Catch up with the Jesup!

September 12, 2025

News

Jesup’s Building Expansion Highlighted in the Bangor Daily

Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN

Using Maine-grown eastern hemlock in our library expansion project was one of our building priorities for environmental sustainability. Millard Dority was featured in the Bangor Daily News recently to speak about the lessons we’ve learned through this project, and how our experiences will help others access and utilize the benefits of cross-laminated timber. The article also features some great photos of our project from August. We’ve come a long way in just a month!

Read the article

Construction Update: Alcove Access

Starting this coming Monday, 9/15, the two southeastern alcoves in the Reading Room will be transformed into doorways that provide access to the new addition. The books in this section will be temporarily inaccessible while the passageway is opened. Patrons will be able to request these titles in the fiction session (Günter Grass to Patrick O’Brian) through Interlibrary Loan.

Upcoming Programs

5th Annual Ashley Bryan Lecture: Anthony Walton

Thursday, September 18th

7:00 - 8:00pm

The Annual Ashley Bryan Lecture is named in honor of the late printmaker, author, puppet maker, painter, storyteller, and illustrator Ashley Bryan, who devoted his life to bringing people together through art. This yearly lecture brings a distinguished artist or critic of color whose work reflects similarly this deep interest in racial equity to discuss that work with the Downeast Maine community. The featured speaker for the 2025 Ashley Bryan Honorary Lecture is the poet and writer Anthony Walton.

Author Talk: Haunted Bar Harbor

Thursday, September 25th

6:30 - 7:30pm

Hear about the historical hauntings of Bar Harbor, Maine and dare to walk the same paths that our ghosts still haunt. Written by local storytellers Jennifer Pictou and D. Michael Fleming, this book covers not only some of the spirited places in town but also experiences that visitors, summer tourists, and tour guides of Bar Harbor Ghost Tours have personally experienced. Authors will read excerpts from their new book and discuss the intricate history behind the stories.

Author Talk: Falling in a Sea of Stars with Kristen Britain

Thursday, October 2nd

6:30 - 7:30pm

Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G’ladheon in the eighth book in Kristen Britain’s New York Times-bestselling Green Rider fantasy series, Falling in a Sea of Stars. We look forward to welcoming Kristen for an author talk at the Jesup. This event will be followed by a book signing at the MDI YWCA at 8pm.

Music and Dance from the Baltic to the Black Sea and Beyond

Saturday, October 4th

5:00 - 6:30pm

Maine’s own Kotwica Band performs music and teaches dances from a wide range of traditions from Scandinavia, the Mediterranean, the Balkans, and the Middle East. This free concert is made possible by the Bar Harbor Music Festival and the Thirsty Whale.

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 6:30 pm!

View events calendar

Upcoming Youth Programs

Pokémon Card Swap for Kids!

Saturday, September 20th

10:30am

Join us for a Pokémon card swap and share your love of the game with other kids in our community. Children should bring their own cards to trade with or to show off to other children. Parents/caregivers should plan to stay if they wish to supervise and oversee trades.

Learn more

Parenting Workshop: Anxiety and Worry

Wednesday, September 25th

5:00 - 6:30pm

Join us for a parenting workshop with Tara McKernan and Andrea Howell from Echo Consulting! This workshop will have a Q&A format, so feel free to bring your questions. The program will focus on kids ages 6-12. Childcare will be provided for this event for children in Pre-K and up who are potty-trained.

Learn more

Sign up for Reading Dragons and earn a new family every time you read for two hours!

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 - 11:15 am for stories, songs, and playtime afterward to connect with other kids and parents.

Chronicles of Yarnia: Youth Fiber Arts Group
Enter the world of Yarnia! On Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:00pm, youth ages 10 - 17 are invited to bring a fiber arts project or start a new project at the library.

Questions? Contact Youth Services Librarian Abby Morrow