Catch up with the Jesup!

July 18th, 2025

News

Save the date! Better Libraries for Modern Communities with Dr. David Lankes

Dr. R. David Lankes is the author of The Atlas of New Librarianship, which recasts librarianship through a focus on communities and knowledge over collections and buildings. We are honored to announce that he will deliver a public lecture at the Jesup on Tuesday, August 12th at 5:30pm. Dr. Lankes currently serves as the Virginia and Charles Bowden Professor of Librarianship at the University of Texas at Austin.

55th Annual Booksale

To give us time to get everything organized before the Big Day, the last day for donations to the 2025 Jesup booksale will be on Tuesday, August 5th. Contact Ruth (below) for details about dropping off donations. The sale will be held on Saturday, August 16th from 10am to 4pm on the grounds of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church. Many thanks to this congregation for helping its neighbor so generously over the last several years.

We could use more volunteers to help with the tents-and-tables set up on Friday afternoon, loading the book boxes onto the truck later on Friday afternoon, unloading the boxes on Saturday morning, setting up and selling, and packing everything up at the end. (Remember, we have reasonably-sized boxes now — many thanks to Atlantic Brewing for donating theirs.) If you can give us even an hour or two, please get in touch with Ruth Eveland, reveland@jesuplibrary.org or 207-610-2355. We often get people stepping up at the last minute, but to save Ruth’s sanity please reach out as soon as possible.

Featured this year:

Even more cookbooks! We have had several large collections of beautiful books donated this year, including titles both new and classic.
An extraordinary collection of handcraft books from the woman who used to knit those magnificent, prized shawls for the Jesup’s annual auction, Beth Kidder. This includes many historical works and titles from other countries.
A fabulous collection of fashion books. A few of these with outstanding photographs will be in the Specials section.
An expanded category of “nice old books.” Some like shiny-new, some like “olde,” so this is an experiment. They are just old books that may have some possible resale value but are mostly just interesting old volumes.

Let’s see if we can top last year’s sale to help the Jesup buy more books as we settle into our expanded facility in the imminent future!

DownEast New Music returns with Voice of the Whale

DownEast New Music, an organization dedicated to bringing dynamic performances of chamber music by living composers to DownEast Maine, will return to the Jesup for a free public concert on Wednesday, July 30th at 6:30pm. Co-artistic directors Clare Monfredo (cello), Edward Kass (double bass), and Conrad Winslow (composer/piano) will be joined by Maine-raised flutist Roberta Michel.

More Information

Upcoming Programs

Artist Talk with Jennifer Booher

Thursday, July 24th

6:30 - 7:30pm

Jennifer Booher created twelve still life photographs based on the Dutch still life painting tradition to accompany the essays in the 2025 edition of Chebacco. The artist will share her misadventures with historic recipes, adventures in sourcing objects ranging from a neon ‘open’ sign to oysters excavated from a Maine shell mound, and the challenge of adapting photographic techniques to re-create this style of painting.

Author Talk with Dave Albee: The Last One Out Of Town Turn Out The Lights

Friday, July 31st

6:30 - 7:30pm

“The Last One Out Of Town Turn Out The Lights” is a nostalgic, inspiring, and untold story of how a soul-crushing school district consolidation changes the fate and fortunes of two rural Maine high schools. The school merger connects a tall, humble, whimsically-talented player to a young, driven, witty coach 20 miles away to ultimately build an unlikely undefeated state championship basketball team in 1975 that “is like this meteor in Dover-Foxcroft that comes through this one season.”

Author Talk with Mac Smith: The Great Fire of 1947 and the End of Bar Harbor’s Golden Era

Thursday, August 7th

6:30 - 7:30pm

The Great Fire of 1947 and the End of Bar Harbor’s Golden Era tells the riveting story of the desperate evacuation of residents through the heart of an uncontrolled forest fire burning all across Mount Desert Island. Through extensive and meticulous research, Maine author and historian Mac Smith brings this important part of the state’s history to life.

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

Starting July 5th, sign up for Reading Dragons. The more you read, the more cards you can collect!

Summer Reading Program: Make Your Own Instrument with Skip LaPlante

Saturday, July 26th

10:30 to 11:30am

Join Skip LaPlante of the Bar Harbor Music Festival to make your own instrument from recycled materials! This program is recommended for ages 5-11. Kids under 8 are asked to bring an adult.

Learn more

Summer Reading Program: Color-Changing Carnations with the Bar Harbor Garden Club

Saturday, August 2nd

10:30 to 11:30am

Join Linda from the Bar Harbor Garden Club for a botanical experiment. We’ll read a story and then use food coloring to create colorful carnations! This program is recommended for ages 5-11. Kids under 8 are asked to bring an adult.

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 - 11:15 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