Bangor Public Library

Adult services: the Bangor Public Library contributes to the prosperity and growth of the Bangor region by providing Library services to Bangor residents and non-residents. We are one of the busiest libraries in the state: we have more than 23,000 adult cardholders, we have around 180,000 check-outs per year in our adult print & digital collections, and we answer more than 12,000 reference questions per year. An average of 640 people enter the Library each day. Our adult programming includes traditional book groups and author talks, but we also teach computer classes and host community gatherings. We also exhibit art from local and regional artists in our four art galleries. From our specialized on-site collections in local history and special collections to our specialized online collections of digitized Library holdings and purchased research databases, we also exhibit unique holdings that make our facility and our website destinations for researchers. As an area reference and resource center, the Bangor Public Library serves Library users throughout the entire state, providing Library cards to any Maine resident. We maintain a collection of more than 350,000 printed adult items and an ever-changing collection of more than 22,000 ebooks and 10,000 audiobooks.

Youth services: the youth services department serves more than 2,770 card-holders under the age of 14, with more than 78,000 check-outs per year in our collection of more than 90,000 children's items. The department not only organizes more than 330 story-times and other youth events each year, with a total attendance of about 7,000 - we also connect children and parents with one another through sponsored events (such as a new mothers' event sponsored by the Public health department) and by making the children's department a destination play-space for children of all ages. A thriving teen program provides space for the growing needs and interests of teens, as well as unique programming for this age group.