Bangor Public Library Trustees

“The bangor mechanic association has the right to appoint four members of the board of directors.”

“A draft copy of the federal form 990 was reviewed by the finance committee and provided to the board prior to submission.”

“Conflict of interest questionnaires are periodically circulated to the officers and trustees to complete and are reviewed by the board of directors to ensure compliance with the conflict of interest policy.”

“The board reviews the performance of the library director annually and adjusts the director's compensation as it deems appropriate based on benchmarking.”

“Documents are available in the business office. Any person may request to see financial statements, form 990, board minutes, or other documents open to the public. Documents are available when business office staff are working, if requested at times when the library is open, but business office staff are not available, the documents will be provided on the next business day.”

“The bangor public library strives to inspire, enlighten, and enrich its members by connecting them to books, information, and ideas needed for work, recreation, education, and inspiration by providing excellent library service to its members and community.”

“Adult services: covid restrictions affected this year's numbers. The bangor public library contributes to the prosperity and growth of the bangor region by providing library services to bangor residents and non- residents. Last year the library's adult department circulated 121,896 volumes to 26,277 registered adult borrowers. The library recorded 121,504 visits, or an average of 295 entries per day. They entered to browse and borrow books, to use computers or high-speed wifi, to read, to view art, to share space with others, and much more. The reference department answered 9,666 questions from the public. The local history and special collections area offered local archives, books, maps, and microforms to aid those looking for the history of our region and to help those doing genealogical research. The library provides regularly scheduled book delivery to retirement communities and nursing homes and home delivery to homebound elders.”

“Virtual and special services: covid restrictions affected this year's numbers. The library's website was viewed 212,575 times. As well as 41 public access computers used by 7,176 people (an average of 65 people a day), and the high speed wifi used on the top five routers by 22,888 users an average of 75 people a day, the library has a computer lab to provide both computer classes and one-on-one tutoring. The library provides access to e-books, e-audio books and e-magazines and 13 paid on-line databases over and above those offered through the state library. These databases include transparent language offering instruction in 80 different languages, universal class offering 500 courses for lifelong learning, and on-line sources to help local businesses including referenceusa, gale business forms and demographics now. Views and usage of digital services were 102,290. The library offers a digital commons to provide access to collections of rare and fragile materials including the library's wwii posters and regimental histories as well as maps, photographs and yearbooks. The library works with high school and middle school students to make digital exhibits for the maine memory network. The library provides meeting rooms for outside organizations to use. Last year 318 meetings were held in library's space after lifting most covid restrictions. It also hosts exhibits, programs and special events. It has monthly art exhibits by local artists in its 4 galleries. It is the music library for the bangor symphony, is part of the downtown arts collaborative and serves as the major sponsor of the bangor book festival. Programs last year ranged from jazz to poetry, astronomy to history and economics to politics. The library creates original online programming that mirrors some of its traditional in-person programs.”