By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The Caribou Public Library has reached a milestone in its history as it celebrates 100 years of library services in 2011.
“We are very excited to have reached this historic event in our library’s history,” said Diane DuBois, library director.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
The Caribou Public Library board of trustees recently joined staff members in the first of many events to take place through the coming year in celebration of the library’s 100th anniversary. From left are: Jean Shaw, children’s librarian; Diane Dubois, library director; trustees, Bob Thompson, Patrick Bennett, Jan Murchison, Marty Belanger and Brenda Bourgoine; Mary Anderson and Liza Guerrette, library staff members; and Mona Martin, young adult librarian. In back is Brian Levesque, library technical coordinator.
The library, which has been an integral part of the community, was built in 1911 with a $10,000 donation from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie who donated more than 800 million in today’s currency to build 1,689 libraries throughout the nation beginning in 1882. Prior to Carnegie’s donation, the community had a small library located in the rear of a store on Main and Vaughn Streets, which was run by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union. A subscription fee was charged to users preventing a number of local residents from being able to use the library. The new library afforded citizens of all ages and economic status access to books and educational opportunities free of charge.
As the community continued to grow so did the need for a larger library. In the mid 1960s the community received a grant to add on to the library, which nearly tripled its size. The addition included a children’s room, a large reading room for teens and adults, staff office area and meeting room, storage room and a fall-out shelter in the basement. Since the 1960s addition, the library has undergone a variety of building projects, many of which have addressed the handicap accessibility needs of users. In addition, the library’s collection has grown significantly and a number of early literacy programs have been developed as well as programming for teens and adults.
“One of the biggest changes to library services began in the 1990s and continues today with the integration of technology,” said DuBois. “Getting the library’s collection automated was our first step and was a very labor intensive project that took over two years to complete as approximately 60,000 items had to be entered into the computer — one by one.”
Dubois continued, “Three computers were put in place for staff to perform circulation activities and two were added for the public to access the library’s collection. The library created a website which enabled users to access the library’s volumes via the Internet. The website also includes more than 300 pictures and postcards of early Caribou allowing area residents to view these images from the comfort of their homes.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Dressed in period clothing, Caribou Public Library staff members, from left: Diane Dubois, Mona Martin, Liza Guerrette and Jean Shaw are shown here reading from some of the library’s oldest volumes ,(with copy rights as early as the mid-1800s) in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the establishment.
In the latter part of the 1990s the library received a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for six public access computers. “It wasn’t long and library users were taking advantage of this new technology, hundreds of which received one-on-one Internet training by the Caribou library staff. Today computer use continues to be a very sought after service of the library,” Dubois said.
The Caribou Public Library has also taken advantage of grant opportunities to provide high-speed Internet access as well as wireless access to users free of charge via the Maine InfoNet. The most recent addition to the library’s technological services are downloadable audio books and e-books.
“Users can download these items via the library’s website to their portable devices at no cost,” stated Dubois. “We also have a presence on Facebook for users to get the most updated information on library events and happenings,” she added.
“In spite of all the changes and additions of technology, the library continues to have very good readership in our community,” noted DuBois, “The Caribou Library Board of Trustees and staff look forward to a bright future for the library.”
DuBois and her library staff, have over 100 years of library experience between them, each of who will continue to meet the educational, literary and technological needs of Caribou residents. “We will forever be indebted to Andrew Carnegie who wanted to open the doors of opportunity to every citizen, no matter what their economic status,” stressed Dubois.“We will also be forever indebted to the residents of this community who have placed great value on their library through the years, evident by the support the library has received from citizens and local officials,” she said.
The library has a number of activities planned throughout the year in celebration of its 100th birthday beginning with a “Hot Tea and Books Celebration,” to take place on Thursday, Jan. 27, from 1-2:30 p.m. Area residents are invited to stop by for a cup of tea, tasty desserts and check out the newest books. library staff will be dressed in period clothing to commemorate this occasion. According to Dubois, a number of books from the 1911 era will also be on display.
For more information contact the library at 493-4214 or go to www.caribou-public.lib.me.us.
