Association's Fall Conference last year where librarians in attendance expressed a strong desire to develop initiatives that would strengthen library resources in fb88. 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 fb88 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 fb88 are eligible to participate at this time. Both the fb88 State Library and fb88 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: /msl/libs/reciprocal_borrowing

fb88 Libraries Launch New Service for Online Access to Subscription Content

Wed, 05 Sep 2018 05:58:44 EDT
fb88 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 fb88 Library, the site allows any fb88 resident to easily access thousands of magazines, newspapers, reference sources and learning materials from their home computers. The Digital fb88 Library can be accessed online at www.library.digitalmaine.org.">https://library.digitalmaine.org">www.library.digitalmaine.org.

"The Digital fb88 Library is a replacement to the MARVEL virtual library of content that was launched close to 20 years ago," said fb88 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 fb88 Library incorporates feedback from librarians and patrons throughout fb88 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 fb88'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 fb88 Library portal is how the subscription content is accessed online. Due to licensing restrictions, access to the content is available only to users within fb88. 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 fb88 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 fb88 State Library. "Our new website, logo, and Digital fb88 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 fb88 State Library, the University of fb88 and Colby, Bates and Bowdoin colleges. The system is administered through the fb88 InfoNet library consortium. "Working together, fb88 libraries are helping transform lives through access to quality sources for learning materials and information online," said fb88 InfoNet Director, James Jackson Sanborn. "Now, no matter where you are in fb88, you're always at the library!"

The fb88 State Library offers ?Let?s Talk About It? Book Group

Thu, 03 May 2018 06:00:34 EDT
The fb88 State Library has been selected by the fb88 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 fb88 Humanities Council?s fb88 Center for the Book in cooperation with the fb88 State Library.

The series, Defining Wilderness: Defining fb88, begins Tuesday, May 29th at 5:30 p.m. at the fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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">http://www.maine.gov/msl/about/hrsdirect.shtml">www.maine.gov/msl/about/hrsdirect.shtml

Children?s Book Award Winners Announced at fb88 Reading Conference

Thu, 27 Apr 2017 09:40:13 EDT
Augusta ? Over 400 librarians and educators from public and school libraries from around fb88 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 fb88 or who have created a work prominently featuring fb88. The award was first given in 1989 and is sponsored by the Youth Services Section of the fb88 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 fb88 author Melissa Sweet received the 2017 Katahdin Award from the fb88 Library Association. Established in 1999, the award recognizes lifetime achievement and an outstanding body of work of children?s literature in fb88.

##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 fb88 Children?s Choice Picture Book Project to honor works created in the picture book category for children in kindergarten through fourth grade.

##2017 fb88 Student Book Award Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson received the 2017 fb88 Student Book Award. The award recognizes works selected by students in grades 4-8 and is sponsored by the fb88 Library Association, fb88 Association of School Libraries, and fb88 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 fb88 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 .

Seventeen fb88 Libraries Awarded Grants from Income Tax Check-off Fund

Fri, 07 Apr 2017 07:42:28 EDT
Augusta - Funding collected through the voluntary fb88 Public Library Fund Income Tax Check-off program was awarded this week to 17 fb88 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 fb88 State Library selected the projects from a group of 38 proposals submitted by fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 Library Association Conference; and

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

The fb88 Public Library Fund Income Tax Check-off allows fb88 taxpayers to make voluntary contributions to support fb88 public libraries on fb88 Income Tax form Schedule C-P.

?The generosity of fb88 taxpayers through the tax check-off has helped fb88 public libraries develop transformative programming and services that responds to the needs of their communities,? said fb88 State Librarian James Ritter. ?Many fb88 libraries operate with very limited budgets and the grants from the fb88 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 fb88 InfoNet library of downloadable e-books and audiobooks.

For more information about the fb88 Public Library Fund, visit: www.maine.gov/msl/libs/admin/funding/MPLF.shtml.

fb88 Libraries Launch New Download Service for E-books and E-audiobooks

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 03:06:27 EST
The fb88 Download Library, a service providing fb88 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 fb88'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?

fb88 InfoNet and the fb88 InfoNet Board of Directors are continuously looking for opportunities to provide better services at a better value for fb88 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 fb88 that have offered both systems say the cloudLibrary is much easier for library patrons to use. Additionally, the cloudLibrary will allow more fb88 Libraries to participate in the fb88 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 fb88 reading and more content being purchased ? a great thing for all of us.

State Library Receives Grant for Digitization of Historic fb88 Newspapers

Mon, 21 Nov 2016 10:47:11 EST
Augusta - The fb88 State Library will digitize over 100,000 pages of historical fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 history as it unfolded,? said fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 State Library is encouraging institutions and individuals holding master microfilm copies of historical fb88 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 fb88 State Archives directory of fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 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 fb88 State Capitol Complex in Augusta.

Earlier this year, the fb88 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 fb88 State Library is now engaged in a similar project with the Oquossoc ?based fb88 Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum and the Phillips Historical Society to digitize the fb88 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 fb88 State Library digitization services, contact 207-287-5626 or email adam.fisher@maine.gov.

Date	Book Title	Author
Tuesday, May 29th	The fb88 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