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Library reports steady usage, receives $10,000 Carnegie grant to repair historic exterior
Summary
Library Director Cassandra Pool reported roughly 43,000–44,000 annual visits, nearly 5,000 cardholders and plans to use a $10,000 Carnegie grant to repair trim on the 1902 Carnegie portion of the building while pursuing a maker-space and 3D printer purchase via a bank grant.
Old Town — The library reported stable usage statistics and small capital needs on Dec. 15, emphasizing community programs and modest exterior preservation work funded by a recent grant.
Library Director Cassandra Pool told the committee the library had about 43,000–44,000 visits across the combined fiscal reporting period and nearly 5,000 cardholders, with about 55,000 items borrowed and steady in‑house computer and Wi‑Fi usage. Pool said the library’s ‘‘value calculator’’ shows the facility saved the community roughly $1.1 million in services last year.
On capital needs, Pool said the Carnegie portion of the building (built in 1902) needs trim scraping and repainting and the rear rock retaining wall will likely need assessment and repair in the coming years. She announced a $10,000 Carnegie grant awarded as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations that will be directed to exterior work on the historic portion of the building.
Pool described programming growth, a small but expanding ‘‘library of things,’’ and a planned maker space funded in part by a Bar Harbor Bank & Trust grant that would buy a 3‑D printer for public use. She said staffing limits constrain outreach and suggested modest capital support or staffing to expand community programming.
Councilors asked about interlibrary loans and publicity; Pool said the library is part of a statewide delivery service and plans a press release and social media outreach once grant funds are received.
