
Curtis Memorial Library: A Tradition of Local Support
Support Your Library with DipJar - Curtis Memorial Library in Brunswick, Maine. Discover the power of giving back!
At DipJar, we love our customers. Knowing our technology
is working to support so many meaningful missions is
really satisfying. Public libraries are some of our
favorites. They’re so much more than book museums. They’re
one of the only public spaces open to everyone and where
pretty much everything is free. If you haven’t been to
your library lately, check it out!
We
recently spoke with Joyce Fehl of the
Curtis Memorial Library
in Brunswick, Maine. Joyce is the development and
marketing manager for the library, which serves both
Brunswick and the smaller community of Harpswell. Not a
librarian by training, she started her career in public
relations before moving into nonprofits. Curtis was
Joyce’s local library when she moved to Maine, and she has
been in her position for the past ten years.
It should be noted that Curtis is not a public
municipal library in the traditional sense. The Brunswick
Public Library Association, founded in 1893, operates the
library as a public/private partnership. The original
library building was opened in 1904. Many assume that it
is a Carnegie-funded library, but they are mistaken. The
land and funding came from William Curtis, the son of a
local ship captain, who turned down money from Carnegie to
build his community’s library himself. That tradition of
local support and philanthropy sustains Curtis to this
day.
Like many public libraries,
Curtis has seen a dramatic change in use and utilization
over the past several years. Brunswick is a community of
readers, and before the pandemic, the library was seeing
more than 1,000 people per day - not bad for a community
of just 21,000 people. The library - or partner
organizations - ran upwards of 400 programs each year.
Those numbers are back on the rise and have almost reached
pre-pandemic levels.
In response to Covid, the
library had to adapt. It shifted to curbside pickup,
provided take-home craft bags for family fun, and
increased the number of digital services offered. Laptops
and hotspots were offered. The library’s physical art
gallery was converted to a digital one that continued to
present the work of area artists. Curtis found ways to
provide valuable services to its communities.
As
restrictions have eased and in-person visits have resumed,
Curtis Memorial Library has adapted to this reality too.
With foot traffic returning, the power problems (not
enough outlets!) that plague many antique libraries became
more apparent. The solution? More power stations and a
laptop bar. The latter was built of repurposed shelves,
thanks to a volunteer who is a master carpenter.
A
bookmobile is on its way to the library, and it has joined
the
Sustainable Library Initiative. Its Library of Things collection includes an extensive
collection of tools that can be checked out, and there’s a
repair cafe to help people maintain and preserve items of
all sorts.
In short, it was (and
remains) an active and well-loved institution, but every
one of its programs requires private funding. Thankfully,
just as the library supports its communities, so its
communities support the library.
This happens
in so many ways. From an annual campaign to strong support
from the business community to the Curtis Society, there
are many opportunities for people to support the library
and its mission.
The
Curtis Friends
is a non-profit organization whose mission is to enhance
the library’s role as a valued community resource through
advocacy, fundraising, and volunteerism. Among its many
activities is its operation of Twice-Told Tales, a used
bookstore in the heart of Brunswick.
To reach
new supporters, Curtis created the Contemporaries Group
for people between the ages of 35 and 55. The group
started in 2015 and is focused on fundraising, advocacy,
and getting younger people back into the library.
Many
community members have stepped up and found ways to
support the library. In addition to the master wood
carpenter mentioned above, others have found unique ways
to show their support and love of the library. Sam Sifton,
the founding editor of
New York Times Cooking
is a seasonal resident of the area and was recently
featured at a fundraiser at Curtis in conversation with a
local food writer.
Charlie Hewitt
- an artist from New York who grew up using Curtis
Memorial Library - felt frustrated with so much negativity
in the world. He decided to create the Hopeful Project. It
started with one lighted sign in Portland, Maine. When
library staff members saw it, they asked for permission to
use it in their fundraising efforts. Charlie not only
said, “yes,” but he also donated a sign to the library.
Many
channels of support - the bookstore, the Friends, the
Contemporaries, board endowments - all add up to a robust
multi-tiered approach and one that includes DipJar.
When
Curtis Memorial Library decided to go fine-free, the town
asked how it would make up the funds. Joyce was
responsible for coming up with ideas. She remembered
seeing a DipJar at
Gelato Fiasco,
a local business that sometimes uses the library as a
meeting space. She showed and explained the DipJar to
Elizabeth Doucett, the library’s director.
With
an MBA and an MLIS - as well as a background in marketing
and branding - Elizabeth was quick to see the potential.
The DipJars are in the lobby, and passing patrons often
dip on their way into and out of the library. The Curtis
uses them not only to receive direct contributions but
also at events and to collect membership fees for the
Contemporaries.
“I love the adaptability of the DipJars,” said Joyce.
“We’re looking forward to seeing donations made through
them grow when they’re moved to our redesigned
circulation desk in the fall. It will be easy for the
staff to point them out to patrons interested in
supporting our special library.”
Keep Up To Date With DipJar
Be the first to know about solution updates and receive fundraising tips before everyone else. Subscribe to our newsletter!
.jpg)