NEW!!!!! Local book reviews by a local reviewer Litera Scripta. Most books are found locally at Abbott Memorial Library and/or at Mr. Paperback in Dexter. Click here for reviews.....

Archived Obituaries The Library Staff has been diligently working on getting a Dexter Obituary database set up and to-date they have years 1944 & working up to the present. They are relying on old newspapers from Dexter, which has limited info, plus scanning & retyping which is very time consuming. Click here for the current database of Archived Obituaries. If people have information to share, please Email your information to Head Librarian Liz Breault Click here for more current Dexter Obituaries

Abbott Memorial Library holds Story Hour on Wednesday at 11 A.M. This program is for youngsters up to age 6, accompanied by a parent or other adult. This program is free to the public and includes stories, songs and crafts. Upcoming subjects include birds, flowers, Easter and other stories of Spring. Come join us for an enjoyable time. For further information, contact the library at 924-7292. For more information call the library at 924-7292 or email Liz. DONATIONS Donations of clean undamaged books are welcomed. No text books or Reader's Digest books. Please contact the library at (207) 924-7292 for more information or to arrange for pick up of donations.

In June 2007, Beth Morrell resigned her position as fill-in/substitute.

Michelle Fagan-Dyer was hired in July. Michelle has a background in early childhood learning and is very eager to provide children's services. Also in July, Amanda Miles was hired as another fill-in/substitute.

Work continues on updating and completing the scanning and indexing of Dexter obituaries from scrapbooks owned by the Dexter Historical Society. This database can be accessed over the Internet by typing in the following URL: www.abbott-library.com

The Trustees of the library generously offered to contribute one half of the town's costs to the extensive project of drainage ditching to be done around the east and north sides of the building. Work on this project was scheduled to begin in the late summer of 2007.

In late April of 2007 our long-time library assistant, Kathy Pearson, left us to begin a long battle against a life threatening illness. It was Kathy's energy and attention to detail that kept the daily machinery of library operations quietly ticking. Her absence is truly mourned by both patrons and staff.

Respectfully submitted,
Liz Breault Librarian

After noticing some mold build up and excessive dampness in the basement area, the trustees hired Steve Wintle to do a very comprehensive study into what is causing the dampness and how to fix any damage done along with a plan for correcting the problem going forward.

With the help of Judy Doore and Mike Delaware, we have addressed the council with our proposal for a five step plan over the next several years to install different ranges of climate control throughout the library to cool, heat and dehumidify where needed.

The need for a balanced climate in the basement is two fold. Liz has archived old editions of the Eastern Gazette which require a dryer environment than the existing air provides.

The board is also actively planning an expansion of the children's area in the basement to offer more programs, books and activities for all children in the community.

The board purchased new World Book Encyclopedia's for the Library, in hard cover and CD ROM edition. Several hundred dollars was donated to the trustees in memory of Antionette Osgood to be used for the purchase of new children's books.

Liz and several of the trustees spent a great deal of time picking out and purchasing several wonderful new books for the children's room.

Plans are underway for purchase of bronze or granite statues for the front of the library. The board will be getting estimates over the next several months and hopefully will have the statues in place in the spring.

Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret L Towle
Chairperson, Abbott Memorial Library Board of Trustee

HISTORY of the Library
The Abbott Memorial Library was given to the Town of Dexter by George A. Abbott on Christmas Day 1894. In 1894 it housed a collection of 4,017 books. Today our collection numbers are over 26,217 and counting. This includes 753 videotapes, 213 DVD's, and 1018 unabridged audio tapes. The library subscribes to 66 magazines and five newspapers. An online index of periodicals which includes full test articles is available for patron use.

The library provides services to the residents of Dexter, Cambridge, Exeter, Garland, Ripley, and St. Albans. Public Internet access is available from 8 computers (work stations), and we offer wireless Internet access as well as an on-line catalog of library holdings. We accept telephone requests for renewals and provide in state as well as out-of-state inter-library loans, monthly lists of new books, public photocopying and delivery of books to shut-ins.

The library's obituary project is finished; years 1865 through 2006. We are now checking our database against obituary scrapbooks owned by the Dexter Historical Society and adding those that were not included in our database. Obituaries were obtain from the Eastern Dexter Gazette and TheDailyME.com and are available for viewing on the library's website: www.abbott-library.com.

Liz Breault Head Librarian		924-7292
LIBRARY TRUSTEES
Susan Vafiades	924-7205	1/06 - 12/08
William Murphy	277-4311	1/07-12/09
Margaret Towle	924-3119	11/04 - 12/07
Ann Caverly	924-5568	12/06 - 12/08
Ella Munday	924-0920	1/06 - 12/08
Bob Crawford
Gail Jewett	924-5303	5/05 - 12/07