History:
The Norway Library was established in 1885. For many years it was located above Longley's store, until the present building, a gift from Mrs. Maude Kaemmerling, a summer resident of Norway Lake, was completed in 1938.
A bronze plaque in the library's vestibule indicates that the building is dedicated to the memory of Mrs. Kaemmerling's parents, Albert and Mary Thompson, and her brother, Frank Thompson. Her relatives were early settlers of the town.
Collections:
The collection contains 40,000 volumes, in a variety of formats which include books, magazines, audio CDs and DVDs, and microfilm. Patrons also have access to downloadable audio books and eBooks form Maine's Download Library and thousands of online magazines, journals and books via MARVEL!, Maine's Virtual Library.
Public access computers are available for Internet access, Ancestry.com's Public Library Edition, and for word processing and other Microsoft Office applications. Materials not contained in the library are available through Inter-Library Loan from other libraries via the Minerva consortiuum or nationwide.
The collection and circulation are monitored and cataloged through a statewide integrated library software system, allowing our catalog to be available on-line. The library circulates about 45,000 items per year.
Facilities:
Boston architect William B. Coffin designed the neo-classical building, which was built by Philip D. Wight of Norway. On December 15, 1938, a ceremony opened the new library building, which at the time housed a collection of about 9,000 books.
The library built a 4,200-square-foot addition in 2001. With this addition the library building is fully handicapped accessible, has ADA compliant bathrooms, has an adjacent parking area, has additional space for shelving and computers, has doubled the size of the Children's Room, and has created a reference area and a multi-purpose room.
Hours:
Monday - Wednesday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursday: noon - 5 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.