Portland Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portland Public Library |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | United States |
| Type | Public |
| Established | 1867 |
| Location | Portland, Maine |
| Branches | 3 (Deering, Peaks Island, Riverton) |
| Collection | |
| Size | 238,815 |
| Access and use | |
| Circulation | 895,000 |
| Population served | 66,194 |
| Other information | |
| Budget | $3,861,396 |
| Director | Sarah Campbell |
| Staff | 94 |
The Portland Public Library is the main library for the city of Portland, Maine, in the USA. You can find it at 5 Monument Square on Congress Street in Portland's Old Port area. This library system also has three smaller branches: the Burbank branch in Deering, the Peaks Island branch, and the Riverton branch.
Contents
A Look Back: Library History
The Portland Athenaeum: Early Days
The story of the Portland Public Library began with the Portland Athenaeum. This was a special kind of library that started in 1826. It was a "subscription library," which meant people had to pay a fee to become a member and borrow books.
Many important people in Portland helped start the Athenaeum. They wanted a place where people could share ideas and learn from each other. They hoped it would bring together the city's smart thinkers.
By 1856, the Athenaeum had about 8,500 books. In 1861, it even got its own brick building on Plum Street. However, a big disaster happened in 1866. The Great Fire swept through Portland and sadly destroyed the Athenaeum's entire collection of books.
Becoming a Public Library
After the fire, a new organization called the Portland Institute and Public Library was formed in 1867. Its library was first located in Portland City Hall.
In 1876, the old Athenaeum joined with this new Institute. This meant the Institute now owned the Plum Street property, even though the library stayed at City Hall.
A big change happened in January 1889. The Portland Institute and Public Library was renamed the Portland Public Library. Even better, it became completely free for everyone to use! You no longer needed to pay a fee to read or borrow books.
The Library's New Homes
In 1889, the library moved into a building now known as the Baxter Building on Congress Street.
The main library then moved to its current location at Monument Square in 1979. This building got a major makeover and renovation in 2010, making it a modern and welcoming place for everyone today.
