General Info

The mission of the Library is to use its available resources to provide a balanced collection of library materials and information services in a wide range of traditional; and non-traditional formats. The purpose of this mission is to protect intellectual freedom, promote literacy, and to encourage lifelong learning among the citizens of the Bangor, East Bangor, Roseto, Portland, Upper Mount Bethel Township, Washington Township, and the portion of Lower Mount Bethel Township which it serves. About Us Bangor Public Library was founded in 1921 by the Bangor Women s Club. After many years of fundraising the library was finally opened to serve Bangor and the surrounding economic community. The library was a cultural focus of the community. The library was located on North First Street - next to the current police station - in a building that has since been torn down. The library moved two more times by 1939. In 1940 the library moved to our current location at the corner of Broadway, South Main and Erdman Avenue. This building was built in 1890 as the home of the Merchants National Bank of Bangor. The cost of the original building was $6, 400. In 1939 Robert Steinmetz gave the building to the Borough of Bangor to be used as a public library and the home of the Bangor Women s Club. Due to lack of space the Women s Club no longer meets in the building. The Bangor Public Library serves a population of 18, 745 residents of the Bangor Area School District. This statistic is based on the 2000 census and will undoubtedly go up as the 2010 census is completed. Funding is received from Bangor Borough - $8, 000 per year plus utilities in the building, Portland Borough - $250 per year, East Bangor - $1, 000 per year, Upper Mount Bethel Township - $8, 500, Roseto Borough - $1, 000, Washington Township - $6, 500. The library also received $9, 500 from the BASD and $1, 000 from the Bangor Women s Club. State aid for the past year was $36, 383. For the Bangor Public Library to continue to receive state aid the library must raise and spend a minimum of $5 per person. This money must be raised from local sources. As you can see the donations from the municipalities are not enough to meet the minimum. All financial donations are greatly appreciated and necessary to continue to provide library service to our community.