44°48′15″N 68°46′19″W / 44.8043°N 68.7719°W
| Bangor Public Library | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Bangor, Maine |
| Established | 1913 |
| Collection | |
| Size | 520,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 35,473 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $2,388,577 |
| Director | Ben Treat |
| Employees | 35 |
| Website | http://www.bpl.lib.me.us/ |
Bangor Public Library | |
   | |
| Location | Harlow, Center, Park, State, York, and Central Streets Bangor, Maine |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | Peabody and Stearns[2] |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Renaissance |
| Part of | Great Fire of 1911 Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001479[1] |
| Added to NRHP | June 14, 1984 |
The Bangor Public Library is the public library of Bangor, Maine. It shares the URSUS online cataloging system with the University of Maine and other Maine libraries.[3]
The library's roots date to 1830, when the Bangor Mechanic Association assembled a private collection of books.[4] In 1873, it absorbed several other associations' libraries and became the Bangor Mechanic Association Public Library.[5]
In 1883, former U.S. Congressman and lumber baron Samuel F. Hersey left the City of Bangor a $100,000 bequest, which the city used to form a municipally owned public library. The Mechanic Association's 20,000 books formed the core collection. In 1905, the small membership fee was abolished and the library became truly open to all.[6]
By 1911, the library's collection had grown to 70,000 books. Then came the Great Fire of 1911, which destroyed the library along with most of the Bangor Business District.[7] The library reopened that May with the 29 books pulled from the ashes and 1,300 others that had been on loan.[8] (Today, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Great Fire of 1911 Historic District.[9])
In 1913, the library's new building, designed by the Boston architectural firm Peabody and Stearns, opened its doors near the high school.[2]
In 1997, the library was renovated and a new wing added (designed by Robert A. M. Stern Architects), thanks to a donation from Stephen and Tabitha King.[10][11] King's story The Library Policeman was inspired by his 10-year-old son's expressed fear of returning overdue books to the Bangor Public Library because of "the library police".[12]
In 2014, the library was renovated again; plans included a new glass atrium designed by Scott Simons Architects.[13]
On an interesting note, the library contains the couch that former VP Hannibal Hamlin drew his last breath upon while playing cards too hard.[14]
