Catch up with the Jesup!

April 3rd, 2026

News

From Our Director

Dear Jesup community,

Did you know that April is now Maine Library Month? Governor Janet Mills has officially proclaimed April 2026 as Maine Library Month, recognizing the vital role that libraries of all types play in strengthening communities across our state. You can read the full proclamation here. We hope that you’ll join us in celebrating Maine libraries this month, especially during National Library Week from April 19th - 25th! Thank you for being part of our community.

Here’s a sneak peak of a different development here at the library: starting in May, you will be able to use video-streaming service Kanopy with your Jesup Memorial Library account. You’ll be able to watch critically-acclaimed movies, inspiring documentaries, award-winning foreign films and more. We are so excited to offer this access since we know many people no longer have DVD players at home.

Recent Reads: Last week I read Anima Rising by Christopher Moore. Starring the bride of Frankenstein, Gustav Klimt, and a shape-shifting malamute named Geoff with a G, the story is exactly as irreverent, dark, and hilarious as most Christopher Moore novels. On the We Rate Dogs scale, this book gets a 13/10.

Read on!

Megan

Updates for Electronic Borrowers:

Bookshelves on our cloudLibrary landing page have been refreshed! Check out Award Winning and Notable books as well as Staff Picks in categories ranging from Adult, Young Adult and Juvenile titles.

In the cloudLibrary app, we are now alphabetized amongst the libraries under ‘J’ for "Jesup Memorial Library: Bar Harbor.” "Previously we were listed under ‘B’ for Bar Harbor. If you are signing up for the first time in cloudLibrary, you'll need to make choices including country, state and library as well as adding your library card number.

On the Libby app, the most recent purchase from the Hancock County Download Library consortium have also been refreshed to show the most recently purchased March titles.

Upcoming Programs

Music & Conversation with Peregrine Road

Thursday, April 8th

5:30 to 6:30pm

Peregrine Road plays captivating acoustic music that occupies a sweet spot somewhere between chamber music and folk music, with complex arrangements and lush textures alongside raw energy and multi-cultural influences.

Karen Axelrod and Rachel Bell have become known together as a powerhouse duo capable of a huge variety of styles, in demand throughout North America and beyond for concerts, workshops, festivals, English country dances, contra dances, and other events. Peregrine Road’s music is rooted in Celtic, English, French, Quebecois, New England, and Appalachian traditions while at the same time infused with the excitement of new compositions and dynamic improvisation. Audiences frequently remark on Peregrine Road's exquisite musicianship and mastery of their instruments, as well as their outrageous humor and ability to connect with listeners of all ages and walks of life.

Driving Fitness, Health, & Aging: Considerations for Safe Mobility

Thursday, April 16th

5:30 to 6:30pm

Tom Meuser from the Maine Mature Drivers Project will offer a presentation about how aging-related changes in health and function may impact driving safety, how the Maine BMV addresses medical-fitness-to-drive concerns, and how older drivers may self-regulate to remain safely behind the wheel or make a smooth transition into driving retirement.

Learn more

World of Wonders: A Multigenre Workshop with Carl Little

Saturday, April 18th

2:00 - 4:00pm

Join Carl Little and the Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance for a free multigenre workshop based on World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, who will be this year’s keynote speaker at the Camden Festival of Poetry (May 12 - 16). Carl Little received a Rabkin Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 for his art criticism. His poems have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, and his most recent collection, Blanket of the Night, was published by Deerbrook Editions in 2024.

Cultivating Civic Engagement: Sowing Civil Servants with Sabrina Calas

Thursday, April 23rd

6:30 to 7:30pm

What does the future of democracy look like on Mount Desert Island? Join us on Zoom or in-person for a presentation and community discussion led by MDI Historical Society intern, Chebacco author, and lifelong MDI resident, Sabrina Calas. While national trends show a decline in youth civic participation, Sabrina’s research, conducted during her internship with the MDI Historical Society, uncovers a different story.

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, April 25th.

View events calendar

Upcoming Youth Programs

‘Witches in the Wind’ Shakespeare Workshop (Grades 4 - 8)

Thursday, April 16th

3:30 - 4:30pm

Witches in the Wild is a new theatre workshop created by Andrew Simon for Healthy Acadia and Barn Arts that dives into the characters, themes, and events of Shakespeare’s supernatural tragedy Macbeth. Participants will work together to discover Shakespeare’s language and practice ensemble theatre-making techniques that will bring the opening scene of the play to life.

Witches in the Wild is offered ahead of rehearsals for a production of Macbeth in the Middle School Shakespeare Project, a program now in its 4th year that brings together students from across Hancock county to collaborate on a new show. Both the workshop and the production are open to any young people interested in working creatively together.

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.

Girls Who Code
Join supportive peers and role models using computer science to change the world! On Wednesdays from 3:15 - 4:30, 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