“Summer is icumen in…” School’s out pretty soon. But another important educational institution is about to re-open: from May 3 we can get into the Bethel Library (with appropriate precautions) whatever our age or student status.

We’ve had curbside service, but now we can browse. Catalogs, especially subject catalogs, are all well and good, but there’s something about poking around at random, or checking out the titles shelved near your first choice. There’s access to the library’s computers, space to work in, advice about accessing data bases or choosing books, fellow readers to encounter; soon, perhaps, live presentations for those of us who just don’t love Zoom. Librarians read widely: explain your need or interest and they’ll help you find something. They will also order new books requested by readers.

The Bethel Library has a nicely curated and constantly updated fiction collection. Children and young adults are catered for: few sights are more encouraging than that of an adult and child returning several books, and borrowing more.

Maine’s libraries, public, collegiate, and private, collaborate to an unusual and very fortunate degree. (In fact, we’re spoiled. In many otherwise civilized states and nations you have to go to the capital to gain any access to a major library, without borrowing privileges.) URSUS and MaineCat are union catalogs: between them they include all the books in Maine’s libraries. And the books are available (except for some valuable, rare, and reference works) for loan to all of us through our local libraries.

Small libraries have their limits: size does matter. Bigger public libraries have more books and space, longer hours, more accessible data bases, more programs for readers (though the Maine Humanities Council reaches large and small throughout the state), direct user connections to URSUS and MaineCat. And their borrowers’ cards can be endorsed to provide direct borrowing privileges at major libraries: use the substantial collections at USM or Farmington; browse in the beauty of Bates or Bowdoin (Covid permitting).

The nearby Norway Memorial Library offers those advantages of greater size. It’s also located on Main Street, a veritable book row, what with NML, a bookstore, a reading room, a used bookstore, and a café whose diversely-filled shelves encourage reading.

David R. Jones has patronized the Norway Memorial Library for fifty-some years.

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