Islesboro Free Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Islesboro Free Library
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main Rd., Islesboro, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1917 |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | Maine Public Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003018 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 1989 |
The Alice T. Pendleton Memorial Library is a public library in Islesboro, Maine. It's located at 309 Main Road. The library is inside a beautiful building from 1917. This building has a special style called Colonial Revival. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it's so important.
The library was once known as the Islesboro Free Library. It was later named after Alice Pendleton. She was the town's first librarian. Alice Pendleton also played a big part in starting the library.
Contents
About the Library Building
The town of Islesboro is on an island in Penobscot Bay. This bay is located on the central coast of Maine. The island looks a bit like two round parts connected by a narrow strip of land. The library building is on the east side of Main Road. It's just north of where Main Road meets County Road.
Building Style and Materials
The library is a one-story building. It is made of stone, with granite blocks that fit together like a puzzle. It also has brick decorations. The front of the building faces west. It looks the same on both sides, which is called symmetrical.
The main entrance is in the middle. It has a special porch called a portico. This porch is supported by thin, round columns. These columns are part of the Colonial Revival style. The door has glass in its top half. On each side of the door are wide glass panels. Above the door, there is a low, half-circle window.
Inside the Library
When you go inside, you'll find the main desk in the center. There are reading rooms on both sides of this desk. The books are kept in stacks. Some book stacks are in the basement. More books are in the back of the building. This back part extends out with a cross-shaped roof.
Library History and Alice Pendleton
The library started in 1902. The town meeting voted to create it. At first, the library was on the second floor of a local school. This space was not big enough for all the books and people. So, there was a big effort to build a new, better home for the library.
Building the New Library
The new library building was constructed in 1917 and 1918. We don't know who designed the building. It's also not clear if it was meant to be a war memorial at first. However, there are plaques inside the entrance. These plaques remember the town's soldiers who died in wars. A flagpole and a special base were placed in front of the library in 1921.
Alice Pendleton's Legacy
Alice T. Pendleton was a professional librarian. She became the town's first librarian in 1902. She worked hard to grow the library's collection of books. She also led the effort to get a permanent building for the library. Even after she moved away from Islesboro in 1925, she still helped the library. She would work as an assistant librarian when she visited in the summer. In 1956, the library was renamed in her honor.
