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Bass Harbor Memorial Library

Celebrate our community with books!

Bass Harbor Memorial Library
89 Bernard Road, PO Box 99
Bernard, Maine 04612

Voice & Fax (207) 244-3798

About Us

3/15/22: Click here for our hours and latest Covid mitigation procedure

The library is located at 89 Bernard Rd, in the fishing village of Bernard which is part of the Town of Tremont, on the southern tip of beautiful Mount Desert Island, home of Acadia National Park. Tremont is comprised of multiple villages: Bass Harbor, Bernard, West Tremont, Seal Cove, and Gotts Island. Bernard encompasses the southern shore of Bass Harbor, one of few remaining fishing villages along the Maine coastline. Bass Harbor is also home to the famous Bass Harbor Head Light.

The Bass Harbor Memorial Library strives to enrich the lives of Tremont community members and visitors alike by providing access to books, media, and information; promoting a love of reading; and offering programs that celebrate the resources of our community.

The library building has three parts: the main block constructed of brick in 1922, a rear extension framed in wood and built in 1991 (renovated in 2020,) and a circulation area and children’s room, added in 2020. The main block is laid in running bond above a row of soldier bricks laid on the concrete foundation and is topped by a side gable roof. The main facade, facing east, has a central projecting gable-roofed portico supported by modified Doric pilasters and columns. The main wall under the portico, surrounding the entrance, is stuccoed. The wooden door is topped by a semicircular fanlight set in moulded trim. The rear wood-frame additions are more utilitarian, and clad in vinyl siding. The 2019/2020 addition features the large circular “Sunrise Window” and an impressive circulation desk reminiscent of Tremont’s wooden boats, pulling in elements of the original building and the new addition.

The original main entrance (unused now) led into a vestibule, and then a reading room which occupies the entire brick 1922 structure. It has a barrel-vaulted ceiling, and its walls are finished in dark-stained beaded boarding. The rear half of the building houses the library stacks, offices, and other modern facilities.

The history of the Tremont public library begins with a private collection of books made available by Mrs. Vesta McRae, probably from her own home in Bernard. This collection grew to about 1200 volumes by 1920. The 1922 portion of the present building was designed by an unknown architect and was funded by Rhoda M. Watson, a Tremont native who was memorializing her late husband Edwin, an industrialist from Leicester, Massachusetts, and was formally accepted by the town the following year. It is possible that the builder, Charles Lawson, was also its designer; he was Rhoda Watson’s brother. Its construction took place at a time when many public libraries were underwritten by charitable gifts, and when libraries were seen as an important aspect of a community’s educational offerings.

The 2020 addition was funded entirely by generous private donations from Tremont and MDI residents, summer patrons, and private foundations.

Director: Lisa Taplin Murray

Librarian: Amanda Crafts

Bass Harbor Memorial Library Grand Opening Video July 2021

Library Hours

Tues:  10 AM – 5 PM
Wed: 10 AM – 5 PM
Thurs: 10 AM – 8 PM
Sat:   10 AM – 2 PM

Calendar

June 2022

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
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  • Introduction to Goog…

    Introduction to Google Drive and Google Docs- 3 class series

    June 2, 2022  5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Bass Harbor Memorial Library, 89 Bernard Rd, Bernard, ME 04612, USA

    Learn how to use Google's free cloud-based apps to create and store files online. This is a three-week class meeting June 2, 9 & 16.  This is an in-person, onsite class at the Library. Registration is required.
    Reserve Your Spot

    See more details

•
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  • Trustee Meeting

    Trustee Meeting

    June 8, 2022  5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

    TOWN OF TREMONT 

    Bass Harbor Memorial Library 

    Meeting of the Trustees–June 8, 2022 – 5:00 PM 

    This meeting will be held via Zoom at the following link: 

    https://networkmaine.zoom.us/j/8082395867?pwd=VmFvMGVqekNmY3lsL3ZLbF hnU1gwZz09 

    Meeting ID: 808 239 5867 Passcode: m00re 

    Or Call: 13126266799,,8082395867# 

    1. Call to order 

    2. Roll Call 

    Excused Absences: 

    3. Review Minutes of the May 11 meeting 

    4. Library Director’s Report 

    5. Treasurer’s Report 

    6. Committee Reports: Buildings and Grounds 

    7. Discussion Items: 

    a. Welcome to Becky Keefe, Trustee 

    b. Memorial for Paul Hinton 

    b. Board Development/Strategic Plan 

    8. Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters 

    9. Adjournment to July 11, 2022

    See more details

•
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  • Introduction to Goog…

    Introduction to Google Drive and Google Docs- 3 class series

    June 9, 2022  5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Bass Harbor Memorial Library, 89 Bernard Rd, Bernard, ME 04612, USA

    Learn how to use Google's free cloud-based apps to create and store files online. This is a three-week class meeting June 2, 9 & 16.  This is an in-person, onsite class at the Library. Registration is required.
    Reserve Your Spot

    See more details

•
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  • MacOS Basics

    MacOS Basics

    June 14, 2022  6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

    This 3-session class course will cover the basics of how to use Apple’s operating system which works on Apple’s popular line of laptops and desktops. This class starts with the basic functions of the MacOS operating system and how to navigate through folders, files, and menus. Organizing, moving, and saving files will be covered too.
    This is a series of 3 sessions.
    June 14 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 28 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    This free, in-person digital literacy class is taught virtually by an instructor from the National Digital Equity Center. Bring your own device, or reserve a library Mac desktop or laptop. Classes are free for all Maine residents and will be held at the library, 89 Bernard Rd Bernard, Maine. For help registering, or for more information, call the library at 207-244-3798.
    Registration is required at: https://digitalequitycenter.org/.../class/macos-basics/...

    See more details

•
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  • Introduction to Goog…

    Introduction to Google Drive and Google Docs- 3 class series

    June 16, 2022  5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
    Bass Harbor Memorial Library, 89 Bernard Rd, Bernard, ME 04612, USA

    Learn how to use Google's free cloud-based apps to create and store files online. This is a three-week class meeting June 2, 9 & 16.  This is an in-person, onsite class at the Library. Registration is required.
    Reserve Your Spot

    See more details

•
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  • MacOS Basics

    MacOS Basics

    June 21, 2022  6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

    This 3-session class course will cover the basics of how to use Apple’s operating system which works on Apple’s popular line of laptops and desktops. This class starts with the basic functions of the MacOS operating system and how to navigate through folders, files, and menus. Organizing, moving, and saving files will be covered too.
    This is a series of 3 sessions.
    June 14 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 28 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    This free, in-person digital literacy class is taught virtually by an instructor from the National Digital Equity Center. Bring your own device, or reserve a library Mac desktop or laptop. Classes are free for all Maine residents and will be held at the library, 89 Bernard Rd Bernard, Maine. For help registering, or for more information, call the library at 207-244-3798.
    Registration is required at: https://digitalequitycenter.org/.../class/macos-basics/...

    See more details

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  • Westside Summer Gard…

    Westside Summer Garden Club

    June 25, 2022  10:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Join the Westside Summer Garden Club! The Bass Harbor Memorial Library and the Bar Harbor Garden Club are offering a summer gardening program for ages 8-14, to foster a life-long interest in gardening and horticulture by providing a hands-on gardening experience to youth. The program runs from June to August and focuses on education and instruction in the areas of garden planning, cultivation, stewardship, harvesting, and conservation. 
    To register go to: https://forms.gle/TfhxKPKyAa6DmfuZ7
    Participants will be paired with a mentor from the Bar Harbor Garden club and participate in 3 Saturday morning gardening programs where they will learn about the gardening process from planning to harvest, then get their hands dirty preparing soil, designing a garden, planting seedlings, and tending and harvesting their crops. Club members will have access to a plot at the Kelley Farm where they will garden during the program and on their own time. 
    Program dates are on Saturdays from 10-noon: June 25, July 16, and August 20, 2022 with a harvest party in early September. (date TBD)
    The Westside Summer Garden Club is made possible with a generous donation from the Bar Harbor Garden Club.

    See more details

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  • MacOS Basics

    MacOS Basics

    June 28, 2022  6:30 pm - 7:30 pm

    This 3-session class course will cover the basics of how to use Apple’s operating system which works on Apple’s popular line of laptops and desktops. This class starts with the basic functions of the MacOS operating system and how to navigate through folders, files, and menus. Organizing, moving, and saving files will be covered too.
    This is a series of 3 sessions.
    June 14 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 21 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    June 28 @ 6:30 pm - 7:30 PM
    This free, in-person digital literacy class is taught virtually by an instructor from the National Digital Equity Center. Bring your own device, or reserve a library Mac desktop or laptop. Classes are free for all Maine residents and will be held at the library, 89 Bernard Rd Bernard, Maine. For help registering, or for more information, call the library at 207-244-3798.
    Registration is required at: https://digitalequitycenter.org/.../class/macos-basics/...

    See more details

•
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Our Card Catalog

Bass Harbor Library Card Catalog
The Bass Harbor Memorial Library catalog is now on Evergreen. You can look up books and place holds with an account. Please call the Library at 207-244-3798 or email librarian@bassharborlibrary.com to request your card number and password.

Cloud Library: Download Audio & Ebooks

The new download library, CloudLibrary is up and running! Click HERE to borrow electronic materials.

Online Book Catalogs

  • Bass Harbor Memorial Library Catalog
  • Cloud Library
  • ComicsPlus
  • Digital Maine Library
  • Minerva Catalog- Interlibrary Loan

On Our Walls

July Exhibits

The Library will host two concurrent art exhibits in July 2022   July 1-30 Maria Charette and Janet Elvidge’s “Back to the Beach”  exhibit Reception June 30 from 5pm-6pm.   July 5-30 Ruth Moore Days: local artists drawing inspiration from Ruth’s original book cover artwork. Special private collection of original publication artwork from Ruth Moore’s… [read more]

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