Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z F O C U S A U G U S TA / WAT E R V I L L E / C E N T R A L M A I N E During the time-out, the library continued to function through programs such as online reserva- tion of materials that were picked up in the build- ing's atrium, homebound services, interlibrary loans and Talking Books services that serve the blind and visually impaired. Renovations continue with the upcoming instal- lation of public computers, equipment and infra- structure. e library is continuing off-site services while it works toward setting a reopening date. Completed so far are second-floor public space updates. "We invested over $300,00 for mobile shelving on our public, second-floor spaces, which is great for programming," says Lori Stockman, the Maine State Librarian. Before the closure, the library partnered with outside organizations on programming that some- times drew up to 150 attendees, and plans to start that again. "With static shelving, it was challenging," she says. "Now the shelving can be moved around." An investment in new furniture allowed the library to create and reconfigure teleworking spaces and group and individual seating areas. "ere's more opportunity for people to spend time in the space and also for us to have better pro- gramming space going forward," she says. A $1.5 million grant allocated by the state legisla- ture went toward the installation of compact shelv- ing to increase capacity. "Now we're in a really good place where we have room to grow," says Stockman. "Which is terrific, because we have people coming out of the wood- work talking to us about preserving their Maine books, newspapers and organizational information." Countless stories e Maine State Archives maintained accessibility to some of its collections throughout the closure. "We have 42,000 linear feet of material," says Christian Cotz, the Maine State Archivist. "Imagine cardboard record boxes, stacked side by side, stretching about eight miles." In addition to the Cultural Building collection, the archive maintains another approximately 25,000 boxes of records in a separate center in Hallowell. e mission is to preserve and make accessible to the public the most important historic documents of Maine, largely the documents the state itself has produced. e distinction is important. Now we're in a really good place where we have room to grow. — Lori Stockman Maine State Library 25 S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 6 C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R P H O T O / J I M N E U G E R Lori Stockman, the Maine State Librarian, says renovations include public-facing and back-end upgrades. Christian Cotz, the Maine State Archivist, says the archives collections are back in place and open to the public by appointment.

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