Catch up with the Jesup!

July 24th, 2026

News

The Jesup’s Thomas Lord Wing: Grand Opening!

Last Sunday, the grand opening of the Thomas Lord Wing was bustling, with tours of all three levels, Makerspace projects, games, slideshows, and poignant remarks from staff, board members, and supporters.

Outside, our whole community gathered for a ribbon-cutting with board members and supporters. Many thanks to Tiffany Laufer for taking photos and capturing this joyful moment!

It was wonderful to see many generations of Jesup staff and community gathered together to recognize the end result of decades of planning, collaboration, and hard work. Congratulations, all! Now, it’s time to settle into life-as-usual at the Jesup — which is always lively, no matter the season!

The Booksale is coming! The Booksale is coming!

Dozens of volunteers will help the Jesup make the most of its 56th annual booksale, an important fundraiser for the library. There will be people who lift boxes, people who unpack boxes and arrange the books on the tables, people who help you find treasures during the sale, and, eventually, people who pack up the remaining items and move them away.

The box-lifters/movers will be needed on Wednesday August 12th at 4:00pm, Thursday the 13th at 9:00am, and also on Tuesday the 18th. Unpackers and arrangers will start around 10am on Thursday morning and go through Friday as needed to get everything ready for the sale. Sale helpers will work in time blocks within the Saturday 9:30am – 7:30pm hours, and on Sunday from 12 to 4pm, and Monday from 10 to 4pm. If you can help for any bit of that please contact Ruth Eveland for directions at reveland@jesuplibrary.org, or call or text 207-610-2355.

Donations of books, games, CDs, DVDs, and puzzles in good condition are accepted through August 5th. We are at our sorting location Tuesdays from 4 to 5:30pm, Saturdays from 1 to 3pm, or by appointment. (Please don’t just leave your donations in front of the building. It is a shared space, and we don’t want to get in the way of the other tenants.) For questions, see Ruth, above.

Let’s celebrate the opening of the new wing of the Jesup with a grandly successful Booksale! If you can help make it happen, terrific. If this isn’t the year for you to help then just come (extended hours!) and have fun and find a few treasures — it all benefits our beloved Jesup.

Calling all bakers!

Would you be willing to donate baked goods, flowers or fresh produce for the Bake Sale? Individual packaging is recommended. Your contribution to the sale may be delivered to the library on Friday, August 14th, between 9am and 5pm or from 9:00 to 10:00am on Saturday, August 15th to the new kitchen area at the library.

To volunteer or if you have questions you can call or text Cas Dowden at 207-812-6240, or email: casruell@gmail.com. Thank you so much for supporting our wonderful library!

Upcoming Programs

Mystery Making Mayhem!

Thursday, July 30th

5:30pm to 6:30pm

Mystery authors Jule Selbo, Rob Kelley, Moe Claire, and Matt Cost will work together with the audience to create a mystery on the spot! Join us for an evening of fun and intrigue as the authors will share insights into their creative processes.

Little Great Island and the Value of Community in the Face of Climate Change

Thursday, August 6th

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Author Kate Woodworth will appear at the Jesup Memorial Library to discuss her motivation for writing Little Great Island, her award-winning novel about the power of connection and community in the face of climate change, as well as the book's plot and themes. Against a backdrop of beautiful photographs - many taken on the island that inspired the fictional Little Great Island - this event will also touch on whether fiction can (or should) impact climate action.

Dan Kennedy: A Picnic with the Piano

Wednesday, August 12th

5:30pm - 6:30pm

Dan Kennedy is an award-winning composer, pianist and recording artist whose Contemporary Piano music has been lauded across the country for its style and feeling. Classically trained at the Oberlin and New England Conservatories, his sound is a unique balance of energy and stillness that weaves together the classical with the popular. Dan has released ten albums, performed in twenty-three states as well as Canada, and his music has been streamed over 850,000 times.

Author Talk with Ernest Thompson: Out Clause

Thursday, August 13th

5:30pm - 6:30pm

The Academy Award-winning writer of the iconic film On Golden Pond, Ernest Thompson, will make a special appearance at Jesup Memorial Library, in Bar Harbor, on Thursday, August 13 at 5:30 PM. Join Thompson in conversation with New York Times bestselling author Caroline Alexander about his new literary thriller, Out Clause, followed by a Q&A.

Recurring Programs

Bar Harbor Scrabble Club

Connect with fellow word-lovers: all skill levels are welcome! Players are encouraged to bring their own boards, and some boards will also be provided. Scrabble Club meets on second and fourth Saturdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm.

Write On! Writing Group

Join the Write On! Writing Group for support in your craft. The Write On! writers meet Saturday mornings at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom. For more information, please contact the library at info@jesuplibrary.org.

Jesup Knitters' Guild

Fiber artists of all skill levels are welcome to drop in and enjoy crafting and conversation with the Jesup Knitters' Guild, Thursday evenings at 5:00pm!

Contradance with Big Moose Band

On the fourth Saturdays of the month, from 7:00pm to 9:30pm, dance the night away with a guest caller and music from the Big Moose Band. Anyone can attend with or without a partner. The next dance is on Saturday, July 25th.

View events calendar

Upcoming Youth Programs

Summer Reading Program: Winter in July!

Saturday, July 25th

10:30am - 11:00am

Join us on Saturday, July 25 from 10:30 to 11:30am to experience Winter in July! We’ll take a break from summer for a day and pretend it’s winter with fun activities, crafts, and a snack. Kids of all ages are welcome to attend. Kids under 8, please bring an adult.

Learn more

Summer Reading Program: Arts and Crafts with Mike Duffy

Saturday, August 1st

10:30am - 11:00am

Join us on Saturday, August 1 from 10:30 to 11:30am to create something awesome with local artist, Mike Duffy. Kids ages 5 and up are welcome to attend. Children under age 8 are asked to bring an adult who can help out with the activity.

Learn more

Recurring Youth Programs

Story and Play
Children ages 5 and under and their caregivers are invited to join Abby on Tuesday mornings at 10:30 - 11:15am for stories, songs, and playtime afterward to connect with other kids and parents.

Girls Who Code
Join supportive peers and role models using computer science to change the world! On Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:30pm, build coding skills and community while you complete coding projects. Grades 6 - 12. Email girlswhocodebarharbor@gmail.com to sign up.

Questions? Contact Youth Services Librarian Abby Morrow