Anniversary Celebrations for 130 years of Service to the Community from 1895-2025

Pre-Celebration Week Events – Richard Russo Book Groups & Screenings

Featured writer Russo, who will speak Thursday, July 24, has written two memoirs and ten novels, most set in fictional small towns in New England. They include Straight Man, Bridge of Sighs, and three books set in upstate New York and referred to as the North Bath series: Nobody’s Fool, Everybody’s Fool and Somebody’s Fool. His 2001 Empire Falls, set on the Maine coast, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and Russo later adapted it into a television mini-series. Check out the News Center Maine Interview with Richard Russo.

Wednesday, June 11th – Empire Falls Book Group, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, June 25th –Empire Falls Screening Part 1, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2nd – Empire Falls Screening Part 2, 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 16th – Life and Art Book Group,  5:30-6:30 p.m.

July Exhibit

Stop in to see displays of historic images of the Library through the years, a selection of photographs from the collection of Willis Humphreys Ballard (1906-1980) as well as Ballard photographic equipment. On the second floor, view photographs of Ralph Stanley Boats. Discover photographs, histories, and more in the library’s Digital Archive.

Celebration Week Events – July 21-27

Monday, July 21st – Town Proclamation and Cake, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22nd – McCue Lecture with Lincoln Caplan, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Lecture “”Does the Supreme Court have too much power — or not enough?”
Wednesday, July 23rd – Children’s Celebration and Cookie Decorating, 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Children’s activities and library cookie decorating.
Thursday, July 24th – Author Talk with Richard Russo, 5:30-6:30 p.m., on the Lawn of St. John Church across from the library. Rain or shine.
Friday, July 25th – Open House and Oral History Booth, Library hours: Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wed. 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. Sat. 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 26th – Front Lawn Read-a-Thon, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Bring your favorite passage or poem to read to an eager audience on the Front Lawn.
Sign up for a time on the Read-a-Thon Schedule.
Sunday, July 27th – Pig Roast…Plus!, 5:00-7:00 p.m. on the Lawn of St. John Church across from the Library. Rain or shine.
Pig Roast…Plus with Pitmaster Seth Mclain, catering by Clark Point Cafe, and live music by J.B. Harrison and the Seal Harbor Boys. 

Tickets for the Pig Roast+ available. Tickets are $130 each.
Click HERE to purchase your tickets.

Pig roast provided by award winning pitmaster Seth Mclain
Additional Items from Clark Point Catering including*:
Grilled Seasonal Vegetables
Roast Chicken
Mac-n-cheese
Side salads
Coleslaw
Cornbread and house rolls
Beer & wine for those 21+
Lemonade
Desserts including:
Strawberry and rhubarb crisp
Miniature whoopies pies, and more
*menu items subject to change based on availability

As part of a year-long celebration of 130 years of service to the community, the Library is planning a mid-summer series of anniversary events for all ages. Happening July 21-27, activities will include a kick-off party, historical displays, children’s activities, and an evening with Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Russo. The culminating event will be a festive pig roast with live music.

The anniversary celebration recognizes the construction and opening of the library’s brick building at 338 Main Street, built to house a growing collection that began in 1884 when resident Annie Sawyer Downs gathered cast-off books from the summer hotels and placed them on a shelf in a local drug store. Funded by donations from year-round and summer residents, the building was constructed over the summer of 1895 and was officially dedicated on October 31. 

“We are so proud of how the community has embraced this place and our mission,” says library director Erich Reed.  “We refer to our library as the living room of the community, and we take that to heart. We also take seriously our celebration motto, Opening Doors for 130 Years. Our goal is to open doors to knowledge and to the joys of reading. And with the continued support of the community, we’ll be opening these doors for another 130 years and beyond.”