The Veterans’ Memorial Library, originally located at 30 Main Street, was purchased by the town of Patten in 1928. Built in 1848, it was formerly the site of a Baptist Church and held special significance as the first public building in Patten.
Following an insurance evaluation in 2020, the 172-year old building was found to have structural concerns, in addition to multiple instances of ADA non-compliance. For the safety of the staff and the community, the building was closed in October of that year. Recognizing how critical the library is in any community, meetings began immediately to determine next steps.
With the help of the library Board of Trustees, colleagues at the recently renovated Millinocket Memorial Library, and other stakeholders, a new vision for the role of a library serving Patten and the surrounding communities began to emerge. The group began plans for extensive renovations and expansion, but discovered the existing lot was too small to accommodate the proposed changes. The group determined that new construction in a different location was the next best alternative. To that end, we created ‘The Friends of the Veterans’ Memorial Library and Community Center’, a nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for the new building we know is so vital to our town.
In summer 2021, The Lumbermen’s Museum at 61 Shin Pond Rd. in Patten generously offered to begin hosting us in their kitchen space while we complete our capital campaign and construction of the newer, more modern library. The library trustees cleaned and boxed thousands of books for relocation to either our new temporary home or a storage facility.
Though our current space offers only 317 square feet, we remain dedicated to growing our programming and resources. We offer National Digital Equity courses, helping local residents improve digital literacy; provide coding classes taught by volunteers trained through Educate Maine and Maine Math Science Alliance; established an electronic library card to track patron use; and we have written grants that will provide funding we need to digitize scrapbooks kept by former librarians, along with historical town reports. We have seen major expansions in our visitation and programming, adding a story book walk and children’s summer program among other things.
As a town built along a scenic by-way, a gateway community to both Baxter State Park and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, we know the opportunity for impact is significant. Our new facility, which will be located on Main Street in Patten, will be poised to offer everything from high speed internet access and coworking space to cultural and educational experiences for the community and visitors alike. The new library will boast the technology we need to provide more computer workshops for all age groups and a commercial kitchen that will allow us to offer small nutrition/cooking classes aimed at supporting a healthier population. We are excited to expand our hours and employ additional staff to assist the librarian. Our goal is not only to welcome visitors to the region, but give them a reason to stay.
We know the possibilities that a building like this represents to our community; growth, advancement, and a renewed vitality that will embolden the vision of our citizens, entice new residents, and offer an enhanced pride in the northern Katahdin Region.
Though not a native Mainer, our good friend Henry David Thoreau recognized the wild beauty and potential of this great place. As he so eloquently stated, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”
We want this, and more, for everyone who calls this region home.Thank you for visiting us here to learn more about our work, and for considering a donation to help us begin construction as soon as possible.