Jesup Memorial Library
My family and I are back home after camping for a few nights in Acadia National Park. My kids don’t particularly enjoy hiking yet, so we divided our time with outdoorsy activities and exploring Bar Harbor. Both girls have been learning about Wabanaki history and culture in school, so we started off with a visit to the amazing Abbe Museum (highly recommend).
We then wandered next door to Jesup Memorial Library to check out their children’s area. As we walked in, it was clear that the library consisted of at least two parts: a beautiful old building and a newer addition. All three of our mouths dropped open as we walked into the 1911 building. If I hadn’t been with my kids, I would have spent some time wandering its gleaming wood shelving.
We crossed over to the building’s addition, finding the children’s area in no time. The girls immediately accepted the room’s invitation to explore and play, following a colorful path of taped-down squares that set off on a meandering path through the stacks. They were delighted to find a doll house, lifesize magnatiles, modular furniture (which A&R were not shy about moving around), and tons of nooks for reading. It wasn’t long before books caught their attention and both settled in to read.
I learned from a staff member that this new section of the library had only been open to the public for just a month(!), the grand opening just days away. I complimented the new building and asked how long it had taken to get community to approve the project. This is when I learned that Jesup is not a town building supported by the town’s tax dollars. While they operate as a public library for the community of Bar Harbor & neighboring areas, the library is actually a private nonprofit organization supported largely through donations. Even with generous donors, the expansion took 10 years.
We love visiting MDI & we look forward to returning to Jesup on our next trip!
