FORT KENT, Maine – The Fort Kent Public Library received a $15,000 contribution from an anonymous donor, strengthening its ability to serve the community at a time of rising costs for books, staff, materials and renovations.
Library Director Andrew Birden said he was grateful for the donation. “We’ve recently expanded services at the library with the addition of the C3NT3R Access Point and a greater focus on library programs that occur in different parts of the library. This donation will allow us to install a chair lift so that community members with mobility challenges can move freely between our floors. Accessibility is one of our top priorities, and this gift helps us achieve that goal,” Birden said.
There are other needs at the FKPL. Birden said the library’s limited budget only allows the library to open for 25 hours each week. “While we are grateful for the town’s ongoing support, public funding alone can’t meet the growing demand for library services,” Birden said. “This gift reminds us how vital community support is in ensuring the library can serve everyone in the Upper St. John Valley.”
The library also raises funds year-round with the support of Les Amis de la Bibliothèque Publique de Fort Kent/Friends of the Fort Kent Public Library. The group is already planning for the second community art auction which returns in February.
In a note accompanying the gift, the donor wrote, “To the best little library in Maine, from a patron and friend. The Fort Kent Public Library has always been such an important part of the community, and we are grateful for the work you and your team do to keep it thriving.”
Founded in 1940. The Fort Kent Public Library provides the people of the Greater Fort Kent Region and Upper St. John Valley with up-to-date multimedia materials for self-improvement, education and enjoyment. Learn more at www.fortkentpubliclibrary.com.
