As fall begins, I’m excited to announce that our interlibrary loan (ILL) service is back as of September 3rd! This means you can once again request books, audiobooks, and DVDs from around the state with the click of a button or here at the library. While we were still able to meet many ILL requests this summer by partnering with Bangor Public Library, we apologize for the inconvenience, and we thank you for your patience. Are you new to interlibrary loan or need a refresher? Learn more on our website or stop in at the library. 

In other news, I’d like to share some photos and statistics from another great summer at MML. With expanded summer hours, it was one of our busiest summers in recent years. We saw about 8000 people come through our doors this summer, offered 94 programs, and had 55 participants in our Summer Reading Program. And as a site for the National Summer Lunch Program, we distributed over 600 free bagged lunches to local youth– over double the number we distributed last year.

One of our most well-attended programs was a visit from “Mr. Drew and His Animals Too”, where kids got to learn hands-on about many different types of exotic animals. For adults, we hosted several author talks, workshops, and events, including a lively discussion with Kerri Arsenault, author of Mill Town: Reckoning with What Remains. 

Through the Katahdin Region Outdoor Collective, the Katahdin Gear Library was able to help offer free, immersive outdoor experiences serving over 50 local youth, including a hike to Gulf Hagas, a paddling trip on the Penobscot, and mountain biking outing at Hammond Ridge. Our goal with these programs is to connect young people to where they live and give them the skills and confidence to thrive here. 

Stay tuned for upcoming programs this fall, including our Candidates’ Forum, where you can learn more about local candidates who will be on your ballot and our annual Halloween Party in October. The best way to stay up to date with all of our upcoming events is by following us on Facebook or Instagram, viewing our online events calendar, or checking out the community calendar section of the Katahdin Region News. 

As I look back on the summer, I’m grateful for everyone in the community who made this summer such a success. And if you haven’t been to the library in a while, I hope you stop in sometime soon and see what we have going on. 

Take care,

Diana Furukawa, Library Director