WRITTEN BY CASEY BERNARD
You can tell a lot about a person by the books they keep on their shelves (or don’t). Similarly, you can tell a lot about a place based on the local library.
As a newer full-time Maine resident, it was the local libraries that told me everything I needed to know about my new home. After spending time exploring, I was quickly impressed by the remarkable libraries in towns big and small throughout the state. Maine is a place that holds the community tight, especially in dark cold winters. Where people save old things and celebrate the natural beauty that surrounds us. Many writers and artists find their way to Maine, a place that gives one time and space to explore these quieter pursuits. The local libraries are a reflection of all of these values. With historical artifacts on display, unique architecture and active programming, visiting the library is a way to experience the local flavor of the towns and villages of Down East Maine.
Winter Harbor Library
The library that first sparked my obsession is one we stumbled upon on a day trip to the Schoodic Peninsula. The Winter Harbor Library is a striking stone building originally built as a Unitarian chapel in 1887 by David Flint. Today, more than 130 years later, it still features the chapel’s stained glass windows with Flint’s likeness. The librarian’s desk is the same desk that Flint used in his lumber office in Boston and the history of the library is written in one of the desk drawers. As I walked through the library I imagined what it must have been like for those early residents to escape to the library in a place that feels like living on the edge of the earth.
winterharbor.lib.me.us
Jesup Memorial Library
The Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor sits in the heart of the bustling walkable town. Built in 1911 after the collection had outgrown its first location, the building holds onto its early 20th century style. The wood-paneled walls are lined with shelves of books that reach the ceiling like the quintessential library of a bibliophile’s dreams. The well-worn tiled floor reminds us of all the patrons who have traveled through the library doors over the century. A capital campaign raised money for construction of a new wing in 2025 which will expand and modernize the library’s space while maintaining the original building.
From Bar Harbor, driving along Route 3 to Seal Harbor, it’s easy to miss the library that sits on the hillside overlooking the beach. The hours are limited, but the library offers a reading room and programs for children. It also maintains a collection of historic photographs and glass plate negatives of the area.
jesuplibrary.org
Northeast Harbor Library
Further along the coast, Northeast Harbor boasts a large modern library just a block away from the village shops and restaurants. The size of the library is impressive considering the size of the town, suggesting that the town’s residents understand the importance of a strong library. Throughout the reading room and in the upstairs Maine room are an eclectic collection of art and crafts including an incredible life-like lobster hand carved in wood. In the reading room, bird lovers will enjoy a collection of 20 paintings of birds of Mount Desert Island by Carroll Tyson and upstairs, fiber artists could spend hours studying the collection of wollies that line the hallway. In the 19th century, sailors recorded their journeys across the sea through wool embroidery on sailcloth.
nehlibrary.org
Frenchboro Public Library
My library-lover’s heart was filled when, during a 3-day boat cruise around the islands from Castine to Northeast Harbor, we stopped at Frenchboro Village on Long Island. The island population was 29 in 2020, and while there is not much to the island, there is a library. Unattended, the library runs on an honor system 24 hours a day and shares a building with the historical society. It reminded me how important libraries are even if it’s just a place for a weary traveler to browse and charge their electronics.
There are many more libraries to explore Down East and throughout the state. Each one carries a history, many have unique art displays and all carry a story worth exploring for visitors who are in town even if only for a day. Hours can be limited, so check each library’s website before a visit.
