Patten Free Library in Bath is kicking off the fall with expanded Saturday hours and a fast, new fiber optic cable system for patrons who use library computers and its free wireless Internet. 

Beginning, Saturday, Sept. 7, PFL will stay open three hours longer on Saturdays. The new schedule will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Labor Day through Memorial Day. After Memorial Day, the library will resume its summer hours and close at 1 p.m. The library hours on other days will remain the same: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.

The installation of fiber optic cable was made possible by the recent completion of Maine Fiber Company’s 1,100-mile fiber optic network in the state of Maine. In 2009, a coalition of Maine state officials, representatives of the University of Maine System, and Maine telecommunications companies successfully applied for funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to enhance broadband access in rural Maine.

In accordance with the initial federal grant application, a portion of the network was reserved for use by the University of Maine System and the State of Maine. As a result, Patten got the free upgrade to fiber optic cable through its participation in the Maine State Library Network.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer both expanded hours and enhanced services to our patrons,” says library director Lesley Dolinger. “Nationally, about 40 percent of library visits are work-related. At Patten, we’ve noticed that more and more job seekers are taking advantage of our work stations, printers, and Internet access to get resumes in shape and to apply for jobs on-line.

Beginning October 1, we also expect that use of library computers will increase dramatically as patrons begin to navigate their health insurance options through the Affordable Care Act. The fiber optic network will really help in these areas, because it is ten times faster than what we had before. Patrons should notice a big difference.”