Library News - April 2025

We extend our gratitude to all our patrons, friends, and especially the citizens of Cornish for supporting Bonney Memorial Library. Thanks to you, we are expanding our hours, providing greater access to books, services, and more programs! Stay tuned for information on our new hours... an announcement will be made later this month!

My first year as Library Director has been a busy one. I attended the Association of Rural and Small Libraries conference, where I learned about several potential grants for libraries. Bonney Memorial Library has received three grants so far this year. One grant from the American Library Association will allow us to repair and hard-wire our Automatic Door opener, ensuring it is reliable and ADA compliant. The second grant is from the Pilcrow Foundation, which required us to raise $400 to receive nearly $2,000 worth of children's books. The third grant is from the Maine State Library's Remote Work Through Libraries Grant program, enabling us to purchase new computers, printers, headphones, and workstations. Additionally, I've applied for a Manton Foundation grant through the Association of Rural and Small Libraries to purchase new furnishings for our children's rooms, replacing over 40-year-old furniture and creating safer, more accessible spaces for our children's programs. We will find out if we received that grant later this month—stay tuned!

Our statistics have continued to rise this year: more patrons, more programs, more new books, and more services!

We offer 24/7 WIFI. We provide free Portland Public Library Cards, granting our patrons access to all the online books and materials PPL offers, free passes to the Portland Museum of Art, and free access to The Digital Maine Library. The Digital Maine Library offers Maine residents 24-hour access to full-text and abstracts from magazines, newspapers, and reference books that are credible and reputable resources. The majority of the journals available through the service are not freely accessible on the web or in any other electronic format.

Please check our website calendar to see what's happening each month, along with our blogs.

We have amazing library volunteers and a wonderful Library Board of Trustees who generously donate their time and talents to help the library grow and thrive, along with some of the best library patrons in the world! Thank you for a fantastic first year as Director!

Sincerely,

Sharon Beever, MSLS

Library Director, Bonney Memorial Library