It brings great pleasure to share that Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s 2024 annual fundraising goal of $140,000 was surpassed thanks to the terrific support of Library donors and increased fundraising efforts led by volunteers, trustees, and staff.

BHML is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and relies on individual donations for over 40% of its annual operating funds. That’s right – BHML is not a municipally funded library, though it does also rely on support from the towns it serves: Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay, and Edgecomb contribute 38% to annual operating costs. We are working to spread awareness about BHML’s non-profit status, since it is an uncommon funding model for a public library.

The Library is here to serve everyone in our community, and we’re able to do that thanks to the generosity of our donors and the participation of the residents and visitors. In 2024, over 37,000 people visited the Library; more than 25,000 materials were borrowed. The Library fosters a vibrant and inclusive culture of literacy, and in response children’s book circulation has doubled in the last four years. 

Through treasured annual community events, ever-evolving programs, and a professionally curated lending library, BHML engages a full spectrum of community members as a true and vibrant multi-generational “cradle to grave” institution. More than just a library – it is a civic anchor in the heart of downtown Boothbay Harbor.

If you’re not already, please consider becoming a Library donor. Gifts of every size support the preservation and operation of this long-serving and ever-adapting community resource. If you would like more information on how to become a donor, visit bbhlibrary.org/support, or contact Savannah Fields at development@bbhlibrary.org. 

Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, 4 Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538. (207) 633-3112 bbhlibrary.org