Bangor Public Library

Adult services: covid restrictions affected this year's numbers. The Bangor Public Library contributes to the prosperity and growth of the Bangor region by providing Library services to Bangor residents and non- residents. Last year the Library's adult department circulated 121,896 volumes to 26,277 registered adult borrowers. The Library recorded 121,504 visits, or an average of 295 entries per day. They entered to browse and borrow books, to use computers or high-speed wifi, to read, to view art, to share space with others, and much more. The reference department answered 9,666 questions from the Public. The local history and special collections area offered local archives, books, maps, and microforms to aid those looking for the history of our region and to help those doing genealogical research. The Library provides regularly scheduled book delivery to retirement communities and nursing homes and home delivery to homebound elders.

Virtual and special services: covid restrictions affected this year's numbers. The Library's website was viewed 212,575 times. As well as 41 Public access computers used by 7,176 people (an average of 65 people a day), and the high speed wifi used on the top five routers by 22,888 users an average of 75 people a day, the Library has a computer lab to provide both computer classes and one-on-one tutoring. The Library provides access to e-books, e-audio books and e-magazines and 13 paid on-line databases over and above those offered through the state Library. These databases include transparent language offering instruction in 80 different languages, universal class offering 500 courses for lifelong learning, and on-line sources to help local businesses including referenceusa, gale business forms and demographics now. Views and usage of digital services were 102,290. The Library offers a digital commons to provide access to collections of rare and fragile materials including the Library's wwii posters and regimental histories as well as maps, photographs and yearbooks. The Library works with high school and middle school students to make digital exhibits for the Maine memory network. The Library provides meeting rooms for outside organizations to use. Last year 318 meetings were held in Library's space after lifting most covid restrictions. It also hosts exhibits, programs and special events. It has monthly art exhibits by local artists in its 4 galleries. It is the music Library for the Bangor symphony, is part of the downtown arts collaborative and serves as the major sponsor of the Bangor book festival. Programs last year ranged from jazz to poetry, astronomy to history and economics to politics. The Library creates original online programming that mirrors some of its traditional in-person programs.

Youth services: covid restrictions affected this year's numbers. An important part of the Library is the area devoted to children and young adults. The youth services department circulated 75,253 volumes to 3,286 registered youth borrowers 14 years old or younger. The Library sponsored 284 story times and special programs throughout the year that were attended by 4,747 children. Regular programs range from the full steam ahead session for k - 3 grade students to mother goose story time for children up to 24 months old. Programs for older students include movie night, make your own video games, cooks corner, and the book bunch. The Library holds special events and programs throughout the year including a summer reading program that had over 532 participants this year.