Curtis Memorial Library
23 Pleasant Street
Brunswick, ME 04011
207-725-5242
fax 207-725-6313
info@curtislibrary.com
page updated:
December 29, 2006
Connecting the Community
The Brunswick Public Library Association, founded in 1883, is a 501(c)(3) organization that operates the Captain John Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine. It serves the towns of Brunswick (pop. 21,172) and Harpswell (pop. 5,239) and is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors who may serve for two consecutive elected three year terms.
Various committees operate on behalf of the Board including Long range Planning, Investment, Development and Budget. The Board develops Library policies. The Library also benefits from the Friends of Curtis Memorial Library who provides recruitment of volunteers and financial support. The Friends are a separate nonprofit organization with its own Board of Directors and budget.
A strong sense of service and several formal Partnerships connect Curtis Memorial Library to the Community: see the websites for Cornerstones of Science, Community Health Information Partnership, Midcoast Business Resource Center, along with our relationships with
The Library Facility
In1903, the library received a gift of land and money from William J. Curtis to build a permanent structure on Pleasant Street. The original library building was completed in 1904 and was dedicated to William's father, John Curtis, a celebrated ship's captain who sailed from the Brunswick area to ports around the world in the second half of the 19th century. Many of the ships Capt. Curtis sailed are pictured in the Quiet Study rooms in the original section of the library.
In October 1999, the Library commenced operations in an expanded and renovated 45,000 square foot facility on Pleasant Street designed by Amsler Woodhouse MacLean, Architects, Inc. of Boston) with local supervision by Douglas Richmond Architects of Brunswick. The $6.2 million facility was made possible in total by local resources utilizing a combination of public funds ($4.0 million bond - approved by a 70% vote) and private support ($2.2 million - raised by the Library). The facility features a wide array of over 300 user spaces (not including the community meeting room - 115 seats) that have been designed specially for public library clients and uses - from infants to seniors and from books to computers.
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ProgramsLibrary programs illustrate the commitment to all members of the community. The Youth Services staff area includes a full time Teen Librarian, unusual in the state of Maine. Curtis Library serves all schools in the area and the four service desks are staffed seven days per week. Interlibrary loan services are provided through membership in OCLC (Online Computer Library Center) and its over 50,000,000 items worldwide. The Library executes over 3,000 transactions per year in support of 14,000 cardholders. The Library now adds 15,000 new items yearly to its own collections that now excees 120,000 items.
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TechnologyIn addition to wireless Internet access, the Library features a high speed network of over 100 terminals for public and staff use utilizing a T1 line. Access to the print and electronic collections and world wide web are provided through the network. The homepage (www.curtislibrary.org) registers over 400,000 "hits" per month. In addition to providing Internet links, the site shows the results of extensive Library efforts in working with local governments and area non profit groups to provide information of value to the community. |
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StaffThe Library staff of 44 (20 FTE) supports a seven day per week schedule. Included on the staff, are 12 employees with advanced library degrees. Over 100 volunteers supplement the paid staff in delivering a wide range of library related programs and services. |
Budget The Library budget is supported by appropriations from the Towns of Brunswick and Harpswell (Part 1: Library Operations and Personnel) and by independent fundraising (Part 2: Collections and Programming). The Annual Fund and income from endowment are is the major sources of funds to the Collection budget. Details are available in the Annual Report. |
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Partnerships The Library maintains several significant partnerships strategically designed to expand core services, increase resources, and reach new constituencies. Among others these include: Community Health Information Partnership (CHIP); Midcoast Business Resource Center (MBRC); Cornerstones of Science (COS); Pejepscot Historical Society, Tri-County Literacy Volunteers, PeoplePlus, Senior Spectrum,Success by Six, and others. For more information on our various partnerships please click here. |
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