Read a book or use our wifi on our newly installed 250 square foot granite patio! Many thanks to MDI Property Management’s Mike Mansolilli, Richard Tressler and Toby Casey for designing and installing the library’s new front patio area just in time for Maine’s beautiful autumn weather. Come Spring 2021, an 18′ bed will host an array of annuals and perennials, and tables and chairs will be available for public use.
Check out our Nature Explorer Backpacks
The library now has three nature-themed backpacks available to check out. Inspire your family’s summer adventure with one of our backpacks filled with books and materials exploring and interacting in the natural world in your back yard, in Maine, and in the universe!
Outdoor Adventure Backpack: Ten Days in Acadia, Tracks Scat & Signs, Exploring Nature Activity Book, Bird Watch, Nature’s Art Box, Awesome Ocean Science, Peterson’s First Guide to Wildflowers, multifunction compass, red binoculars
Treasure Hunting Backpack: Rocks & Minerals, Buried Treasures of the Atlantic Coast, Letterboxers Companion, Cool Printmaking, Treasure Hunters Handbook, Geocaching, multifunction compass
Big & Small Worlds Backpack: Astronomy for Kids, A Tidal Pool, A Freshwater Pond, Beach Walk, Bug Hunt, Tidepools of the North Atlantic Chart, The Night Sky Planisphere, red binoculars, pocket microscope
Grand Opening Video
When Covid waylaid our big grand opening celebrations, we turned to local filmmaker Thom Willey to create a video showcasing the new building, bringing the community back through our doors, even if virtually.
Many thanks to Thom Willey, Seal Cove Auto Museum and our star, Liberty Carter.
For over 100 years BHML has served the people of Tremont. Now that we are open to the public we welcome you to stop in and see the changes for yourself!
Hours and Building Procedure
August 26, 2021
The library is fully open during scheduled hours, without patron number limits. All of our services are available, from browsing newspapers, books and magazines, to computer use and interlibrary loan. In-person programming will be held OUTSIDE until further notice. When visiting, please abide by a few very simple common-sense guidelines:
*All patrons are required to wear a mask inside
*Be mindful of distance with staff and other patrons
*1 Hour suggested in-library visitation
*Wipe down keyboard and mouse after use. Wipe down touched areas in bathroom after use.
If you are uncomfortable with any of the above, we welcome you to utilize our curbside service. Information can be found HERE. To review our complete opening procedure and operations protocol, please go HERE. All of the above in-building expectations will be posted outside and the full document on our website.
The Library at 89 Bernard Rd in Bernard is open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday from 10-5, Thursday from 10-8, and Saturday from 10-2.
We have a wonderful new space and very excited to welcome you back! Please don’t hesitate to email or call me with any questions at 244-3798.
Lisa Murray, Director
Who Is Ruth Moore?
Ruth Moore was born and raised on Gott’s Island in the early 1900’s. Ruth was a best selling author from the 1940’s and on (and even had a book made into a movie “Deep Waters.”) She was called “New England’s answer to Faulkner” and if you like reading honest stories about Maine people in an authentic voice, you won’t be able to resist her novels, ballads and poetry. The issues she wrote about still resonate today. Each year we aim to introduce the works of Ruth Moore to a wider audience, while providing insightful conversation and programming to enrich our understanding of her life and work.
Every year, around July 21, the Bass Harbor Memorial Library celebrates Tremont’s iconic bestselling author. We host an art show featuring work inspired by Moore’s writing, and host explore Ruth’s impact, history and legacy through programs such as author talks, panel discussions and theatre. In the past we have toured her home on Gott’s Island and her home in Bass Harbor.
Who Is Ruth Moore?
A Tremont native, born in 1903 and raised on Great Gott Island, Ruth Moore was an important Maine author of the twentieth century. She is best known for her honest portrayals of Maine people and evocative descriptions of the state. Moore was a significant literary figure on the national stage during her career. Her second novel Spoonhandle spent fourteen weeks on the New York Times bestseller list in the company of George Orwell, W. Somerset Maugham and Robert Penn Warren. In her time, Moore was hailed by critics as “New England’s only answer to Faulkner”.
Author, poet and essayist of over 25 novels, collections, short fiction and essays, including The Weir (1943), Spoonhandle (1946), Candlemas Bay (1950), Speak to the Winds (1956), Cold As a Dog and the Wind Northeast (1958), The Tired Apple Tree (1990), When Foley Craddock Tore Off My Grandfather’s Thumb: The Collected Stories of Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo (2004)
The Bass Harbor Memorial Library has a large collection of Ruth Moore novels, poetry and essays for you to check out, and many new and used copies of select titles to purchase. Call 244-3798, or stop by the Library at 89 Bernard Rd in Bernard for more information.
Click the links below to start your exploration.
Resources
“Ruth Moore Remembered” by Harry Gatwick in Working Waterfront
A more personal, in-depth introduction to Moore as relayed by her friends and family.
“Homesick For That Place: Ruth Moore Writes About Maine” by Jennifer Craig
This excellent article explores Moore’s unique voice, why she was and still is, an important literary figure, and her impact on not only Maine authors, but the larger cannon of place and character driven novels.
“Ruth Moore: Maine Coast Writer” by Donald Mortland, Colby Quarterly
Article written about Moore in 1979, at a time when she was still actively writing and publishing. “There are several ruinous rocks to be skirted in writing about the Maine coast. One is the danger of being sentimental. Another is the tendency to be folksy. A third is the danger of falling into ruts made by previous writers that lead into folksy stories about quaint people with hearts of gold who speak a peculiar dialect, mourn about the past, and spend their lives dealing with trivia over which the author makes them triumphant in some minuscule way. Ruth Moore avoids all of these.”
“A Literary Refuge: Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo” by Sven Davvison
Explores Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo’s history and life together in Maine and beyond, as partners and as authors in their own right.
Description of Ruth Moore and Eleanor Mayo’s home in Bass Harbor
Ruth Moore collection, 1917-1995 at UNE’s Maine Women Writer’s Collection
A brief biography with links to a catalog of UNE’s entire Ruth Moore collection
Tremont Historical Society
The Tremont Historical Society is dedicated to the preservation of the history of the towns of Tremont, Southwest Harbor, and the adjacent islands. The Society achieves this mission by gathering, cataloging, and making available to the public historical materials such as genealogies and information on the growth and development of the towns, as well as historical artifacts. The are hosting a full schedule of programming in Summer 2020.
Penobscot Marine Museum’s Panel Discussion of “Maine Women Authors Of The 1950’s”
Cathleen Miller, Curator of the Maine Women Writers Collection at UNE, Melissa Hays, Ruth Moore Days organizers, Muriel Davisson and devotee Jane O’Rouke discuss how the novels of Mary Ellen Chase, Elisabeth Ogilive, Ruth Moore, Miriam Colwell and Louise Dickinson Rich provide different portraits of the people and the state of Maine.
‘The Ballad of the Night Charley Tended Weir’ by Ruth Moore, read by former US Senator Dennis Damon
Review of the Stonington Opera House’s 2018 production of “I Have Seen Horizons: Ruth Moore’s Stories from Maine.”
The 2018 production of vignettes was based on seven of Ruth Moore’s short stories and poems and adapted for the stage by director Meg Taintor.
Watch Deep Waters on Youtube
“A troubled young orphan boy in Maine is taken in by a family and befriended by a lobsterman who shows him the ways of the world. Starring Dana Andrews, Jean Peters, Dean Stockwell, Cesar Romero, Ann Revere.” The 1948 film adaptation of Ruth Moore’s “Spoonhandle”, filmed on Vinalhaven took great liberties with her writing, but it had a big Hollywood budget and big Hollywood stars. The entire movie is available for free on Youtube split into 4 episodes.
Art Show
In 2020, we asked local artists to submit artwork inspired by Ruth Moore, the people and places she wrote about, or a particular piece of writing. Click HERE to view the slideshow.
Ruth’s Writing
Frenchboro native Dean Lunt started Islandport Press 20 years ago and has taken over the task of republishing and distributing Ruth Moore’s books from Blackberry Press. The press plans to release two novels a year for three or four years, starting with The Weir, Candlemas Bay and Spoonhandle, currently available now. In 2021, the press will release Voices off the Ocean, a new collection of excerpts and poems intended as an introduction to Ruth Moore’s work.
All selections are reprinted here with permission from Blackberry Books. Copies can be purchased at Gulf of Maine Books in Brunswick Maine or at Islandport Press. Select new and used copies may be purchased at the Library at 89 Bernard Rd. in Bernard. Call or stop by for titles in stock.
Sunday, July 19,2020: Prologue to Cold as a Dog and the Wind Northeast
Monday, July 20, 2020: The Barricades—1940, from Times Web
Tuesday, July 21, 2020: Come All Ye Murderers, All—1971, from Times Web
Wednesday, July 22, 2020: July, from The Tired Apple Tree
Thursday, July 23, 2020: Blue Ice and Green Water, from The Tired Apple Tree
Friday, July 24, 2020: Old Sam, from The Tired Apple Tree
Saturday, July 25, 2020: Reference List, from The Tired Apple Tree
Photographs of Gotts Island
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Tour of the Moore Homestead, 2018 -
Tour of the Moore Homestead, 2018 -
Tour of the Moore Homestead, 2018 -
The Meadow -
Tour of the Moore Homestead, 2018 -
Gotts Island Harbor -
The Village road -
Bass Harbor Head Light from the Meadow -
The Meadow -
The Village -
Low tide in the harbor -
The inner pool -
Ram Island -
The view of MDI -
Rugosa Rose -
Sunset at the cemetery -
Meadow view of MDI -
Village sign -
The village and the cemetery -
Storms on the east side of the island -
The “box on the rocks” -
Calico Rock looking out at MDI -
Moon rising over Ram Island -
The dock
Create, Communicate, Connect! Public Art Show at the Kelley Farm, Bernard
Monday August 3 – Saturday August 15, 2020
For 15 years, the Bass Harbor Memorial Library has held a week-long, half day Art and Nature Camp for children aged 6-11. In-person camp was not possible this summer, but thanks to a generous grant from the Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund, camp directors Kathie Pratt and Dawn Nuding retooled and adapted a new format, offering the same high quality art instruction, materials, and fun projects, but remotely.
The library is partnering with Maine Coast Heritage Trust to install an open air art show at Kelley Farm in Bernard.
The show consists of artwork by the children who participated in art camp, placed on signposts. Letter signs which spell out our theme, will span the road front. This message invites people to come view the work, but also suggests that anyone, in these often isolating times, can also create in their own way, communicate with their creations, and therefore connect with their community.
This year’s theme “Create, Communicate, Connect” addresses the shared experience of confusion, loss and isolation the pandemic has created. On the grounds of the preserve, paintings by the children will line the pathways between the community garden plots. Families can safely enjoy this open air art walk at their leisure, in the natural beauty of the setting.
http://bassharborlibrary.com/bhml-art-camp-project-list-and-journal-prompts/
Art Camp Art Walk 2020
Art Camp participants projects.
Genevieve Burke 
Genevieve Burke 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
By Cole Lessard and friends 
Juniper Macko painting at home 
Juniper Macko painting at home 
Oliver and Delfina 
Oliver and Delfina 
“pagoto SANTOUÏTS” by Isaiah Brugman “icecream sandwich” in Greek 
Isaiah Brugman 
Liberty Carter really gets into her art supplies! 
Junior Carter and Dad Spiff work on one of the projects
BHML’S SAFE AT HOME LIST OF LINKS!
BHML’s List of Links
Staying at home? The Bass Harbor Memorial Library offers services to our patrons remotely and this is a great time to check them out. I will highlight some of my favorites first but keep scrolling for an ever-updated list of resources.
If you are on MDI and have a need for any assistance, please fill out your information on THIS FORM and a volunteer will get back to you. From shopping to delivery, island volunteers are looking out for you.
If you would like to volunteer to help out, please go HERE
Looking for a face mask pattern? GO HERE
If you require anything, do not hesitate to contact Library Director Lisa Murray directly at lisa.murray@bassharborlibrary.com, or at 207-244-3798. If she cannot help you directly she will connect you with someone who can.
Through your Library Card
Cloud Library for free audio and ebooks with your Library card number (email librarian@bassharborlibrary.com to ask for yours)
https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/bassharborml/Featured
No matter where you are in Maine, you’re always at the library! You’ll find thousands of magazines, newspapers, and references available through this expansive online resource to all Maine citizens! https://library.digitalmaine.org
Librarian’s Picks
Community Resources
Unemployment Q&A https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-stimulus-package-questions-answers.html
Online AA Meetings https://www.aa-intergroup.org/directory.php
Project Open:Businesses still open
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dBicBiBXGzzWEFd9oqL7EBDbFWjDCPl6SSMea_Kt4pc/edit?usp=sharing
Chilton Guides Online for Free!
https://ebook.yourcloudlibrary.com/library/bassharborml/Featured
Automotive maintenance, repair, and technical service bulletins. Step-by-step service and repair procedures, wiring diagrams, maintenance and specification tables, troubleshooting guides and diagnostic trouble codes, and ASE test prep.
Gale’s Culinary Arts Collection
More than five million articles from more than 250 major cooking and nutrition magazines, as well as book reference content from Delmar such as About Wine, Introduction to Catering, Advanced Bread and Pastry, and Eat Fit Be Fit.
Hobbies and Crafts Reference Center (EBSCO)
A resource that offers detailed “how-to” instructions and creative ideas to meet the interests of virtually every hobby enthusiast. Full text from leading hobby and craft magazines.
Gardening, Landscape and Horticulture Collection (Gale)
Farmers, landscape architects, and biotechnologists can find information in this collection of nearly 50 journals focused specifically on key issues in gardening, landscaping, and other areas of horticulture.
More than 4.5 million articles from more than 200 home improvement-focused titles, covering topics including architectural techniques, tool and material selection, zoning requirements, and others.
A project of the Maine Historical Society, provides access to thousands of historical items belonging to over 260 organizations from across Maine.
MyHeritage Library Edition contains internationally diverse genealogy databases. Access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos and resources that span the past five centuries. Remote access from home is allowed and it is and a mobile-friendly.
NoveList Plus A database for reading recommendations to help readers of all ages find information on books. Includes expert recommendations, read-alikes, reviews, articles, lists and more. Also provides audiobook information and recommendations.
Created especially for children and the adults who work with them. It helps kids find books that are just right for their reading level and interests. Parents, teachers, and librarians can also find tools to teach with books and engage young readers.
Pronunciator Language Learning
Self-paced language learning for 80 languages and ESL for 50 non-English languages. Audio lessons, interactive textbooks, intelligent flashcards, pronunciation analysis, phrasebooks, and quizzes.
Free book and audio resources
Internet Archive is a non-profit library of millions of free books, movies, software, music, websites, and more.
Free Public Domain Audiobooks https://librivox.org/
Manga Volumes Released Online for Free http://epicstream.com/news/NobelleBorines/Coronavirus-Outbreak-Leads-to-Over-450-Manga-Volumes-Released-Online-for-Free
Open Culture http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks
Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
Read Print http://www.readprint.com/
Teen Books: https://www.teenbookcloud.com/Home.aspx
Kids’ Books: https://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/Home.aspx?categoryID=77
International Children’s Library http://en.childrenslibrary.org/
Library of Congress Classic Children’s Books http://www.read.gov/books/
Readers’ Advisory
Find Your Next Author to Read https://www.literature-map.com/
Lithub Personalized Book Recommendations https://lithub.com/cant-decide-what-to-read-next-tell-us-your-favorite-books-and-well-recommend-one-just-for-you
NPR Book Concierge https://apps.npr.org/best-books/index.html# view=covers&year=2019
Online storytimes
Famous actors including David Harbour, James Earl Jones and Betty White do storytime! https://www.storylineonline.net/
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems https://youtu.be/MjaYnyCJDdU
Chris Van Dusen reading books on Facebook videos
Arts
Libraries and Museum Adult Coloring Pages http://www.openculture.com/2017/02/free-coloring-books-from-world-class-libraries-museums.html and http://www.openculture.com/2019/02/download-free-coloring-books-from-113-museums.html
12 Art Lessons on YouTube Your Kiddos will Love! https://homeschoolhideout.com/art-lessons-on-youtube
Art Institute of Chicago Image Archive https://www.artic.edu/collection
Free to download Coloring sheets: Free-downloads and stuff-to-do
SFOA art classes all ages. https://www.sfoamaine.org/virtual-art-classes
Milk Street Online Cooking School https://www.177milkstreet.com/school/classes/online-classes
Free Vegan recipes: https://cleanfo
Exercise
6 Weeks Free Workout Classes with Chris Hemsworth https://centr.com/join-us
Debbie Allen of “Fame” fame online dance classes https://www.instagram.com/therealdebbieallen/
Cooking
Gucci Osteria’s Massimo Bottura’s free virtual cooking classes https://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/news/gucci-osterias-massimo-bottura-is-offering-free-virtual-cooking-classes-on-instagram-031620
Free Online Courses
Ivy League Courses https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/ivy-league-free-online-courses-a0d7ae675869/
Learn to Code https://www.freecodecamp.org/
Learn Sign Language:free-sign-language-classes-online-1357048
Free Photography Classes: nikon-school-online
Free Painting with Bob Ross!
https://www.youtube.com/user/BobRossInc/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf_id=7
Science
NASA Image and Video Library https://images.nasa.gov/
More from NASA: https://www.nasa.gov/specials/nasaathome/index.html
Citizen Science Projects https://www.zooniverse.org/ and https://scistarter.org/
Learning
Put out by the Maine State Library: pubevents
Ask Questions about the World Around us! http://www.wonderopolis.org/
Lego Challenge Printables https://www.freehomeschooldeals.com/free-printable-30-day-lego-challenge-instant-download
Nature-based Stay at Home Activities with CREA! https://creamaine.org/category/at-home-nature-based-activities/
Portland Public Library Resources for Children https://www.portlandlibrary.com/highlight/ppl-highlighted-childrens-eresources/
Science and Health Resources https://medlineplus.gov/childrenspage.html
How to keep in touch
https://www.cnet.com/news/10-free-video-chat-apps-to-use-if-youre-social-distancing/
Local Open for Business
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dBicBiBXGzzWEFd9oqL7EBDbFWjDCPl6SSMea_Kt4pc/edit?usp=sharing
Virtual Tours and Livestreams
Twenty Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids https://adventuresinfamilyhood.com/20-virtual-field-trips-to-take-with-your-kids.html
Animals and Aquariums
Maine Alpaca Farm https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyqixVNSygWPzNCeve8LO2w/featured
New England Aquarium https://www.neaq.org/visit/at-home-events-and-activities/
Live Animal Cams
Big list of animal cams including pandas, wolves, tigers, koalas, naked mole rats and much more! https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1239545102831366144.html Here’s another one–there may be some repeats https://www.adventure-journal.com/2020/03/if-youre-stuck-inside-might-as-well-enjoy-this-list-of-animal-cams/
Home Safari at Cincinnati Zoo including Fiona the Hippo http://cincinnatizoo.org/home-safari-resources/
Jelly Fish! https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/jelly-webcam/
Arts and Culture, Museums and Galleries
Metropolitan Opera Live Streams https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-to-offer-up-nightly-met-opera-streams
Twelve Famous Museum Virtual Tours https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
Where to Stream Live Concerts https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/816504058/a-list-of-live-virtual-concerts-to-watch-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown
Thirty-three National Park Virtual Tours https://totallythebomb.com/heres-33-national-park-tours-you-can-take-virtually-from-the-comfort-of-your-home
Coronavirus/Covid-19 information
If patrons are looking for recommendations for vaccinated people:
https://www.cdc.gov/
Maine Vaccination info https://www.maine.gov/covid19/
Maine CDC COVID-19 info https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Maine Center for Disease Control
A Guide to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) for Public Libraries
Women’s History Month Paint & Sip
To help celebrate Women’s History Month, BHML teamed up with Southwest Harbor Public Library to offer a paint & sip with local artist Jean Forbes. We had 16 participants at the Legion Hall, several bottles of wine, some finger foods and a lot of creativity! Every artist had their own unique take on the butterfly garden and Charlotte Rhoade’s Park. We hope to offer another Paint & Sip experience this summer to celebrate Ruth Moore and Great Gott Island so stay tuned for more information this spring.
