Camden Public Library

The Camden Public Library is the public library serving Camden, Maine, United States. It is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Camden Public Library
The Camden Library, October 2003
CountryUnited States
TypePublic
Established1928
Location55 Main Street
Camden, Maine
United States
Coordinates44.211611°N 69.0645°W / 44.211611; -69.0645
Collection
Size42,000
Access and use
Circulation257,786
Population served5,254
Other information
Budget$701,776
DirectorNikki Maounis
Staff15
Websitewww.camden.lib.me.us
Camden Amphitheater and Public Library
The amphitheater, July 2013
Location55 Main Street
Camden, Maine
United States
Coordinates44.211611°N 69.064610°W / 44.211611; -69.064610
Built1928
NRHP reference No.13000285[1]
Added to NRHPFebruary 27, 2013[1]
Map

Description

The library is located at 55 Main Street on the north bank of the Megunticook River, on the north end of the Chestnut Street Historic District.[2]

History

The first library established in Camden was known as the Federal Society's Library, and was started in 1796 with a collection of 200 books.[3] At that time, Camden was a very small town consisting of 15 houses centered on the harbor. The Federal Society's Library operated for 34 years until the books were sold at auction.

In 1854, the Ladies’ Library Association opened on Wood Street.[4] The library later moved to the second floor of the Camden National Bank building and remained at this location until the fire of 1892 that destroyed the Camden business district.[5]

New, lower level entrance to the library that was added in the 1990s, September 2018

On March 23, 1896, the citizens of Camden voted to establish a free public library to be known as the Camden Public Library.[6] The townspeople of Camden raised the money to build this library through various fundraising efforts. No assistance was provided by philanthropists. Mary Louise Curtis Bok donated the land for the library in 1916.[7] Parker Morse Hooper and Boston architect Charles G. Loring offered building plans.[8] The cornerstone was laid on August 17, 1927 and the Library opened its doors on June 11, 1928 with Miss Katherine W. Harding serving as the first librarian.[9] The grounds of the library, including an amphitheater, were designed by noted landscape architect Fletcher Steele. The library and its grounds were designated a National Historic Landmark on February 27, 2013, recognized as a rare public work by Steele, and as a forerunner of modern landscape design.[10][11]

In 1996 the library underwent a great expansion under the south lawn.[12]

The library is one of the only libraries in Maine designated as a "Star Library" by Library Journal.[13]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Camden Public Library". camden.lib.me.us. Camden, Maine: Camden Public Library. Retrieved 10 Nov 2018.
  3. "200-year-old library book returned to Camden".
  4. Statistics of public libraries in the United States, p. 716.
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-11-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Camden Public Library". www.americantowns.com.
  7. "camden - greenbridge blog". greenbridge.wordpress.com.
  8. Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love, p. 30.
  9. Camden By Cheryl L. Baisden, p. 73
  10. "List of National Historic Landmarks by State" (PDF). National Historic Landmarks Program. National Park Service. May 2013. p. 37. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  11. "Secretary Salazar, Director Jarvis Designate 13 New National Historic Landmarks". US Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2013-03-12.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2011-11-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Library Journal". www.libraryjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2012-10-17.
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