Greetings to the Maine Library Community:
Yesterday I visited the Swans Island Public Library and met with Candis
Joyce and members of her library board. There were also two staffers from
the Island Institute invited to this meeting. As you might imagine, the
visit to the library site was quite heartwrenching. Most of the site is
covered was a foot or more of ash, melted shelving, and lots of charred
pages of books floating here and there. Despite all of this, Candis Joyce
is leading the charge to rebuild. It was wonderful to see such commitment
and dedication. The first step in the rebuilding process is providing
information to the insurance company so that the claim can be settled. Once
this is complete they will move into the planning process. In the meantime
the board and Candis wants to continue to offer library services to their
island community. I am sure that the use of interlibrary loan will be a
very important part of their services in the months to come.

So many of you have asked what you can do to help.

1. You can send a monetary donation to the Swans Island Public Library in care of:

The First Bank
102 Main Street
P.O. Box 258
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609

2. You can make donations via PayPal on the website: swansisland.org

3. The temporary location of the library will either remain at the town
office or the board will rent a larger space in the village.

4. There will be a wish list account established on Amazon so that folks
can see what the library needs for material. This is also an opportunity
for you to buy a book to send to the Swans Island Public Library.

5. Many of you have offered to donate books. Your thoughtfulness is
appreciated by Candis and the Board. If you want to help please send
material that is in good to excellent condition. The current space
available for the library is limited. The library could use Maine books.
The library had an extensive nonfiction Maine collection that was extremely
popular. If you have any Maine titles that you can spare or have second
copies of I am sure they can use it. Before sending any books please send a
list of the titles you have to swanslib@swans.lib.me.us . Please have your
email embedded in your list to make it easier for them to respond to you.
They will select the books that they can use from your list. That way you
only ship what they library can use.

It is really wonderful to hear about all the libraries that are running
special programs or book sales to benefit the Swans Island Public Library.
I can tell you it means so much to these islanders. Money makes it possible
to buy what they need at this time.

Sincerely,


Valerie Osborne, Consultant
Northeastern Maine Library District
Bangor Public Library
145 Harlow Street
Bangor, Maine 04401
(207)947-8336 phone
(800)427-8336 toll free
(207)945-6694 fax
Valerie.Osborne@bpl.lib.me.us