#Maine - Making the most of March with #ThompsonFreeLibrary

By Kim Brawn, Thompson Free Library, February 24, 2025

"March arrives with a built-in tension. The upbeat concept we hold in our minds versus an uncertain reality. Our hope is tinged with a steely resolve to muddle through. 'Winter is holding back and spring is pulling forward. Something holds and something pulls inside of us too,' wrote garden author Jean Hersey. Whether you’re ready to research a spring project or desperately need some escapist fare, the Thompson Free Library in #DoverFoxcroft is here to help you make it through — and even enjoy — this unpredictable month.

"Nothing heralds the coming of spring like our #SeedLibrary! We offer donated seeds from our community and various other donors. If you have extra seeds from previous years that you don’t need, please bring them in to share with your neighbors. If you’re interested in trying a new type of plant or flower in your garden this year, stop in and check out what we have to offer. Over the years we’ve had donations from Burpee, Fedco, Ripley Farms, Helios Horsepower Farms, Bob’s Hardware, and many, many patrons."

Source:
https://observer-me.com/2025/02/24/news/making-the-most-of-march-with-thompson-free-library/

Library website:
https://www.thompsonfreelibrary.org/
#SolarPunkSunday #SeedBanks #SeedLibrary #DoverFoxcroftMaine #SolarPunkSunday #BuildingCommunity #LibrariesRule! #SeedSharing #SeedExchange #Gardening #CommunityAgriculture #SeedSharing #HeirloomSeeds #MaineLibraries

#SeedLibraries Are Sprouting Up Around the Pine Tree State

#Maine libraries have added seed “borrowing” to their growing list of resources.

By Nora Saks, Downeast Magazine, April 2024

"Among the study tables and the stacks of books and the periodical reading rooms, at public libraries from North Berwick to Milbridge to Bangor, seeds have suddenly taken root in the catalog — often quite literally, with the drawers of stately old card catalogs now used for little packets of vegetable, herb, and flower seeds. Whether green-thumbed or plain old green, anyone can drop by for some free garden fodder, which is usually donated by community members, Maine seed companies (like #Johnnys and #Fedco), and garden centers.

"Seed libraries took off early in the pandemic, as many people turned their attention to tending their homes and gardens. Now, libraries tend to pair seed lending with how-to programming, often in partnership with local garden clubs. Some libraries also encourage 'borrowers' to save seeds from their crop and then drop them off at the end of the growing season, but that’s not a requirement (and there are no late fees).

"Lisa Ladd, director of Bucksport’s Buck Memorial Library, sees seeds fitting nicely into libraries’ broader mission to make knowledge and resources accessible to the public. 'As libraries continue to evolve, we’re always looking for ways to meet the community outside of our walls and offer programs that touch different ages and all walks of life...'"

More information (including a list of seed libraries):
https://downeast.com/home-and-garden/maine-seed-libraries/

And here in #Maine...

Borrow more than books at Maine public #libraries

Check out anything from musical instruments to microscopes from Maine’s #LibrariesOfThings

Published Winter 2023

https://www.greenhealthymaine.com/blog/maine-libraries-of-things

[Gift article] #Maine interlibrary loan [#ILL] system on hold for weeks because of contract dispute

#Library directors throughout the state say temporarily losing the book sharing will be a challenge going into their busiest time of year.

by Gillian Graham
June 6, 2024

"On any given day, the Scarborough Public Library receives up to a dozen crates packed full of books borrowed from other libraries across the state and sends out nearly as many. Over the course of a year, nearly 60,000 books come and go from the town library through the statewide #interlibrary loan program, which allows patrons to borrow books from other libraries at no cost.

"But that borrowing is on hold at more than 200 public, school, academic and special libraries across Maine – and is likely to be unavailable for most of the summer – while the state navigates a legal appeal over its contract for the delivery of those books.

"Chip Schrader, director of the Scarbrough Public Library, stands next to crates on Wednesday that are usually full of interlibrary loan books. The interlibrary loan service could be on hold for much of the summer because of a legal dispute over the contract for the service that delivers the books. Schrader says that they typically receive about eight crates of books a day through the interlibrary loan service.

"'We feel like we’re trying to thread the needle a little bit. We’re trying to be understanding of all sides of this issue, and our patrons are as well,' said Chip Schrader, director of the Scarborough library. 'But it’s a big hiccup in services for us. It’s definitely going to interrupt the natural flow and is making our staff a little anxious.'

"The current state contract had already been extended for a year and ends on June 30. The #MaineStateLibrary, which is in charge of arranging this service, went through a competitive request for proposals earlier this year and selected STAT Courier to take over delivery starting in July. But an unsuccessful bidder filed an appeal and the state library cannot sign a new contract until that appeal is settled.

"Maine State Librarian Lori Fisher said she could not name the unsuccessful bidder or talk about the bids because the attorney general’s office has advised her not to. Fisher also would not disclose the amount of the winning bid because of the pending litigation. In a post on its website, the state library said all bids came in 'considerably higher' than current costs and that the annual cost for libraries to use the service is still being calculated.

"Maine InfoNet, which coordinates library systems statewide, notified all libraries on Monday that it was turning off all new requests the following morning, and it could be offline for at least six weeks."

Read more:
https://www.pressherald.com/2024/06/06/maine-interlibrary-loan-system-on-hold-for-weeks-because-of-contract-dispute/?uuid=78c62b51-e333-4216-98c6-1e7b22b8b8b9&lid=13824&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2rtOQLne_zSOyltC7HefiiaJOGKgkxCrbKJQS0d_Ji4LB7Al8MWyIL7rg_aem_07w_3Ds2NzauWoo9MMHFeQ