Contact: Anne Davis, Director of Library and Information Services
Date: May 12, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE GARDINER PUBLIC LIBRARY
RECEIVES NEW CENTURY COMMUNITY PROGRAM GRANT
Gardiner- The Gardiner Public Library has received $5000.00 from the Maine State Museum with funds from the State of Maine's New Century Community Program. The grants provide funds to assist Maine’s non-profit cultural organizations improve facilities that house historically, scientifically, or artistically significant collections. New Century Community Program grant funds were approved by Maine voters in a 2007 bond issue.
The Gardiner Public Library has been working on the interior renovation of this beautiful library for 3 years. According to Anne Davis, Director of Library and Information Services, this new grant is the first grant towards Phase III of the renovations. This phase will include the restoration of the front entrance and the rehabilitation of the library’s Community Archives Room. According to Davis, this is the area that needs the most rehabilitation because it is used to house much of the local history for the lower Kennebec Valley. “We have rare maps, historic diaries, and euphemera that can never be replaced. We have to deal with a chronic moisture problem as well as accomplish some mold mitigation. The collection is
endangered if it continues to be stored in this room without dealing with the humidity issue. The history of our community needs to be preserved, that is our library’s mission and that is why we are so excited to have received this grant.”
New Century Community Program grants require recipients to raise a minimum of one-to-one matching funds. “The grant award itself is of immediate practical use,” noted Maine State Museum Director Joseph R. Phillips, “but State-level recognition of community efforts also helps to generate matching funds from local people and businesses.”
For more information about the Collections Facilities Grant Program, call the Cultural Resources Information Center at 287-7591 or e-mail maine.cric@maine.gov. For more information about Phase III of the Gardiner Public Library’s renovation plans please call Anne Davis at 582-3312 or email annedavis@gpl.lib.me.us.
Cultural Resources Information Center
#84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084
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