The Camden Public Library is the

public library A public library is a library, most often a lending library, that is accessible by the general public and is usually funded from public sources, such as taxes. It is operated by librarians and library paraprofessionals, who are also Civil servic ...

serving Camden,

Maine Maine ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the United States, and the northeasternmost state in the Contiguous United States. It borders New Hampshire to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southeast, and the Provinces and ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. It is a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

and is listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

Description

The library is located at 55 Main Street on the north bank of the Megunticook River, on the north end of the Chestnut Street Historic District.

History

The first

library A library is a collection of Book, books, and possibly other Document, materials and Media (communication), media, that is accessible for use by its members and members of allied institutions. Libraries provide physical (hard copies) or electron ...

established in Camden was known as the Federal Society's Library and was started in 1796 with a collection of 200 books. At that time, Camden was a very small town consisting of 15 houses centered on the harbor. The Federal Society's Library operated for 34 years until the books were sold at

auction An auction is usually a process of Trade, buying and selling Good (economics), goods or Service (economics), services by offering them up for Bidding, bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from th ...

. In 1854, the Ladies’ Library Association opened on Wood Street. The library later moved to the second floor of the Camden National Bank building and remained at this location until the fire of 1892 that destroyed the Camden

business district Business is the practice of making one's living or making money by producing or buying and selling products (such as goods and services). It is also "any activity or enterprise entered into for profit." A business entity is not necessar ...

On March 23, 1896, the citizens of Camden voted to establish a free public library, which was to be known as the Camden Public Library. The townspeople of Camden raised the money to build this library through various local

fundraising Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...

efforts. No assistance was provided by the

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie ( , ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the History of the iron and steel industry in the United States, American steel industry in the late ...

. Mary Louise Curtis Bok donated the land for the library in 1916. Parker Morse Hooper and

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

architect Charles Greely Loring offered building plans. The cornerstone was laid on August 17, 1927 and the Library opened its doors on June 11, 1928 with Miss Katherine W. Harding serving as the first

librarian A librarian is a person who professionally works managing information. Librarians' common activities include providing access to information, conducting research, creating and managing information systems, creating, leading, and evaluating educat ...

. In 1996, the library underwent a great expansion under the south lawn, where today 90% of the library's business is conducted. In 2001, Attorney Terry Calderwood clarified the role of the Library Board of Trustees over Harbor Park, noting that the by-laws of the Camden public Library set forth the power, authority and duty of the Board of Trustees to manage and control the Camden Public Library, the amphitheatre, Harbor Park, and all things connected therewith. The grounds of the library, including an amphitheatre, were designed by noted landscape architect

Fletcher Steele John Fletcher Steele (June 7, 1885 – July 16, 1971) was an American landscape architect credited with designing and creating over 700 gardens from 1915 to the time of his death. Early life Steele was born in Rochester, New York, United Stat ...

. The library and its grounds were designated a

on February 27, 2013, recognized as a rare public work by Steele, and as a forerunner of modern landscape design. Camden Amphitheater and Public Library 07

Camden Amphitheater and Public Library 07

References

External links

*
Town of Camden, Maine
{{authority control Library buildings completed in 1928 Public libraries in Maine Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in Maine Libraries in Knox County, Maine National Historic Landmarks in Maine Buildings and structures in Camden, Maine 1928 establishments in Maine National Register of Historic Places in Knox County, Maine

Description

History

See also

References

External links